Wife and I had always planned on moving from CA to somewhere in the South for the obvious reasons (weather, cost of living, change of pace, etc), but lately she has having serious second thoughts. Twenty years ago we moved from her IL hometown to CA and have done well but without any other family here and never really connecting with any new friends we have been on our own here, so she is feeling a longing to be around her family and old friends on a permanent basis. Guess not uncommon feeling as you get older.
I don't have a big problem with the idea and enjoy her family and our old friends and miss them, but am concerned about the higher taxes, snow and cold, the idea that being away from family can be a good thing many times, the gnawing sense that we are "going back" and not "progressing" to newer things, a "been there, done that" feeling, and that this would go against everything we have planned for and dreamed of with a new life.
Maybe her feelings will pass but her idea keeps popping up more often. I am just wondering how strong the lure of family and old friends are in making decision where to retire to. We aren't ones to make new friends easily, so maybe that trumps all the other consderations. Considering wife's hatred of bitter cold and snow, the lure of family must be strong for her.
I don't have a big problem with the idea and enjoy her family and our old friends and miss them, but am concerned about the higher taxes, snow and cold, the idea that being away from family can be a good thing many times, the gnawing sense that we are "going back" and not "progressing" to newer things, a "been there, done that" feeling, and that this would go against everything we have planned for and dreamed of with a new life.
Maybe her feelings will pass but her idea keeps popping up more often. I am just wondering how strong the lure of family and old friends are in making decision where to retire to. We aren't ones to make new friends easily, so maybe that trumps all the other consderations. Considering wife's hatred of bitter cold and snow, the lure of family must be strong for her.