audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
If you live in a nice location with great weather, all of a sudden kids and grandkids become very excited about visiting you! Especially if the beach not far!
If you live in a nice location with great weather, all of a sudden kids and grandkids become very excited about visiting you! Especially if the beach not far!
That's not untrue, but people's real lives always get in the way.Jobs, school. kids leagues and activities..going cross country requires a pretty good time commitment. I think if someone moves and pins their hopes on frequent visits they will be disappointed.
Well, in our house DW certainly agrees with Audreyh1. Her (DW) view is as long as DD & grandkids live in the artic north (Chicago area) and we live in the near tropics (South Fl) and only a couple miles from the beach, they will be visiting us regularly, mostly in the Dec - Feb timeframe.
I think if someone moves and pins their hopes on frequent visits they will be disappointed.
When I have a hard time figuring out what I want most in life, I take it seriously and do quite a bit of introspection, visualization, and meditation. That really helps.I have been California dreaming most of my life. I thought about going out there when I was applying to dental school and again right after I graduated and got married but both times I chickened out. I stayed here in DC where I was born and raised mostly because my mom is mentally ill and I feel that I need to be here for her and my dad's sake. Mom and Dad are both still living. Dad is 86 and mom is 77. My sister also stayed in the area. As they age they are needing more and more help.
I have a great life here in Northern Virginia. I have a very successful practice and a great reputation in the area. I'm now semiretired working 3 days a week and still love what I do. I've raised 3 wonderful kids here- the oldest is married, has a little girl, and lives 8 minutes from us. The 2 younger ones are both at UVA. I have friends but no friendship that I would consider super close, and while I've been very involved with my church it is not something that can't be replaced. My wife currently babysits our grand daughter 2 days a week and I'm able to help share the duties a half day a week.
We just got back from So Cal and have found the spot that works for me and the DW. Finances are not a problem, so the only things hold me back are 1- giving up my extremely successful practice, and 2- leaving my family behind.
After years of working hard and planning for my retirement, I'm realizing that actually making the jump is a difficult decision to make. I'd appreciate any insight. Many thanks! BTW I'm 53.
The way I see it, this is a decision based on values. We can't tell you what to do, because we all value weather and family proximity differently.
The way I see it, this is a decision based on values. We can't tell you what to do, because we all value weather and family proximity differently.
When you visit an area whose weather you like, try to imagine what it would be like to live there if your family members did not come to visit, or if you were unable to visit them for whatever reason. Try to think of the impact of travel on you, especially as you age. How will you deal with family crises? If you still place a high value on the good weather location, move there for several months and try it out.
I agree- we live less than a half hour drive from our kids, and we see them infrequently. They have their own lives and activities.That's not untrue, but people's real lives always get in the way.Jobs, school. kids leagues and activities..going cross country requires a pretty good time commitment. I think if someone moves and pins their hopes on frequent visits they will be disappointed.
I think leaving ones loving family and friends to permanently live in warm area sounds great but is often a big mistake.
I agree with you. My kids happen to be in California but if they move to Minnesota, I won't follow them. They have their own lives.Same point I was making, I will say, think it over and make your decision. If it's to relocate, move and don't feel guilty about it. We don't "owe" our adult kids or grandkids anything but love. Proximity isn't required for that.
I was thinking of moving to a cheaper area with somewhat better weather. The plan was to buy a big enough home that I could have the kids/grand-kids over for many weeks every year with plenty of room for all of us. Since I currently live in a high cost housing area that would be easy to do.
After talking with the children they reminded me that they still have to work for a living and as much as they love me, there are other things they want to do with there vacation time besides visit me a few times every year. Gosh, that is how I felt when I was there age! So, I am staying where I am. It's a nice place to live except for cold dark winters and the kids are all within driving distance. Florida is going to be flooded in a decade or two anyway thanks to rising sea levels. ;-)
I think leaving ones loving family and friends to permanently live in warm area sounds great but is often a big mistake.
I have been California dreaming most of my life. I thought about going out there when I was applying to dental school and again right after I graduated and got married but both times I chickened out. I stayed here in DC where I was born and raised mostly because my mom is mentally ill and I feel that I need to be here for her and my dad's sake. Mom and Dad are both still living. Dad is 86 and mom is 77. My sister also stayed in the area. As they age they are needing more and more help.
I have a great life here in Northern Virginia. I have a very successful practice and a great reputation in the area. I'm now semiretired working 3 days a week and still love what I do. I've raised 3 wonderful kids here- the oldest is married, has a little girl, and lives 8 minutes from us. The 2 younger ones are both at UVA. I have friends but no friendship that I would consider super close, and while I've been very involved with my church it is not something that can't be replaced. My wife currently babysits our grand daughter 2 days a week and I'm able to help share the duties a half day a week.
We just got back from So Cal and have found the spot that works for me and the DW. Finances are not a problem, so the only things hold me back are 1- giving up my extremely successful practice, and 2- leaving my family behind.
After years of working hard and planning for my retirement, I'm realizing that actually making the jump is a difficult decision to make. I'd appreciate any insight. Many thanks! BTW I'm 53.
We had a neighbor here who hardly ever got visits. Then the bought a house in Tampa - and all of a sudden they got a huge number of visits.That's not untrue, but people's real lives always get in the way.Jobs, school. kids leagues and activities..going cross country requires a pretty good time commitment. I think if someone moves and pins their hopes on frequent visits they will be disappointed.