I moved here in the early 1970's from farther up the eastern seaboard after making the move across country from my origins out west. I took one look at these mountains and it was love at first sight. The Blue Ridge Mountains. Nothing like the huge towering edifices where I grew up [the Rockies], these rounded and forested mounds are far older [and interestingly, part of the same range that are found in Scotland__where many of my ancestors hail from].
But enough of that. The reason I'm thinking of moving? Well, I live on the side of a mountain. This is not level ground. No, you say. I nod. When you have no balance, it makes it tricky to navigate. And the house is a two-story. I'm not too good on the stairs these days, either. I know, I sound like a walking disaster. There's some truth to that. Then there's the opinion of one of my dr's, who asked why in the bloody hell [her words] I was still living in allergyville when I should be living at the ocean where the pollen levels are drastically reduced, etc...I won't treat you to that entire rant... she can go on.
And then there's my son. He moved home several years ago to help me out. It was a kind and considerate thing for him to do. And I appreciated it more than I can express__but__he needs a life. And he's never going to have one as long as all he does is work, go to school, commute and in what minimal spare time he has, take care of an aging, grumpy mother.
I need to move.
Now I just need to figure out how to go about making that happen in as beneficial a way for everyone as possible. I've got a few thoughts. It's going to take more but I'm working on it.
I think your son is very kind, but I also think you are very considerate to appreciate his needs.
ReplyDeleteMoving is a big change and I feel your melancholy. I hope you find a place to live that you fall in love with. Btw, is your doctor sure the allergen levels are lower at the ocean? Maybe it's because it is Florida, but we are being hit by tons of allergens here.
Where are you, Benni? I know they have a huge plant industry down there.
DeleteIf I were to stay in the mid-atlantic region the levels would drop, I think. The biggest obstacle really is financial at this point but as with all things financial, it's a matter of finagling.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of moving is kind of scary. It's like another person in the room, and that person might be a vampire, or he might have a big knife or club or something... and me, I am one who wants to plan every detail, have all my questions answered right from the start. Of course, life doesn't work that way, lol. I'm thinking of moving in a year and a half, and already I've made a master-list of furniture, tools, stuff I own, and decided what I can live with and what I don't want to live without. At the end of the day, stuff is stuff, but I don't want to start all over...
ReplyDelete*hug* I highly recommend the Atlantic. I will put a good word in for you with the ocean, and I bet it will speak to you, too. It's part of me... I have to visit every so often or I go into withdrawals.
The part that disturbs me is knowing I'll be moving into an apt. [more than likely] and I will have to adjust to living in close quarters with people again__I mean strangers. So, yes, I know just what you mean.
DeleteThat is my pet hate about where I am living Goldie.
DeleteAw, ty, Tree. You've made me weepy. I so miss the sea. It's been many years since I've even seen it.
ReplyDeleteThe logistics of moving are really just little details that can keep us occupied until it's time. When the day comes we will simply do it. I've done it enough to know that about myself. But still__I found myself imagining what I would take with me and it is very little indeed. That in itself is attractive.
New beginnings are exciting :)
Delete__nods__ They are...:)
Delete*hugs*
ReplyDeleteI'll come visit. :)
__smile__ I'd like that.
DeleteSometimes I think it would be nice to begin again. In my twenties I relocated on a regular basis... I got bored tried something new I liked it. The hardest part for me wasn't the leaving it was the bother of getting rid of the junk I wanted to leave behind.. the garage sales, the thrift shop drive bys, the dump runs, the giveaways and the clean up.. then ah bliss the settling in the new home. Nothing like it.
ReplyDeletePickle lake here I come!
You know the best part for me was the fact that memories pack so light. No matter how much I loved a place the memories I left with were unbreakable.
I hope you keep us posted on your progress, your journey and your new digs!
Oh, no problem there, Robin. The internet goes everywhere. :) And it may take me awhile to bring this about as I'm not sure how I'm going to finance it. But that's ok. All I have to do is get creative.
DeleteHow ironic that just when we get to the point where we no longer hanker for change, life throws us a curve ball. I'll follow this story with great interest. There is every kind of place in this country of ours, each with its pluses and minuses. It occurs to me that in conversations about "great" places to live, Delaware is often overlooked.
ReplyDeleteBidenville__smile__ Tis true. And it has the added benefit of an interesting tax system. They charge no sales tax there. Every little bit helps. I've never been to the shore in Delaware but I have friends who go every year and wouldn't go anywhere else. Thank you for reminding me, Augie.
ReplyDeleteTheir income tax rates are fairly reasonable, too. Property taxes can be high, though I don't know what valuations are like there.
DeleteI have it directly from a former summer Henlopen Hotel Bell Hop that the beaches are nice, or at least they used to be. Back in the day there were some nice little towns a few miles inland that were relatively inexpensive.
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ReplyDeleteYes, I was pensive yesterday, too. But not at all today, so would that make me ex-pensive?
ReplyDeleteI am on my way back in a couple of months. I have to get back in time to file for med bill reimbursements which I have pegged as early June. They won't even talk to me over the phone and emails are totally out.
And I'm thinking that now might just be the time to move. Nothing holding me in MT any more, and certainly NOT the weather. Been thinking of heading east again, maybe back to where I begain. It would be a good ending. Like you and the northern gal, I am also from the sea and hate leaving everytime I visit. But again the weather, cold mostly is what I am shirking from. I might not mind a bit of chill, now and again along with a flake or two, just really don't appreciate the bone gripping cold that freezes farts before others can enjoy them as much as I.
On the other side, the deep south has never held much, invitation wise, for me. And, besides, a lot of it will be underwater long before they start messing with engineering the weather successfully.
Lots to think about, At least I don't have the problem of settling land holdings as a part of it. But again that could be a good thing.
Thinking on it a bit, you might find that leaving that strange place over the hill may actually improve your health. Being out of the 'rays' and all, you may even revert back to your youth somewhat.
And by the way, I will be available for assistance when I get back as I have no roots to pull and not much to do but finish seeing the world. I am actually up to another adventure.
MT C
"... just really don't appreciate the bone gripping cold that freezes farts before others can enjoy them as much as I"
Deletelol
(((hugs))) to you, Cowboy... you had me laughing right out loud first thing. :)
ReplyDeleteJune sounds good. The weather is usually pretty nice here then. It hasn't managed to get into the great and smoldering humids yet. Those hit late July and August. Those can steal your breath and make you long for the wide open spaces of Manitoba. This is one of the reasons I have not considered seriously moving farther south. Winters might be milder in the states below Virginia but the summers would surely kill me. Out west when I was growing up it would get hot, oh yes, but the humidity was very low. Here the humidity is that of a steamroom. I never liked the steamroom. But I will give it this. It's good for the wrinkles on the old face.
I am finding the older I am getting the more I feel the cold. It only just hit me a couple of weeks ago that I turn 70 at the end of October. I have always refused to grow old gracefully and am very independant. I am still doing major landscaping in the garden and this is the last year I am doing so. I want to relax and enjoy what I have created outside from then on. No more brick work or heavy digging, or carrying heavy bags of potting mix and of compost. My body has enough of that even if my mind hasn't. LOL
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I simply can't do it any more. It's not that I don't want to. I can't. And the frustration is a b*tch. So it's time to put myself into another place and another pace and get on with things. We're adaptable. We wouldn't have made it to this age if we weren't, right?
DeleteUpdate:
ReplyDeleteWell, I told Matt what I was thinking of doing. I suppose I should have told him before I discussed it in forum but I really didn't know what his reaction was going to be. He's all for it. In fact, because he thought I wanted to stay here because of the house it was the only reason he hadn't looked for another place. He'd like to relocate toward the beaches, too. :) So now we are looking at the three areas. Delaware [as Augie mentioned]. Maryland's eastern shore and the Virginia Beach area. The last is probably the best for Matt work wise. It puts him in the tri-city area of Norfolk/Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach which is a good tech arena and is close to the beach. We won't be moving until he gets his degree and have this house ready to put on the market and we figure that will be a yr to a yr and 1/2 so we have some time to really look and figure out where we want to be. Ideally we'd want two places. That may not be possible. If not, then we look for something that we can live in together yet separately. So, that's the plan as of now. I have a sense of relief and a weight taken off my shoulders. Now all that's left is to do it.
LOL