Deciding Where To Live

Throughout this year we've been talking and thinking much about where we want to live during our first step of retirement.  During our travels, we've identified many towns and cities that seem to fit us during the spring and summer months, but we're just not willing to brave those cold winter months. 

We recently visited The Villages and although I didn't think I would like the community, I found myself drawn to the many activities and opportunities for life enrichment.  So that option is still on the table. 

I recently helped my mom identify a retirement community for her next phase of life.  And listening to our friends discuss their thoughts about staying put or moving, I've been asking myself what I'm seeking in my next place to live.  Here's what I've identified so far, not in any particular order:

• Close to water, preferably within walking distance (after all, I am a Pisces)
• Lots of vegetation, preferably green and lush
• Community of believers in Jesus Christ where I can refresh my faith and support others
• Opportunities to interact with people of different lifestyles and backgrounds
• Good libraries as I no longer buy books and won't (yet?) read on an electronic device
• Open public spaces offering diverse outdoor activities
• Choices in things to do including educational, artistic, spiritual and physical activities

Now here's the final criteria that you may say doesn't fit with the others.

• Social problems where I can contribute my experience, time and skills to making life better.

That's right, I'm not attracted to a perfect community.  God willing, I should have a good 20 years to contribute to making improvements in my community.  I have no intention of wasting those years being self-indulgent -- well, maybe part of the time self-indulgent, but you know what I mean. 

For the foreseeable future we're staying put.  We simply haven't found a community that matches our lifestyle criteria better than where we are right now.  But like I said, The Villages is still a viable option down the road.  And let me know if you have other suggestions.   As long as I wouldn't have to acquire new warmer outer garments!

The Last Dirty Deed

Most everything is "back to normal" (whatever that means) after our trip.  But I've been postponing doing the last dirty deed:  hosing off the tarps and tent fly.  Tonight I'm proud to report that this final clean up has been accomplished.  As I sprayed water on the bottom tarp, blotches of Moab red dirt, rich Oregon soil, Nebraska farm dirt and rotting material from the humid woods in Pelham, Alabama ran together in a downhill stream.  With the hose in my hand, I remembered each time and location we spread the tarp and raised the tent. 

My final task is to deal with the photographs.  We've already deleted hundreds -- early in our travel we were more excited by scenery that later lost its appeal once we were well into the trip.  And in some cases we didn't need to keep snapshots taken from multiple angles.  I'm creating a hard-cover book of our photographs for our final souvenir and getting pictures sent to the various folks we visited or met along our trip.  Let me know if you'd like to see it sometime. 

Call me crazy (and you will) but I miss the tent camping.  A few nights ago I asked my husband when he thinks he might be ready to go tent camping again.  Suffice it to say that I first got "the look" before I insisted on a verbal response.  In case you are still left wondering, it doesn't look like we'll be going any time soon.  But who knows what cooler weather might inspire later in the year.  I'll keep you posted right here!