Straying from words and grammar this week….and this may be a little disorganized and stream of consciousness.
Lots of Americans are thinking of where they would go if they left America. Many people have already left. Some are just changing states and not countries.
If you could live anywhere, where would you live? City? Country? Suburbs? Rural? Island? Tropical climate? Four seasons? Beachfront? Highrise? Log cabin? Motor home? Europe? Mexico? Costa Rica? Or just where you are?
Especially when they get older, most people want to live near family — near their grandchildren and children — even if it is not in the ideal place. That is why I am in Florida. Being near family for me at this time must outweigh everything else. Before Florida, I lived in California for 26 years. I miss it because California is much more comfortable for me than Florida. However I miss it, and my son is there, he is less reachable than my daughter, has no children at this point, and although I had more friends and acquaintances there than in Florida, I was often lonely there. It may have been because I was younger. I never wanted to stay home. Now I am often happy to stay home, and I am a lot happier now.
I lived in Petaluma, California, a city with a good sized population that has the environment of a small town. It has a cute downtown, with many great restaurants, although most of the antique shops of years ago are gone. Downtown is so cute that movies have been filmed there, including Peggy Sue Got Married and American Graffiti. It is near wine country, San Francisco, and is desirable and expensive.
I miss my house, even though it was built in 1979 and needed major repairs aside from all the work I had done on it. I miss downtown. I miss my son. I miss feeling comfortable going out for coffee or lunch alone, which I do not feel comfortable at all doing here. I miss my dog door and fenced in yard, even though the fence was falling down. Although I couldn’t walk downtown (I could but it was a longish walk), I could walk to a Starbucks. I could drive downtown in ten minutes, whereas now I cannot get anywhere in less than 40 minutes. I miss having a music scene and music friends and my music parties. I miss drivers who are not completely loony.
Obviously Florida is not my cup of tea. I do love the weather. But politically it is all wrong for me, and I keep to myself except for talking with a few people with sense. I think about where I might enjoy going….
There are other places in the United States I would move to. I haven’t been to every state, but I have been to Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington State and DC, and Wyoming.
I could see living in Arizona, California, Massachusetts (where I was born and grew up), New Mexico, or New York. Part of me is a city person living in a high rise where I could walk to anything, a place like St. Pete, Florida. Another part of me is tired of the crowds and traffic here in Florida, and would love to live in a small town where I knew everyone and could easily walk downtown. There is even a small part of me that would like to live in the country and have no close neighbors. But I don’t know if I would like living alone in that environment.
Moving out of the United States is also appealing right now. I haven’t really traveled outside of the United States very much. I once drove over the line to Tijuana, Mexico, and went to a mall so that I could say I had been to Mexico. I have been to Montreal and to Western Canada. I have been to Paris and spent an afternoon in Amsterdam, And I have been to Nassau. And that’s it. I would love to visit many places, most of all Mexico, Costa Rica, Greece, Italy, Spain, Israel, Egypt, Poland, Japan, and Australia in particular. Maybe Portugal, where many people seem to be moving. I could see living in Mexico or Costa Rica….and France would be a dream. But then again, my family is small and it is here.
We will see how things go. For now, I guess I am in Florida, in a place where there is too much development, too ,uch traffic, too few places of any quality to shop, and too many Republicans (sorry, but that is how I feel, and frankly I don’t feel the need to apologize). I live in a lovely community, but it is 55 and over, and while there are many people here younger than I, I do not like living in a 55 plus community. I wasn’t looking for that lifestyle, but I saw this particular villa and liked it and the price. I am not retired; I am not interested in pickleball and golf carts (unless I played golf, and there isn’t even a golf course in my community — just golf carts!). I have more in common with younger professional people. So I do think about even moving somewhere else close to where I am. But I cannot seem to find anyplace. I cannot even think of a place close enough to my daughter that has a downtown. But then I am spoiled, being 10 minutes down the road from her!
Where would you live? Would you stay where you are if you could go anywhere??? Comment please!
Remember when Bush Jr. was re-elected and the Canadian embassy web site crashed?
I must admit I don’t remember that. But where would you live? I bet you would live exactly where you are living….
Hi Arlene,
My wife and I lived in your former neck-of-the woods for about 32 years. We owned a house in Sonoma, CA, and were in Petaluma often. Both lovely towns, but also crowded and expensive compared to where we are now.
In 2019 we sold our home and moved to Albuquerque, NM, for a number of reasons. Since then, we have moved to a few different places, mostly for medical reasons: Asheville, NC, Dallas, Denver and Colorado Springs. Each has it’s own beauty and desirability (except Dallas, in our opinion), but we kept coming back to Albuquerque. This city, and New Mexico in general, certainly has it’s problems: high crime rate, lower quality schools and heath care (compared with other states), lots of poverty, and Albuquerque itself is kind of a funky town from a physical standpoint. But the pace of life is slower, and people are friendly and unpretentious.
The amenities (shopping, dining, etc.) are good – not the SF Bay Area, by any means, but good; and, like you, we miss the vital music scene of Sonoma. We absolutely love the weather her, the wide open blue and usually sunny skies, the natural environment, and the lingering flavor of the “wild west.” While the effects of climate change are clearly present, the threats of natural disasters (fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes) are low or non-existent.
I guess if we had a preference, we might prefer to live in Santa Fe, but it’s become increasingly crowded and expensive. And the blue state politics here feel as comforting and as safe as just about anywhere these days (and about as tenuous, as well).
My wife has more of a desire than I for traveling, and perhaps living for a time in places like Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and others, but we’ve not actually been to those places, So, for the time being, Albuquerque is the place for us.
Thank you for posing this question. I prompted me to put my thoughts about this place into writing.
Thank you so much for the comment, and I am glad you enjoyed the post! I don’t remember much about Albuquerque, but I remember feeling as if I could live there. But, as so many places, I am sure it has become so much more crowded since I was there in 1993! Yes, Sonoma County is not affordable to many, including me! And it was crowded when I left, but it had a lot to offer, unlike the crowded area I am in now.
I find myself missing Vermont, It’s where I grew up and still have many friends. And, generally speaking, the political climate is more to my liking!
More to my liking too. It’s got Bernie! But so cold! Good ice cream though!
Oh, I am so sad that you’re missing Petaluma so much. Since we moved here last year, we finally feel at home and can’t imagine living anywhere else (we did land in a great location, a 10-minute walk from downtown). But that isn’t stopping us from daydreaming of moving to another country. Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Portugal (though language would be a problem), Costa Rica… all have crossed our radar. I hope you can find a place that better suits you AND that’s close to family–it sounds like that’s really important to you.
Thanks, Audrey. I am so happy you moved to Petaluma and love it. It is a great place. I am glad my son is there although I miss him. I wish I could live half the year and half there! It sounds as if you have a great location. Such a fun downtown. Do you go to Aqus??? I think my kids will be down here for a while…. We shall see what happens. I think some traveling would help my spirits about moving. And some political change would help.
I go to Aqus multiple times a week–it’s a 3-minute walk for me. Headed there now for my regular Monday Shut Up & Write group.
Oh, I miss it!!!! I think he is traveling, but when you see John, say Hello from me!
I was born in California–grew up in Fort Bragg, lived in Sebastopol for 25 years and Santa Rosa for 22 years. I moved to a small town in New Mexico a year ago to be closer to my son and daughter-in-law when my wife passed away. I live in a senior apartment complex that is amazingly affordable compared to California prices. It’s been a big change moving from Northern California to the desert, but I like the weather. My wife and I traveled quite a bit out of the country back in the late 70s. I’m now only thirty miles from the Mexican border and have taken some trips through northern Mexico.
I’m depressed about our current political environment and have seriously thought maybe I would be happier living in another country. But at my age (79) I doubt that’s going happen.
Thanks for your comment. Yeah, my age is another reason for not moving. I remember visiting Albuquerque when we moved cross country to California. I would definitely move there. I love the desert. I remember driving into the desert in Tucson. It was 105 degrees, but I love the heat!
Not England, or any of the other countries of the UK? At least you’d (almost) speak the language here.
I’ve lived and worked in 42 countries and visited many more, but I always find myself returning to England. Maybe the weather isn’t as warm as Florida or California, but it’s home.
Thanks for the post.
For some reason, I don’t find those countries appealing although I have never visited them — probably the weather. I really need the heat and the sun!