Thoughts About Moving

I have lived in Minnesota for 20 1/2 years now, it will be 21 years come February 1st. This is the longest I've lived in any one place. I find myself wishing I could move while acknowledging I can't. When I was married Jim and I moved every few years, based on military and educational needs. It was fun getting to know new places. I miss that fun of getting to explore a new area and make new friends. At the same time it was always hard saying good bye to friends. I would have a hard time making new friends now, mainly because I'm primarily home bound. When my children were young I made friends with their peers' parents. When I was working I had co-workers who were friends. Now I have cats. And my scrapbooking friends, my main out of the home outlet.

I always thought I'd return back east. I'd like to live close to my sister again. And I might if I were healthy. I start Medicare in January. My supplemental coverage is through Health Partners as that is what my past employer provides. Health Partners is a local PPO, which started out as a HMO. All my doctors are in their network so I'm happy to have this coverage. If I moved I'd probably have to buy my own supplemental coverage which I couldn't afford. I have great doctors and replacing them would be a difficult task. It would be one thing to be healthy and need a new primary care doctor but to replace everyone, too hard.

Two of my three children, and all my grandchildren, are here in the midwest. I think it's hard to have grandkids be faraway. My grandmother lived in Arizona and spent part of every summer with us but I wish we could have been with her more. My parents lived in upstate New York while Jim and I with the kids lived in Alabama, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It would have been to my kids' benefit to see more of their grandparents.

So while I entertain the wish occasionally to move I know I will stay here in Minnesota. But sometimes my heart is elsewhere.