Packing My Bags

This week’s topic is one that I posed: Have you ever considered moving to a warmer/better climate? If so, where would you consider going?

Here in the northern part of the country, much of the conversation is centered around the weather. This past week another round of snowstorms passed through the Great Lakes region, dumping a good half foot of snow. Now that I teach only part time, my routine wasn’t affected (except that my sewing group cancelled on Tuesday), but hubby and I still watch the school closings to see if our grandkids are affected. Last Friday my poor daughter, who commutes over an hour each way, had to drive through several districts that were shut down in order to get to her district, which hadn’t closed.

Orlando, FL November 1981

Anyway, since I associate with a lot of retirees, I find that these groups are thinned out from January through March. People head out of this weather and spend a month or two where it’s sunny, and it’s so cold that the roads aren’t so icy that even salt won’t melt them. We call these people Snowbirds, and I often envied them, being able to leave this mess behind. Many have second homes or take motor homes with them. Others have relatives they stay with. But when it warms up, they return. Most of my acquaintances head to Florida or Gulf Shores, but I know others go to Arizona (the dry climate is supposed to be healthier there) and some go to Hawaii (my successful engineer brother has a time share condo there, but I’ve never managed to arrange a visit).

More recently, I’ve learned about more and more people who make the move permanently. If you’ve ever watched the TV show House Hunters International, you’ve seen people who opt to live out their retirement years outside the USA. I’ve watched in awe as couples select homes in Mexico, Central or South America, or in the Carribbean. These people, I assumed, must have a lot more disposable income than we do. But then I started learning about personal acquaintances gearing up for this kind of move. One author acquaintance told me she and her husband planned to move to Costa Rica in the next few years, pointing out the lower cost of living was as much of a factor in their decision as the weather.

Sedona, AZ Dec. 2001

So going back to the original question: Have I ever considered moving? Yes. Where would I go? Though the thought of moving to another country is enticing (I’ve always LOVED to travel) I think I’d want to stay in the United States. For one thing, I know my hubby would NOT want to move somewhere that English was not spoken, and his daily routine (translation; TV show line-up) would be disrupted. I’ve spent a little time in Florida, New Orleans, and Arizona, and enjoyed them tremendously. Given the choice between going southeast or southwest, I think I’d want to go southwest. The pace of life was slower, and it seemed there was more of a balance between generations. I need to be around younger people, to keep me from becoming someone whose every sentence begins with “I can’t…”

But then again, our kids and grandkids are all here. I absolutely adore living five miles from our youngest grandkids, and being able to step in when needed. I could probably handle being a Snowbird, but that would mean giving up teaching and performing in my music ensembles. Plus, since I’m the only one of my mom’s kids near enough to take her places, I need to stick around.

So I guess I’m going to sit tight here in snowy Michigan. At least for awhile.

Have you ever considered a weather-related move?