Changes
OK, so there's a two year plan. (A work in progress). The result of the plan, hopefully, will be leaving here.
Why? Actually, for a long time I had expected to stay here permanently. We had Habitat, and church, and a few friends, and family ties.
It seems that those ties either no longer exist, or can be kept even if we leave. Audrey and Jennifer are both settled, and don't really need us to be here. Besides, we can always visit or they can visit us. As far as family ties in other places, Grandpa won't be around forever; I don't realistically expect Bobby and Cindy to gather with the extended famiy after he's gone. Hopefully Jane and Tom would visit us occasionally. I plan to have a place big enough for family to come, no matter where we end up. When everyone was still in school, it seemed that this was the place for us. I anticipated fixing up the house, and having big gatherings on holidays, with everyone coming "home". OK, so can "home" just be wherever we are?
Now that the "empty nest" is closer, I'm not ready to shut down and be grandma. Note - any child who calls me grandma will be toasted. I will be "Bob". Remember that. Also a perfectly good thing for potential in-laws to call me. Too bad I didn't think of that earlier, when Audrey & Jennifer's kids were smaller. It seems that maybe it's time for another chapter - a new adventure. I don't want to move back to Memphis. I love it in many ways, but BTDT. East Tennessee is great, but I don't think I want to live there. Right now, if things work out, it seems we're drawn to the Mississippi coast. My second choice, of course, is the Georgia/South Carolina coast. (Don't worry, Heater, I wouldn't bother you). I don't think Dad would really be willing to move to the coast unless there was a need, as there is, and will be for a number of years to come, in Mississippi. Besides, he seems to have some crazy idea that living on a barrier island might be a tad dangerous. And, of course, unless the PCH van pulls up in the driveway, we couldn't afford to live on a barrier island!
I just really feel stagnant here. There isn't anything to do that isn't church related, or doesn't require belonging to some group that I don't fit into. I don't "fit" here at all. I need somewhere more eccentric. I think that's one reason I'm drawn to the coastal areas. There seems to be more of an openness there - it may be my imagination, but maybe it's because they're more accustomed to new people. It's an area that people are attracted to. After all, why would anyone move to NE Arkansas unless they had a work or family related reason. It's a lovely place in a lot of ways, but not exactly a destination. One thing I've observed is that even a place with as much character as Savannah becomes ordinary when you get out into the suburbs. Maybe the coast is that way too, I'll have to see. What I don't want is to wind up in someplace where everyone is "just like" everyone else. That seems to be a requirement in this place. Even the small "artsy" community here seems to be pretty closed.
I just know that I was once content here, and now I'm not.
Not sure what else to say - I'd welcome opinions.
Why? Actually, for a long time I had expected to stay here permanently. We had Habitat, and church, and a few friends, and family ties.
It seems that those ties either no longer exist, or can be kept even if we leave. Audrey and Jennifer are both settled, and don't really need us to be here. Besides, we can always visit or they can visit us. As far as family ties in other places, Grandpa won't be around forever; I don't realistically expect Bobby and Cindy to gather with the extended famiy after he's gone. Hopefully Jane and Tom would visit us occasionally. I plan to have a place big enough for family to come, no matter where we end up. When everyone was still in school, it seemed that this was the place for us. I anticipated fixing up the house, and having big gatherings on holidays, with everyone coming "home". OK, so can "home" just be wherever we are?
Now that the "empty nest" is closer, I'm not ready to shut down and be grandma. Note - any child who calls me grandma will be toasted. I will be "Bob". Remember that. Also a perfectly good thing for potential in-laws to call me. Too bad I didn't think of that earlier, when Audrey & Jennifer's kids were smaller. It seems that maybe it's time for another chapter - a new adventure. I don't want to move back to Memphis. I love it in many ways, but BTDT. East Tennessee is great, but I don't think I want to live there. Right now, if things work out, it seems we're drawn to the Mississippi coast. My second choice, of course, is the Georgia/South Carolina coast. (Don't worry, Heater, I wouldn't bother you). I don't think Dad would really be willing to move to the coast unless there was a need, as there is, and will be for a number of years to come, in Mississippi. Besides, he seems to have some crazy idea that living on a barrier island might be a tad dangerous. And, of course, unless the PCH van pulls up in the driveway, we couldn't afford to live on a barrier island!
I just really feel stagnant here. There isn't anything to do that isn't church related, or doesn't require belonging to some group that I don't fit into. I don't "fit" here at all. I need somewhere more eccentric. I think that's one reason I'm drawn to the coastal areas. There seems to be more of an openness there - it may be my imagination, but maybe it's because they're more accustomed to new people. It's an area that people are attracted to. After all, why would anyone move to NE Arkansas unless they had a work or family related reason. It's a lovely place in a lot of ways, but not exactly a destination. One thing I've observed is that even a place with as much character as Savannah becomes ordinary when you get out into the suburbs. Maybe the coast is that way too, I'll have to see. What I don't want is to wind up in someplace where everyone is "just like" everyone else. That seems to be a requirement in this place. Even the small "artsy" community here seems to be pretty closed.
I just know that I was once content here, and now I'm not.
Not sure what else to say - I'd welcome opinions.