Plan B (the rest of the story)
by Jim
(Ocala, FL)
It's been 2years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. We decided to sell the beautiful cottage where we spent many summers with our sons and friends having great parties, quiet evenings and sunsets over the lake.
The very rural (30 miles from the nearest supermarket) and the physical abilities of taking care of the place were the deciding factors. It sold to the first person who looked at it.
I think our sons were shocked ( we were). We have a townhouse outside of Detroit so we weren't homeless.
The winters are actually hardest on our health. I seemed to have problems with balance and also have asthma which cold weather agrivates. We decided to try Florida and rented a place on the coast, which, while scenic it didn't feel very homey.
We decided we disliked living in a hi rise (it was 20 floors up from forgetting what you left in the back seat of the car) and we missed having a yard. We ended up buying a house in the middle of Florida.
Our community is for 55 and older. Everyone seems very friendly. Our house is a few years old, but well designed for an older generation. We have many activites to keep us active, along with events we can go to each week.
My health is much better. I walk almost every day and use the clubhouse gym. A glass of wine watching the sunset, in January, on the porch, is great.
We still plan on going back to Detroit for the summer. Someday we may end up living in Florida all year. This wasn't our plan when we retired.
Things change that are out of your control. Keep your mind and your options open. Plan B may work for you too.
