Where do you want to grow old?

I too love the "Bold North" - just not so much anymore when the snow flies and the wind blows. So I will continue to grow older wandering between summer and winter homes until health requires us to quit. Then we will settle in Minnesota near family and some of the best medical care on the planet. Our community on the edge of the Twin Cities offers many housing options from active senior complexes to skilled care should we require it.
For now, we are gradually simplifying our home to make it easier to live in and to care for.
Sue

Good evening @popcorn369. Thank you for filling me in a bit. And I see that my colleague @sueinmn joined this discussion.
Next weekend my family will be here from San Diego. They used to spend a lot of time up on the mountain where I lived in a village called Idyllwild. We always said that although quiet and a bit chilly at 6,000 feet, it was true to its name......a place where you can be idyl and wild. Because of this year's very strong El Nino, they have lots of snow and tourists lined up on every road wanting to enjoy some winter reality.

We are headed to St. Paul tomorrow for a late Valentine's Day dinner at Myriels. I understand it is quite a special place.

Enjoy this unusually warm winter here. Unfortunately, all of our trees and shrubs seem to prefer a "true" MN winter. So next year maybe La Nina will return.

May you have serenity and pleasure.
Chris

It’s really happening.
Until yesterday, I thought “We’re practicing, getting ready to age in place.”
Then I realized “It’s really happening. This isn’t practice, this is the real thing!”

My wife is 68 and I’m 74.
We are now living on our retirement incomes, and have been for several years.
Due to illness and Covid we lost some of our best planned years for building a larger retirement fund.
We’re o.k. We own our house and have adequate income, but we won’t likely move to a CCRC, so this is IT.

My wife has had 3 major surgeries in 3 years, and we have handled her recovery here.
With the latest surgery we have several weeks of in home PT, so we are getting to know a local medical service provider, and our first experience is very good. We’re learning to safely navigate our home with a walker and cane.

I’m working with an older neighbor couple to learn about the kinds of in-home assistance available in our town. A lot is available if you can discern what is right. We want to make that discernment before there’s an emergency need.

I’m learning to manage care of 1 person and 2 dogs, and so far still have a few hours open on most days as my wife recovers.
I had a small surgery a few years ago, and my wife got a trial run then.

So far my health is very good. I heal quickly.
My wife has multiple health issues. She tries very hard to get better, and perhaps if the Trigeminal Neuralgia surgery is successful, she’ll be able to get back to a quietly active life.

What we have going for us here includes: two dogs, our individual offices/libraries, my workshop and my wife's meditation room, a kitchen where we can make our quirky food, trees and birds and a state park next door. Top quality medical services within 5 miles. A food store that will deliver to our home.
These are things we would lose if we move to the CCRC we can afford.

The dogs are very important. They give us regular doses of be-here-now optimism, and get me hiking in the park daily.
When my wife could hardly move due to pain, she still got up to care for her little Havanese dog.

We do have long term care insurance.
If needed we have backups for house cleaning and dog walking.

So, this isn’t “getting ready to age in place,” this is “really it.”
And so far we’re doing o.k. If at least one brain keeps working, we can probably do it.
Almost daily I see two 90-year-old neighbors out for their walk. At 74, it’s great to have two mentors who are 15 years older than me!

And this online discussion group gives me something positive to do at my computer!!!
Many thanks!!!

Hi Ed, This is a great testimony to "making it work"! How great to have the park right next door - I have to walk one mile or drive 3 to get to peaceful walking trails.
It is wonderful to have neighbors who can guide you to the best care when needed - that is such a difficult issue for many people. And kudos on having long term care insurance. My siblings thought it was crazy when we invested 20 years ago, but being involved in care for 4 parents and some dear neighbors, we could see the value. So far we have not needed it, but it's a wonderful for peace of mind.
Yes, I too use my older, active friends as my beacons - it keeps me moving on my bad days.
Sue

Doris Jeanne,

My condolences on the loss of your husband.

It sounds like you have a great place to live there. I spent parts of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s in Madison County (Kingston) and Fayetteville. May I ask what part of northern Arkansas you are in?

Have a wonderful day,

Jim G

Jim G.
I live in N Central Ark. 20 miles west of Mountain View (known as folk capital of US). We are in the Boston Mountains here; actually hills about 2000 ft. or so but really beautiful. I've been all over the US and love living here; low crime, little pollution, uncrowded, etc. Thanks for asking!

Chris, enjoy your trip to St Paul - the January thaw has, unfortunately, melted the ice sculptures. We DO need to Connect this summer - we have our fun new camper, and will be re-exploring many of our favorite places around Central Minnesota.
Sue

There are many countries in the world where we can live much cheaply with better medical care, friendlier and less divisive population, few border issues, and the hard part is "where and when"! Many nations now are having investments is independent living and assistant living that can ease the challenge or having in home health care for much less cost that here.

Greetings @sueinmn, I enjoyed the visit to St. Paul. There were so many homes with trees all lit up. The restaurant was particularly interesting and very unusual.

Glad you are enjoying your camper. I have never had one......we did have a beach house one time and have had several boats.

We have plenty of parking space for your camper. Some friends brought theirs a while ago. However, after one night they moved into our house. Party-time!
Chris

@chucklesg ..Hello, would you please share you research info on these countries with both better medical care and cheaper living.? Thank you