Wow, we were very close to each other at times. I was born in Phila. PA, moved to Reading with my parents when I was 5, married at 21 and we moved to Lancaster, PA (lived on W. Walnut St.) and I worked at the Hamilton Watch Company as the Assistant to the Company Psychologist. Then when my husband graduated from college, we moved to Gaithersburg, MD .... 3 years later we bought land and built our house which was on an acre of what they call "climactic forest" meaning the trees had never been cut ..... enormous oaks, maples, etc. That was in Mt. Airy, MD in Frederick County. We were there for 30 years, til we separated and I moved to my condo in Frederick city, where I was for 12 years, til I relented and moved down here .... Harrisonburg, VA. I'm looking at getting into a low income apartment in Stuart's Draft, just south of here. I have not liked living here at all and it's been over a year; I told my girls that if I don't feel "at home" should I move to the other apartments .... and I'll give it a good go ..... I am going back to my condo in Frederick. Right now I am renting it out through a Property Manager.
Abby

Hi Abby, Never even gave it a thought that you might have lived anywhere close....Maybe Canada, or such! With all places you've been, which is where you were most comfortable?. All places, at least for me have their pluses and minuses. When I moved to Doylestown I started doing physical exams for insurance companies at people's homes so I knew that area as well as I knew Yonkers NY where I lived from age 6 to 50. And I always had a good sense of direction, but with age I have lost a lot of that ability;. Moving away from where you have family is a BIG decision. Now that I am handicapped due to a Dr's mistake, I really miss family. Fortunately I have a great POA, but he and his wife live back in Montgomery Co. It is a pain to have to ask friends and neighbors for rides, etc. This community has on the campus Landis AT Home which is a visiting nurse service and when I stopped driving much more than 5 miles, I can pay them $21/hr but they wait for you and that adds up fast. And since we use my car, I "save" 65 cents per mile and at least my car gets to exercise its "muscles" occasionally. Fortunately most shops are within that range as are 2 of my doctors as well as Brian, my DPT. Brian is across the street from Isaac's in Lititz. if you know that area. And I go with my neighbor with her for dentist visits. Well she was my neighbor until last week, as she moved out of her cottage to an apartment to save $ as her husband is now in assisted living. I was active until I curtailed my diving with the Lancaster Co. Emergency Management Agency and enjoyed that a lot, but most meetings are either too far now or at night. My "icon" with Connect was my dog, Tani, until he passed two ago years ago yesterday. He was a breed Champion with all of AKC's obedience titles as well as two rally titles and two tracking titles, he was a certified therapy and hospice dog, a Reading Educational Assistant Dog, he became my service dog when I became disabled, and we were a Crisis Response team where we went to disasters to comfort survivors. As my service dog I think he laid awake at night thinking of things he could do for me . He taught himself things, that i, as a dog trainer, would have had no knowledge how to train him to do the things he came up with. I used to train guide dogs for the blind, that was only my hobby. Well I better quit before I lose this note also! @ gailfaith, or just Gail. Is Abby short for Abbagail? .

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Wow, I wonder if our paths ever crossed as we made our ways through life?! Small world. Actually, "Abby" isn't my real name. I use that because, as I said I'm divorced, and during that whole horrible time, my then husband hacked into my e-mails, made copies, and somehow thought he was going to use them against me. I have no idea how as there was nothing in them except a lot of sadness. He got stopped pronto by the Mediator when he told him, "you know that's illegal ..... she could have you sued and charged for that." So, I've just kept Abby because it's a name I like. As to where I felt most comfortable ..... I loved living in Lancaster and really didn't want to leave, especially heading to Gaithersburg, MD - a suburb of D.C. It was a totally different world! I enjoyed living in our house in Mt. Airy, as that is where I raised our 3 children. But as for true comfort, peace, and really feeling welcome and cared about ... it was the 12 years I lived in Frederick in my condo. I absolutely loved it and it was a "safe place to fall" during and after my divorce .... my whole support system was there. That is why it was so very hard to leave, and while I still struggle with it .... I'm very conflicted. Amazing how when we're young, we have no idea what lies ahead, and yet we forge on.
"Abby"

Hi Abby, Do still have any friends in Lancaster? How old are you now? Old enuf to be able to move into a retirement facility? Any in this area that you'd consider applying to? But of course I ask that with tongue in cheek as you SHOULD stay near your kids. NO doubt about that. Just recently with another health problem, I was wishing I still had ANY family. Friends are great but never as good as family. Gail