How far is the drive to see your family? Can they also come stay with you or visit at the lake house occasionally? Those kinds of factors might help you decide that staying where you are may still allow you to be near family but also honor where you and your husband wanted to be together. Also, having lived both near and far from my extended family, I know that being close by is important to me, but living very very close is not ideal necessarily. Some distance gives everyone the opportunity to have independent full lives while still being able to get together quickly and easily.

hi Linda... I always love the city but just can't afford to live there any longer. I'd move in a NY minute! But in reality, like you, family is nearby and would find it really hard to visit each other. Family first for sure.. maybe day trips to the city on a regular basis will get you thru the winter... I so relate cause it's boring in our area of NJ from late Dec. to early March. am excited for you either way xo

Linda, I pray you make the right decision. Myself, I wanted to move to another city, near me. I live in town, but there is nothing here 20 minutes to get even to McDonalds....lol But my home is paid for, and someone keeps moving in with me to live. Its getting harder for me to do the upkeep. I wanted to rent someplace where the landlord does upkeep. So, I can start a life again. I spend all my time, and money keeping this house up. I just need a place to lay my head, bathe, and relax. Its been 2 years for me. I keep asking myself, why do I live here? Best of luck to you. Sandee

Thanks for your responses. I am about 1.5 hours from the city where my family and long-time friends live. In the winter, we can never count on the weather so it is hard to plan a trip into the cities. Minnesota can be brutal, although this year is pretty nice.

I don't want to be a slave to this place. I have a lot of lake shore and cleaning the beach is a lot of heavy work. As my daughter-in-law said to me yesterday, "you shouldn't work all week so we or others can come up for a relaxing weekend." I guess I want a small place, minimal upkeep, so I can visit family, lunch with friends, go to movies, take in live theater, and volunteer with nonprofits.

I love this house, but it is just that "a house". As I age, I am afraid I couldn't keep up and to hire everything done would be expensive.

That's my thoughts today anyway. I know Al would want me to do whatever and he will be with me "wherever".

I'm moving, too. I had given this house to my partner who died 01/16/2015 without a will. So I am moving from rural East Texas into an apartment in town this coming Friday. Everything fell into place last Friday to make this possible. I am looking forward to having city conveniences once again (like a short drive to anything, rather than a 30-minute drive to anything). I have enjoyed living in the country for 8 years. But looking forward to moving back to civilization.

Glad you are, too, Norske1.

Just follow your heart. As you said Al will be with you no matter where you live.

Hi Linda,
I remembered your dilemma about a move.
I am really happy for you, to have made a good decision.
You will always have Al in your heart, no matter where you live!
Hugs and peace for you,
Sandra

I think you made a really wise decision. Live in the laughter of your family. Fake it till you make it is what I tell myself. I think you will be "making it" with a lot of love around you.

Good luck!

I had a home on 2 1/2 acres. It was a chore to keep up with the garden. The house is also getting old and needed repair or remodel. I kept it for 2 years and sold it 6 months ago with no regrets. The reality is that It was just too big for one person. I built a tiny in-law suite at my daughter's property. My 5 year grandson walked in and said "Your house is nice, Nana." That makes me feel good. I consider this new place our home now.

Linda I believe if you lean on and trust God he will open the doors for a buyer and another place for you if you are to move. Al will be with you always no matter where you are. .Like Sandee I keep thinking of selling this 10 room house (that needs repair and ALL incomes goes into support of house and bills) getting something smaller for my handicap son and I. YET every time we think of selling something stops us. So for now I feel God wants us here at the family home. For the last 7 months I have had a daughter and 4 young grandsons that needed a place.
Hugs.. Carol.

Linda . . . I too remember your previous post. I'm glad that you seem and I will say "seem" to have come to a decision about your move.

Interestingly enough, I went back home to Orlando last week for a visit. The first three days, I was so intent on being "home" once again, I thought I might want to move back, two days later, I was home sick for my rural house in SC (which I thought I couldn't live in post Jim's passing). Once I got home and walked through the door, I felt "at home". Bottom line, ten months later . . . I'm still confused as to what is right or best for me.

I hope that your "gut" intuition and faith will carry you through in your decision to move back to the city. I know that there's a lot to be said about being around "life" and those close to you versus being isolated in a rural area that was meant for peaceful times with you and the beloved. Perhaps too many inherent future memories were created there and a need to move back a step or two? I really don't know your situation . . . just pondering myself.

Thanks for bringing a reality check to me and allowing me to share my recent experience. Once again, all on the same journey, albeit in differing ways. There are no right or wrong answers, just follow your heart.

Big "warm" hug, Dayna