Is It?

 I'm sitting by the pool at my son's house smoking my Sherlock Holmes pipe with some Autumn Evening.  Some have called Florida "God's Waiting Room."  But is it?  For myself, I think not.  In fact, I may be able to accomplish more here in Florida than I did in either NY or Ohio.  But this is because I try to look forward and NOT back.  At our age it's hard not to focus on the past, but still, my wife and I both say the past is just that and we are where God wants us.  But neither of us are waiting for the end of life.  I have told her that I want her to work on our things for final arrangements of life.  

So many retirees search for meaning in their final years, but I don't plan for end of life.  I won't explain that here, but one could say I am waiting for something great.  But I do think many retirees come to Florida to enjoy the beaches, the weather, and a social life that has nothing to do with business or a job.  It is said retirees down here find old high school or college buddies and experience a kind of second childhood with old friends.  

We live in a building that has ten units, most of which are empty for the summer.  The unit below us just sold, but the man who lived there passed away recently.  One lady is in a nursing home and another has bad eyesight.  We are going to have to get used to being around people who are as old or older and have a variety of health issues.  But in coming to Florida, I had no intention of this place being a waiting room, because we aren't locked into staying here.  

But our thinking is that once we settle into a place we will have no intention of moving again.  We have lived so many places in our married life and have no intentions of moving again.  But to say we are waiting for the end just is NOT true.  I believe we are waiting for a new beginning.  At least this is how I see it.  

I know many people come to Florida to spend their final years here.  Doctors in Florida are well-acquainted with the elderly and their maladies.  Medical care is very good, if not excellent, here in Florida.  Accommodations for the elderly are everywhere.  But like most retirees in Florida, we are tired of northern winters.  We don't have the luxury of owning two places, but so far we've made the best of summer here.  I can handle 90 degree days here.  

But after some six months here, I have no complaints.  I love the palm trees.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave