[Freeda]

Since my husband and I moved to The Villages in Oct 2007 I've gone back to Louisville about once a month both to see my children and for business. I've been here in Louisville alot since August due to a family illness. This time it's been 3 weeks, and I can't wait to get back to TV on Thursday to see some sunshine, even though it may still be somewhat cold there - at least, it will not be in the 'teens! It's not just the snow here in Louisville - and there have been only a few inches at a time here - but it's the lack of sunshine, the wind, and the cold - and this type of weather lasts, to some extent, for almost half of the year here in Louisville; and a big part of the rest it is either very rainy or extremely hot and humid.

I find myself asking myself how in the world I tolerated the cold winters for so long, and why I didn't seek a more comfortable climate a long time ago. At times I have debated in my mind whether moving away from family and friends - even to a wonderful place like TV - felt right to me, so I can understand those who have that dilemma. However, the longer I'm in TV and have the lifestyle there to compare with the lifestyle, not just the weather but the comparative lack of fun activities and lack of an atmosphere of fun and relaxation, that I see here in Louisville, where I lived for over 30 years, I realize that TV is home to me now. Don't get me wrong, Louisville has a lot of nice things about it; it's just that in comparison I see TV (and Florida, as a whole) as offering so much more. I am going to encourage my friends and family to visit us more in TV - or even to move to the south (whether TV or elsewhere) themselves - so that I don't have to make trips back quite so often, especially in winter.

I'm enjoying putting down roots in TV and hope that our example can influence some or all of my children to consider living where there is not so much hardship for them to deal with, weatherwise. Just observing the effort and ordeal, and the risk, that my youngest daughter goes through in getting out to and from work or anywhere else, in this weather, and how the weather so restricts her activities, has helped me realize that moving back would never work. There is probably not a 'perfect' solution to these issues, but each of us has to find the balance that feels the best.

One thing that helps is that when we visit Louisville, even if it is primarily a business trip, we always stay in our children's homes no matter what, and we just work out any inconveniences; even if they have only a sofabed etc. for us to sleep on. The quality time together is priceless (and sometimes hilarious, such as when we are dodging each other as they head out for work in the morning), and in many ways we spend better, more valued, time together - even just 'hanging out' - during those visits than we did when we lived in Louisville. With our kids' busy schedules, it helps to be staying with them, so that we can catch even brief periods of time together, and so that we can also pitch in and help them out with simple errands or sometimes having dinner ready when they get home, etc. I also keep a bag with basic toiletries and casual clothes, robes and pjs, etc at each of my children's homes, so that traveling for visits is simpler.