[barb1191]

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida

Thank you, Maryland Girl. It's a lot easier and takes a lot less energy to be positive in our thinking. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Surgery was successful and I remain cancer-free. I have to believe that my relaxed life here in The Villages has contributed to my good health. How can we live here and NOT have a positive outlook? My belief is that if a person can't be happy here they will never be happy anywhere. This place isn't perfect but NO place is. I believe I said in another post that happiness means different things to different people. Trying to find happiness in external places and things doesn't always work. I often see golfers who can't seem to enjoy a game unless they are getting low scores on every hole. That is a definite set-up for misery! A great golf game for me is watching the undulating flight of a flock of bluebirds as they head across the fairway to a stand of pine trees. I still laugh when I recall the squirrel who stole my friend's snack bar out of the golf cart and proceeded to sit under an oak tree, peeling the wrapper and eating it all! How could I be angry, watching these antics? How can we not enjoy the beauty of a golf course as the sun sinks below the horizon? On a good day I break 100. On a good day my score is over 100! What did it really matter? I was too busy enjoying nature, the landscape, and my playing partners! So, getting back to the question, that narrow garage is nothing more than a challenge to me, and such a tiny negative in the grand scheme of life. As a cancer survivor I am just happy to be here, enjoying this fabulous lifestyle. It's all "gravy" to me and I couldn't have picked a better place to live out my "bonus" years!

WOW So eloquently put. I too share your positive thinking and I also share your having survived cancer, as I have myself (although still not cancer free, but alive and kickin') and owe so much to my wonderful hubby Bill and family, as well as this paradise we live in. It's the best medicine. Remember that song? "Don't Worry; Be Happy." Both Bill and I have a favorite expression when nitty-gritty things become annoying and then comes....."don't sweat the small stuff" and the agitation passes immediately....we laugh!

The "druthers" have passed and we are okay with the downsizing and thoroughly enjoying our little nest.