[SALYBOW]

We rushed into the move to TV because hubby wanted the golfing lifestyle. I was homesick for at least one year. We do have a mortgage but we always have. At first TV was a lot of fun, but since I had to get a job... not so much. It is hard to be driving to work and seeing walkers, runners, golfers and chatters all the way.
Around Thanksgiving I got very homesick again. I desperately miss my grand kids. We just had a new little bit and I do not see her much. We went North for Thanksgiving and at first it was great. Then the normal Cincinnati November kicked in and I began to experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. I really got blue. On the plane on the way home, as soon as we got above the clouds and saw sunshine, I felt happy again.

Things I have come to figure out since the move.
1. I cannot stand the weather up north anymore
2. Seeing the naked trees and vegetation of winter is really a downer
3. My new little bit lives in Minnesota so we/or they have to travel to see each other anyway. We would not have seen my son on Christmas because he is a doctor and had to work Christmas. They came down here right after Christmas.
4. Not having Christmas with family on the 25th doesn't matter as long as you do get to see them ( we spent the day with old friends.) The 25th is just an arbitrary day. We celebrated with the other two children and families the week after Christmas.
5. This past Sunday my next door neighbor was taken away by life squad to the hospital. To make a long story short, I realized that we have a very loving friendship with many people down here and the neighbors rallied around with out asking to help out.
What I am trying to say is that even though life is not perfect down here right now. It has nothing to do with TV rather than with the circumstances right now. All the grandkids will come down to see you. That is not just an empty promise.
Somehow, when you are on the phone talking to the people back home and hearing their weather woes, the 80 degree weather fits just fine.
I do feel a tiny bit sad when I have to get off the phone with them to go play golf. But I get over it in 20 seconds or so.
If you do decide to come down, call me whenever you are feeling homesick. I will listen!