How do you go from the comforts of home and dear friends and decide one day this is not for you any longer? That the pull of family support exceeds your present daily familiarity?
It happens as you grow older. Maybe it’s the clarity of realizing your role in a partnership or place has to change. That your body can no longer do full justice to what you’re commanding it to do.
What to do? Where to go?
Your efforts to find some meaningful ones often get defined by a particular event.
Little things make big changes
Moving. Many reasons exist for this drastic step in life. Some are voluntary, such as my own apparent craziness.
Others are actual lifesaving moves. I’m thinking of the terrible anxiety and sadness right now in war-torn countries across the world. Or those now fleeing their homes due to events connected with rapid climate change.
On the left is a photo taken three days ago. My vantage point lookout is from my recliner chair in the new living room. How beautiful those mountains are! Close enough you feel you could take an afternoon stroll to them.
On the right is the same scene today. The haze is due to smoke from forest fires
I can only speculate on the emotional devastation that happens to refugees when they are forced to move, for whatever reason. All I know with certainty is that maintaining cordial relationships after a move can be a hard thing to do. Hold on to every bit of humour, flexibility and respect you own. You’ll need all of them.
Next week I learn to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
I never thought I’d end up living in a condo. Big buildings, views of other buildings from your building. But when I saw this, I couldn’t resist! Downsizing? I’m now surrounded by large trees, shrubs and flowers. Admittedly someone else looks after them, but that was part of the moving strategy. I’m starting a small balcony garden. Of course I had to bring just a few plants from Sechelt. They will be the nucleus of a different type of backyard farm! |
Image via Vicki W
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