We’re at the end of the first full week of retirement. There probably will not be weekly retirement reports but, depending on what’s happening, I can keep provide updates.
Vince had not been back to Missouri since we left 7 years ago. You all know I’ve tried so hard to get him to move back to Missouri so I figured this trip would help win him over but it just isn’t going to happen. I was so sure the Mount Vernon, MO area was going to open his eyes and he’d see this was where we should retire.
- 30 – 40 miles from Joplin or Springfield where there’s excellent medical care and shopping without too much crazy traffic – especially Joplin
- Green grass!
- Houses with basements and water wells.
- A little over an hour from Chad
- Reasonably priced nice houses with acreage
- Can get most places we need to go – Joplin, Springfield, Chad – without winding, narrow back roads.
I thought the plan was that we would drive down to Mount Vernon and look around there. Vince had also mentioned that he wouldn’t mind Neosho, MO so I thought we would go down there too. I had an idea that we would go to Mount Vernon, spend a bit of time investigating that area, then drive down to Neosho, less than an hour away, spend some time there, then go to my favorite BBQ place in Cassville, MO, eat and go back to Chad’s.
No! He does not want to live in Missouri. He does not want to look at Mount Vernon. He doesn’t want to look at Neosho. He does not want to have BBQ in Cassville.
This is the point where I say . . I’m done . . you find the place.
My whole idea about retiring is this:
- We’re not really OLD yet but in 10 or 12 years, we’re going to probably want to be closer to family.
- Either we stay where we are or we move closer to Chad now or, we wait 10 or 12 years, see where Chad is at that point and if he’s somewhere that it looks like he’ll be staying for a while, then move closer to him.
If you haven’t heard the song “Girls From Texas“, which I have Addie walking around singing . . there’s one line that I’m afraid is true: “Once you cross that Red River, hoss, you’ll stay forever!”
Vince is now looking in . . I don’t even know what they call it . . northeast Texas maybe . . the Paris area. He has two or three areas he wants to check out on our way home. I’ll go along for the ride but I just can’t see giving up everything we’ve done at our place, and moving somewhere that’s still 5 hours from Chad. I’m trying not to be disagreeable but unless something just reaches out and grabs me and says “move here!”, I don’t see me saying ok to moving to that area. I’d rather stay where we are.
Then, do we move somewhere and have 2 – 5 acres instead of 40 acres because I don’t see us doing what we’ve done – having a big garden, planting fruit trees, etc.
My guess is we’re staying right where we are for a while but, I suppose the more we look around, the better position we’ll be in to find the place that’s right . . though how does that work when I already know I want to move to Missouri and he says anywhere BUT Missouri?
If Vince had always said “I want to retire in the Paris, Texas area”, I would be more considerate but, right now, he doesn’t have a clue. Today it’s Paris; tomorrow it’s somewhere else. You know I’ve always, well . . since Addie came along, said I want to retire in MO.
We have to get from here to home and I suppose it doesn’t matter which route we take to get there so if he wants to spend some time investigating that area, I’ll do it but I’m not so sure I’m doing it with an open mind.
Dottie says
We have a lot of family and friends in the Paris/Bonham area…..it is definitely GREENER.
Suzanne says
I am enjoying reading your retirement stories. My Husband is going to retire in a handful of years. We live by all our children and he wants to move away when we retire.
Sherrill Pecere says
Oh Suzanne, I can tell you from first hand experience that that is a bad idea. We did that when DH retired (to a place we had 3 acres and had planned on just a summer home til we found that was WAY too expensive) and it wasn’t long at all that I said ‘what the hell was I thinking?’!!! We were on our way back in under a year!
Linda in NE says
Maybe Vince really wants to retire to New Jersey? LOL
Judy Laquidara says
Nothing against NJ, but I surely hope not.
danielle s nabozny says
we will be moving next year when I retire. So we are slowly fixing up the house…..and clearing things out. Had our first garage sale (and subsequent dump off at thrift shop afterwards) yesterday. Can I just say – the spirit is still willing but oh my – the energy and strength are jiust not there as compared to years ago. AS we were moving things out of storage for the sale, I kept thinking – this will have to be our last move!
Judy Laquidara says
It is amazing how much things change. Like you, I want one more move and that’s it. Vince has always been the one who moved on and left me behind to take care of everything and we had movers. This time, we’re on our own and he will be there helping so it’s going to be a whole lot different this time.
Tricia says
Vince’s stance against MO must be terribly frustrating, and even heartbreaking, for you. My husband also does not understand what living by family means to me. If you didn’t grow up with grandparents, uncles and aunts, and tons of cousins surrounding you in your early life, you just don’t understand the joy and support that comes from family living. Luckily, you are a bloom where you are planted type of girl–just hold out for something better than the great life you already have!
Paula Nordt says
I like you idea of waiting a few more years to see if Chad moves. It would be terrible if you moved there to be near him and he moved to Houston with his family.
Brenda B. says
Curious what the bbq place in Cassville is? Jerry’s mom lives there, and would like to try it.
Nelle Coursey says
Be careful in North Texas, you don’t want to end up in Tornado Alley!!You might like the Mount Vernon, Mount Pleasant area though. It is green there and my cousin who lives there says it is very laid back!!
dezertsuz says
Vince really is stubborn if he won’t even LOOK at a place in Missouri. That sounds a lot like, “I’ve made up my mind, don’t confuse me with facts.” LOL Best of luck to you.
Rebecca in SoCal says
I thought you were pretty seriously looking at houses in east Texas last time you were in Louisiana? I don’t see that in your “short list.” It does sound like Vince is pretty set on Texas.