I'm sorry to hear this, Pax. Of course, health is number on for daily enjoyment and just living.
To disable ads, please log-in.
Haven't said much about it other than the occasional complaint, but it looks as if our relocation to Florida is rapidly becoming a failed experiment. We could live with the lack of culture and rude people, the beach was an excellent trade off... but a double whammy is hitting us now.
The lack of expanded medicaid (ACA accessibility), is squashing our early retirement dreams. And completely unexpectedly, my asthma is out of control here. I'm on five different asthma meds but it can't control the breathing issues. Since February I've been spending part of every single day gasping for breath, it is so very tiring, both physically and mentally.
We're trying to decide what's next and first and foremost on the list is to return to our hometown in Illinois. It would put us back into the best healthcare plan I've ever seen, slow the asthma issues, and my wife will just stop telecommuting and go back to her office to work.
We would still get a van to convert for travel (my beloved is now 100% on board with this and excited about it), maybe it wouldn't be so bad? We could still get away from winter once we retire.
So, we plan.
Electra Townie 7D
I'm sorry to hear this, Pax. Of course, health is number on for daily enjoyment and just living.
My Personal blog on cycling & other favourite passions.
遙知馬力日久見人心 Over a long distance, you learn about the strength of your horse; over a long period of time, you get to know what’s in a person’s heart.
Ugh, Pax. There's not much worse than not being able to breathe. I'm sorry it doesn't seem to be working out for you, I know how much you were looking forward to the move.
Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
I remember a science teacher once saying there is no such thing as a "failed experiment". Sometimes we just end up with unexpected or unwanted results, so I'm sorry it's not working out as you had planned and hoped for. It sounds as if you have good options, and the van sounds like fun!
While I am sorry it didn't work out, you are taking the right attitude. Be flexible. Your health is #1, and I can certainly identify with that. While my main reason for moving away from AZ was not health, the added plus of it ended up being both myself and my older son were incredibly healthier, and no longer needed asthma meds every 4 hours.
Sometimes the allure of the beach is enough. Sometimes, though, it blinds us to other stuff. There are a lot of people around here who think all will be perfect if they move to Florida. Lately, I have read a considerable number of articles about how when retirees get down there, they realize they miss their medical care, their families, their friends, and their favorite haunts. Like you, I want to be able to travel when we are fully retired, but moving somewhere else permanently is not going to happen. We have divested ourselves of a lot of the expenses we used to have, so we will be able to do this in a couple of years.
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
Thanks so much for commiseration, it helps just to lay it out there and look at it objectively.
I'll try the allergist one more time before I throw in the towel, see if he's got anything else up his sleeve. But I'm just so exhausted all the time from trying to breathe, I'm not holding out a lot of hope.
Electra Townie 7D
I wish you well and get a handle on your asthma. Being open to other possibilities is a good thing. And sometimes, best place is "home". You don't realize it until you try living elsewhere. It's the Yin and Yang thing.
- Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
- Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
- Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle
Gone but not forgotten:
- Silver 2003 aluminum road bike
- Two awesome worn out Juliana saddles
reminds us who are healthy to feel blessed and grateful!!! hoping the allergist finds a workable solution for you!!!
‘The negative feelings we all have can be addictive…just as the positive…it’s up to
us to decide which ones we want to choose and feed”… Pema Chodron
You know, this morning I'm reading the local news, as I have most mornings for a decade, and I noticed something I never had before.
At the bottom of the front page of each local paper's website, there's a row of headshots of ordinary citizens.
In the northern paper, they're obituaries, so we can extend sympathy to our neighbors.
In the Daytona paper, they're mugshots, so we can sneer at and gossip about our neighbors.
Kind of says a lot.
ETA: sorry about the smiley face, don't know what I clicked to put it there accidentally, can't find a way to remove it.
Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
Even though it's not funny, I just laughed at your comment, Oak. I think it sums it up perfectly.
Too many years in eternal sunshine made me cynical. I wonder how this happened?
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
Oak - I agree, it is a strange place with no sense of community. Seems to be "every man for himself", as though the people who move here either come from a place where that behavior is the norm, or feel alienated enough here to adopt it.
Electra Townie 7D
Why would anyone want to see mugshots in their daily paper, unless they're really dangerous people at loose?? What an absurd and cruel idea. Wishing you the best with your move, Pax. I truly believe one can be happy anywhere, some places make it easier, but it mostly depends on other things than location, like friends, family, activities, adaptation.
Winter riding is much less about badassery and much more about bundle-uppery. - malkin
1995 Kona Cinder Cone commuterFrankenbike/Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow
2008 white Nakamura Summit Custom mtb/Terry Falcon X
2000 Schwinn Fastback Comp road bike/Specialized Jett
Thanks, lph, I'm trying to approach this with kindness and love. View it as an opportunity to reconnect with friends and family back home. I've been beating myself up about it, first my leg now my lungs; been doing a lot of "woe is me". But I need to look at it with new eyes and an open heart... I don't hate home, I just wanted to get away from winter.
My one regret will be giving up my job, it was so hard to get and I love the library and students. But something decent will come up back home.
Electra Townie 7D
Little late on this, but my heartfelt wish that you find some comfort, too.
In my life, I have lived in many places and have learned that the perfect place does not really exist, but the right place is something I've found a couple of times, though that right place can only be right if your health says it is so. Have visited Florida several times and, frankly, it would not be healthy for me, either. No, it's not the heat and humidity - I can handle that well enough - but that insane air conditioning every one uses to the max, down there, drives me nuts. Just when I'm getting used to the heat outdoors on a bike ride or a walk, I step into a building and get blasted by the AC. Last trip, down there, I actually had to go buy a sweater for use, indoors. That's just nuts. That can't be healthy. Best of luck to you.