Decision Made....Asheville, NC!
I'm been thinking long and hard where I want to live after I retire in June. I have decided that I'm going to move to Asheville, North Carolina after my lease expires later this year. The cost of living in the DC area is very high, and I want to live someplace where I work if I want to, not because I feel like I need to. I don't see myself ever quitting work completely. But I want to be in a position where I don't need to work for money.
I've been doing research about Asheville. They have a Petco, Rooms To Go, Haverty's, Panera Bread, and Bonefish Grill (a girl's gotta have her priorities straight!). And I recently learned there's a Publix Supermarket opening in March. Publix is one of the few things I miss about Florida. That in and off itself was almost enough to seal the deal for me!
I've also identified several potential volunteer opportunities in the realm of animal rescue. I plan to join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute that's affiliated with the University of NC - Asheville. There's also a community college that offers continuing education classes and certifications in such areas as web design.
Asheville has a botanic garden, a nature center, and an art museum. And how could I have almost forgotten to mention the Biltmore Estate! I had an annual pass when I lived in North Carolina before and even had it for a few years after I moved to Florida. I see myself getting one again.
I have family relatively close by. My step dad will be about 2 1/2 hours away. My favorite aunt and uncle an hour away, and my favorite cousin about 45 minutes. I like the idea of having support close by. If I have a melancholy day, I can hop in the car and go for a visit.
The other location that made my very short list was Savannah, GA. I still see myself possibly ending up in Savannah somewhere down the line. A lot will depend on how well I gel with Asheville. I plan to look for a rental initially, and see what happens from there. Time will tell!
I've been doing research about Asheville. They have a Petco, Rooms To Go, Haverty's, Panera Bread, and Bonefish Grill (a girl's gotta have her priorities straight!). And I recently learned there's a Publix Supermarket opening in March. Publix is one of the few things I miss about Florida. That in and off itself was almost enough to seal the deal for me!
I've also identified several potential volunteer opportunities in the realm of animal rescue. I plan to join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute that's affiliated with the University of NC - Asheville. There's also a community college that offers continuing education classes and certifications in such areas as web design.
Asheville has a botanic garden, a nature center, and an art museum. And how could I have almost forgotten to mention the Biltmore Estate! I had an annual pass when I lived in North Carolina before and even had it for a few years after I moved to Florida. I see myself getting one again.
I have family relatively close by. My step dad will be about 2 1/2 hours away. My favorite aunt and uncle an hour away, and my favorite cousin about 45 minutes. I like the idea of having support close by. If I have a melancholy day, I can hop in the car and go for a visit.
The other location that made my very short list was Savannah, GA. I still see myself possibly ending up in Savannah somewhere down the line. A lot will depend on how well I gel with Asheville. I plan to look for a rental initially, and see what happens from there. Time will tell!
Thank you so much for always stopping by our blog. Mom thinks Asheville sounds like a perfect place to live - hope the move goes well for you.
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