I don't know why you said that post doesn't belong here. Many of us will be faced with moving during our elder years, so any info on the possibilities is important!

I could write forever on this subject. Then, fortunately, I remember that I already have: my blog began with a For Sale sign in the yard and struggles regularly with decisions like yours. Until '91, we moved every three years as an Air Force family, so you'd think we'd be good at it, but needs and the meaning of "home" change radically in one's sixties.

Today, we take the sign down because of a decision about what constitutes home at this stage of life: this house and its environs, in all their imperfection, have turned out to be home, because we have lived here longer than anywhere we've ever been. Our children's highly hormonally-charged adolescent DNA lingers in the crevices of every room. I know where all the light switches are in the dark. Perhaps, most importantly, this happens to be where we found ourselves when the Nomad Window unexpectedly shut...a developmental milestone of aging that I'd forgotten to anticipate.

We find these decisions so tough, we actually liked it better when the USAF told us what to do.

keep in mind, if you move, you lose old friends, new ones are hard to find.

Before my late husband died, we bought a small farm after living in a small southern city where I was born and grew up; we lived in that house 25 years. He died after only being at the farm 2 years, and I could not leave that place fast enough. Felt homesick for the city home all that 2 years; however, the city house was rented and I bought another house in the same neighborhood. Lived there the past 3 years, but I never really had that same "coming home" feeling I did in the other house. So when my renters moved last fall,I did some renovations and now I'm living in the house husband and I spent 25 years in. And I am very content, HAPPY. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who if I'm away even on vacation, gets terribly home sick (the to point of miserable) until I get back home. So home to me is definitely "place."

Ronni, never doubt that moving is a *perfect* subject for this blog, because most elders struggle terribly with moves--either avoiding them or being forced into them.

Even desired moves involve a lot of decluttering, disorientation, and disruption. That's the reason I bet you get a huge response every time you post on this subject...we've all done it, are doing it, or have done it for someone else.

Home for me? Easy--the next place I can have a cat. Seriously, my wish list is the same as yours: Family close (but not too close); transit; urban amenities.

We’d like to make a move to something smaller and remain in the same township, but something smaller, with less privacy might end up costing more than what we now pay. We go back and forth with should we stay put in our present house or look elsewhere for something more affordable. It’s best to make these decisions while relatively healthy in mind and body. We honestly don’t know what to do and so we end up doing nothing. I like Bucks County PA and don’t feel I’d want to go back to where I grew up in New Jersey, but who knows.

We are settled on the island of Montreal, 5 min walk to bus, close to library, community center, shopping. We love our older, renovated home.

It's exactly where I used to dream of living when going home from high school on the late bus. I still get teary when crossing the Mercier bridge to home after being on a long trip to the USA.

The city scape is right there, in all its radiant glory.

We love Montreal. We're walking distance to a lake with lake rights, have kayaks, bikes, inline skates. When we don't feel like driving to downtown, we take the bus, with our senior passes.

Neighbors are friendly but not in our faces. Mom is 5 mins away by car. Most of my family live on the island.

The ONLY thing we don't like, is winter. It's too darn long for us, so we go somewhere else for at least a month per year.

We don't do winter sports, but we use the library regularly. When we downsize, we will not move anywhere unless we have public transportation close by, grocery shops, a library, clinic and a university in case we want to take a course.

No way will we want someone to drive us everywhere. We'll sell one car, get 2 electric bikes, and keep on ticking.

I see too many seniors stuck in highrises, nobody to take them shopping...we need to think long and hard about location, as seniors.

Location is number one. Friends, you will make new ones if you join activities. Take care, Ronni.

From a woman with a history of a gypsy lifestyle -- think small, travel small, seek nature, live simple, do your homework on your future place, rent until it fulfills your spirit -- otherwise if it doesn't -- move on with no strings attached. barbara

I just read about your pending move. I appreciate the fact that you are moving back to your hometown, but I hope you enjoyed your stay in Portland ME. I have family in the Maine Portland and I love that area. I usually only visit it in the summer or fall. The Northeast is cold enough where I grew up, and live, in Albany NY so I generally hibernate here through the winter. I wish you the best in your move and I am somewhat envious because if my circumstances were different I would definitely consider a move to somewhere other than smallbany - as I call it. Hopefully you will continue "Times Goes By" when you move.

I agree with other posters: thinking of moving in later life is a perfect topic as it can be a minefield.

We wondered when we left UK for Spain whether this was to be our final move. We still don't know what might drive us back to our roots but will be interesting to find out.....eventually.

Best of luck, Ronni, on your decision...boy that is a tough one. Syd and I have lived in the same house since 1972 and hope to go to heaven from here. Just the thought of moving sends shivers down my back. All our needs are met here, so long as our children and grandchildren are near...we are at peace!!!

Sorry I'm late to the moving party!! Been dealing with back to back blizzards and snow shoveling!

I moved to the DC area from still living with my parents in Minnesota in 1982. Lived in DC proper, Alexandria, Arlington, and now my little home in Takoma Park, MD. I can't imagine moving anytime soon, although I hate the heat and humidity here.

My favorite "feels like home" quote is rather long so bare with me:

It is from the Wind in the Willows:
"The weary Mole was also glad to turn in without delay, and soon had his head on his pillow, in great joy and contentment. But ere he closed his eyes he let them wander round his old room, mellow in the glow of tgeh firelight that played or rested on familiar and friendly things which had long been unconsciously a part of him, and now smilingly received him back, without rancour...He saw how plain and simple--how narrow even--it all was; but clearly too, how much it all meant to him, and the special value of some such anchorage in one's existence. He did not at all want to abandon the new life adn its splendid spaces, to turn his back on the sun and air and all they offered him and creep home and stay there; the upper world was all too strong, it called to him still, even down there, and he knew he must return to the larger stage. But it was good to think that he had this to come back to, this place which was all his own, these things which were so glad to see him again and could be counted upon for the same simple welcome."

My Dad taught me that "Home is where you hang your hat."