friday fodder

I'm not playing the usual friday five today. The topic is perks of ministry, and, well, this week I'm not feeling perky about ministry. Some weeks are like that. I DID get the newsletter done, and it's in the mail and will reach people today, so that's a good feeling.

In other news, big news for our family, our daughter and her clan finally have their assignment for the next stint in Travis' career. He winds up his residency in San Antonio this spring and then they will be off to Augusta, stationed at Fort Gordon. Yay! For one thing, they will be much closer to us (a six-hour drive), which means that it will be much easier to get to them, and them to us. AND, they will be near Melrose. With baby number three due in July, we'll actually be able to get there and see him or her as a newborn. Nana is smiling big time!

I'm working toward the fodder. Initially Ashley and company were very excited about the possibility of going to Augusta. It was their first choice. Travis was born there when his dad was stationed at Fort Gordon. His parents love Augusta, and at one time talked about retiring there. Now, it seems, the attractions of family-friendly San Antonio have spoiled the kids a bit, and they're feeling disappointed that Augusta doesn't measure up in that department. Augusta may not be the place where they settle in for the long haul. Then again, once they get there they may discover that it's a great place to raise a family, even without Sea World. The ease with which they can get to the lake, a handful of hours to the ocean, Savannah and Charleston, and a fairly quick ride to Atlanta make Augusta nicely situated.

Daughter-in-law Trisha is from Augusta. A big chunk of her family is there, and as an extended family they are a rockin' party crowd. The annual Gator Bowl is like a national holiday to that clan, and they have multiple Christmas celebrations. I know that being near her family is important to Trisha, and it wouldn't surprise me if she and Kenneth settled, at some point, closer to home.

With those family factors pointing toward Augusta it would make sense that our eyes would be focused on a relocation there at some point as well. We talk about it. We imagine it. But...

Retirement is likely another ten years off, and there's some time to make a decision about whether we do that here, or somewhere else. It's close enough, however, to be thinking about it with some seriousness. And here is where I am seriously torn. On the one hand I want to be near our family, to part of the lives of the kids and grandchildren. I didn't ever get to be Mom, so being Nana is hugely important to me. On the other hand, the idea of moving farther south fills me with loathing. Hot and humid is not my idea of fun. I'm a Yankee. I love the snow. I love the cool summer nights. Weather effects quality of life, and I want life to be full of quality when I'm older and, well, older.

Do I have to make any of these decisions now? No. But it never hurts to lean into the future and lay groundwork for it. We won't ever be in a financial position to have two homes (unless, of course, I win my dream house). Settling somewhere is what we will do. So I take in information, listen to my heart, and find its compass swiveling about. It would be so nice for the future not to look so much like a big question mark.