A Person who is moving North is not making a mistake in my opinion.........Stuart Little

Note: The dates on these posts are not accurate. Putting them in this order was the only way I could make them go from first to last.......dd

(May) It's true as someone told me, You're a Northern California/California Gal (been in the state since I was 2), and we love the Monterey Peninsula; how could anyone not. However, despite the downturn in the economy it's one of the most expensive places to live in the United Sates. We rent; we could NEVER afford to buy anything here.

In June, we will drive to Whidbey Island, Washington for two weeks, look around for a place to rent and decide in which part of the Island we'd like to live (our current preference is Coopeville (http://www.centralwhidbeychamber.com/) BUT, we've found a house on the net we'll look at June 8th: http://www.southislandproperties.com/

(click on Homes for Rent at the left; then scroll down to "a home for you and your horse!").

As soon as/if we find a place to rent we'll move. That will probably be during the summer. We'll live there a full year to see if we can stand 1) the cold—it's about 10 degrees colder than the Monterey Peninsula and 2) the dark in winter. If, after a year, we like it even a little less than we love Pacific Grove, we'll buy a home. Homes that sell for a million + here on the peninsula can literally be bought for $300 - 500K on Whidbey. The Island is absolutely beautiful, and, of course, that's because it rains, it's cold, it snows, etc. We'll see ;+}........stay tuned.

We are NOT moving to be near family. My daughter Kathlyn used to live in Seattle, is now doing an MBA in Glendale AZ, but her home base is LA. We will probably see her as much in Washington as we do here! My son Ben lives in Kensington (next to Berkeley). If you ever need a SUPER, and I mean super! (I hate needles, and I've gotten treatments from him!) acupuncturist give him a try! http://acupuncturereliefclinic.com/default.aspx (shameless mom promotion here). What with email, video chats, ichat and all, our family DEFINITELY will stay in touch.

Another reason we're leaving at this time is because my 95 year old mother who lived in Monterey at the wonderful Park Lane (now "Classic Residence" (http://www.hyattclassic.com/) died March 27th. Though I miss her devilish, impish little self, there is little sorrow; it was way past time; she was so very very ready and so very very frail at the end. This was a woman who had played tennis until she was about 89 and lived by herself for the last 30 years; in the end she could barely walk and wanted out because she couldn't. With the folks at Park Lane, we took care of her the four years she was here, and thus were pretty much committed to staying here; many of you who have cared for aged parents will understand. For me it was a "bus person's holiday," something I would have had a MUCH more difficult time with had it not been for the love and support of my wonderful husband, many many friends, the staff at Park Lane, and the staff at a local hospice.................all angels in human clothing. I've always maintained people who work with older adults are special; I've seen it first hand with mom.

So, if you're interested, stay tuned to watch our progress, whatever it might be.

Di & Dave