Here comes the cold, again. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Winter isn't so bad if the temps stay 20 degrees above zero. Below that I want to hide under a blanket.

That's awful, jabber. Stay warm!!

Would love to live in Arizona, yonuh. Even have kin there. But that isn't happening. WB wouldn't go for it. Thought about moving to Florida but the sinkholes and hurricanes don't look like fun.

How's the weather where some of the rest of you are? Heard California is having a nice warm spell. But their fires are nasty.

Not sure you'd like the summers here, jabber, we can get over 100 for 60+ days in the summer, and even 110+ on some days. Sure, it's a 'dry' heat with little humidity, but it's still HOT!

Jabber, Yonuh, the concept of moving to a totally different state is an interesting one, and one that I have given a little bit of thought to, myself. Especially since it is cold any yucky here, too. Started snowing again in the early afternoon, and I think we are going to be having subzero temps again for the next few days.

so we've also toyed with the idea of moving, but not found any better place to be -- yet. Here's how our thinking goes so far...

First, we need to recognize that Steve wears leg braces and here in NW Illinois he finds it hard to get around as freely as he might like during the winter months. But he's an Illinois boy born and bred, so it's what he's used to...

Moving to Arizona is not something he's interested in: having visited my mother there, we know it is a desert state and that he would be terribly uncomfortable living where they are (near Tucson) during any months other than winter ones.

I know, I know, one can always stay inside in air conditioning, but that is just as limiting of one's mobility as is ice and snow. Plus, since we are not acclimated to the desert, we just plain find it too darn hot down there in the Southwest...

(I do recognize that there are mountainous areas of New Mexico and Arizona, but I don't know much about them. They MIGHT be a possibility.)

We've visited Las Vegas and absolutely hated it. We've also visited Lake Tahoe and loved it, but it is terribly expensive to live there. Or so I've surmised. So I guess Nevada's tax advantages will fail to lure us.

My brother lives in Dallas, and has been there for several decades, so I guess he likes it. But quite often it is just as hot as Arizona -- plus it is humid. So again, while the state's tax advantages are something we recognize, I'm not sure we would ever choose to live there.

I don't think I would like Florida for similar reasons. Hot and humid weather just do not entice.

I like four seasons, so I'm also ruling out California.

I'm Wisconsin born and bred, so I have some interest in moving back to my home town of Madison, which is a beautiful and highly cultured city. Plus employment opportunities seem to be good there, in the tech industry, which would benefit Steve. But my daughter, who lives in Milwaukee, doesn't like the current governor, so she doesn't think we should look that way. While I realize governors can change, the bottom line is, moving NORTH doesn't get us out of the winter snow situation...

And at that point in my search, I start looking to states like Tennessee or the Carolinas... I haven't done any research on them, so they presently remain unknown potentials.

Wherever we would move, it would have to be to a place where there is good and easily available medical care. Including access to orthotists -- experts who we work with the maintain Steve's leg braces in good condition. Right now, we have an excellent source for this work, and Steve would not want to give that up, unless he knew he could get equal or better support elsewhere. Not to mention that we have excellent medical services here -- both doctors and medical centers. I can't say the same about the resources available to my mother in Arizona. So clearly good medical care opportunities are not universally available.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Cold does not agree with this ol' gal any more. Yes, it gets cold here in NM/winter time. If it weren't for outdoor retail, I'd appreciate the winters. But having to get up at 4:30 to go to work, and stand outside in the brutal wind/cold etc. is not my cup of tea.

But.......on the other hand......I love outdoor retail in the summertime. We are home by 2 pm....out of the heat.

Wish I could help you, Anne. I've been looking for some time, because it's only going to get hotter here in summer - it already has. I don't know of any other place in the US that has the advantages of Tucson - no humidity, no snow, no hurricanes, no tornadoes, - and none of the disadvantages - hight heat, no humidity!

The closest would be a tropical island with sea breezes and a temperate climate - like Hawaii, which is very expensive. But Panama has been touted as a great place to retire for the last couple of years - if you wanted to go overseas. It's close enough to be able to get to the US easily and, from what I've been reading, has first class medical care along with all sorts of perks for retirees.

We too, have been considering where to move because of the weather and taxes. We most likely won't move for a couple of more years as my husband still wants to work at his current job, but he can retire "again" if he wants. He has retired from one job already.

I live in Illinois too, and the taxes are getting even more ridiculous both at local and state levels. We have had horrible cold and hot weather over the last few years. I don't like extreme in either case. Like you said Anne, staying in the A/C in the summer confines one too. Tonight the weather is going to be in single digits again with cold strong winds. The weekend looks like it could be a winter mix but isn’t supposed to amount to anything…..we’ll see.

I would love to move to Hawaii also, lol. One of my nephews lived there for 3 years. He had an opportunity to go work there and being young and single, he jumped at the chance. He loved it there, but when the job was over so was the big money he made.....he could no longer afford to stay there. Unfortunately, he didn't bother to save any money so he could continue to live there!! Errrrr!

We are considering Tennessee and maybe Southeast MO. We still like the 4 seasons too, but would like less of hot humid summers and cold blustery winters. Not asking for much, are we.

They say people are moving out of NY in droves due to taxes and joblessness. We hate the taxes but the gov't's wasteful spending is nationwide. It's too bad those in charge can't put a cap on both those issues. "America the Beautiful" doesn't deserve to have its reputation sullied in such a manner. IMHO!

Heard on the morning news that this is the coldest winter since 1976/77 in these parts. That Blizzard of '77 is an unforgettable thing. What a nightmare. Am praying the cold snap, snaps asap.

Anne, clearly you have thought through this carefully. And I totally agree it's crucial that people spend some vacation time during another region's worst weather, not best weather...to get an accurate feel.

The mildest weather regions in Canada is on the British Columbia coast..but it is also the rainier, grey areas during winter. Summer and fall are lovely. I do miss the area.

The Canadian prairies to me, are tough areas...very cold, longer winters. The only saving grace for locals here in our city, is that we are only 130 km. south of the famed Canadian Rocky Mountains...and a lot of locals do visit at least once a year there. It's only 1 hr. drive there and there are several buses that run there daily.

I grew up in southern Ontario and was there for over first 40 yrs.

I do enjoy distinct 4 seasons, I just don't like long winters. I can live with some very cold days, slush and ice ...I just don't like it stretching it into May sometimes.

Anne, Jabber and whoever else:

I have made VERY clear choices to ALWAYS live within 15 min. walk of public transit, near grocery stores and services. This actually has been my whole life.

I even remembered as a kid, my parents actively looking for their first house that it had to be close transit, stores, etc. in a city of 50,000 people.. This was in 1969. After all, they have 6 children and it just wasn't practically that my father (my mother didn't drive) would be schlepping us much for stuff.

So I am very accustomed to find accommodation, homes that had these neighbourhood factors. Even at university, I made sure where I lived I was within 15 min. walk to bus, a grocery store. http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2013...st-and-ontario/

So when I talk about cycleable neighbourhoods, these are also areas that are walkable for shopping, services and for local transit service. So I'm not really talking about cycling, but more about making life a lot easier and services far more accessible, convenient for yourself.

I would suggest for anyone downsizing to another home, to seriously consider such factors --regardless of hot or cold climates. Why live out in the rural/far flung suburban areas where you have to drive around everywhere? If we don't trust 85 yr. old folks behind the steering wheel, should we trust ourselves by that age?

That's great insight, orchid.

We are 5 miles to the nearest grocery. No public transportation here. We've often thought of moving, but we are so accustomed to being "in the middle of nowhere" it'd be hard for us, at this time, to move. And we do feel the weather is ok for us now. But we often say "Where do WE go" for the winters?" since it's a bit cold for us.

When I lived in any city, of course, everything was close. There is a neighborhood "in town" (which is 38 miles from here) that has no grocery store, yet they are building "lofts" and updating the historic district surrounding the area. Pretty, but impractical.

Maybe when we get closer to "old age", we'll reconsider. It's difficult to leave "home" now.

Those are good solid points about living close to your work, Orchid, and I agree with them.

But I think sometimes we are so used to being a nation of automobiles that we neglect these points when selecting places to live.

My mother, for example, who lives in a retirement community in a small community called Green Valley - closest city of significant size is Tucson - seems to be just now deciding that she doesn't have to travel to Tucson to get her hair cut, shop for groceries, etc.

In just the past month she has started having her hair cut by a woman who runs a salon right within their La Posada retirement community. The thing that is causing her to make these decisions is failing eyesight. Both she and her husband now have trouble driving.

But they haven't had to give up their tickets to the Tuscon Symphony, which is one of my mother's passions. LaPosada has a bus that takes people to the symphony.

I believe this bus can also can take people to doctor appointments in Tucson, when needed. But my mother isn't YET too keen on this, as it means a doctor appointment takes the whole day. (The bus makes the rounds of all the medical centers to drop people off, then circles back at the end of the day to pick everyone up.)

Sometimes therefore, she is having a friend drive her to her appointments.

But I'm getting off the main topic of the "Yucky" weather. It's sunny here today, but the temp at Noon is minus nine degrees F. With the wind chill, we are well into the negative 20s today.

I just heard that the US Weather Service has now declared this month to be the coldest month of this century. To date... (Sorry. I felt I had to add that last part. I'm afraid I worry that we are moving in the direction of weather extremes.)

In Italy they mostly walk, ride public transit, or drive those tiny motorscooters. And bikes are big there too. In Venice they either walk or take a gondola. Living here in the country we have to drive because we're over four miles from town and twenty-five miles from the city.

I understand, Jabber.

We live within the city limits - though Galena is pretty much a small town, not really a city IMHO. But we live on Hwy 20, which is a national highway that runs from the East to West Coats, and is full of big trucks and semis. Worse, Galena happens to be located within the less than 100 miles of the entire E-W route in which the highway is only one lane each way -- with no shoulder.

Besides that, it is a very hilly route. So really not safe to bike or walk on the highway.

The State is in the process of creating a bypass which will include a mandatory sidewalk and bike path, which is referred to by antagonists as "the bike path to nowhere."

But I don't know if that will ever go through, as the amount of private land that will have to be ceded to widen the road, as well as create sidewalk and bike path is enormous.

Some people who currently live on the Highway will literally lose their entire front yards -- or enough of it that no one will want to live that close to the highway. This of course, will affect property values...

And right now the State is saying "it's our way or NO highway."

Thankfully we are not in the path of the proposed bypass. But we are on the Highway, so I really have to drive anywhere if I want to be safe. But I knew this when we bought the house...
so I'm not really complaining. Just explaining...

It depends how one looks at it:
Most likely you/all of us will be forced into a position later, to move to be closer to amenities we already not living in such neighbourhoods, and it may be a place you not want to be/be a likeable choice.

It does get tougher when we lose capacity for greatest personal mobility such as your mother Anne.

One of the reasons why I plan to continue to live close to amenities and shops, is that I don't have to rely exclusively on special buses that only run once a day vs. regular more frequent transit buses, or be bound to live in a gated retirement community. (Why not live in a condo building or apartment building with security staff? Keep it simple, if you're so concerned.)

Personally I don't think for me, it would be healthy to be surrounded by just people around my age, increasingly in failing health and dying. It's better for me (and probably others) to be living in my retirement years in a mixed generation neighbourhood....which is a normal neighbourhood. It will force me to think outside my own mental boundaries.

I don't envision participating in social activities, etc. of people just within my age bracket. If it happens, fine. But I'm not planning on that exclusively. The most vibrant seniors I know personally....and these are people who cycle into their 70's, are people who participate often in activities that put them in contact with people from across different generations.

This becomes important if some of us aren't birth mothers/don't have children living locally/don't visit us hardly at all.


Thank you, Anne for activating this birthday cake icon. Yes, it's coming up. I celebrated on my blog for 55 --means both hands of 5 fingers high fivin'!

Ontario will by law, require driver testing starting at age 80. That's good + stronger police enforcement of provinces (Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Probably more but those are places where I've lived.) and states where texting, use of cell phone while driving is illegal.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-dri...rticle16638607/

My point of being forced to far less desirable living situations, is to make decisions and move into areas while you are healthy, where you are less car-dependent because you live within walking, transit or a short taxi cab ride away from stores, etc.

Reading the comments to the news article is useful.

Orchid, I think it is a good idea to have mandatory driver testing for people turning 80. I also think older drivers need to consider taking a refresher driving course, such as the one offered by AARP.

Our auto insurance offers discounts for older drivers with safe driving records, who have also recently taken a refresher driver training class.

You can take the AARP refresher driver training course online, which makes it doubly easy, IMHO. Here's the link.

As for driving at 80, I am sure many can still do this. But as I've already mentioned, both my mother and step-father are deliberately doing less of it. She has macular degeneration, and I'm pretty sure she's now ruled out driving at night.

So you are correct, Orchid. As we age, we need to consider living in places where driving is not a requirement.

Part of the problem in the US as I see it is that public transportation hasn't been a priority in most major cities. And in some cities, the downtown areas are less than safe to live in. Also, many cities are 'food deserts' that don't have good choices in food shopping; most of the grocery stores are in the suburbs. There are many things to think about in preparing for our older years, but sometimes there isn't much of a choice.

Well Anne, this year, my 85 yr. old father gave up his driver's license: his cancer and spinal neck degeneration which is causing him to stoop (unrelated to cancer), made him decide. We are relieved.

Which means one of my siblings has to drive them/mother (who can't drive) to buy groceries. She's not that great anymore in terms of walking far but still can without a walker/cane. (She doesn't use one/need one.) She is 80 yrs. with high blood pressure and gout....controlled by medication for past decade.

They do live in 2 blocks of major grocery store. So my mother could walk there if none of us were available at the hour/at work.

I understand, yonuh about the food desert or missing grocery store in a neighbourhood. We do have such areas in our city of 1.2 million people. And citizens do have to speak up and lobby municipality to get a store. It can happen after a few years.. if there is a plot of land/building that can be converted to one.

I'm not oblivious to suburban living: my parents moved and lived in a nice suburban home for 15 yrs. after we all grew up and left home. It was somewhat inconvenient, though nice when I would visit them after getting off the interurban bus...because thereafter, I was dependent on their car rides during my visit. There was transit..which was only a 10 min. walk from their home. I used it as well as my siblings who buzzed into town and for those who didn't have a car at that time.

Then they relocated from a city of 100,000 to Toronto to be closer to us (100 km. east)...while they were still in excellent health. That was 10 yrs. ago.

I don't drive because I was not comfortable driving on expressways and highways. But I know enough people at my age, who should not drive, but they drive because they feel their lifestyle forces them to.... These are friends who got their license in their early 30's.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-dri...ws/?click=drive

Lists all the laws across Canadian provinces and penalties.

Orchid, THANKS! That is such a useful chart to keep track of how these laws vary by province and territory across Canada.

I found it so useful, I wondered if such a list exists for US states, and I discovered that the GHSA -- Governors Highway Safety Association -- also has a similar list. My hyperlink takes you right to it!

Distracted driving is such a huge issue. And it's not just teens who are afflicted with it these days!

The US needs to list the amount of the fines associated with each infraction. It's against the law to use cell phones while driving in NY State but people ignore the law. This and all distracted driving laws should be better enforced, at least in America.

E-Gads! We have freezing rain this morning, turning into sleet----along with some thunder and lightning. It will taper off later this morning but, I think we are supposed to have more freezing rain/sleet this evening again. I was hoping it would be at least snow, if we were going to have to have another winter storm~but, no. I am sick. Of. Winter! lol.

Guess I’ll cook up a pot of chicken n dumplins’ per my husband’s request, if the power don’t go out, and then curl up with a book or two.