Aging

What should I do when age comes haunting? I have been pondering what to do with my remaining years lately. My mother lived to be 94 and a distant aunt of mine just celebrated her 100th birthday. I am 68 years old so the possibility that I might have 30 more years allows me to plan a second life. 

A little girl then. An old woman now.

I have always enjoyed writing but only indulged in it during my long ago teenage years. Now is my chance to try it again without all that teenage angst interfering with my creative spirit. This blogging is giving me the chance to do short spurts of writing. I might even reverse the immigration process and go back to my roots.  My husband and I could be like the salmon and go back to our birthplace for inspiration and new life. Canada has been wonderful to us. We gave birth to our two children here and they have grown into wonderful happy people. We have gotten to know two amazing grand kids here, intimately. 

My husband and I have this longing lately to explore ourselves, and find new inspiration in our surroundings. This may not be possible in our 80’s. It may not be possible anyhow due to economics. Ireland has become a very expensive country in which to live. The Celtic Tiger boom that took place from the mid 1990’s to the mid 2000’s is over now. We could not have afforded to go back then. The  resultant bubble that caused a downturn in the economy, and bonus for us, cheaper housing, is also over now. The economy has improved a great deal again resulting in a more expensive lifestyle. 

Our needs are less now, and even our wants are more modest. Long hikes, writing, photography, reading and the occasional pub visit with comfortable friends would almost be it. A play now and again and maybe a movie would add to the evening fun. The odd visit with relatives and of course spending time with our other 2 wonderful grandkids in Ireland would complete us. We need to do lots of research. Selling and buying, health and transport, lifestyle costs and utility costs have to be considered. Taxes and savings, hairstyles and clothing are also a part of the research needed. Packing and moving would be exhausting and might even age us more, before we are done. 

Some of these obstacles would be eliminated if we stayed in Canada. We do have many old friends in Ontario. Relatives and grandkids would however not be there for us. We could live in a different part of Alberta to be near family. Important decisions have to be made. Writing would be part of our life so an inspirational environment is important. For now we can enjoy the planning and dreaming.