Our driveway - When the previous owners left this property, she hugged every tree along our drive. I know why now and will do the same. This is a magic place. So why leave?
We are in our 60's now. And we know how time flies. We will look up and we will be 70. We do all the work here and, while it is no problem now, if one of us falters it will be too much. We did not want to be one of those couples where the kids talk about "What are we going to do about Dad?"
We have 3 grandchildren. We want to be part of their lives as they grow. This for me is like all the times that I have moved for work. They are our work now. Helping our own kids directly is what I think is true grandparents work.
As my regular readers know, I also have a very dark view of what is to come. I don't know when and I don't know how but things will get very bad. The extended family is the only organization that I know of that is capable of coping with that kind of social trauma. Our family is not here.
I have not faith even in money. I am convinced that a good plan is to downsize dramatically for our old age. Freedom 55 is not having a lot of savings but having very low costs. This implies a much smaller footprint. It implies sharing. It demands very low use of energy and a very small link to the larger systems of society today.
So what about PEI, my home for 17 years. The place where I have invested so much? I could not attract my kids to live here in spite of doing all I could. But PEI is my home. My home by choice. PEI has welcomed me and made me part of it. I think I have done a bit for PEI too. Islanders know the strength of blood and family. I hope they will understand.
