I've been to Phoenix three times before--each time in Spring. Once was with Ken for a trip he'd earned through work. Another time was with the kids to see the Grand Canyon. The third time I tagged along while Ken had meetings. Each time we were able to visit with family. I discovered that I love the desert! I would not care to live there full time, however. I need my rolling hills, four seasons, and more green than brown.
I've often thought it would be fun to be able to live in a different place for each season. I'd explore the surrounding States, thoroughly. Each house would be totally different from the others so that I could decorate them according to their style. Here is how I envision it:
Winter: Log cabin with a large, cozy fireplace in the Rocky Mountains overlooking a quiet valley
Spring: 19th century Townhouse in a historical city in the Southeast like Charleston, SC
Summer: Seaside Cottage in New England
Autumn: Adobe house with a center courtyard in northern New Mexico
Now that I have grandchildren, though, I wouldn't want to live so far away. And at my age I don't need MORE houses to look after! Instead, I think I'll just plan a week's vacation in each of these spots.
What about you? If money, kids, grandkids, or anything else was not a factor, would you stay where you are or would you like to live elsewhere? Would you be like me and want a different house for each season?
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Take Joy!
I love your thought process! I too do not want to move far from my Grandsons. However, I would love to travel. To see places I've never seen. Like the Grand Canyon, several tours to places that have waterfalls, etc. GOD willing I may get to make this come true!
ReplyDeleteI sure do hope you will do that traveling you've longed to do, Sandy.
DeleteCathy, your photos are so vivid from Phoenix--lovely. There are very few places I'd rather live than VA. It would be lovely to live for six months at a time in the Lake District of England then six months in VA. Of course that is a long time to be away from family. I've often wondered though, if living somewhere isn't quite different than traveling and touring a special place. ♥
DeleteThank you, Martha Ellen. I'd love to spend 3 months in England and tour the whole country. I think that's why I haven't gone yet--just going even for 3 weeks wouldn't be enough to make me feel I lived there. When we spent a week on Martha's Vineyard we "acted" as if we lived there--went grocery shopping, did our own cooking, visited the farmer's market, went to church, and sat with strangers at another church's weekly lobster roll dinner. We walked into town (Vineyard Haven) and drove all around the island thoroughly getting to know each of the little villages. It was delightful!
DeleteI love the idea of a house for each season, I may have to sit for awhile now and contemplate where they would be. I di like the idea of a log cabin for the winter months...
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DeleteI think I would like a vacation as you describe at Vineyard Haven. There's no where I'd rather live than here, though I miss the history of the north, and I miss the cooler summers. Yes, I guess I might enjoy somewhere else for the three awfully hot summer months. I enjoyed your thinking here!
ReplyDeleteNew England can be hot in the summer, too, but I'm thinking if I'm at the beach I'd get plenty of sea breezes.
DeleteThe dessert has a very unique beauty to it. I'm with you though, I couldn't live there full time. I like your choices of places to live in the different seasons. If money and family weren't factors I would love to split my time between the home I'm in now and Scotland, preferably Shetland.
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DeleteReally great question. Let's see. The traditional part of me would definitely want to maintain my home base right here, in the same county where I was born. Mainly because I love things to go on year-after-year as they always have, and also because the only disaster issue we run up against regularly is snow. We don't face earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes the way other parts of the country do. Our last earthquake was in the mid-90s and so low on the Richter scale that I completely missed it - bummer - and our last tornado was 2 weeks before I graduated from high school. Basically we cope with a full Winter's worth of snow every year, and that's about it. The price we pay, as my Dad used to say. But I would also LOVE to experience extended seasonal vacations in different parts of the country too. So there would be Octobers at my little farm in Vermont [where there are no Walmarts, but lots of Ben & Jerry's - LOL]. I'd spend July and August on the big wide covered porch [mostly] of my refurbished cottage on the Outer/Atlantic arm of Cape Cod, near Eastham or Wellfleet. Springtime would be city time - April or May in either Boston or San Francisco, my two favorite US cities. Choosing one would be very difficult, but since this is a price-no-object game, I guess I could do Boston one year and San Fran the next. Finally, Winter. Right after Christmas at home, I'd head to a quiet bungalow on the pink sand beaches of Bermuda, staying until the spring-breakers started to show up. Gee, do spring-breakers even go to Bermuda? Hope not - LOL. Take care, and oh, a very Happy 2nd Birthday !!! to the cutest 2-year old since my niece and nephew... 🎂
ReplyDeleteIf I don't get my seaside cottage, may I come visit yours in August? And I've never been to San Francisco so you may find me on your doorstep there one Spring. 😊
DeleteCathy, you & yours are welcome - at any time - at ANY of my vacation retreats. Needless to say, this offer includes kids, in-laws and grandchildren as well. The more the merrier. And bring your watercolors, because I've heard that the parts of coastal California just south of San Francisco - Monterey, Big Sur etc - have absolutely heart-stopping spectacular scenery.
DeleteJanet, I'll have to concentrate on YOUR dreams, then 😊, so I can be a part of them!
DeleteBeautiful pictures Cathy! I am happy where I live and wouldn't change it. It would be nicer however if it was a bit warmer and less windy! There are still lots of places in Britain and the world that I would love to visit if money and time was not object. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah. If I lived by the sea I'd have fulfilled at least one of my seasons. England has a variety of landscapes, so you could be at the sea or mountains within hours of each other.
DeleteCathy, thanks for stirring my memories of the Desert Botanical Gardens!
ReplyDeleteWhile you were there, we were in Texas visiting family and beautiful gardens. Such fun to travel! Keep dreaming.
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DeleteI'm with you! I like the seasons and don't want to be far from family!! (Or my farmy friends) But travel is a great way to see the sites and that is why I LOVE our RV!! We can bring the animals and I have my own food bed and toilet!! ;-) I loved Arizona when my girlfriend lived there! And also Co is a place that I once dreamed of living!!
ReplyDeleteSending warmth and love xx ooLinnie
Having an RV would make traveling much easier when you have pets, but driving one sounds daunting!
DeleteOooooh how fun! I've been to Phoenix a few times too! The last time we went we drove from Oklahoma....it was such a fun and interesting trip to watch the lanscape change. I was surprised how much I liked the desert, but its such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world for me--- I'd completely miss Oklahoma's wretched summers and go to New England! I'd visit all the historical sites I wanted and then retire to a little cottage on the beach of rural Maine or something like that....or perhaps spend the summer in Concord, MAss pretending I was an Alcott? :D
Heather, I love your dream--little cottage on the beach. I loved my visit to Concord in 2006. You can read about it here: http://cathy-morningmusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Concord
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