HI there! : ))  After the ongoing 'crisis' of the past 18 months, it finally looks as though we're approaching a resolution for my Mom to get the care she needs....DON'T ASK ME about that, just DON'T!!!!

*sigh!*  Since the Mommy has pretty well worn out the two of us, Sis and me, I've started to think about planning for our own future (husband and me).  We only have the one child, and I do NOT want him to have to go through the stuff his aunt and I have.

SO, we are looking at 'continuing care retirement communities'....  We are very mistrustful of the 'for profit' communities and of the 'chains' as well (I can explain this if anyone wants to know).  We are 'yankees' and prefer to stay in the East, somehwere between (roughly) Philadelphia and Richmond VA....one place we've considered is Williamsburg VA but we are finding it may be too expensive.  We'd consider as far as Charlotte, NC  - but that's about our limit.

We plan on going back to college, and getting involved with theater groups, and a few other hobbies life's gotten in the way of.  We 'need' to be near (30-45min) a city, but don't want to be in a 'downtown high rise' settting....We figure we'll need a unit with at least 1000 sf of living space, as we intend to make new friends and love to entertain.

So - is there anyone who's already moved to such a community?  Does anone have suggestions as to particular places or communities we might want to look at?   I figure we are 7-8 years out from actually selling our home and moving - but this kind of decision requires considerable planning and I don't want to have to 'rush' on it.

UGH, McMansions.....

Whooopeeeee!  Just got the call from Sis that the new contract is ready and Mom will be set.  She 'crashed and burned' just a week after finally moving in to the new place, has been in the nursing wing ever since.  We don't think she'll ever get to 'assisted living', although of course we'd like to see her recover to that point.

This has been going on for two years now, during which time I've had trouble maintaining myself and the household (has anyone seen my living room floor?).....

I can't imagine dumping this kind of thing on my son...he's only 21 now and still in school.  I've got my husband to pick up the slack, and my Sis who's been doing most of the day-to-day stuff keeping Mom in toothpaste, etc.  (Yeah - six grand a month and you have to bring your own toothpaste!)