You are a young woman. Go where you will be happiest. You should never base decisions about housing on where your grown, married children live. They will ultimately make decisions that are best for them. These decisions may take them to other states or countries far away from you. Hopefully Calvin will discover how closely linked your happiness is to his own.

I guess that's what I don't understand, either...if you really want/need to be in Maine, why isn't it a priority? Please know that I'm not making any judgements, but it would seem to me that if something is that important to you, certainly Calvin would try to accomodate you.

That said, I have a husband in the military and understand the futility of wanting to live somewhere and having to live elsewhere.

You are a strong woman, and I know you'll come to terms with whatever happens, if you haven't already.

Angie

I find it interesting because there seems to be this phenomenon that's stronger down east than anywhere else. Whether it's in the US or Canada, people who grow up on the east coast and move away often move back home because they miss it so much. Even though I didn't grow up on the east coast, I can see some of the reasons why - the east coast is just home, whether you've lived there your whole life or just moved there.

I agree that you can't necessarily base your life's decisions on your grown kids. They'll make decisions of their own, and you might not be completely happy with them.

That being said, I'm sure that Calvin would love nothing more than to do what would make you happy, but he's obviously really happy in Arizona; that's home to him. I'd like to say that maybe you two should give it a shot, but I know that's really complicated - you'd have to sell your house in Arizona, get a new place in Maine, move all your stuff a long distance which is pricey...

And THAT being said, I'd love it if you moved to Maine because then maybe you could head up to Halifax :)

As much as I understand your longing, I worry that you are living in a place where you are not and therefore can't enjoy where you are. Bloom where you are planted, is the saying. How Calvin must feel to see you so unhappy is hard to comprehend. He can't give you Maine. He cannot be Maine. And it seems like you are willing to settle for no less than Maine. You're missing so much of what is actually there.

I only say this because I have been there...longing to be where I am not and missing where I am entirely.

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to comment, honey. My laptop is STILL in the shop and I haven't been online much. I know that you KNOW I understand the homesickness you feel. It was just one of the many things we had in common when I was living there.

The kids are getting to the point where they are all grown up and soon you'll be able to do what you(meaning you AND Calvin) want to do. Scary, huh?

When I moved away from home my Mom told me "You can always come back if it doesn't work out. This place isn't going anywhere." I think the same goes for Arizona.