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Hello all: Just returned from a harrowing trip to Columbia MO. Seems like everything went wrong from the get go. My rental car, a tiny Fiat from Budget made me nervous the whole trip. As soon as I got into the car, a major rainstorm hit the lot and the gate going out was locked with no electricity. Always looking in back to see if someone was going to plow into me. Then, wherever I drove, it was usually the wrong way. The GPS worked (most of the time) but it would have been better to have had a companion instead. The hotel (Ramada) was at the intersection of 3 major expressways, and I never was on the right one. Their coffee machine was out the first morning. The TV never worked right. My daughter's tablet never captured their wifi so I was stuck for 3 days with no internet. No maps. No email. No directions. Just drove around trying to find stuff. Made me very tired and I felt too old to be doing this.
I did find a fabulous library, far better than anything I have ever seen. Also saw the Osher building but was exhausted that day and never went in. Found the Senior Center, not on a good side of town. Drove into downtown and saw all the funky little stores. Got to Columbia Mall and shopped a little. Barnes and Nobel was just like ours. I did see wonderful gardens at each house with winding streets, no cookie cutter homes, lots of trees, grass and shade. It was very much like my hometown of Riverside, IL where I grew up. Loved it.
Flying into and out of Kansas City Airport was awful. Too far from Columbia, overcrowded, herded people like cattle. The airport was a good 30 miles from the city. I realized I did not want to ever fly out of there again for any reason. I got scanned by TSI (of course, I have hip implants) and then patted down on my left knee only ??? What the??? Going to Chicago from Columbia would be a hassle. And even though it's summer, the Univ. streets were packed. Don't these kids ever go home?
Anyway, I left early, stopped in Booneville, a small historical town filled with old Victorian homes (charming) and then on to Independence hoping to see Truman Library (closed because of AC problems). I toured the Vaille Mansion (extraordinary) with a wonderful older lady guide.
Got to the Ameri- something casino, hoping my luck would change, but after tripling my money, I lost it all, plus some.
Landed in Phoenix last night with temps over 105. Trying to decide what to do next. The house still needs to be sold, but where to move to???? Still undecided. Just like the song:"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Am thinking I may be stuck here, just because at this age (72), it's hard to do this alone. The hip replacement acted up but that was not a major concern. Not having a significant other to help with this stuff was the BIG thing. I might have to look for a MAN first. LOL (sorry this got to be so long). Time to go do laundry !!
Gads! I think I'd be sorely tempted to get back on that plane and come home! Sorry to hear it started out so weird. All that would have made me tired too. A companion would have been nice, huh? At least someone to vent to!
My rental car, a tiny Fiat from Budget made me nervous the whole trip. The hotel (Ramada) was at the intersection of 3 major expressways, and I never was on the right one. Their coffee machine was out the first morning. The TV never worked right. My daughter's tablet never captured their wifi so I was stuck for 3 days with no internet. No maps. No email. No directions. Just drove around trying to find stuff. Made me very tired and I felt too old to be doing this.
Aww big hugs!
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I did see wonderful gardens at each house with winding streets, no cookie cutter homes, lots of trees, grass and shade. It was very much like my hometown of Riverside, IL where I grew up. Loved it.
Sounds like you really like the city itself and it sounds like what you're looking for, right?
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Flying into and out of Kansas City Airport was awful. Too far from Columbia, overcrowded, herded people like cattle. The airport was a good 30 miles from the city. I realized I did not want to ever fly out of there again for any reason.
Would you be doing a lot of traveling by plane once you moved there?
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Trying to decide what to do next. The house still needs to be sold, but where to move to???? Still undecided. Just like the song:"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Am thinking I may be stuck here, just because at this age (72), it's hard to do this alone.
IMO you are not stuck, you're only stuck if that is what you decide for yourself. I think if Phoenix is making you so unhappy that you should listen to your inner self, spread your wings, and go go go!
Sympathies to feeling stuck. I just wrote a post and deleted about the same topic. It was a huge vent but whatever.
This is hard at any age honestly. One year to retirement and have no idea where to go, just know that its not going to be here.
Sorry to hear you had such hassles on your trip. I know when I've done any of these exploratory trips the two things I had the most problems with were the hotels and the rental cars. Seems you found some good things and some not so good but after a few days reflection, what is your overall feeling about the place. I always do a pros and cons list when I get settled back home and then re-read it about a week later and see how I feel. Travelling, especially alone, is always tough these days. I used to do it all the time but now the thought of it freaks me out a bit. But the good news is that you did go there and checked it out, that's a big step in making a decision. As I recall, living near family was one of the big draws to Columbia...does that still matter as much now, or can you overlook the negatives to be near your family? I know the "feeling stuck" thing. Sometimes I think I have no good options, then sometimes I feel like there too many places to check out, although nothing is appealing to me right now at all. Then I think, well maybe I'm suppose to just stay here. But, realistically, that isn't the right answer, especially long term.
I always watch the weather channel and I thought of you because they were projecting hail and possible tornadoes in that area, but sounds like nothing like that happened, thank goodness! How was the humidity, were you able to adjust to it?
Loveautumn: You see, I really love your username, cause I do so love autumn. The orange and red Maple trees, the pumpkin farms, the cooling weather and Halloween costumes at the front door. It isn't like that here. I am a Midwest gal, probably always will be. And gardening? It stinks here.
Traveling to Chicago from Columbia would have to be by car, which is about 385 miles. That is where my son and grandson are. And I would be welcome at all family get togethers and holidays. If the taxes were not so extreme in IL, I would just move back. Am now considering Champaign/Urbana where I went to grad school, Illinois taxes, but very very fond memories. Maybe a small house with a small garden, and a BIG CAR. LOL
The humidity in MO didn't bother me much. And the rain was awesome. I have a lot of thinking to do, especially if someone wants to buy my house really soon and I don't know where to move to !!! It's expensive running around the country trying to find MY Place. Need a nap now.....
Sympathies to feeling stuck. I just wrote a post and deleted about the same topic. It was a huge vent but whatever.
This is hard at any age honestly. One year to retirement and have no idea where to go, just know that its not going to be here.
Giesela Please Don't delete any of those posts ! They all help, they all offer support and I like knowing I am not in this all alone.
Flying into and out of Kansas City Airport was awful. Too far from Columbia, overcrowded, herded people like cattle. The airport was a good 30 miles from the city. I realized I did not want to ever fly out of there again for any reason.
It is very surprising that you found MCI a hassle. It's probably the easiest airport I've ever flown in/out of and I've been doing that for 25 years. Unfortunately, Columbia, MO is in the middle of no-where (airport-wise), equi-distant from MCI and St. Louis.
PhxBarb: I don't remember your criteria and I suspect Lafayette-Indiana may have already been suggested, but I will throw it out there as an option anyhow. Low COL and 100 miles from Chicago (according to CD).
PhxBarb, I too just got back this a.m. from a "recon mission" to check out this unit in CARRABELLE FLA, yes it is expensive to do these missions and I can't afford to do a bunch of them, that's for sure!
I loved the actual town BUT it is 50mi from a city of any kind of size with any amenities at all, that is, Tallahassee, and the 50mi is driven on 2 lane country roads through woods and woods galore for miles and miles with NOTHING in between for 20mi stretches.
The drive was stressful. The town itself was peaceful.
I'm mulling it all over in my head, how often would I really need to make that drive?
This town has NOTHING and I mean nothing in it but one grocery and a DollarStore.
Not that I NEED much more, I hate to shop, I would be spending my time at the beach and animal shelter volunteering, but am I underestimating the inconvenience of living in such a remote location?
Must think about it awhile.
NYgal2NC, THANK YOU for adopting from the shelter rather than buying from a "pet store" or breeder
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