We have property in N. Carolina, Wilmington, to be exact. I alone had bought this property in 2008 in, at that time, a new development, Brunswick Forest. Here it is 13 years later and when we got married, I put the property in both of our names, no big deal. I have had a particular model home in my mind for all these years. Needless to say, they are not building those models anymore. It brought me to tears until I further investigated and there are very similar floor plans available. Phew! Our property is on the water, which is very important to me. Our choice in choosing Wilmington was also important because we fell in love with the city while visiting during our honeymoon. It is on the Cape Fear River, a very vibrant downtown, and close to beaches.
I was raised on the Hudson River and vacations were always spent at the ocean. There is the Navy battleship N. Carolina, which is moored across the river from downtown Wilmington. This reminds me of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid moored at Southstreet Seaport, of course in NYC. All of these factors remine me of home.
I am hoping that on this trip we will commit to building our retirement home. I’m cautious because my husband is so picky and will put a kabosh on my dreams. I have let him know in no uncertain terms, that the next place we live is my choice. When we got married he had started a new renovation of his small cape. I put all my time, money and muscle into that renovation, building what we thought was our dream home. His company got sold, and he was offered a job in Virginia. Great job, wonderful benefits, great company. We moved and have lived here for around 10 years. you’ve read about my struggles with loneliness and lack of friends.
I have added worries about finding the right healthcare down there. The closest MS Center is in Raleigh/Durham, which is not at all close. I will see a regular neurologist like I do here. I worry about making friends but for the past few years I have been in contact with a couple who live in the neighborhood we have our property. They had wanted their friends to buy our lot and then they wanted to buy our lot. They are New Yorkers, from Long Island. Their friend bought the lot next to ours and they ended up buying a new home somewhere else in Brunswick Forest. We had talked about meeting up. I spoke with her this week and they are back in New York waiting for their house to be built down there. They gave me their friends name and number and she looks forward to meeting us. She also told me about different clubs that are fun to join and I got off the phone feeling very positive.
The community has several large pools, a clubhouse with a gym and an indoor pool, walking trails and also a kayak launch. There are many clubs which would make it easier to meet people and hopefully make friends. I worry about being accepted because of my MS. I know I shouldn’t, but truthfully I do feel hindered by the fact that I need help and am hard pressed to ask for it. Writing this, I feel silly, that it shouldn’t matter at all. Regardless I worry because here I became a Master Gardener to not only learn, but to make friends and that didn’t work at all. I am surrounded by lifelong Virginians and they have their social circles and family around them. In Brunswick Forest, there are mostly transplants which I think will make it easier, as everyone is more open to making friends.
We are leaving on here on Wednesday, and when we’re done with Brunswick Forest, we are heading to Murrell’s Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach to spend 2 nights with my friend from NY, Paulette and her husband. I don’t know if I’ll be able to post while we’re gone, I usually don’t bring my laptop but certainly will when we return.