StupidBird's Escape from Suburbia

Good Morning, this is StupidBird, and I'm a recovering housewife. Used to have a big Career until my health did a tailspin-crash-and-burn back in 2004. Officially now have the specialist's letter and orders to GTFO of the southeast or this'll never clear up. I can't hold a job due to health, and DH just wants to quit his super high stress, ridiculously long hour salary job and stay right here where 20 years has seen us get the place in decent shape for us. Big garden with rich soil from solid clay, fences, orchard, outbuildings, etc. all our friends are here. Gotta suck it in and just do it.
We have 1.5-2 years for youngest to graduate, if DS can keep it together. Oldest has a good salary local job and is completely content to come home, spend hours on computer, sleep, work, repeat. Family- mine is scattered through the US, his in Germany. I have to oversee my very frail, dementia ridden father in Florida - a whole 'nother story.
Critter inventory: one very elderly cat, one young chicken friendly dog (both of which I'm dreadfully allergic to) and about a dozen chickens.
This is the ongoing saga of letting it all go, fighting my fear of change, my fear of conflict (because I'll have to fight to see this move actually happen), and fighting my health and inertia.
Skill sets: once upon a time, I did all sorts of physical hard work: home repairs, fixing vehicles, a little welding, used to be artist, tile, roof...stuff. Now I can barely keep up the large garden, cook, clean, can-dry-freeze produce. DH is good at people skills, will talk the paint off the wall, Good at taking things apart, half finished projects, cooking.
Financially, DH says he'll stay working until youngest graduates college. That's if his health lets him, he's got insulin dependent diabetes, extra 80 lbs., high BP, and all that stuff. I'd wish he'd quit sooner if not for keeping that one in college. PS: DH doesn't want to move.

Sorry you're dealing w/all of that.

It's a bit much at times, but this could mean more room for chickens. And honeybees. A root cellar. A climate more conducive to gardening. New friends. There are lots of positive possibilities. My big thing is just do it.
First steps are getting the house in shape to sell, get our fianaces and obligations handled. Keep on living though...um, getting ready to move out of state and I brought home 3 new chicks today. Now who's not wanting to move?

Take em w/you. I want to move out of state as well. And, I have 3 horses, 2 goats, and 9 chickens. I have muscovy eggs in the incubator and I'm trying to get a hen broody.

No move is easy. Some just aren't as bad as others.
When our friends were getting ready to move out of state, they told their kids(who didn't want to move:

"We sold the house. You have 30 days to find another place to live, but maybe the new owners will let you rent a room."

Kids were 18 and 19 at the time.

Our own kids were fairly grown, youngest in his 2nd year of college, but DH still thought we shouldn't move. His excuse was 'where will the kids go to eat lunch?'
Some people are pretty resistant to change.
I'm one of them, too, but I could see the greater good. Hang in there.

Where do you want to move to?

Good morning, thank you all for the encouraging words.
DH said he'd not slept but a few hours last night, and got up at his usual 4 am to go to work. Heavy discussions all weekend about early retirement, was going to announce late April but this morning said nerves were getting to him, so, announcing today. For three months notice for the company he's worked at several decades.

I am frankly afraid. It's scary. When is enough money set aside enough? Health costs are terrifying. DH says worst case scenario he goes back to work. Ummmmm. That place is killing him though.

At this point, discussions are that we spend the next year or so prepping house to sell (or stay as DH wants) and traveling with the pop-up camper to investigate climates.

My sis has already offered that I can come visit anytime DH starts getting on my nerves being home all the time.

Your sister is a good woman!

I understand your angst... Even though DH and I are probably a minimum of 5 years from that decision - it still weighs on us.

Good luck - and congrats to your hubster on his upcoming exit from the rat race!

Hubby has about 7 years. We're wanting to move to Kentucky, but we also won't move from this area as long as my parents are still living. My mom is 80, my dad 84 and I don't want to be too far away from them.

Sorry to be so long gone here. Got a whopper of a cold/bronchitis repeat/nasty and while on a ten day family trip to test the new pop up camper with the inlaws. Right now I'm hiding in a hotel room while they all hike or whatever through swamps and bugs. Usually I'm up for that though. So scratch the beaches of Florida from my potential list.

Hubby announced for June 30 last day. Everyone says it's a good thing, although I detect a bit of resentment maybe. And it is the same ones I thought a tad cool about how happy we were to pay off the mortgage. Grrr.

Which leads to another angst item: making new friends. Wow. I sound like its jr. High school all over again...make the right friends, what'll they think of me, who am I anyways...