Posted on by Belinda O

Change, Choices and a Lack of Certainty

A year ago I was quite sure what I wanted to do when I retired, a date which is rapidly approaching. Today, I’m not so sure. My plans were to move back to my home state of Minnesota, where social services and conveniences such as buses are greater than they are where I live now.

But it’s scary–and expensive–to move. I’d be leaving all the friends I have here and returning to a place where I’ve lost contact with most of those I knew well. I’m not sure I want to brave the Minnesota weather. I’d have to find a new church, new doctor, new dentist, new hair stylist.

There are a myriad of other considerations, and sometimes at night I’m overwhelmed by all of it.

Change is scary. In the past I made moves like this frequently, and I don’t remember being that fazed by it. Perhaps because the new location always seemed much more appealing than where I had been living, or maybe because my choices were limited. It’s a lot easier to make the brave choice when common sense dictates it.

But change can be valuable. It can get you out of a rut and into a situation where you’re forced to make some positive decisions. In the event of a move, you can make new friends, perhaps lifelong friends.

I don’t have any idea what decision I’ll make, but I do know this: whatever my choice will be, I need to start making some smaller changes soon. And that’s proving difficult as well. So I need to find some ways to destress, and Oreos are not the answer. To any of this.

I don’t like not having the answers.

Image Credit: MarekPhotoDesign.com–stock.adobe.com

14 Replies to “Change, Choices and a Lack of Certainty”

  2. Oh, yes, I get the stress, I would feel the same as you. No matter what, give yourself credit for asking the right questions. I find with change half the battle is doing what you’re doing right now, asking the questions that will get you to where you need to be. You’ll get there. Hang in there.

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  3. We talk about moving all the time, especially since Mrs. Chess can work from home full time and I am newly retired. The same mental checklist…hmm, new doctors, new dentists, new service people. Our primary care physician of 25+ years just moved away recently. We obviously liked her a lot and were a bit apprehensive about a replacement. We chose and visited our new doctor recently, and he was excellent. Change is always uncertain, but it feels so darn good when it turns out to be good change!

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  4. Moving is good in so many ways. It helps me get rid of stuff which makes the move easier. I’ve been decluttering on and off all year and I’m getting ready to dive back in for another round of it, so if I decide to move, the things will be minimal. Profesional services can be found again and so can church. It depends if your heart is calling you home? That seems to be the case with me. To go spend time with my family while they’re still here. ❤️

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    1. I don’t have much family left in Minnesota, just some cousins. And my mom, of course, but I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be around–she may not make it until my retirement. But I’m keeping my options open and like you, paring down on my possessions.

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  5. Not having answers is one of the scariest parts of change. The thing is, even when we think we have answers, we actually don’t, because even those circumstances can change in an instant 😉

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    1. I’m too much aware of that. I think about moving to Minnesota and being closer to my mom, but she’s 87 and could die the day I arrive. There are other reasons for moving there, but that loss would color my decision significantly.

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