So I've sold real estate for over 20 years.  Never a major player, but it brought in a nice supplemental income.  The goal was to pay the kids college out of my commissions. This worked perfectly for the first and second kid.  As my third son was at the midway mark thru and loans started piling up, the dreaded real estate crash of 2008 dashed those plans. To add injury to this I got divorced and my ex refuses to help pay off the debts.  Since technically these debts are my sons, the judge refused to order him to pay.  I'm trying to pay it off, but it's a huge burden (tho a labor of love).

Fast forward to now. I spent almost $3,000 taking classes, paying for licensing and membership dues to transfer my license back to Ill.  I started back full of hope only to find that technology has passed me by.  My Wisc. was more traditional.  In Chicago it's light years ahead in technology.  The programs are amazing, but for the past 2 months I've spent time trying to catch up. There's not a shred of paper in the office, every document and transaction is on line. There are ways to get info on a seller to anticipate their next real estate move.  Even simple listing appointments that once were presented at the client's kitchen table are now major PowerPoint presentations.  I feel like a dinosaur. I've been embarrassed in front of other agents more than a few times with my old school ways.  I'm thinking I need to find something new.  Bad news if you are over 60 looking for employment, Ageism is alive and well.  You're the age of the HR person's grandmother!!  Also they look at your Facebook/Instagram, etc. sites to see how many people are in your SOI(sphere of influence). Most of my young friends have hundreds.
I have barely 50.

Last week I had an angiogram. I've had afib (irregular heartbeat) for some time but my Dr. discovered that one side of my heart is too large. (always thought having a big heart was a good thing lol). I'm sure that if I researched it long and hard enough, I would find a connection to my ex. (lol). Anyway  I had no idea that this procedure is considered  heart surgery.(tho minor heart surgery)

So I get prepped which includes having my crotch shaved (what's left).  They prefer going in thru the arm but get the other prepped just in case.  After I'm all ready they wheel me in to the operating room. There are 4 surgical nurses there. One female (who disappeared behind a curtain to operate all the gismos and 3 male who are all my son's ages and incredibly handsome.

One, was particularly cute, with dark hair, tatoos, etc. He had to wipe me (ALL of me) down with alcohol and another got to put electrodes all over my chest. I told them this was a fantasy of mine but in a different time and circumstances.  They laughed....I wanted to die at that point.

Didn't die though, in fact no clogged arteries.  That's good news but it also means more tests (not good news).  None that include nudity. haha

Not only are the nurses young, my Dr. looks 12!  This is really the sad part of aging. When I was young the doctors were all old farts WTF!!

Starting again at 70!

Saying good bye to my sweet little cottage in the woods and heading back to Chicagoland from whence I came. I have come thru the tunnel and after counceling my PTSD is under control and I'm ready to move on.

Folks told me that it takes as long to get over a relationship as the actual relationship. I really don't have 32 years to  wait so ....ENOUGH ALREADY!

Lost my dear sweet puppy (and best friend of 17 years) along the way. He collapsed on the ground as we arrived at our destination.. Vet said he was surprised he lasted as long as he did and that he was probably waiting to make sure I was safely at my new home. I miss him so so much.

Think LIVING SINGLE AT 70! is a better name for this blog. I feel better than I have in years, and even tho I am financially in trouble, feeling extremely positive for what the next decade or 2 I have left with be.

Where the fuck does the time go? Almost a year since my last post. We just thawed out from the snow of the century in April. 24inches!!! Thankfully I was visiting friends in Chicago and missed the fun of a 2-day power outage and a 6 foot high drift in my drive that the plows couldn't get to because the road had 10 foot drifts. If I had been up here I would have been trapped and freezing all alone. ...Which brings me to the realization that I have to act. I'm looking for an apartment in Chicago and am either going to sell this lovely little dream house or put it on Air B&B, whichever comes first.

Dating life is still at a standstill. Friend at my office tried to fix me up.Guy looked normal enough but turns out he's a professional clown!  My life's a mess enough, I don't need more crazy. haha. Men ask me out a lot but I just don't have the energy any more.  Really don't feel like going through all the introductions, looking a grand kids pics, etc. Turning into a wacky old lady...👩

Really looking forward to moving, but really sad about having to quit a great job, miss my woods and beach.  If I can make a go of the Air B&B thing I'll be happy. Just can't take all the solitude any more. Plus I don't want to celebrate my 70th birthday alone, and I'm starting to feel the age thing creeping up. I lose my balance frequently, often leave a burner on or water running and forget about them, have developed Afib so have that to worry about. If anything happens I don't want to wait for the ambulance to come 15 miles out to me and then drive 15 miles to the hospital, with my kids 300 miles way.

My ex and his whore wife moved out to Colorado so I'm free to move  back. The years have made me realize just how much of an abused wife I was. Not only did he knock me around occasionally, he was mentally cruel in many ways. I'm still so angry how he's abandoned his sons, glad he's across the country. He moved to some little town in the middle of nowhere.2 friends of mine were on vacation out west, wearing a sweatshirt from here, and ran into a man who recognized the place on the shirt, they got to talking and , you guessed it, it was him! Damn tho, they didn't mention me, that would have been too fun. They have a second home out there so maybe they'll see him again.I realize I don't know that I would recognize him if I saw him again.Not that I ever will unless one of my boys gets married and invites him which looks slim in both ways.32 years erased.

Purging my closets.  Feels good. I must have hoarder tendencies, the way I hang on to stuff.

Rustoleum "Chalked" paint.  My new favorite thing.  I turned my old, garage sale table and chairs into what I think is a pretty cool little dining set.  A little bit country, a little bit Joanna Gaines.
I like the fresh look. Stuff goes on easy and then I sanded the edges to look "aged". I didn't take a "before" pic but here is the "after".

The problem is I have lots of paint left over and a lot of dark wood furniture.  My kids have assured me they don't want any of it, so I am officially entering my White Country Cottage Era.

Well it's Spring  We were teased for 4 weeks with nice Spring weather but now it's in the 30's and yes, I saw a few snowflakes yesterday.

Getting the house ready for Spring and possibly selling.  I am ready now.

This week the local hospital is having a 2 hour long seminar for women over 60 to learn exercises on bladder control.  OMG is this what my life has degenerated to?  LOL!!

Mountain Man (aka Richard R)

Four years ago I signed up for Match.com. One of the first men I met was Mountain Man. I call him that because when he first contacted me he was out west in the mountains camping and enjoying nature with his beloved dog George.  He was so different from any man I've even met. Extremely manly, rugged, but very soft and sensitive. A poet, a dreamer. Long greying hair, earring and ability to build or create anything. He totally swept me away.

We dated only a few times but I feel like I have known him forever. I fell so hard. He moved my soul. He broke it off not too long after our meeting for reasons I wish I knew. His letters to me, his phone calls to me were so filled with tenderness and love, I am still baffled by it.

No day goes by without me thinking of him, not dwelling on him, just a passing flutter in my mind, producing a smile or a tear. Occasionally he joins me in a dream. He set the bar very high.  Every man I have dated since is compared to him, and so far they all fall so short.  He's not that tall, many would not think him all that attractive. To me he's beautiful and when he looked at me I knew he could see right into me. He lives just 90 miles away, perhaps he has moved out west to live near his older son, perhaps he has remarried. I hope he's still alive and well.

I've often thought of contacting him one more time but I just couldn't stand being rejected so I will continue to dream. I contacted him once over the past 4 years to get a reference for real estate (he was never a client, but he wrote a beautiful essay about me) ...and another time to ask a question about purchasing chain saws (lol). That's all.

How can a man that I saw only a few times have so swept in and ran away with my heart? I feel the tears welling up as I write this.  Mountain Man....I love and miss you. . . . even though you have ruined any chance for me to form a serious relationship (lol)

Afterthought:  The beauty of writing things down is it has a way of putting things in the right perspective.  Upon re-reading the above post, I realized how silly it all sounds.  I don't need him. He was in my life at a time that I needed him, and now he's out and I don't.  This is one of Oprah's "Ahaa!" moments.  Time does heal wounds. Maybe not at the speed you would prefer, but it does the job eventually.

New Year...New Start

2017...Hard to believe...Where did the time go?  Two weeks into the new year and I'm still wondering what will happen. What I need to get a handle on is for me to stop wondering what will happen and finally put on my big girl pants and make something happen. 

I had a hip replacement in July and six months later it still hurt in several places. Dr. was very sweet but I think he thought some of it was in my head. I had been trying to get an appointment for several months and the anxiety and fear that something was wrong, that I would die alone overwhelmed me. After our appointment and looking at the Xray that showed a perfect hip joint, I felt the pain leave me like sand draining out of an hour glass. Tho there was still an issue he felt needed addressing, the majority of the pain has left me. I have to admit to myself that I have to be around my family and friends in a closer setting than I am up here. I also had my hours at the store reduced to 1 day a week in the winter. Don't know how I'm going to make it, but I have a direction. Start getting this place ready for showings. At the same time to really knuckle down and get some home sales under my belt.

The month following my hip replacement, my youngest son was up here to stay. Tho he was up late and slept most of the day or was at the beach or out with his girlfriend, he was here when I needed him. I slept better than I had in months knowing someone else was in the  house. In the summer when I have overnight guests, it's the same thing. I don't want a roommate, a spouse, but I do want to live where friends are closer than 20 miles and I can walk out the door and see folks, walk to the library, to the grocery, to the show. This is what I need, the city may be dirty and have it's faults, but to be held captive alone in paradise is a poor trade.

Had a few dates in the past few weeks. They are getting so boring. Same "get to know each other" conversation. Divorced men are better than widowers tho. Men who have lost their wives usually still live in the home they did when she was alive.  The dishes, the lace curtains, the doilies, etc. all part of the tomb that he lives in. Do I really want to stay over and have sex in her old bed? Think not.

So to change myself, I would also like to change the title of this blog. Rather than A Woman's Journey Through Divorce, a snappy subtitle is needed. Plus I'm not starting over at 60 any longer, I'm 68 (YIKES!!!)  Any suggestions?

Happy Holidays and a new beginning (again)

Wow! Can't believe it's been so long since I've posted.  One of my resolutions for 2017 is to try to write something (no matter how banal) at least 3 times a week.

My life has had it's ups and downs. Most having nothing to do with my divorce but just life's normal fluctuations. I do think I will probably move back to the city. I love it here in so many ways. I have great friends, a lovely little home, 2 nice jobs, and Lake Michigan out my door. In fact as I sit here even though I'm probably 300 feet from the beach, the waves are deafening. Winter is beautiful but brutal. The fact that I live 15 to 30 miles from friends has worn me down. The only thing stopping me aside from the idea of packing and moving is the fear that I will make a mistake, move back to a crowded but amazing place and be miserable and miss here. Living alone has its perks, but making all these life decisions alone isn't one of them. I miss someone having my back and me theirs.

It's Xmas day evening. I've had a lovely day, opening gifts from friends and family, giving my dog the bed Santa brought him (and the cats have quickly taken over) then dinner with friends. Now sitting watching Hallmark movies (again) with a glass of wine and a picture perfect snow outside. Am I sure I want to risk all this?

Happy Holiday to anyone reading this and a perfect 2017 to all.

Self-reliant . . . A word I can now proudly use in reference to myself.  Since living along I've become pretty handy with a chainsaw. Can shovel my 100 foot driveway, powerwash and refinish my deck, do a few minor car repairs and as of yesterday, rewire an outlet (replaced my regular switch with a dimmer switch). Small steps, but significant nonetheless.

I must admit that before I rewired the switch I put on full makeup, just in case I had to call the fire department.

Granted it would be nice to have someone else here to pat me on the back and say "well done", but that's more okay than a year ago and getting better each day.,,little by little.

Like I've said before, if I knew how long this whole recovery process would take, I would have made serious changes in my life 20 years ago.

Thank goodness it's over! Seems like no matter how many years go by, Christmas is the hardest.
Day after you get to see all your friends (and pseudo-friends') posts on how wonderful their holiday was.

Mine was fun, at the last minute I emailed my kids and told them I was coming. 250 miles, gas is cheap, weather good, I'm there.  We had fun. 2 of my 3 were there, ordered Chinese and had some great conversation. Not your traditional holiday, but fun. I've learned you have to change your mindset from the traditional Norman Rockwell image to what is real and right now. If you can do that you can enjoy it for all the fun, crazy, loving moment it truly is. It was fun. I enjoyed hearing the traffic outside and on Christmas morning, walked across the street to McDonalds and brought home Christmas breakfast. Like I said, you have to be flexible and embrace the "new normal". Egg McMuffins never tasted so good.

I'm going back for a New Years Eve party in a few days and will see my 3rd son. I hope the weather cooperates. We had our first winter storm today. Right now it's blowing like crazy. I've heard a few things hitting the house, hope it's not anything bad. Will check it out in the morning. Hat a harrowing one hour drive home today. Usually only need about a half hour to get home, but snow was blowing bad. Couldn't see the road. A few times had to stop till the wind blew the snow enough to see the center lines. Very, very, very scary! Immediately cracked open a bottle of wine to ease the nerves.
Note: Always keep your liquor cabinet stocked for emergency

New Years will be spent with friends (all couples) so when the clock strikes midnight and everyone is kissing happy new year, I will be standing there accepting a few token hugs and kisses but, sadly, reminded that by society's standards, alone.  I'm okay with it, but it stings a little just the same.

Snow storm blowing like crazy outside. It would be nice to have someone near by reassuring me. Must be the holiday that is making me so sad. A few more weeks it will be Valentine's Day.  AAAUUUGGRH!!! Even Worse!. Can't wait for March. 

I feel that I have taken a few (actually, a lot) of steps back in my post divorce journey.  I drove back to Chicago and spent a fun Thanksgiving Day with my boys. It was fun, but maybe it's me, but I feel a wall between us.  Oh, we laughed, cooked and had fun, but I felt a cloud of sadness in the room. Now my boys are all grown and in their 30's, but there is still a real sadness in their hearts on the lack of closeness they have with their father.  As a mother, I would cut off my right arm to change that.

Thanksgiving is only Part One in the Holiday Trifecta. Next is Christmas and then the ever hated and dreaded New Years Eve.  My Christmas choices are to drive in for Christmas Eve with my boys, drive to my family (nieces, nephews, etc) or just stay home and watch Hallmark Movies on the tube and probably become suicidal (joke)

I guess I sometimes feel like they want to be with me out of obligation.  I hope not, but have I turned into the parent that is the lonely loser that you invite to holidays out of obligation and guilt? Would they rather go on a trip or go with their girlfriends to their families but don't want to leave me alone?

Maybe it's from today's binge watching of the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, but I am feeling very lost and lonely.  For God's sakes!! I have been divorced 6 years! Why is that asshole on my mind almost every minute lately?  How do so many of my divorced friends separate themselves from the past so easily? Do I miss the old life because it was so easy? I always knew where and with whom I would be with on any given holiday. Now it's de ja vu back to the days after my parents died and I was always wondering who would call and invite me to Christmas. I always felt like the obligation guest back then and thought those days were over.

It does feel good to write it all down and get it off my chest, but I suppose it's all part of the journey. I just hope I reach a rewarding destination before I get too old to enjoy it.  But, like I said at the start of this post, maybe it's just the season.  Soon all will be back to normal (my normal). At least it's warm here and no ice and snow to deal with.

Oh, the holidays are coming. Always a bad time. The dating sights, however, are starting to burn up with lonely souls looking to not be alone on Christmas day.

A brief note to men over 60 on dating sights: Please look at your pictures after you posted them and ask yourself "Would I go out with me?"  Really, guys......I've seen pictures of guys in all stages of dress and undress.  One guy (no lie) had on a hospital bracelet! Look around the room you're in, make sure there's a little bit of furnishing (and not a dead deer or a fish mounted on the wall or a portrait of your wedding day, for God's sake); don't put in a group picture of you and your golf buddies (especially with the ones that are better looking than you) and then not identify which one is you because I'll be disappointed when you're the short bald one in the middle and not  the good looking one on the left.  I think it's sweet you play Santa Claus for your grand kids or the local YMCA, but it really doesn't turn me on seeing you in full Santa garb. Especially when that's the only picture of you.
And lastly, when taking a selfie, hold the camera up high enough so the picture isn't a shot of looking up your nose. 

I know I'm 67 and not the hottie I once was, but please guys.. . . .

When I was a kid, we all had assigned seats at the dinner table. It was never announced or really official, but we all always sat at the same seats. Mom and dad at the ends (mom closer to the kitchen) and my sister and I on either side, but always the SAME side. When I was married we relaxed it somewhat, but usually we all sat at the same seats, and the boys would squabble if one of their brothers sat in their chair.  Funny how that works.

Same holds true, usually, in the bedroom.  I was always on the right side. During the course of my 32 year marriage we changed bedrooms often. Not sure why, but I was always rearranging things, trying to get the right setup. (Boy, that should have been a red flag, huh?)  Anyway, no matter which room we settled in, I was always on the right and he was on the left.

After our divorce, I still slept on the right side, leaving the left side of my huge king size bed empty. It felt wrong to be on the other side and it also constantly reminded me that yes, I was alone.

My awakening came from watching the movie "Somethings Got To Give"  with Jack Nicholson  and Diane Keaton. Diane is a divorced mom and in one scene  she is sleeping in the middle of her beg bed. Jack is trying to join her but she stays in the middle and explains that after she was divorced, she would feel so lonely sleeping in the bed alone with her husbands side empty. She decided to sleep in the middle, so there was no empty side and she could sleep much better after that. GREAT IDEA! We do get inspiration from strange places. It definitely works.  It reduces the "poor me, all alone in this big bed" feeling.

This week I went one better.  My new little country house has a teeny little bedroom. My king size bed almost filled it up and for the last 4 years I've been unable to make the bed nice because I couldn't walk all the way around it because it almost totally filled the room. I was complaining to a co-worker about this and she indicated that she had a double bed in her guest room that was way to small for her son and his wife and various dogs. She suggested, "lets switch beds". So this weekend she loaded up her double bed and took away my king size. Wow! I gained room on all sides, and now when I sleep in the middle, it's way comfy. Plus my ex-husbands mo-jo is gone from the room. Before the light on the side table was too far away to read so I had to start in my old spot. Now it's just perfect, and the old ghosts are gone. I have room to move around and can lay in the middle. . . .queen of my bed.  I also had the added treat of going to Target to buy new sheets. If I ever have an overnight "guest" we will just have to snuggle a little more.

One more problem solved!

First I would like to send out my love and encouragement to all you who have sent me such lovely, heartfelt emails. I appreciate it and wish you the best. Please feel free to write any time.

Seems like every time I take a few steps forward whether it be financially or romantically, I end up getting kicked and I'm back (or further back than) where I started.

Just when I feel I see a light at the end of the tunnel with finances, my car is acting up. It's a 2005 and over 150,000 miles.  Needs brakes and some assorted bearings and belts. All adding up to a huge expense.

Romantically, aauurgh! Date from Hell #1: His picture looked nice, he said he was a chef. I drove 50 miles to meet him for coffee. Walked in

Last night was the beautiful blood moon lunar eclipse. My neighbors all walked down to the beach and sat in the moonlight, drinking wine enjoying the beauty of the eclipse. I noticed all (but me) were couples. Don't get me wrong, I had a good time, but I was the only single there. When we parted ways, as they all walked home I could hear all the couples laughing, talking about the evening. My walk was in silence. These are the parts of my new life I never can get used to. No mater how much fun I have when I go out, the drive or walk home is lonely and quiet. The quiet can be deafening.  Coming home from a play or movie...no one to talk to about the evening.  Not horrible, just new (if you call 5 years new).

A friend mentioned to me that she found out a guy I met earlier in the summer was indeed single. I felt like I had practically thrown myself at him, but no response.  I did a little "cyber snooping" and discovered where he lives. Now what?  Drive by his house like I did when I was 16?  My luck if I did that he'd call the cops.  My next post might be looking for donations for bail money.  (haha)

September, 2015

My 67th birthday was a few weeks ago and my horoscope said I will find love and "financial reward" soon.  An old surfboard that I paid $20 for 10 years ago brought in a sweet $180 at a local consignment shop so I got a nice $90 for it. I hope that wasn't the "financial reward" they were talking about. So far I still haven't been able to catch a break in that category at all.

So far this year I've had huge bills for dental work; an increase in home owner insurance, real estate taxes, my 2005 Ford with 168,000 miles is in need of a lot of repairing as well as my 10 year old dog who is needing more and more vet care.

Last year I thought I could start selling real estate up here (like I did for 15 years in Illinois) but it's proved extremely difficult. This is a county with folks who not only have been here since grammar school and they all know each other or are related, but the diversity of real estate has proved trying to say the least. In past I never needed to know all the different types and sizes of wells, septic fields and perk tests. You have beachfront, water view, inland, agricultural, commercial, mobile homes, manufactured homes and boat slips to list and sell, not to mention condos and hotel condos. Who knew? 

Reason I'm mentioning this is it's been an up hill battle and I gave it a year. Well, a year is coming to an end and I must stop the financial bleeding. Real Estate licenses cost quite a bit to get and maintain ....just can't do it any more. So, what, I need to figure out do I do now? I had hoped to be able to quite my retail job but that won't be happening.  So now I guess I should call this blog "Starting Over Again and Again and, who knows, maybe even Again"

Dating has been interesting (as ever).  I met a guy thought was my perfect guy. Didn't lie about his height, pony tail (always have been a sucker for that look), an art teacher, musician, handsome, we had a great time.  He lives, however, 120 miles away, so it didn't last. Damn! He was (and is) perfect. However, I also met a very, nice man who may turn out to be something other than friend. Just have to get "Mr.Perfect" out of my mind.

Just saw "Walk in the Woods". It's a movie with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. It's quite funny about 2 old guys in their 60's who think they can walk the 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Maybe I should attempt some great (at least to me) feat like that. I've already run marathons, raced motorcycles, been in a movie, even did some modeling; what is left? Nothing that involves heights or situations where the end result may result in death. Only places I really want to go are Norway, Sweden, or Iceland. Hmmm.....time to really take a look at things.

Really thought my life direction decisions were behind me and I was just going to sail along in a steady upward direction.  Again I ask, when is my ship and/or prince coming in? haha.

The "new me" likes to look on the bright side every time the world sends me shit. When I got divorced, the rug was pulled out from under me and my life was turned upside down. 5 years have gone by and I thought I was finally at the light at the end of the tunnel and now......whiisshh!!! there it goes again. Life is not stagnant or predictable. Just like when I was in my teens and twenty's, it's always a changing world. I really think this will have a positive effect on me....keep me young and sharp. (There has to be a bright side, right?)

I need to go check my lottery numbers now.

First I want to thank all of you who have written me emails, or commented on my posts. I'm sending you my love and encouragement in your life changing process. Please feel free to email me any time.

Dating update:  So the guy with the boat.....Where do I begin.  First, it wasn't his boat, it belongs to his friend. He also lied about his height and body type.  I don't mind a few extra pounds, but please don't advertise yourself as super fit and toned if your not. What's the point?  I'm 5'10"  and can tell if you lie about your height. Most men do lie a little about this, so I can forgive that one.  During our meeting he talked about his son a lot, turns out his son is 52.  Wait a minute....he said he was 67. Huh?  Turns out hes 72. His excuse is that women don't respond to his emails if he tells them he's over 70.  What do these guys think, that we're so dumb we can't do simple math? He also lit up a cigar in the car. Claims that they don't count and he wasn't lying when he said he didn't smoke. My sister  was visiting me at the time so I used her as an excuse to exit early.

Back to the drawing board....or in this case, the dating sights.

Dating tip.  You can't get upset with these loser dates. It's no reflection on  you. Don't take it personally. View it as a game. Win some lose some.  I to a motivational speaker once who talked about the power of "NO".  The gist is not to feel defeated by a "NO".  Every NO is one step closer to a YES.  It's all in the numbers.  After so many NO's a YES has to happen eventually, so just think you're getting closer to that YES.  I should be getting pretty close, by now. (haha)

Days are getting shorter. Where I live there are no street lights and it's pitch black at night. I'm thinking of moving. As beautiful as this area is, I don't think I can take another winter with the loneliness and darkness.  I also fear falling on the ice or some other accident with no one around. I have neighbors, but they are a way away.  My three sons are coming to visit over Labor Day. I'm so excited, but OMG 3 grown young men and me and 3 animals in my little 2 bedroom house. It will be tons of fun. As long as they don't fight. Sometimes when they're together they revert back to 12 year olds. As I've mentioned before, this place I live was originally built to be our summer house. In the woods by the lake, but I don't think I can live here full time any more. I'll need to have a heart to heart with the boys to try to figure out my plan.

More later.

Happy 4th of July!

Alone on the 4th. Lonely.  I spent the weekend getting the house ready for my guests this weekend. I could hear all the neighbors down at the beach with their families and smell the grills. At night there was fireworks down at the beach but I stayed in. I've lived here for 5 years. I love the beach and the beauty up here, but the last 2 years have seen Lake Michigan at it's highest in years so bye bye beach which is a total bummer for me since to me, that was a huge part of my decision to move up here.
What if I moved back? Would it be the same? I have friends there, but who knows if they're not going to move away and then what? My kids are there, but same thing, who knows if they are staying in Chicago for a long time?  They say you can never go home again.....hmmmm. I certainly don't want to move to a new place and start this whole thing over again. It's here or there.

The dating sights are pretty active lately.  I was contacted by a guy who looks like potential. I even sent him my phone number. Never did that before. Just had a feeling.There's another guy I'm meeting up with in 2 weeks (has a boat!) We'll see.  The woman who owns the store at which I work says you can forecast the crowds by the fishing reports. I've paid attention and the dating sights get active along with the fishing reports. When the fish get active, the guys do to I guess. Pretty funny. I'll report how it works out.

July 1, 2015
I haven't written in a long time. Still trying to get my real estate business off the ground. Selling here is so different.  It's part agricultural, part small town and part retirement community. Very different from selling in the city of Chicago. Everybody knows everyone, or they went to school, worked with or slept with everyone else.  I don't have any history with these folks so it's an uphill climb to get anywhere in this business. I like I'm trying to go up and down escalator. I'm giving it till spring and then I'm going to seriously think about moving back to Illinois or at least find a little place in town so I have a few more neighbors and don't have to drive 15 miles to buy groceries.

Been on a few dates. ALL LOSERS! Have only met frogs, still looking for that prince.(old prince haha) Met one guy for coffee the other day. 2 hours of listening to him talk about himself, his kids and grand kids, not one thing about me. Every time I tried to talk he changed the conversation back to himself.  I even had to pay for my own coffee!  When I got home I emailed him that I didn't want to see him ever again  He emailed me back "So sorry to hear that, I was looking forward to seeing you again"  WHAT!!!!???

This is a short post as I have to get up for a root canal tomorrow morning at 8am. My fun life, huh?