Well, soon we will live through the end of the 2024 year in our new retirement home in Williamsburg. We spent not too many months in a condo in Alexandria for a close distance to my wife’s new company offices. While she had been hired with a capability of work from home and some physical office visits, we felt if best to be in a much closer proximity to the physical building rather than subject her to a 400 mile round trip from our then home in Newport News. As it happened, she actually still worked from a home office a majority of time. Technical capacity as it was, in our home, she had the ability of face time, conference call, and still a drive into the physical office as necessary.
Things were working pretty good for her in performing her senior management tasks, performing her external activities (with company support of course), and even allowing us time for visits with my kids, grandkids and our super daughter in law. Then, my wife celebrated her formal entry into the senior citizen class, by turning 65. A super celebration party was created and hosted by my daughter, daughter in law, and a couple of the grand daughters. They made her birthday something truly magical. She was happy, I think to make this milestone. We had some great discussions and post celebratory activity (dinners, presents, etc).
Then one evening several days after the celebrations, she mentioned that she had seriously considered her entering the pre-retirement age group and decided that she really wanted to retire somewhere near the waters and most assuredly not in the Alexandria/Metro area. Her thoughts were that we were pretty happy in the Tidewater area (the Virginia peninsula cities and towns), and thought it would be best if we set up a retirement home in that area, from Williamsburg, eastward all the way to Virginia Beach.
After a short search, a consultation with our Federal Credit Union mortgage loan officers, and the recommended real estate agent, we found a 55+ community in the city of Williamsburg. Yea, us.
After purchase closing in late March, we found that we truly loved our retirement home in Williamsburg, VA and it’s surrounding area of historical significance. This city one of our nation’s most historical towns. It was here that the first legislative body of the New World was formed and functioned. The House of Burgesses was the beginning of our modern Congress, with a major difference, it represented the British Crown for the most part, and the representations were solely composed of white men who were property owners. The Bride and I are happy with the opportunity of touring this historical area and plan on many excursions for the triangle of history, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.
Many firsts in our history are found in this area. Known to most as the Tidewater Area, we find the city of Hampton which is the oldest continuous English speaking settlement in the nation. Founded in 1610, Hampton was known by the name of Kecoughtan given from the name of the first settlers, the Kecoughtan tribes of native americans whose overall Chief was Powhatan.
Hampton was, until the stupidity of Congress and the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure), host to the oldest continuously active military post, Fortress Monroe. BRAC decided it was not needed and closed this very historical military base. The actual fort, built as a true fortress, including a moat, itself was preserved as a National Monument/Park, thank God for small favors, but the rest, including a great number of historical houses, office buildings and warehouses were turned over to a group of rapacious developers who will no doubt create a pitiful remainder of this once beautiful, gracious and honored facility. Hampton is also the home of the NASA Langley Research Center which boasted the oldest test wind tunnel in the country. Co-located with the LRC is Langley Air Force Base, where this author’s dad was stationed for a couple of years.
Also in our new home area is the City of Newport News which hosts the largest shipbuilding yard constructing massive ships for the United States Navy. The shipyard has been around for many many decades, actually over 100 years. A large portion of the working class income is brought to bear through employment at the shipyard.
We are settled into our new home now and our friends are surprised that we purchased a fairly large home in our senior years. Yes, I know most seniors downsize their living space, but we have increased our “final” house by a rather large margin, our previous “large” home was in the area of 1500 feet several years ago, in Leesburg, VA. This new town home in a senior only 55+ community and is slightly over 2200 feet. From a two bed condo, to a three bed and office/balcony town house we now have a large enough space to accommodate any visitations from family. Yeah, like that’s going to happen!
All is moving along though. My cancer chemo treatments have been changed to a stronger dosage, and of course with our current medical industry, a much higher price. My numbers, from the tests on my last visit with the oncologist are looking better he said. Still bothersome, but lower than the previous test. Yea ME.
So now, the Bride and I will try to do a few day or overnight visitations exploring our very interesting area, from the DelMarVa area, to the Outer Banks area and of course our very own Tidewater locales. Look for some words and pictures of our little Road Trips coming in Future Blog entries.
Take care of yourselves and your families, hold on to your sanity, things may get pretty bumpy for a while very soon.
Misty Lady Thought and Comment 