Updates...

Let me start off by saying we are DEFINITELY moving. To the retirement center. To the 2-bedroom in the six-plex with the covered parking (not quite a garage as no door, but better than a carport because it has sides). It's 973 square feet, so it's quite a bit smaller for us. I'm not worried about down-sizing as far as "things" go because I don't really have any emotional attachment to "things." I have emotional attachments to the memories of when they were given or the circumstances behind the acquisition of the item in question.

I still have concerns of having enough room for the bed and Ron's equipment. I already know the living room won't handle his chair and the sofa as it's also considered a living room/dining room combination. My plan is to try and sell a bunch of stuff, including the living room sofa and matching love seat (it's leather) and getting a smaller loveseat in the future. We don't have that many visitors so having a full-sized sofa is not a necessity. I would like to have a recliner of my own, or maybe a reclining loveseat would fit the bill. We'll see. I'm not in any hurry to replace anything.

We're trading dining room furniture with Amy and Rex because theirs is much smaller and will work as a side table in the kitchen to hold the microwave, Ron's George Foreman grill, and maybe the toaster. The kitchen doesn't have a pantry, but it's more open so he should be able to maneuver easier. The biggest drawback to the kitchen is the size of the refrigerator. Being an older unit, the bigger fridges don't work there. The one in question has the freezer on top and no ice maker. Ron will have to get used to not having ice in his water during the day and getting his food out of the freezer during the day might be difficult. It's something that he will have to work on. We may have to decide what he's going to eat before I leave and have me put it within his reach. Things to think about.

We will sign the paper work in 2-3 weeks (still have to come up with another $800 to do so) and then about 30 days later, we'll be able to move in. That will be another chunk of change that I have to come up with. $850 x 2 for rent (one month + deposit), plus $437 for maintenance fee, and $300 extra deposit. That is over $2400. Scary. But, I have things for sale. Lots of things. Oak buffet, my washer and dryer, with pedestals, some small appliances, a Little Giant ladder, various tools, maybe my freezer (if there is no room for it there), and then there's the leather furniture. Hopefully, I can put this amount together. I'm selling cards, still too. And some extra scrapbook supplies.

The more I do to get ready for this, the more excited I am. The benefits of living there includes membership to the Hesston Wellness Center, which has exercise equipment, hot tub, swimming pool, physical therapy, and other things to do. Ron could get out in his Jazzy and go all over the campus on integrated sidewalks. My mom is worried that I'm giving up so much but I think I'm going to be retaining a lot of sanity in return. Isaiah will be close and can come over several times a week. We'll see him every weekend (probably) and be able to take him to the Wellness Center to swim and things. I will be doubling my commute time but it's all highway miles. I'm OK with that. I will be looking for a job closer to Hesston, maybe even within the community there. We'll just have to see.

If Ron has to go to higher level of care (full-time) then I will have to move. I'm not old enough to live there so if things go downhill for him, I will once again be looking for a place for me to live. Amy and Rex have assured me that I'll never be homeless and if it happens that I have to move, I can always move into their spare room until I find something that I can afford. Personally, I don't think Ron will ever get any better than he is now and there is evidence that he is sometimes more confused that he's been in the past. The Vascular Dementia is taking a toll on him and it may be a short time before he has to go to assisted living. I am about to the place where I've done all that I can do. If he works on maintaining his health and we go exercise, then I think we can hold the "down turn" off.

But... his left knee is really bad and the orthopedic doctor is thinking about referring him to a knee-replacement specialist. Not sure if the doctor would do a replacement or if he would have some other suggestions but we're about to the point. His knee won't extend all the way for him to stand up completely. The day that he walked with his leg on was the only - and the best - time that he's walked with tolerable pain. He is never pain-free but he's beyond what he can tolerate in the left, which inhibits the actions of the right. it's a vicious circle.

This was longer than I intended and I didn't even cover everything! Oh well... There's always the next post.

Have a great week! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you and your sweeties.