This subject is one that is close to my heart and bothersome to me. Born in the midwest in 1960, my family and my two siblings lived amongst both sets of grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins. We moved to Florida in 1973 and only a few of our relations traveled to visit us, however my aunt and uncle would come for the winter months for about 10 years. We lived on a street in Florida that had only about 20 houses on it. The development was new and the surrounding homes which were essentially behind us, numbered over 100 I’d say. It was called the “retirement section”. The population living there were retired people and most were from the northeast; New York, New Jersey. Our neighborhood was younger with kids mostly, and all of us were from mostly midwestern and northern parts of the U.S. One family in particular befriended us, but most of our neighbors became close with us over a short period of time, and we all came from similar circumstances, mostly a blue collar lower middle class nieghborhood. We got together for holidays, b-days, and other occasions. It helped to have this relationship since we really had no family in Florida.
Jumping to now; I married a man from the western part of the U.S. My three kids were all born in Texas and my husbands family including his siblings also lived in Texas. My kids only got to know a fraction of my side of the family, and throughout my marriage to my husband (he died 7 years ago now), it would occasionally bother me that my children only knew a small amount of family. And so, I moved after his death to Massachussets to be near my sister. My daughter came with me and the boys were on they’re own when I left. History repeats itself! Even though I know they’re grown and have their own lives, I still think (living in the past I guess) of a time that might come when I could have my own house again and they’d have a place to land if ever needed. After my husband died, I lost everything besides him and now we are scattered. Anyways, something to be said about keeping families close together as I think it’s the best scenario.
Deb
