Wilmington

June 10, 2025 It was a dark and stormy night. Well, actually, it was a warm and muggy day. It was overcast, as usual, and the air was thick, heavy, and quiet. We had been narrowly missing the storms showing across the South…

Finally, we were on our way toward the goal of this journey. We drove up the coastal route, out of Florida, through Georgia, South Carolina, and into North Carolina. Not a lot of views of the ocean, like you would find on a drive up on Hwy 1 in California, but well-kept roads lined on both sides by trees, trees, and more trees. We zipped through Savannah GA, Charleston SC, Myrtle Beach SC, stopping only for the night. I promised Arleen we would visit them on the way back down. It was in South Carolina that one of those weather fronts finally found us. We had been blessed, to this point, to miss what I would call EXCITING weather. We were on the highway. The sky became dark rather quickly, like in one minute, just like in a Sci-fi movie, and the rain came down. I mean it came down. To me it was like a large crane had taken the neighbor’s dough-boy pool, full of water, picked it up and dumped it over and on top of our heads. All traffic slowed down to 45 mph. Emergency blinkers were turned on. I found a big truck with lovely red lights that I could follow. And I just kept breathing. Arleen just sat there relaxing as if this were a normal occurrence. I would find out later that it was a normal occurrence. Fascinating, exciting, and scary to this storm novice. It was five minutes (seemed like 20) of nothing but a wall of water and two faint red lights in front of me. And then, it was over. The pool had been emptied. Then the air cleared. The sky showed some blue and the road seemed to be clear of any water, denying what had just happened. Hazard lights off and back to 70 miles an hour. Business as usual.

We drove into the business section of Wilmington first and, as we always do, straight to our hotel. The drive was only 3 1/2 hours but with the storm and almost six weeks of driving, and because this was Wilmington, I had the hotel set up for three nights. That was enough time to check out this moderately small city by the ocean, as well as get some rest from the road. One thing I really like is the U-Turn policy. At EVERY light, your green arrow allows you to make a U-Turn. For this direction-challenged gal that is a Godsend. The next day we drove across town to the place I had been in contact with for the last six months.

I am not going to tell you the name of the place, mainly because I do not have permission, but I will tell you that I was hoping to meet Emily, in person, as opposed to the email/pen-pal route we had been taking. To my delight, she had insisted that she be our guide. She showed Arleen, JoJo and me all around. There was the indoor pool, heated to 80 degrees, and the adjoining showers, lockers and changing rooms. There was the hair salon. There was the, in individual rooms, massage parlor. There was the lovely restaurant, set with with care, and full of Southern charm, for the next opening at dinner. If we had arrived earlier we would have been treated to lunch. Instead, we were shown the juice bar where you could get a specialty coffee drink, a smoothie or a juice. The nice young man behind the bar prepared a drink from scratch. It was their treat. Next, the library, game rooms, including the poker room, movie theater, meeting rooms and, finally, the bar and lounge. There is a full bar and the keyboard guy was getting ready to play and sing for Happy Hour. Yes, they have a Happy Hour, daily.

We finally got to the rooms. I was shown a one-bedroom and a studio. When I walked into the studio I realized that there was a small patio, enclosed for JoJo, with room for plants, a chair, and a patio table. The 5X8 trailer goodies, waiting for me, would fit into this small apartment and I would save hundreds a month by choosing it. JoJo and I would have solitude when we wanted. When I did need company I would just have to open my door. The room comes with an installed motion detector by the door. In California, we set up motion detectors to catch the bad guys. Here they set them up to make sure we are still able to move around the apartment. No movement for a day or so, they will check in. Just so you know, it is a motion detector, not a camera.

From the patio there is a path out to the parking lot where my reserved parking spot would be. I could just sneak out whenever I want. But I would probably tell someone because that motion detector would not detect movement and would then tell on me.

We finally said our goodbyes and were given some lovely parting gifts, ones I could actually use. It is a big decision to choose to move into an Age-In-Place complex. They have more amenities than I am putting in here, including medical help if needed suddenly. The idea that you are moving to a place where you can spend the rest of your days, knowing that, if you become mentally or physically unable to cope, they have different sections you can be moved to, is both a relief and a concern. Concern mentally because you might eventually have to give up your freedom you have fought for all of your life. But, that is what I want so that my family would not have to deal with so much.

On a lighter note, we found one of the many beaches to check out. As far as I know, all of the beaches are free, that is, if you can find parking. The weather was warm and perfect. Later, we went back to the hotel room for a rest. Then it happened. Another storm suddenly came up. It thundered and lightninged (is that a word?) and the rain poured down. Within half an hour, it was gone and we, along with a lot of other people, went to dinner at the local steak house. Is it weird that I liked it?

I’m sorry to tell my California Pals that I have decided to move to Wilmington, NC. I will, however, be in Santa Rosa for the month of July and most of September. Between my step-daughter’s wedding and my cataract surgery I’m not ready to sever ties. So there you have it. The truth is out.

My journey is not over. I have until the end of June to get back to Santa Rosa and finish what I started. There is much more to tell and I will tell it soon. I know you can’t wait.

#ontheroadagain