Helsinki is a no.

In terms of retirement, I think it might be easier to begin by determining places we will not live.

I'd like to announce that Helsinki is out. Now I know Jenny didn't even begin to consider it an option, given the average temperature falls well below the triple digits she would like to see, but I argue against Helsinki for two other reasons: reindeer and saunas.

I have nothing against reindeer. It isn't a religious icon issue, or an allergy issue, or even anti-antler issue (say that ten times fast). I just prefer not to have Rudolph on my plate at dinner. Nuf said?

In terms of saunas, that is a religious issue. See, apparently the Finns believe a sauna is the answer to all prayers. They take saunas before dinner, after dinner, before bed, prior to business meetings, and as part of weekly teacher staff trainings...they even build the sauna before they build the summer cabin in the mountains or the kitchen in the home. I guess saunas are their answer to the cold. They basically want to believe for a short while that they live someplace where sweat can occur. I think Jenny's answer to that would be, "Just choose Palm Springs."

So...folks, sorry....but Helsinki is out as our retirement destination. Anyone else have any places that should be removed from consideration?

PS. XMas Eve Eve is on at the DeAmicis House--as always--hope to see you all there.

:)Bonita

HAPPY THANKSGIVING....

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! The holidays are here already!!!!

Retirement?

Retirement? I just started working! I've already been retired.

Ron is a lonely man now. He is in the market for retired friends who are handy with household chores and cooking. He'll supply the beer or wine.

Nancy

Hello!!!

The Crowd fighting over retirement locations:

da-da, da-da, da... the chores!
da-da, da-da, da... the stores!
da-da, da-da, da... fresh air!
da-da, da-da, da... Time Square!

Looks like we need to retire right where we are and go in on a private jet...

Rosie (Rosemary)

Hah! A little slow on the upstart

I started this blog for us a number of months ago, but then I went to Seattle and Finland for Microsoft and never sent it out. Here's me trying again.

What inspired this blog? One Friday night Kristi was talking about needing a quiet place with a university nearby as her retirement spot, Jenny was suggesting a sky rise in Manhattan, Brian wanted desert, and Joe said he needed a lake. The Broscharts suggested Ventura Beach as an alternative lake, and the Peteras asked when they could pack up and move in. This caused Nancy to recoil as her quick math skills showed the size of their home would fall slightly short of the mark. Clearly, we all had very different retirement ideas, but one thing was universal in the room, "Let's all retire near to each other!" Yeah...ahem...that should work.

So I thought of this blog as a place we could keep each other posted on the goings on of our lives while also brainstorming a place to retire that has a little something for everyone. I believe there is a way to post pictures and videos. And I think you can make it so it downloads to PDAs or to your email. Plus, it would be great fun to read what Ted comes up with.

So there, hope you all join in. If I emailed you, you have permission to post and such. Let me know if I need to add anyone to posting permissions by just sending me their email to put up on the site. I started with the ones I had handy.

:)Bonita (also known as Chocolate in blogger world)