<p>H and I have already been investigating how soon we can retire! We’d love to travel and spend time with friends and family around the world. With an empty nest next year, that dream might become a reality sooner rather than later. If we could find something to do that wouldn’t require being tied down to a place, e.g., consulting or telecommuting or contracting out services electronically, that would be perfect. One place we’re considering for retirement is Victoria, BC–close to mountains and ocean, only four inches of snow/year, rate of exchange would be in our favor, and relatively close to kids on West Coast (as well as relatives in Vancouver and Seattle).</p>
<p>Digmedia - sounds even better! My idea of a great time is leafing through old wills, or taking a walk with my camera in hand. My idea of ideal nightlife is a good book in front of the fire. Mull, here I come. That is, once the kids are on their own.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing all the info.</p>
<p>Hayden; there is a branch of the U.S. archives where your can view old records from the Civil War. I have actually seen documents my great grandfather wrote when he was a captain in that conflict. Another fun thing to do is photograph old trees. We have some ancients ones in this area. They are rare and usually in secluded places, but there is something truly magnificent to them, great fun to photograph.</p>
<p>Digmedia; I am of Scot ancestry, the lowland Tweed River Valley. A friend in England was telling me recently that a place in the Highlands goes for a steal- you know, very remote, no one wants to live there. I enjoyed the site. </p>
<p>I would also like to see Scotland someday. And Italy, especially Tuscany is a wonderful place. I would like to spend time there too.</p>
<p>backhandgrip - yes, it’s great. I have copies of various ancestors’ pension files from the Revolutionary War, and from the War of 1812. They’re fascinating. I don’t have a single one from the Civil War - I’m from the South, so they didn’t get pensions. </p>
<p>If you haven’t already done so, you can look up your ggrandfather online, and find out exactly which battles he fought in, and you can see the original census records online which recorded him with his family. Beginning in 1850, each family member is listed by name, so it’s very interesting.</p>
<p>The trees sound wonderful, too. Beautiful.</p>
<p>Hayden;I’ve seen some of the R.W.pension files! They are terrific! Great reading- the problem being, those elligible for the pension, when was that 1823, who were still alive were very young during the Revolution. One of those pension books was recently on ebay- just caught me at a bad time and could not bid -went for a real steal, like under $100.Geesh.</p>
<p>What is that C.W. site you are talking about? Online, really? Thought you had to go to the archives in Philly.</p>
<p>What wars were your relatives in? Was your C.W. ancestor an officer?</p>
<p>Maize&Blue…our children have traveled to places H & I haven’t been to either. We are planning a train trip to Oregon/WA during spring break with the younger 2 in order to check out the area for retirement. Supporting 3 children through private school has put everything on the back burner for us. We anticipate D1 will be out of college in '08…just 1 child off our “payroll” will be an incredible relief to us. In the meantime, we are making plans now for '08 and beyond.</p>
<p>archermom, any specific areas in Oregon or Washington you are interested in retiring to?</p>
<p>We are heading toward Portland…and also looking at Vancouver, WA. Just in passing conversations with colleagues, everyone seems to have a relative or knows someone who is living in those areas…and, all are loving it! I guess, the perfect scenario is to live in Vancouver (no state income tax) and shop in Portland (no sales tax)! After living in LA for so longer, housing is a bargain in the NW. We’ll see…</p>
<p>I would like to read your report when you come back.</p>
<p>Will do…I am SO looking forward to this trip. I was born in LA…family moved to the southern desert when I was 13 (so I do know where Beaumont is located!)…then to UCLA for college. Living on the westside has been great for the kids in terms of weather, beach, and proximity to all the ethnic communities (ie, Chinatown, J-Town, Koreatown, Fairfax area, and East LA). But, the traffic and congestion is getting unbearable. Arrghh! It will be nice to visit other areas…</p>
<p>Archermom,</p>
<p>You’ll be astonished by all the green that will surround you as you travel north through Oregon and Washington on Amtrak. Enjoy your trip.</p>
<p>I was born in Oregon, grew up in California, college in LA (like you, UCLA), lived in Portland, Fresno, and Seattle suburb (20 years now). While your LA real estate exchange will give you a leg up, don’t let anyone fool you that housing here is all that much cheaper. We’re in the midst of a boom market. Have been for several years. Our house has doubled in the past 5 years. Anyway, have fun looking. I find the Portland and Seattle areas to be extremely vibrant, Seattle more so as we are sports fans and there are more pro teams here. And it really doesn’t rain all the time as advertised (but don’t tell everyone that). Don’t carry an umbrella, it will identify you as a out-of-towner.</p>
<p>Has anyone been to the Mt St. Helen’s area? I’ve heard there are ‘lava caves’ you can walk through, and sterilized lakes where life is returning too. Must be an interesting area.So much of the U.S. I have not seen.</p>
<p>backhandgrip - don’t think I’m allowed to post a link for other data bases. But if you look for genealogy.com message boards, you can post a question under either 1) your ancestor’s last name, and “sks” (that’s genealogy-speak for “some kind soul”) will help you; or 2) go to the Civil War message board, and sks will help you there. I’m only suggesting this as I’m assuming you may not want to post the ancestor’s last name here. By the way, the genealogy.com and ancestry.com sites are paid sites, but the message boards are free, so there is no committment of any kind on your part when you post a question.</p>
<p>Hayden;Oh, thank you. Also, our Civil War sites may be different, as my family was of the North. (was at Little Round Top , Gettsburg, too)
There is a C.W. Museum in Philadelphia. It was originally established by the male heirs of officers of the Union Army . It is facinating, a three story brownstone, Victorian throughout, 18th and Pine, with a Lincoln Room complete with death masks and General Meade’s stuffed horse.The sad plight of that museum through time! As heirs died off, interest in the museum ebbed. A corrupt curator gained the confidence of the board and sold many of the the artifacts, for his own financial gain.He sold these things at great personal profit and has a main line Phila. estate. I believe he may now still be in prison, however, this does little to comfort those, like MY family, who donated valuable Civil War artifacts, many from Gettsburg, in the early 1900’s. I know this may be of little interest to you as you were of the South, however, I share this story to inspire the younger generation, of which WE are still a part of, to please help and preseve history, in any way we can. Join organizations and be a vocal voice at board meetings and inspire your children to do likewise.<br>
Thank you for the site, I must branch out on the Internet.</p>
<p>Summer in the US, Autumn in Rome, Winter on the Equator, Spring Down Under</p>
<p>Cheers; Spoken like a true Englishman!</p>
<p>Hmmm… D will be finished (hopefully!) with college by 2011… hard to imagine what I’ll be doing then except paying off the college bills for several more years…</p>
<p>…but would like to become bi-coastal… split the year, and live in both NYC and in SF Bay Area (lived in Bay Area for 20 years before moving here to Jersey) I cannot see giving up NYC, but the weather… ouch.</p>
<p>Drink more wine… travel more… visit friends more…</p>
<p>math geek here has a spreadsheet tracking progress to my “retirement” … that actually comes in two phases. </p>
<p>First, when I have enough to retire, pay of the mortgage, and pay for 3 kids to go to school I will switch careers … into something about youth sports … I’d love to run my town’s recreation department (not that I am qualified) so it probably will be come kid coaching gig for 10-15 years.</p>
<p>Then when I retire for good I want to stay in my home, visit my kids and grandkids all the time and do some serious US travelling … I love Seattle, SF, Colorado, Chicago, NYC, Maine, etc … and would like to travel with my family to those spots often. If the retirement spreadsheet turns out great I’d also like to see some of the world (Europe and Australia especially)</p>
<p>Dream-mountains, year round stream, 4 corners area, a small wood and rock cabin, in a clearing so I can see the stars, outdoor fireplace. Dig’s serpentine canyon road. A couple of weeks a year back in Texas. Books. Music. Teaching something I know to someone who cares. That’s about it, really. </p>
<p>It’s really funny to see how dreams change over the years, isn’t it? My answers at 30 would have been filled with fame, and the trappings of fortune. Now I just want out. Hermit -here I come.</p>