We ended up at a neighbour's house for dinner. They live one unit across and up. There is no lift (elevator) in our complex. They claim that climbing the stairs and not owning a car has kept them feeling young and healthy, late into their 70s, and I don't doubt it. That's the life that Tim and I want, too, growing old.
But they report that their friends, the ones who didn't choose the life without a car at the top of the stairs, those friends aren't feeling young and healthy. They have friends who can't visit them for dinner anymore, because the friends can't climb the three flights of stairs. And so after looking around at their friends, our neighbours have decided to move, to give up the unit where their family grew old, and take a place on the ground floor.
I've been thinking a lot about how our choices affect the people we spend time with.
It is hard to make friends, and most people have networks of friends and family already where they live. We don't. And we made our choices knowing that we wouldn't, and we don't regret any of our decisions. But when one is the only one making certain choices -- even though one knows those choices are the best choices -- one can still get a little lonely.
Anyone want to come over for dinner?
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