Where in the world did you choose to live, why did you choose the location and most importantly, did it work for you? Any regrets?
We’ve been twisting around this subject even befor I was diagnosed due to my Osteoarthritis and my sudden intolerance of cold temps and environments. Today’s first light snow brings the subjecttothe forefront again.
Thanks,
Dave
guitar guy I am considering a move to Branson, Missouri. One of the factors is that the weather there is considered to be the most optimal in the country. Not too hot, not too cold. Anything will be an improvement over Salt Lake City! Plus, the cost of living is very reasonable. I am going for a month to “ try it on”, then probably move permanently. Don’t know if that helps, I will let you know how it goes. Love, Kelly
I don’t know why but we never gave much/any thought to MO. Now that we’ve decided to stay in close proximity to “the kids” it’s moot but we should have given MO more consideration along with a few other places. We had always dreamed of building a nice log cabin in a pine/spruce forest in the mountains.
Sounds nice ~ make your dreams reality! 
Dear Kelly, Before you make a permanent move, make sure to try it out in ALL seasons, for long enough periods of time that you get adapted to the climate while you're there. Also, check it out to make sure it fits all of your personal "creature comforts"-- for example, if you follow a certain religion, make sure it has a place of worship at which you feel comfortable. If you like movies, make sure it has a theatre, if you like certain types of activities, make sure they are available. We did that, and when we finally make our move it already felt like home. Sukie427
Dear Kelly, did you move to Missouri? Amore55
We moved to Santa Fe, NM, from Houston a little over a year ago. We chose NM after doing a lot of research, factoring in climate, likelihood of natural disasters, and affordability. I can tell you that moving from the intense heat and humidity has been wonderful. I think that the cold temperatures have an adverse effect on me but nothing like the extreme heat of Houston, which is truly unbearable. I developed Reynaud’s Syndrome, which is no fun. I’m not sure there is any place with an ideal, year-round temperature, and if there is, we couldn’t afford it. Overall, quality of life here is much better. We don’t regret the change at all.
Best of luck. I hope you find someplace that is more accommodating to your health issues.
This is interesting let us know what you find out. My move was for a woman, screw ms, annoying gremlin that it is.
Let me know if climate change works for you. I still work for the military and still don't get much choice in climate. Once I'm retired I plan on finding a place in the upper peninsula of Michigan. It's pretty and for the most part remote. I'm very cold sensitive so I'll probably have to figure something else out for the winter.
I was getting my ocrevus infusion yesterday and the nurse told my she knew of an MS patient who was going to move to Florida and I said the humidity is going to be for her I said that’s one place I wouldn’t want to live in because of the heat.
My best friend is moving to Palm Springs in December and I'm curious if now (DXED 6 months ago) if I will turn into Frosty the Snowman, as so many others have told me to be fearful of heat.
We LOVED the heat in our youth and always thought it was because we grew up in the cold rain of Oregon, but I'm begining to think that, may have played part in getting MS. I'm going to visit or at least try once.
Please let us know how you fare where you are this winter! I loved the cold, but now that I am older, I struggle in this NE winter weather!
Definitely too cold! We both grew up in Cleveland, OH which may have had something to do with MS, which I got much later in life. While I do fare better in the cold, that is way too much cold, as I am sure it is where you are as well. I've been in New England in the winter and I couldn't wait to get home! In a perfect world, there would be a balance of mild, dry weather all year long. But of course, the world isn't perfect.
Hmmm...the perfect place for MS. Well not Orlando Fl.
My MS does not like heat, humidity, or cold.
A temperate climate with low humidity...?
guitarguy It took me a while to learn that I can't run away from MS. Wherever I go, there it is. Since diagnosis, I have lived in two states: Southern California, Central Virginia, urban and rural. I have mental lists of advantages/disadvantages for each place, but in both MS still manifests itself. In Virginia now, I deal with humidity in the summer and cold in the winter, but in California I dealt with more heat intolerance, more cognitive fog, and in both too much glare is painful. The reality is that I am going to be indoors more than I like wherever I live. Gone are the days when I could spend a day in a canoe, or skiing at Mammoth Mountain, or camping at Organ Pipe or on the Olympic peninsula. I live less than a hour from the Blue Ridge but hiking? Trekking? Wherever I am, MS limits me in ways both familiar and new. Bottom line: I am glad I had a choice to live here where I experience seasons, changes in weather, lovely vistas in almost every direction. Decide what is important to you: maybe you want to be close to extended family, restaurants, concerts, outdoor sports and other events. Maybe you have established great medical care and lasting friendships. Maybe wherever you live, you will be able to travel, return to see people important to you. Take your time with this decision and remember that moving is right up there with other major lifetime stressors!
You said it goatgal I live in Northern KY we have visited different places & talked about moving, it all comes down to what are we leaving compared to what we would be gaining. I would still be living in air conditioning in summer & electric blankets in winter.
DX in 2000 and lived in Western Carolinas. In 2006 I sold everything brick and stick and bought an Airstream trailer and began traveling this great country. I've been in every state in all weather. I've found that there is no one ideal place to call home. So I still travel but I've narrowed my wandering to the East Coast as I follow the weather. I have found so many benefits to living in my tiny home, it is my sanctuary, my comfort zone. This way of living, and not just changing location, gives me a flexibility to 'work around' my multitude of MS issues. Of course nothing is perfect but my 'triad of evils', heat-stress-fatigue, are under control.
Hello 1strider
I never thought that living in an Airstream would be an option for me and my 'ms'. You have given me something to think about.
Happy Trails,
Carole
I see my neuro twice a year in Charlotte, NC (central to my travel area) so I plan my travels and spend the night camped in his parking lot the night before my appointment. I've done this for several years and keep up with his office through their internet patient portal. Getting my meds prescribed for 3 months at a time is a blessing and less expensive as one of my 'work arounds' for my MS fight.
What a fantastic idea! I'm so envious and happy for you and now this is my retirement goal - thanks for sharing!
There're so many positive reasons this works for me that I'm sure I could write a book. I'm a member of many groups with the Airstream world and MS world both in person and cyber, FB etc.
1Stride
We talked about doing this too. Once we narrowed things down to what it is we really wanted it fell off the list but I consider this an awesome solution. If you like being around people you can be, if not, you can just keep driving. Can I ask what you’re pulling it with?
guitarguy
This is a dilemma that I have been thinking of lately ~ should I stay or should I go. I currently live in a 2 story, 4 bedroom colonial in New England. Both children have 'flown the nest' so this house is way too big for me and my husband. We will probably sell next Spring, after we declutter. But where to go? The winter is getting harder and harder for me. But I am close to top-notch medical care, I am somewhat close to family. Tough decision.
Keep Smiling,
Carole
That was another factor for us. I’ve spent the better part of 40 years cultivating my medical team of 5 specialists and my primary. They all know me well. It would be somewhere between difficult to impossible to create another group like this. Pain meds are a good reason not to try. As my daily complement exceeds the MME. Trying to get a new doc to prescribe what I’m taking as a maintenance dose would be next to impossible an I’ve tried. I finally just asked my primary to take over that part and she agreed. I’m the only patient she will do that for but she’s known me for over 20 years. Don’t get me started on pain clinics (one way ATMs) and the increasing burden of the laws which only punish those who had a legitimate need. God forbid I should want to spend a couple of months in FL with my brother and his family. 30 days, no exceptions. Apologies for the tangent.
Dave
guitarguy
There is NO substitution for excellent, personalized medical care. Worth their weight in GOLD! And your life, any ones life, is way too precious to tinker with your health!
Keep Smiling,
Carole
My neuro is my life boat in this vast sea of MS devastation. I'm lucky to have him and more than fortunate that his location is central to my wandering, bohemian, nomadic life style. His understanding of me and the helping efforts of his staff are the very foundation of my quality of life.
Much truth to keeping an excellent health care team--one of the sacrifices I made to leave. But I work with what I have, and even though I have to travel a couple of hours to see my neuro, it was worth it. As for pain meds, do you live in a state with medical marijuana? I was so far down the opiate road I was sucking on fentanyl lollipops and wearing fentanyl patches when I wasn't hooked up to a Demerol drip as an in-patient due to chronic hemiplegic migraines, even before I was dx'ed with the MS. When we got to a med mj state, I tried substituting and it worked well for me. It is relaxing, takes away the pain (MS, and even those killer migraines which I don't get much any more) and best of all, no opiates! Even if you don't live in a med mj state, Marinol might still be legal, and CBD oil is legal everywhere. If you haven't tried it, ask your medical team about it. As this stuff is not regulated, it's trial and error until you find the right strain (or combination) and the dosage that's right for you. I hate being stoned as I hate being out of control (no longer 17, thank goodness) and I have finally found what works on my pain while I am still feeling normal. I also hate taking smoke into my lungs, so I rely heavily on edibles, including tinctures and syrups, and if the strain I need only comes in bud I use a vaporizer so I only end up sucking down water vapor. Sukie427
Yes, I’m in an MMJ State but it doesn’t do the trick. I have a reaction to all narcotic and non-narcotic pain meds.
My husband and I are deciding where to move in retirement. Midwest is full of lovely people, but the winters and taxes are intolerable.
Sounds exactly like where I am, in New England!
Today, after a heated discussion, we have decided not to move in retirement. Starting a new life in retirement is hard enough, but it's unbearable with MS. I am not an outdoors person, so I will just stay indoors when it's too cold. Are you an outdoors person?
Used to be but not anymore.
I forgot to mention the move was very beneficial for me.
Leslie
Leslie,
And you have no problems with the winters here? Do you have family close by?
I am pondering with the idea of moving out of Massachusetts to escape the dreadful winters but I wouldn't go to Florida because of the heat and humidity. My two daughters live close by, my medical team is in Boston, so I wouldn't want to venture too far south. I would probably be miserable with out my daughters close by, and my trusted neuro!
Keep Smiling,
Carole
carolek572,
The snow and ice are hard for me also. But the heat is worse.
Thanks for asking. I live with my husband and 18 yr. old son.
Leslie
Leslie,
I agree with you ~ the heat is far worse than the cold. I can layer on my sweater, coat, blanket when it gets too cold. But when it is icy outdoors, I am a total indoor prisoner!
My issue is that I am looking to downsize because I live in a 4 bedroom colonial AND also take the opportunity to move to a more temperate climate. Perhaps I should take these one at a time! Decisions, decisions!
I am happy that you are in a good place,
Keep Smiling,
Carole
Thanks for your good thoughts. I just read your email after taking the bag of recycle out to the front of the house and it certainly got cold outside.
Leslie
guitarguy
Excellent post! I have been checking what others have to say, and I also have replied to many here that I forgot to let you know that I have enjoyed your post! So, thank you.
Where are you thinking of resettling to? Or are you in your forever home?
Keep Smiling,
Carole
My wife and I had planned to move to Florida to be near my older brother and his family. That would also take advantage of their taxes which are better than most and certainly better than Illinois where our former governors make our license plates. (We currently live in the Chicago suburbs.) Climate is another big reason. I’m in the process of buying a new snow blower but this is almost certainly going to be the last I’ll able to even attempt that. That situation is only getting worse in many areas. I tried stain out deck and pergola a couple of months ago and fell fro the top breaking a couple of ribs, tearing my rotator cuff in two places in addition to knocking myself unconscious. My ladder days are over, as are my lifting, pushing, pulling etc. Too many surgeries, too many illness. I’ve always thought of myself as indestructible. A 25 year old trapped in a 65 year old bent, broken and dysfunctional body. That was a rude awakening. Still is in many ways.
Back on topic. I tolerate high heat and humidity far less than ever before so Florida is out. In a perfect world we’d have a place in New Mexico and a small cabin in Alaska. We love the outdoors and was a wildlife photographer. Due to becoming disabled 51/2 years ago those plans became unreasonable. We weren’t blessed with children and spent our entire savings (at the time) in pursuit of in vitro (before insurance started covering those expenses. Then we brought my wife’s I’ll mother to live with us as she had dementia and passed away a few years ago at the age of 98. She was a wonderful woman who deserved all of the love and care we could provide. That quickly became a full time job 24/7. My wife bore the brunt of that, giving up her late life dream of becoming an RN. She was able to finish school but at that point I had started my downhill run so she just traded one patient for another and gave up on her dream
Don’t worry, we’re getting close to the end!😉
During the last two years of her nursing program my wife became friends with a pharmacist wo is easily young enough to be our daughter. She married and now has two infant children that have woven their way into my wife’s heart forever. Now I finally had something to give her. The ability to spend as much time as possible being with those two little miscreants! So, we’re going to significantly downsize and get into a small home that is or can be modified to be ADA compliant. Its not much but it’s all I have to give that I know will make her happy.
That’s my story and I’m stort and I’m sticking to it!
Second cup of coffee? Nap?
Stick a fork in me, I’m done.
Dave
Dave,
So, it’s your story and you’re sticking to it? It’s a wonderful story, and here’s to hoping that you don’t need that snowblower too much this year!
Keep Smiling,
Carole
Great story!
When I worked in Arizona and my job ended I got my next job also in a warmer climate (although I wasn't aiming at temperatures warmer than Arizona!) to avoid having to walk on any slippery surface (eg. ice) since I am balance challenged. Not to minimize MS symptoms.
I'm reading all these post & I'm thinking I've heard it said that the best deal is Florida in the winter & North in the summer my wheels are turning & I think I had better go take a nap before I get in trouble. Mary
My in-laws did that until their health failed them. Now, mother-in-law stays put in New England. Horrible winters but what can you do. Personally, I would have stayed in Florida
I would move to a “green” state if I could afford to.
TracyBelle What 'green' states do you have in mind?
Any state that has compassionate care laws. I just want all Americans to have the same access to any and every source of relief. It is absurd that recreational is available in some states, but the people who have a medical necessity in other states have NO ACCESS. I get sick of the hypocrisy. Washington, DC allows you to grow your own! However, even in states where the citizens have voted for medical like Arkansas (it was approved by voters in 2016), the patients STILL don’t have access in any form.
I just want equal access to something that the Department of Health and Human Services has patented as a treatment for Neuro degenerative diseases like MS.
TracyBelle
Thanks for clarifying ~ I was going down the renewable energy path.
Yes, I agree, that this whole 'green' issue is being approached piecemeal. We need to hold ALL members in government who work for the people accountable to what they have promised to do. Sadly, they often forget what they were elected to do. Let us hope that everything will be squared away ~ sooner rather than later.
Stay Strong,
Carole
Anywhere from Monterey CA to Coos Bay Oregon. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT of course!!! I heard Santa Cruz has a huge MS population. It really only gets hot one week a year...maybe. I can't believe I followed a job to the heat and cold and left Shangrala. If you can, you should live there.
Where is this place you call "Shangrala"? I am curious
We moved from hot, sticky humid miserable South Florida to Sedona, AZ which is dry high mountain desert. Generally, the summers have always averaged in the high 70s to low 80s, but for the last few summers it's been in the triple digits and the 90s. Too hot, as I find that I do better in the cold, but still better than the humidity of South FLA. Winters are cold--ranging from the mid-40s to the 60s during the day and very cold at night. We get a bit of snow, maybe once or twice, but it doesn't stick. Wonderfully comfortable, beautiful place to live!
I agree with SometimesCrazy . The central / North California Coast works well for MS. It rarely gets above 80F or below 45F.
I had Raynaud's disease before coming to California - it's all gone now. And I am now raving about the foggy days - makes my MS symptoms disappear quite systematically.
This is where my life is camped right now until I can't afford it anymore.
Hi Dave, I will be moving (not soon enough) but about 2 years Delaware near Rehobeth Beach. Suburban life and a little better weather, less chaotic urban life is what I need in my life. I notice changes when I'm in those relaxed "zen life" areas. I have been a Urban City lady of my life, and when MS is not being very nice to me; natural vitamin D, jazz and Delaware beaches work.
NeeC
stepsforNeeC
Sounds like a plan! We’re polar opposites, I could not take city life. Plunk me down in the mountains and I’m happy! That’s not going to happen but that would be my dream. The best Ivan hope for is probably semi-rural.
Thanks you. Be Blessed and guitars rock!
guitarguy I have been in north central CA for almost 50 years. We sometimes have temps mid-summer up to 110+degrees & winter freezes below 32degrees. In either weather, I hid out in the house only going out when it’s warm enough or cool enough. Given a choice, I would love a warm cabin in the mountains, but since that’s not good for my aggressive OA, I would choose something along the coast of CA from Santa Cruz to EurekaCA. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to move anywhere so will make the best of it here. I’m only 90 miles from my MS Neuro and have a pretty good PCP here. I manage to have a nice garden in the summer, and have many indoor crafts & hobbies.
Bloom where you're planted! I love your attitude, CalfeeChick . It sounds glorious where you live.
