I think it's a bad idea. I spent 18 months in Orlando for the Navy, and there is no amount of money you could throw at me to convince me to live in Florida. Neither my mom or step-dad have ever spent longer than 6 days in Florida, but gosh-darnit, the internet says it's a good place to live.
Puts me in a tough spot. I don't think it's a good idea, but...my mom and step-dad have made it to their mid-60's without running their decisions by me or my step-sister. You can only push fellow grown-ups so hard before you start alienating. My wife has convinced me that my usually snarky response to something I don't approve of is the wrong approach to this situation. Instead, we are showing them what they will miss. Mostly, their grand daughters. And wine.
So, we took my mom out Wednesday to check out the Warehouse Wine District in Woodinville. Since Chateau St. Michelle went into Woodinville in 1976, the area has turned into the main winery area in Western Washington, with two main 'districts' the Hollywood School District and the newer Warehouse district. Not much wine is actually grown in this area...almost all of the grapes are imported from the Columbia Valley...but you are probably looking at 120 wineries with tasting rooms in Woodinville. You could give me two weekends a month and I'm not sure I could get through all of them...especially when you figure in 3 breweries and two distilleries.
Heck, I'd go broke even trying. We only went to 5 wineries and one brewery this weekend, and I still almost went broke.
We didn't buy something at every stop, which is an improvement in my will power...and I bought the 32oz growler from Dirty Bucket Brewing Co. empty because I knew after a day of wine tasting I wasn't going to feel like more beer, and I didn't think it would survive the drive home in drinkable condition. I really liked their Naughty Autie ESB.
Of the wineries we went too, one made a real impression on my wife and I...Page Cellars. We liked them so much we actually decided to join their wine club. One of the nicer things about a smaller winery though is that their wine club obligation is not too over the top either...two bottles, three times a year. My mom belongs to a larger winery that obligates you to 16 bottles a year(and they are closer to $50 a bottle than $30 a bottle).
It was a good time. I'm no sure it was enough to convince my mom not to move...but in case it wasn't, it doesn't hurt to build some more memories.
Suggest that before they move they find a place to rent (in the general area they want to live in), for a few months of summer and a few months of winter. At least two months each.
ReplyDeletePersonally you couldn't pay me to live in FL, but not everyone agrees with me!