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- Sep 1, 2015
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Hey guys,
New to the forum, and I thought I'd ask for your advice.
I'm 25, and I've been living at home with my parents and grandparents since I graduated college. I'm financially able to move (and have been for a few years), but I've stayed at home to help take care of my grandparents, who have each had a slew of very bad health issues over the years.
While I've been stir crazy living in the same town/house where I grew up, the best benefit has been spending time with Snickers, my now 16-year-old male Maine Coon. Snickers has been a member of our household since 2002, and he's been such an incredible friend over the years. To this day, I spend time with him every morning and every night, and he's always by my side when I'm in the house.
Despite his advanced age, Snickers is in tremendous health. He has endless energy, eats and sleeps like a champ, and hasn't been sick (beyond a few minor stomach issues) in years. I believe he is so healthy because he has had so many people taking care of him in our crowded household. He's never without a personal masseuse, a playmate, or someone to just sit with.
But here comes my dilemma. I live in New England, and the winters here are absolutely brutal. From November to March of every year, I'm completely miserable in the cold and snow, just waiting for the weather to warm up. I know for a fact that I'd be happier and healthier living down south in the winters, and for years I've had a promise to myself that I would begin spending my winters down south starting in 2016. But as the move gets nearer, I've been staying up late at night knowing that I'd be leaving Snickers behind for a few months. And I'm not sure I'm okay with that. My biggest fear is that I'll commit to the move, Snickers will get sick, and I won't be there for his final days. While his health is strong right now, I know he's already far exceeded the life expectancy of most cats. And if he does get sick, I know my family won't tell me because they know I'll be on the next flight home and they know how important this move is to me.
I am moving in January no matter what because I need to start my life. But I'm now contemplating staying here in miserable New England so I can visit Snickers regularly. If I go down South, I will probably only see him once over the course of three months.
Has anyone here had an experience like this? Any advice?
New to the forum, and I thought I'd ask for your advice.
I'm 25, and I've been living at home with my parents and grandparents since I graduated college. I'm financially able to move (and have been for a few years), but I've stayed at home to help take care of my grandparents, who have each had a slew of very bad health issues over the years.
While I've been stir crazy living in the same town/house where I grew up, the best benefit has been spending time with Snickers, my now 16-year-old male Maine Coon. Snickers has been a member of our household since 2002, and he's been such an incredible friend over the years. To this day, I spend time with him every morning and every night, and he's always by my side when I'm in the house.
Despite his advanced age, Snickers is in tremendous health. He has endless energy, eats and sleeps like a champ, and hasn't been sick (beyond a few minor stomach issues) in years. I believe he is so healthy because he has had so many people taking care of him in our crowded household. He's never without a personal masseuse, a playmate, or someone to just sit with.
But here comes my dilemma. I live in New England, and the winters here are absolutely brutal. From November to March of every year, I'm completely miserable in the cold and snow, just waiting for the weather to warm up. I know for a fact that I'd be happier and healthier living down south in the winters, and for years I've had a promise to myself that I would begin spending my winters down south starting in 2016. But as the move gets nearer, I've been staying up late at night knowing that I'd be leaving Snickers behind for a few months. And I'm not sure I'm okay with that. My biggest fear is that I'll commit to the move, Snickers will get sick, and I won't be there for his final days. While his health is strong right now, I know he's already far exceeded the life expectancy of most cats. And if he does get sick, I know my family won't tell me because they know I'll be on the next flight home and they know how important this move is to me.
I am moving in January no matter what because I need to start my life. But I'm now contemplating staying here in miserable New England so I can visit Snickers regularly. If I go down South, I will probably only see him once over the course of three months.
Has anyone here had an experience like this? Any advice?