Bay Shore NY
5-16-2023 8:02pm

Leaving New York for Other Destinations

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - LEAVING NEW YORK FOR OTHER DESTINATIONS

What a special time of year summer is. Memorial Day is just about a week away! I wait all year for this sultry season, and my beach bag is always packed.  Once Christmas is over, all I can do is think of summer. I grew up on the beach, and my parents are from Rockaway Beach and lived a block from the ocean. My hometown of Bay Shore is a beach town. When I was a teenager, it seemed like everyone wore gauze shirts and patchouli oil. I used to love that scent. Now, not so much. Now, I wear Love oil.

Summer is the warmest season of the year in the northern hemisphere from June to August and in the southern hemisphere from December to February. I promised myself that I would never go through another winter without taking a flight south in February. This was a difficult month for me this winter. Even though we had a mild season, it was grey and cloudy, so it still felt like a very long, cold winter to me. Maybe I'm just becoming less tolerant of colder weather. Yes, I'm sure that's it.

A lot of people move south as they head into older age. I think we crave more warmth, a slower pace, and more sunshine as we age. At least I do. We took a road trip to North Carolina in 2021, and it left a lasting impression. Talk about slower pace. There's no traffic and there are plenty of displaced New Yorkers. That's not a bad thing. There's a great music scene, and beaches line the entire state. Cape Hatteras feels like another planet. You might be thinking, but there are hurricanes down south. Yes there are, but New York has plenty of perilous weather, too. We lost three huge pines in a rogue windstorm a few years ago on our property. That was pretty perilous.

According to a study released by United Van Lines, Americans flocked South in 2021. The study also found that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a driver in moving decisions even today. The moving company’s recent annual report on customers' migration patterns found that nearly 32% of Americans who moved did so to be closer to family. Of the 10 states with the highest inbound move percentages, eight, including North Carolina, are among the 25 least densely populated states in the nation, according to United Van Lines. Americans moving to new states in 2021 opted in large numbers for uncrowded destinations. And don't forget that warmer weather.

The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the value of smaller, midsized towns and cities in the eyes of many Americans, according to Michael A. Stoll, an economist and professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles. “We’re seeing this not only occur because of Americans’ desire to leave high density areas due to risk of infection and better lifestyle, but also due to the transformation of how we’re able to work, with more flexibility to work remotely.” It looks like working from home is here to stay. Moving just might be on your radar.

It's not just older Americans that are moving. Adding to the exodus numbers were Gen Xers, many of whom retired early and moved to Florida, according to the study, but the data shows they overwhelmingly favored less dense cities like Punta Gorda and Sarasota over population-dense locations such as Miami and Orlando. 

A slower-paced lifestyle can add years to your life and life to your years. Keep moving and don't forget to pack the beach bag.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, road trips can be a great way to see other places you might want to move to.

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - CAPE HATTERAS, NORTH CAROLINA

The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky, and the calm of the salt marshes are just some of the things you can experience in Cape Hatteras. Shaped by the forces of water, wind, and storms, these islands are ever changing. The plants, wildlife, and people who live here adapt continually. Whether you are enjoying the beach, kayaking the sound, or climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, there is something for everyone to explore. One of the coolest things about Cape Hatteras is that it faces east. New York beaches face south. The horizon gives you a unique vantage point.

For more information, visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What places have you thought of moving to? Please put your answer(s) in the comment section below. Let's travel together!

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If your world doesn’t allow you to dream, move to one where you can.” 

-Billy Idol

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - RAMBLE ON by LED ZEPPELIN

<!-- EMBEDDED YOUTUBE URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzGBQerkvWs -->

Lyrics

Leaves are fallin' all around
Time I was on my way
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged
For such a pleasant stay
But now it's time for me to go
The autumn moon lights my way
For now I smell the rain, and with it, pain
And it's headed my way
Oh, sometimes I grow so tired
But I know I've got one thing I got to do
Ramble on
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm goin' 'round the world, I gotta find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
Ramble on
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams
Got no time to for spreadin' roots
The time has come to be gone
And though our health we drank a thousand times
It's time to ramble on
Ramble on
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm goin' 'round the world, I gotta find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
I gotta ramble on
I gotta find the queen of all my dreams
I ain't tellin' no lie
Mine's a tale that can't be told
My freedom I hold dear
How years ago in days of old
When magic filled the air
'Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor
I met a girl so fair
But Gollum and the Evil One
Crept up and slipped away with her, her, her, yeah
And ain't nothin' I can do, no
I guess I'll keep on
Ramblin', I'm gonna
Sing my song, I've gotta find my baby
I'm gonna ramble on, sing my song
Gonna work my way all around the world
Baby, baby, ramble on, yeah
A-do-do-n-do-n-do-n-do, my baby, baby
A-ramble on, baby
A-do-do-do-do
I can't stop this feelin' in my heart
Everytime I feel I will leave, I really gotta part
Gotta keep searchin' for my baby (baby, baby, baby, baby, baby...)
I've gotta keep a-searchin' for (baby)
My, my, my, my, my, my, my baby
Yeah-yeah, a-yeah-yeah, a-yeah-yeah
My, my, my, my, my, my baby
Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Ooh, my, my
I can't find my bluebird, I'd listen to my bluebird sing
But I, I can't find my bluebird
I keep a-ramblin' baby
Ah, yeah
I keep a-ramblin', baby
I keep, keep...

WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE

Hello and thank you for reading my weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, representing Bay Shore and towns beyond. My articles are about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to and things I want to explore. There is also a calendar of upcoming events. Please consider becoming a subscriber. There are several levels, and it’s easy to do. Just open the newsletter and the subscribe button is there. As a subscriber, you will receive a copy of my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. You can do it yourself or email me to discuss this at christineskylark@aol.com. You can also PM me. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

I also have an inspirational vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, on the first Monday-of-the-month on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live. This is designed to inspire people 60 and beyond to continue to thrive through knowledge and self-awareness. Please take a moment to subscribe to my channel and be sure to click the bell to get notified when I upload a new video.

Please feel free to comment about my article below. I'd love to know what's on your mind.

Thank you for your love and support. Apprezza la giornata. Cherish the day.
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