TENNESSEE TRANSPLANTATION

CHAPTER ONE

Ann’s Idea

The idea popped into Ann Flanders' head from out of the blue, as she and husband Frank were riding along on one of their road-runs. That's how they referred to the jaunts they took around the Central NYS countryside where they lived They were about 75 miles from their home this Autumn afternoon admiring the remnants of fall color which still lingered here and there even though the colors were past their peak. The Flanders had adopted singer Willie Nelson's country hit "On the Road Again" as their personal theme song. That was their favorite thing to do, drive around the countryside. Ann and Frank often marveled at how their horizons had expanded with the purchase seven years before of a small economy car. The gas mileage was fantastic! Upwards to 35 or 40 miles per gallon at times.

Four years ago, they began the first of their annual treks South. These trips started out being three to four days’ duration and soon became eight to ten days long. During several of their trips, they discovered Tennessee and it was there they planned to spend the balance of the winter months, beginning in February, with an eye to permanently retiring there someday if it suited them. They loved the Upstate Central New York area where they resided, but the thought of the ice and snow every winter had really lost its charm.

Frank and Ann had just had dinner at a chain family restaurant, each enjoying a full dinner. They were pleased over the price since they had not only used a diner's coupon (buy one, get one of equal value free) but also received a Senior Citizen's discount as well. The restaurant and the long drive there had made it seem like a mini-vacation, turning Ann's thoughts to Tennessee. She reminisced about the times when waitresses had questioned her age when she ordered from the senior menu for those over 55. Although her auburn hair was streaked with gray, it had not faded to the degree one would expect of a 58-year-old woman. Fifty-eight, she mused. Why that’s almost 60! She glanced over at Frank. He looked his age, if all you considered was his white hair and white streaked eyebrows. Yet his smooth skin belied his age of nearly 62. Premature white hair was a family trait on his mother’s side and his hair was the same color as it was 30 years ago. Only his eyebrows gradually turning white had made him look his years. It’s good he’s always been active, she thought. He didn’t drink, stopped smoking quite a few years back. He had begun smoking later in life than most people, which was a plus. Frank’s father, only brother and uncle had all passed away by the age of sixty. This was one of the overriding reasons that Frank planned to retire in February on his 62nd birthday, rather than wait the three years until he was 65. He felt he was already living on borrowed time.

Frank’s dream was to retire to Tennessee, build a small place and leave all behind. Ann had retired from civil service two years prior and was receiving a government pension. She had worked sporadically since retirement to complete the required number of social security quarters. She did not expect to be able to collect on it for herself but felt somehow that Frank may benefit. Her plan had been to work full time for the three years but due to the proverbial unforeseen circumstances, had already fallen months behind her agenda. Some of the positions she held had not paid the level of income she required to accomplish her financial goals. The positions obtained that paid the anticipated wage were part time, not the full time employment needed to pay some accumulated bills to enable them to manage on their combined retirement income. A nest egg that she had accumulated towards payment of a second (and only) mortgage had dissolved into investments in several family projects, which used up available funds.

All these thoughts were running through Ann’s mind as she tried to come up with ideas to finance the planned two months stay (February to April) in Tennessee. That’s when the IDEA hit her. Her active mind frequently fantasized on these drives but she seldom shared these fantasies with her pragmatic husband. Today, however, the idea was so great, she blurted it out.

“Frank, I just thought of an economical way to experience the two months stay in Tennessee to see if it’s really where we want to retire. There might be some elderly lady who is on a limited income, in fairly good health, who can’t afford the upkeep on her home, could use some companionship and help. It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. We could do chores, cooking, errands, etc. in exchange for room. We’d have to eat, no matter if we were at home or away, so we could buy the groceries and thus save her money. It’d be perfect!”

The pleased expression on Frank’s face told her he agreed with the concept even before he verbalized his reply.