Once upon my life we lived in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas which is up Route 7 from Hot Springs, on the edge of the Ouchita National Forest. Hot Springs Village (or HSV as we call it), is a planned, gated community about the size of San Francisco but with a population of about 7,700 year round residents and about as many people who would live there as “snow birds” from the North or as “Summer Homes” for those from The South. Located in the Southwest corner of Arkansas, about halfway between Little Rock and Texarkana, this community was originally designed and marketed as a “retirement destination” complete with several spring fed lakes that are well stocked with fish, several golf courses and fitness centers, a large recreation center and pool, miles of trails for hiking and just about everything else a very small town would have in it like it’s own police and fire departments, several small merchants, some banksand medical centers and even it’s own radio station (KHSV)! The nearest Wal-Mart was in Hot Springs, about 15 miles away and it was a very quiet, gentle and peaceful place to live. We moved there in 1997 and it felt like paradise after living on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Life in The Natural State instantly agreed with me, with my family and although ALL of our neighbors were retired and over the age of 65, we felt welcomed in the community. It felt like home.

            However, 2001 was a horrible year for both my family and our nation. We lost my oldest daughter that April and it devastated me but I “stuffed it”, wore a brave face and stiff upper lips and pressed on with my little website design business. Then, that summer, the “dot com bomb” went off and as a small time operator, I was suffering badly. Then, well we know what happened in September of that year which further diminished both my business prospects and resources. I tried to keep my business alive by reaching for projects elsewhere and in January of ’02, I was invited to San Jose to work on marketing this business idea of mine better. That deal fell through and so in May of ’02, we went to Phoenix (see “Shooting Fish in a Barrel” ) but by September we had againreturned to our little house in HSV at 3 Cambre Circle…

Here’s where the worst bad idea comes in, after we returned from Arizona we decided that Life in The Natural State wasn’t working out for us and we would have better job prospects back home, in Chicago. So that’s the worst bad idea I’ve had; to leave what we had started to grow in Arkansas and return to Chicago-land in late 2002. Ten years later, nearly, and I am still regretting this idea. We had the most lovely home, in a beautiful place, where life was not so expensive and the pace of things suited my own laid back attitude very well. I was creative there, I was stable there, I didn’t lose my mind there and have a nervous breakdown there. Since we made this worst bad idea into a reality we have been living in places we don’t like, suffering weather we can’t stand, dealing with the hectic, rush of life in a large metropolitan area and everyday I miss that comfortable, rural setting. Yeah, I found work up here,but it wasn’t really worth the move because I could have found the same kinds of jobs in Arkansas. Yes, we are closer to our fathers and now that they’re getting on in years, it’s probably a good thing we’re here to be near them, but still…my heart is in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

                In fact, getting this house that we’re considering would do a lot to help me get over the worst bad idea I’ve had because, for the first time since leaving Arkansas, we will again be living in a house. Our own freestanding abode, with just an address, not a unit number too. This is one of the reasons why I’m so excited about this house (we’re still waiting for our application to be accepted) and getting out of this large complex as soon as possible. I think, I truly believe that this house is a game changer for us and will go a long way helping us feel the roots we’ve been growing here in Palatine. I can see that we’re going to be here for maybe another ten years too, and I can live with that knowing that once the kids move out and the pets die, that’s when life really begins and my wifey and Iwill, like so many before us, retire to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

            I am most Grateful for your visit today and as always I hope that you continue to take care, be well and stay cool!

Post A Comment