How to get from here to there?
November 8, 2015 6:10 PM Subscribe
My spouse died a few months ago. I am nearly 50.
My spouse died a few months ago. I am nearly 50, and I was a non-paid-for-work spouse and mother for a good many years, but am left with nothing due to insurance (health and life) being tied to work . We had to move in the last year before he died to a place where we knew no one but family.
I have re-started my education towards getting an RN and am doing well but I am stuck in a location where I don't particularly fit in. The climate is fine, but the people leave a bit to be desired (let's just say they don't fit the general metafilter profile.) I have tried to be open but finding like-minded friends has been difficult.
So where can I go? Where would be an affordable, good place for a new RN grad with little savings at 50+ to go, to be around other liberal, non-religious, empathetic folks? While I would love to eventually find a significant other, I would happily settle for a group of somewhat like-minded friends.
My spouse died a few months ago. I am nearly 50, and I was a non-paid-for-work spouse and mother for a good many years, but am left with nothing due to insurance (health and life) being tied to work . We had to move in the last year before he died to a place where we knew no one but family.
I have re-started my education towards getting an RN and am doing well but I am stuck in a location where I don't particularly fit in. The climate is fine, but the people leave a bit to be desired (let's just say they don't fit the general metafilter profile.) I have tried to be open but finding like-minded friends has been difficult.
So where can I go? Where would be an affordable, good place for a new RN grad with little savings at 50+ to go, to be around other liberal, non-religious, empathetic folks? While I would love to eventually find a significant other, I would happily settle for a group of somewhat like-minded friends.
Where are you now? I'm assuming somewhere in the US. Do you have a climate preference? East, west, midwest preference? City or smaller town? Generally speaking college/university towns tend to be more progressive. When you get licensed as an RN which states will accept your license without making you jump through too many hoops?
posted by mareli at 6:41 PM on November 8, 2015
posted by mareli at 6:41 PM on November 8, 2015
Is there a place that has always called to your heart?
If so, please go. Nurses are needed pretty much everywhere, and you can make it work. As a single person household, you are no longer beholden to any sort of white picket fence obligations. If you want to live in a studio in a city you've always loved, do it. If its a cabin in the mountains or a shack on the sea, do it.
One of the silver linings about being widowed is that you can suddenly make your own decisions, without explanation, discussion or compromise.
I was widowed in the summer of 2012 and moved in early 2013 to a place I had always wanted to live, but my husband would never have agreed to. (Northern California.) I have never looked back and in fact was moved to tears this evening as I cooked dinner while watching the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge, moved because I am so lucky to have found a place where I belong and where I was able to heal.
So go. And if you come here (because liberal and non-religious is top of the list here) you'll have at least one like minded folk. :)
posted by susiswimmer at 6:44 PM on November 8, 2015 [52 favorites]
If so, please go. Nurses are needed pretty much everywhere, and you can make it work. As a single person household, you are no longer beholden to any sort of white picket fence obligations. If you want to live in a studio in a city you've always loved, do it. If its a cabin in the mountains or a shack on the sea, do it.
One of the silver linings about being widowed is that you can suddenly make your own decisions, without explanation, discussion or compromise.
I was widowed in the summer of 2012 and moved in early 2013 to a place I had always wanted to live, but my husband would never have agreed to. (Northern California.) I have never looked back and in fact was moved to tears this evening as I cooked dinner while watching the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge, moved because I am so lucky to have found a place where I belong and where I was able to heal.
So go. And if you come here (because liberal and non-religious is top of the list here) you'll have at least one like minded folk. :)
posted by susiswimmer at 6:44 PM on November 8, 2015 [52 favorites]
Are you interested in the northwest? Seattle area and Bellingham meet many of your requirements.
posted by OkTwigs at 8:56 PM on November 8, 2015
posted by OkTwigs at 8:56 PM on November 8, 2015
When I was in some of the towns along the Mendocino coast, I remember noticing the number of early 50s single women. I believe there's a hospital in the area. It's certainly liberal!
posted by salvia at 10:53 PM on November 8, 2015
posted by salvia at 10:53 PM on November 8, 2015
Also don't forget micro-environments, Texas would probably be crazy but Austin could be perfect. Even a certain neighborhood in an otherwise unappealing city can work.
posted by sammyo at 5:05 AM on November 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by sammyo at 5:05 AM on November 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
Buffalo. Huge medical community - RNs are constantly in demand. Very affordable housing, very liberal, always stuff to do around the community for all ages and interests.
posted by Verdandi at 5:41 AM on November 9, 2015
posted by Verdandi at 5:41 AM on November 9, 2015
Best answer: Honestly, I don't know much about how this works but what about doing a traveling nurse program for a while to live in a few different places? Then you could see what you like and what you don't like about a variety of locations before you settle on one.
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:15 AM on November 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:15 AM on November 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding the idea of a traveling nurse program, or even putting your own together -- Girl Scout summer camps, filling in for school nurses who are on leave, wilderness programs, cruise ships...
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:05 PM on November 9, 2015
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:05 PM on November 9, 2015
Best answer: A good friend is in a similar situation, and is about to take a traveling position. Would be a great way to research different parts of the country and find out what calls to you!
posted by bitter-girl.com at 2:58 PM on November 9, 2015
posted by bitter-girl.com at 2:58 PM on November 9, 2015
Look at Madison. Very liberal, lots of MeFi-types there. Big healthcare sector.
posted by persona au gratin at 12:18 AM on November 10, 2015
posted by persona au gratin at 12:18 AM on November 10, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
This report on the outlook for nursing employment is an example of what I mean when I say that I don't know of a place that would be especially bad.
posted by SMPA at 6:41 PM on November 8, 2015