Three weeks after I got married my parents, grandmother, and baby sister moved a great distance away.  It was a long time before any family moved back to the area. 

     No family members live here now.  When relatives travel, they never seem to get near our area.  Our location is sort of like Rhode Island; you only go there if that is your destination.

     I have traveled to my father’s old hometown to visit cousins and aunties but it’s difficult to do so as often as I’d like to when I have to do the eight-hour drive alone.  DH doesn’t travel well.  A long car ride is excruciatingly painful for him.  Consequently, as much as he loves visiting my family, he’d rather stay home with the dogs where he is more comfortable. 

     Therefore, to torture myself, I periodically browse the real estate listings in the old hometown.  I love to hit the bird’s eye view when looking at properties close to my family. 

     Tonight, I went browsing, and spied two houses that I loved.  One lovely home was across the road from a cousin’s house.  I hit the bird’s eye view and looked for my aunt’s house on the next road.  I could actually see my cousin’s horses out in the pasture.  [Sigh]  The idea of living near loving family brings out a case of the ‘I wishes’ in me.