by Debbie Gill-Warren

Created on: November 02, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

For the past 20 years of our marriage, my husband and I and our two sons have had many opportunities to travel the United States. We have driven from one end of the country to the other and from top to bottom. Of course, I much prefer flying and we have done plenty of that as well. The one place we have enjoyed the most is Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I think it has become sort of a comfort place to visit since we have been going for the past eight years. The familiarity of it has made it all the more 'magical'. Once on Disney property, you do not need to hire transportation. There are buses that take you anywhere you want to go. This article is not a promotion to visit Disney, it's a story of how I came to a conclusion on where to retire. Actually, my husband came to this conclusion.

While traveling on these buses, an amusing conversation sparked between my husband and myself. He would sit behind the bus drivers and strike up conversation during our jots around the Disney World grounds to and from theme parks or downtown. It was fascinating to him to learn all about the locals and living in Florida. He turned to me and said, "Honey, this is what I want to do when I retire." Well, we have laughed and joked about that for years now but I have discovered some truth in my husband's dream. When a person retires,they still need something to do to make themselves feel useful. Whether it is living in Arizona where there is no humidity or living in Colorado if you enjoy the colder climate, there is a place for everyone. But the more pressing question would be is there something to do to keep ourselves busy? I don't know if driving a bus for tourists all day is my idea of 'keeping busy' but for my husband, Mickey, it seems like it would be a dream come true. Yes, I know, his name really is Mickey. Maybe that is why we go to Disney World every year and maybe that's why he would like to retire there someday. But, wherever we go, we will most definitely do it together. Who knows, in 30 years if your ever on a bus traveling around Disney World check out the name tag.

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