One Mans Perspective: Should We Move?

This is a tough question, not easily answered. The best I can do is share our situation and let you decide what you can apply to your life.

We had lived in Little River, SC for 32 years. After we retired, we moved our sailboat to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club which is in Little River. We had bought a 46’ boat slip there many years before, while we were working. Our plan was to have a home base that we could give the location to the kids. (We met a couple who sold their house and moved aboard and wouldn’t tell their kids where they were. That is one way of getting them out of the house.) When we were settling in Little River, we decided to buy some property. I knew we wouldn’t sail forever, and it was a good investment. We bought it in the River Hills Golf Community, just across the street from our sailboat.

I went to school at night and got my builder’s license. We decided to build the house as a spec home because I didn’t know if we could afford both the house and the boat. This was when I experienced a ‘God Moment’. I had just finished building the stairs to the second floor and I was thinking about how to get them up. We observed someone walking across our newly seeded yard from the window. He just came in, looked around, and we started talking. I told him my problem and he said it was nothing. He had worked on stairs for 30 years. In a few moments he had the stairs up and fastened in place. Then he left, just left and we never saw him again. Thank you, Lord.

A holiday break for Christmas was necessary. When we got back, I took the For Sale sign down and we planned to move in. We ended up getting our Certificate of Occupancy in February 1992.

We loved Little River. We were very active in the church, Americans Boating Club, Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, and golf. I was 86 when I was talking with our daughter, and she said that she couldn’t come to the beach and take care of Mom if something happened. This got me thinking. She had a point, but we loved Little River.

I prayed about this and asked God for direction. I decided to lay out a fleece. If He wanted us to move to put a value in my head for the price of the house. He did and it was higher than I expected. I then called a friend who was in real estate, and he asked us what we wanted for the house. I told him he was a fleece, and he would have to tell me a number and I would compare it with what God had given me. It matched, so we signed with his company and decided to move. The great part about this is that the lady who bought the house, after three days on the market, also offered us the same amount of money as God had given us. She cried when we accepted the offer. She said that this was the 18th house that they had looked at and it was exactly what she wanted.

I guess there is time for everything. We loved Little River, but God knows the future and it was time to go. Our daughter found a place 16 miles from her. A perfect distance. It is a new home in a 55 and over community. We have found a church, and we love being active.

We have met many people who move to be near children and the kids move to follow their careers. I mention this because it is something to be aware of.

In summary, start with God, He knows best. Pray, and follow His direction.

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Charlie Schuler

Charlie is an Air Force Veteran who joined the Bell System telecommunications company after his honorable discharge. He was an installer/repairman, engineer, technical writer, and a manager. He had 33 years’ service with New York Telephone, Western Electric, AT&T General Departments and Lucent Technologies. He and his wife, Marianne, retired before they were 55 so that they could pursue their dream of sailing. They have sailed over 20,000 miles and at one time lived on a 42’ sailboat for four years. Some of Charlie's other accomplishments include, being a leader and teacher in the United States Power Squadron, aka, America's Boating Club for over 30 years; Started a new squadron in 2000, which is still in full operation; Was a leader and teacher in the church for 30 plus years; a leader and teacher in the “Walk to Emmaus” for over twenty five years; And they moved to the Lake Norman area from Little River, SC after living there for 30 years. They are adventurers and love sharing their stories. You can find his articles in LKN Magazine under ‘One Man's Perspective’.

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