Our son, his wife, and two children live and work in Seattle. They both graduated from the university there and have maintained relationships many of their friends from those years. They take advantage of all the city has to offer, fine dining, parks, and the museums. And they love Europe, particularly France but this last trip they went to London. The girls made some friends there and they wanted to see them again.
We live north of them, and her parents live in eastern Washington, so we're able to spend alternately Thanksgiving or Christmas together as a family each year, which is so nice.
They married at her parents home and property in Yakima. We hosted the rehearsal dinner at the parent's ski cabin in the mountains. It was August. The day of the wedding, back at the parents property, I think it hit 102 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). But it's a dryer heat, and they had huge ice chests filled with water bottles placed strategically around the property. That evening we enjoyed grilled salmon with a variety of salads. I've never experienced such a beautiful gathering of family and friends. It was magical.
I'm told that in eastern Washington, in the fall, the Larch trees all turn a beautiful golden yellow. I've not seen them yet. Perhaps some day. Here's some images...
https://www.google.com/search?safe=...jAhUMHnwKHZ2fCL8QsAR6BAgJEAE&biw=1680&bih=907
Things I miss about the south are mimosa trees - (
https://www.naturehills.com/mimosa-...KyLjrDgYVh4FgVlNhioAn01_h-p_7XSRoCQvoQAvD_BwE ) - which I regularly climbed in, and happily for me, the blooms attracted lightening bugs. When the big green June beetles appeared each summer, we'd catch them, tie a kite string to one of their legs, and take them for a "fly". I also miss the big porches and the thunderstorms, though not the tornados. Growing up there, I got into the habit of walking in the evening. I still walk at night, though the evenings are much cooler here in the pacific northwest.
I've never been to Nashville, but spent some time in Memphis visiting a teenage friend in the mid to late 70's, but more time traveling to and visiting the Gatlinburg area in the early 80's. We were married there by a justice of the peace over a stream on our hotel room balcony. And loved visiting historical structures at Cades Cove. The Smoky Mountains are so beautiful. Good memories.
You'd love retiring here. We have the two climates, east and west of the mountains, skiing in the winter, and boating in the summer. I love hopping on a ferry to spend the day on one of the islands, visiting the beaches, restaurants, shops, art galleries, and museums with my girlfriends.
Do you have any specific places you want to visit? Hope your time here is pleasant.
