This past week Athens, Georgia made it onto CNN “top 25 places to retire” list. Athens Georgia is the hometown of The University of Georgia (Bulldogs) amongst other cultures for seniors. http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-10-16/athens-named-cnn-money-25-best-places-retire-list
I myself have lived here for more than 20 years and have no plans of leaving anytime soon, but I have never thought about how I will choose where to live when I retire. Certainly Athens has a wonderful arts scene and the accoutrements of a larger city not to mention sports, but how do people choose where to live in their 4th quarter?
In “A Ring A Dance A Second Chance” author Jonell Kirby Cash touches on this issue. Her main characters are actually from North Georgia as is Jonell in real life. Protagonist Katie dates her high school Taylor later in life after both have experienced the loss of their spouse. During their courtship, they travel from hometown to hometown to visit one another…they even meet at Chateau Élan which is an actual winery in Braselton Georgia. The couple discusses their individual needs to be close to friends and family as well as their respective churches. What makes your town your home? How did you decide to retire there?
Athens, Georgia is home to the State Botanical Gardens where characters Katie and Taylor wed as did Jonell and Tom in actual life. They have now been happily married for more than eleven years! They chose to make their home here to be close to family and the University of Georgia where Jonell teaches to this day. In fact, Jonell has also been working on a prequel to her first work of fiction which may officially take her out of being labeled “retired”…perhaps she’ll consider that when she’s 90!
Read more about Jonell Kirby Cash Author of “A Ring A Dance A Second Chance” at
Andrea Williams
Managing Editor of A Public Relations Company
