On Saturday I went to the Emergency Preparedness Fair at Central Park. My friend Sally drove. She reminded me to take my walker. I don't like to use the walker, but she knows I get stiff when walking a few blocks without it.

She parked at the Iron Horse Middle School, so we had to walk a couple of blocks to get to Central Park. Walking around to the exhibits added another couple of blocks.

It was very hot and even though I wore my Tilley hat and used the walker I was tired and stiff after a couple of hours. I tire more easily now and I'm getting more forgetful. I've always been forgetful so that might not be due to aging.

I don't like aging. I'll be 72 next month. I've always been independent and I don't like the thought of being dependent, but I guess I have to prepare for that.

My mother is 98 and doing well for her age at the Piper Shores Retirement community in Scarborough, Maine. She would like me to move back there. Mother has a large one bedroom and den with two baths. It's 1100 sq. ft. which she considers "small." My house is 1121 sq. ft. which I consider a nice size.

I would not need an apartment as big as hers. When I visited her last year I looked into what it would cost to "buy" a studio or one bedroom apartment in that facility. The deposit for a "traditional" one-bedroom or studio in 2012 was $16,000. A Deluxe one-bedroom was $24,000. I'm sure it has gone up since then.

I wrote a blog last year about my visit. I looked it up again and I wasn't very enthusiastic about moving. But as I get older, it makes sense to move into a Lifecare facility, and I might be better off in one with family living nearby.

The amortized fee for a one bedroom apartment in 2012 was about $160K with a monthly fee of $2000. This covers two meals a day, cleaning service once a week, heat and air conditioning and building maintenance. Phone bills and cable TV are billed individually.

I wasn't interested in moving last year, but now I'm considering it. I really love living here, but most of my family is back there. My sister and her husband live in San Francisco, and I see them a few times a year. They were very helpful when I had my auto accident in January, 2013.

My brother, Martin, lives in Portland. He and his wife, Linda, help my mother write checks (she can't see well enough anymore), and visit family. Martin's oldest son, Ben, bought a beautiful house in Freeport. Ben's wife was elected to the Maine State Assembly last year. She's a political up-and-comer.

Martin's youngest son lives in Europe, but he and his family come to visit in the fall. The middle son lives in Wrentham, Mass. I haven't seen him since his wedding 12 years ago.

I've been visiting in September or October most years, but I skipped this year. I don't like to fly anymore, but if I moved out there I wouldn't have to fly ever again. So I am considering moving back there.

It wouldn't be quick. There's a 3 to 5 year waiting list for apartments in Piper Shores. Waitlisted applicants get three chances to accept, so I would not have to accept the first or even second offer. Still I figure by the time I'm over 75, I might be ready for a place like that.