DEAR ABBY: I am a 68-year-old woman. For the past seven years, I have lived with my daughter, my only child. We have always had a great relationship, and now as adults, we have a great friendship. She and her husband recently separated, and she now has a boyfriend. She has an excellent job and has been talking lately about asking for a transfer to Florida, 900 miles away.
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I don't want to move anywhere. I have a part-time job I love and I don't want to give it up. All my family and friends live here. My ex-son-in-law has offered for me to come live with him. We have always had a good relationship.
So: Do I give up the rest of my life without seeing my only child every day and move in with her ex? Or do I move with her to Florida? In either case, I'll have to give up my very specialized job that is not transferable. Help! -- DECISIONS TO MAKE IN MARYLAND
DEAR DECISIONS: You and your daughter are not joined at the hip. While you won't be able to be with her every day, there is no reason you can't talk together on the phone or Skype. She should move alone to Florida and see how her relationship with her boyfriend works out, because there are no guarantees.
Since you and your former son-in-law are comfortable with the arrangement, give living with him a try. It says a lot about both of you that your relationship is such a warm one. If anything changes, re-evaluate your options then. But for now, some separation between you and your daughter might be good for both of you.