Congrats... I only have Sons (it was a rule with my wife before we got married (LOL).... And I only have Grandsons...
Enjoy the time with your Grandson
On this.... Finances are fine.... Good Savings, SSA and Pension and zero debt.
But our home has 3 levels (master on each) and I daytrade which is another set of stairs to the office over the garage.
And maintaining 5 acres with virtually no trees requires lots of maintenance... Mowing, weeding...
FYI.. Also consider income taxes ... TN and GA are cheaper than NC.
Not a lot, but for me is would cost an additional $3500 in state taxes in NC.
Have not done the computation for TN, but no income taxes there...
We retired 7 years ago and moved form Snellville to North GA (Young Harris).... We built a 3100 square foot home with 3 Masters on 3 different levels and an "office" space over the garage... Another set of stairs... Built on 5 acres of pasture... Not one tree... With walls, gardens, fence and...
Sorry for your loss
Now we have a Golden Doodle... A little larger (50 pounds) but sweet.
Before this we had Cockapoos... Cocker Spaniel and Doodle.... Small and wonderful
This is beautiful.... Congrats..... I am 42 years (married) with my good friend from middle school.... We went different ways after high school, but made it back together .... Not perfect, but I would not go anywhere else.... Love my wife every day.... And we lived in same neighborhood.