Welcome back. I think I speak the obvious (and for all) when I say your presence has been missed. I've missed your Lansing updates around here - that thread has basically gone silent. I've thought about trying to keep it going. But alas, time... I've especially missed your wisdom when it comes to grounding any conversation with solid facts, reasoning, and a level head. Sometimes we need more of that around here, not to mention in all aspects of life.
Thankfully, I know where to find you over on SSC
and I understand needing to unplug, whatever the reason(s). I took a break from SSP for a long stretch a few years ago.
Tom's passing sucks. I never met him personally, but still felt like I knew him in a way. I loved his Ithaca updates and his random google street view discoveries. He was always supportive and genuinely interested in other people's stories, interests, cities, etc. He had a great sense of humor and awareness of things. It's weird (but good) how his posts and memory can live on through this forum.
We have one grandparent remaining too (my wife's grandfather on her dad's side). He is approaching 100 as well. He recently lost his long-time partner earlier this year and is heartbroken (non-COVID, but still sucks). The family just moved him from a retirement community in Florida into our aunt & uncle's place in Virginia. For being almost a century old, he is still remarkably mobile and mentally sharp. I think there were many reasons for the move - COVID-19 among them, but also, just the exorbitant cost and the painful memories of remaining in a facility where his partner passed away.
Stick with it. One day at a time.
See ya around too.