We live in Southern California and both of our twin boys have ended up in Arizona. I am really close to them as we have shared a lot if sports together, especially years of surfing. Our daughter and her husband are close by. Last October both my wife and I retired.

As for coping, yeah, we miss the kids, but we are still both very active and have been blessed with good (enough) health and good year-round weather. Our relationship has only improved as we refer to ourselves as re-newlyweds and not empty nesters.

One thing to remember is that as kids become adults and have all the same responsibilities to spouses, family, houses, and jobs as we have, they don't have the same amount of freedom as they did growing up. No different than when I got a job, left home, got married etc.

John