In Theory Eyecare Can Be Done Anywhere. ECPs Share Where They Would Like to Live … In An Ideal World

Question: Eyecare is, in theory, a profession you could do anywhere. In an ideal world, where would you want to live?

• Montana. — Kyle Henderson, OD, Legacy Eye Care, Yukon, OK
• My dream would be to live in Britain. — Meridian Family Eyecare, Meridian, ID
• I feel I am in an ideal place — Florida, USA. But if I had to go anywhere else, Japan or somewhere friendly in a trendy European market. — Chris Dudley, Independent Optician, Florida
• Ski country for the winter. Home for the rest. — Todd Rogers, Todd Rogers Eyewear, Andover, MA
• Cloudcroft, NM, or Port Aransas, TX. — BJ Chambers, Carrera Optical, McQueeney, TX
• The grass is always greener elsewhere, so anywhere else but here. — Marc Ullman, OD, Academy Vision, Pine Beach, NJ
• Some place where I could make a living at work and get away from “civilization” at the end of the day. — Dave Goodrich, OD, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
• Southern California. — Thomas Trio, Dr. Thomas Trio, Malvern, PA
• Door County, WI. — Julie Kubsch, Specs Around Town, Bloomington, IL
• Quebec City or Toronto? St. George, UT calls also. — Kevin Count, Prentice Lab, Glenview, IL
• On a nice Mediterranean coast! — Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical and Boutique, Oakdale, MN
• I actually really love where I practice near Nashville. If I could practice the way I do in the U.S. anywhere in the world (since we are talking hypotheticals) probably Paris. — Amber Fritsch, OD, Precision Eye Care, Mt. Juliet, TN
• In a world where we do not have to deal with insurance companies. — Pablo E. Mercado, Optima Eye Care, Alpharetta, GA
• Right where I am is eye-deal. Deb Jaeger, — Eye Center of the Dakotas, Bismarck, ND
• On an island. — Jenni Drake, 3D Vision, Broomfield, CO
• Ass in the sand! — Caitlin Wicka, San Juan Eye Center, Montrose, CO
• The Caribbean. — Miguel Rodriguez, Fava & Maria Eye Associates, Lebanon, PA
• On the beach in the Caribbean. — Adam Ramsey, OD, Socialite Vision, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• I’m actually in a pretty ideal spot. Despite rent and increased living costs California is quite nice. I work in Newport Beach, which is gorgeous. I always remind myself that I live in an area where people come to vacation. I moved here six years ago from rainy England and have been happy ever since. — David Greening, Astorino Eye Center, Newport Beach, CA
• Ireland or Canada. — Jenna Gilbertson, McCulley Optix Gallery, Fargo, ND
• The Galapagos Islands. — Judith Whitelaw, Dr. Gregory Char, OD, Orange, OR
• New York City. — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• At the Versace mansion. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• Of course, everyone would love a shop in paradise on the beach somewhere! — Amina Ebrahim, OD, D Vision Eyecare, Allen, TX
• Hawaii. — Lee Dodge, OD, Visualeyes Optometry, Sherman Oaks, CA
• I’m a Wisconsin girl and still love so many things about my state. However, a tropical beach scene would be amazing — like Jamaica — but it might be too distracting to get much work done! — Paula Hornbeck, Eye Candy & Eye Candy Kids, Delafield, WI
• I actually feel I live in a great place I would just really like to own my own private jet so I can go to places that I would like to visit. — Julie Uram, Optical Oasis, Jupiter, FL
• I’m good right where I’m at! — Lindsey Pulford, Insights Eyecare, Manhattan KS
• New Zealand and have my office in a hobbit house. — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
• Anywhere with beach that I could drive/walk to within 15 min. The 808 would be nice… — Josh Bladh, Dr Bladh OD, Diamond Bar, CA
• A small town where it’s sunny and 75 year-round with a lot of things to do outdoors. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision, Logan, UT
• Right here in Beautiful Panama City, FL. — Chris Clark, Advanced Eye Care Optical Shoppe, Panama City, FL
• Texas. I’m here now, but I do wish we had more therapeutic treatment options. — Douglas Holle, OD, Sunset Eye Care, San Angelo, TX
• An island oasis. — Chris Cordes, Fischer Laser Eye Center, Marshall, MN
• Texas! I want to be a cowgirl and work with cute glasses. — Sarah Montes, Hockemeyer Family Eye Care, New Haven, IN
• New England where I am now. — Cassandra Oliveira, DeCesare Eye Associates, Providence, RI
• In an ideal world, Greece. We lived there when I was a small kid, and it’s been in my blood ever since. Bring on all the Greek food! — Frances Ann Layton, Eye Associates of South Georgia, Valdosta, GA
• Bermuda or North Carolina. — Scott Keating, OD, Vision Trends, Dover, OH
• I am living were I want to be in Detroit, MI. I have travelled to other places and none has made me want to live there permanently. — Danielle Doniver, Heritage Optical, Detroit, MI
• Sometimes, I think strategically about moving to Canada. Or one of the happiest countries on earth… Denmark or Finland. (I’ve lived in about 10 countries and visited 30+, so I’m always brainstorming my next escape on some level.) — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
• Canada. The weather is a bit on the cooler side but I would have the ability to practice and have access to healthcare. — Sonja Franklin, OD, Modern Eyes, Austin, TX
• Anywhere warm. — Ivy Elaine Frederick, OD, New Castle, PA
• Hawaii. — Kim Hilgers, Monson Eyecare Center, Owatonna, MN
• Somewhere tropical, my favorite option being Aruba. Coming from the Northeast — and not really liking the cold — I’ve always said I was born in the wrong part of the world. — Christine Howard, Attleboro Vision Care, Attleboro, MA
• The U.S. Mint, I could make a nice chunk of change. — Richard Frankel, OD, Atlantic Cape Eyecare, Wildwood, NJ
• Right here in St. Petersburg, FL. Everything is here, and if not, it’s close by! — Jade Kowalick, Ryczek Eye, St Petersburg, FL
• Oslo, Norway … Beautiful city! — Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
• Right where I am. — Scott Felten, Fox Valley Family Eye Care, Little Chute, WI
• Same as I do now. — Elizabeth Hawkins, The Eye Station, Lees Summit, MO
• France! — Sherry Morgan, Logan Eye Care, Lake Mary, FL
• Central Florida … wait I live there now! — Ron Catterson, Clear View Optix, The Villages, FL
• Where I am right now. Can’t beat the weather SoCal offers. But in the end I’ll end up retiring in another state because I can’t afford to stay here. — Jeff Grosekemper, Casa De Oro Eyecare, Spring Valley, CA
• Italy. The meat, the cheese, the wine! — Star Taylor, Richens Eye Center, St George, UT
• The Caribbean, Hawaii, the south pacific, anywhere warm with a beach! — Maureen Garbis, Compass Eyecare, Oak Park, IL
• I would love to live in the forest with a quiet little workshop for my repair business, surrounded by nature. — Sarah Bureau, sbspecs, St Catharines, ON
• New Zealand or Australia. — Heather Aites, Family Vision Center, Westminster, CO
• Hawaii, Australia, or somewhere in the country. — Joyce Paton, Village Eye Care, Raleigh, NC
• In a cabin in the woods with all the cats and books and Wi-Fi I want…. just teleporting to work when necessary. — Tiffany Firer, Lifetime Eyecare, Jenison, MI
• I would love to live in Turks and Caicos. Who wouldn’t want an eye exam on a tropical island? — Deanna Phillips, Clemmons Family Eye Care, Clemmons, NC
• Spain or Italy, for naps in the middle of the day and the food. — Nytarsha Thomas, OD, Visionelle Eyecare, Zionsville, IN
• New Zealand. — Kaleena Ma, MK Vision Center, Forest Hills, NY