All signs point to "yes."
Mar. 11th, 2004 11:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judecorpWhen I was looking at moving last time, I weighed out the pros and cons and it seemed better for me at the time to stay in Columbus. The original plan was to stay until I was eligible for my LISW (Independent Social Work License)... and I'm going to fall short of that, actually, due to wanting to leave when our lease ends, and losing about three months of work last summer. But in the Magic 8-Ball of my life, everything still points to moving.
I also have been giving a lot of thought to the weather, and how Jennifer and I don't like winter and were going to move to someplace warmer. My mother actually asked me about that when I told her that we were coming back East, and I didn't have a well thought out answer for her. So I've been thinking about it.
The truth is that winters suck, and I hate them, and that I would really love to live someplace like California that was warmer all of the time (and had no snow). But the reality of the situation is that I would rather take antidepressants or St. John's Wort for several months out of the year than to be that far removed from our families. Jennifer and I want to have children in the next couple of years, and I am learning first-hand from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pattisimmons about how valuable it is to have good family support close-by when you have small children. That, and Jen and I were raised around the very family-centric spanish/portuguese way of doing things, and it's important to us. And I think we'll be in a better place to deal with winter blahs and grey days, because we'll have family there, and she'll be in a place she likes better than Columbus, and hopefully we'll have better jobs.
So yeah. That's that. Overall, I'm still very pleased with this decision, even if the quickness and the financial mess are giving me anxiety. I feel like we're really cementing our partnership by doing this. (Rant on reactions to this to follow, I'm sure.)
- My beloved Bucky turned in his resignation as Program Coordinator of KYC (the youth group I've volunteered with for 3.5 years now). There have been a lot of changes at KYC in the last year that I'm less-than-thrilled with, and this bit is really the last straw. It was really hard to leave KYC two years ago. Now... not so much. (Although I will miss the youth very much, they are great people!)
- My favorite Crazy Coworker gave her notice today. She is moving to the other Managed Care organization for FCCS (same job, different agency) because she is getting $2.5K more/year, a free cell phone, a smaller case load, and guaranteed mileage. I'm really happy for her - this is a good move for her and a good step for her career, but I'm really sad for me. Working with her makes my days go by, and I'll miss seeing her around.
- This also means that my team (of 3 remaining TCs) will have to absorb the bulk of her 33 cases (50+ children). The one good thing about my making it known that I'm leaving soonish is that I probably won't get her really tough cases, because they know I'll have to switch them off again anyway.
- My really tight-knit group of friends has kind of splintered, which makes it a little easier to walk away.
I also have been giving a lot of thought to the weather, and how Jennifer and I don't like winter and were going to move to someplace warmer. My mother actually asked me about that when I told her that we were coming back East, and I didn't have a well thought out answer for her. So I've been thinking about it.
The truth is that winters suck, and I hate them, and that I would really love to live someplace like California that was warmer all of the time (and had no snow). But the reality of the situation is that I would rather take antidepressants or St. John's Wort for several months out of the year than to be that far removed from our families. Jennifer and I want to have children in the next couple of years, and I am learning first-hand from
pattisimmons about how valuable it is to have good family support close-by when you have small children. That, and Jen and I were raised around the very family-centric spanish/portuguese way of doing things, and it's important to us. And I think we'll be in a better place to deal with winter blahs and grey days, because we'll have family there, and she'll be in a place she likes better than Columbus, and hopefully we'll have better jobs.So yeah. That's that. Overall, I'm still very pleased with this decision, even if the quickness and the financial mess are giving me anxiety. I feel like we're really cementing our partnership by doing this. (Rant on reactions to this to follow, I'm sure.)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2004-03-11 04:57 pm (UTC)*hug*
Date: 2004-03-11 05:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 06:23 pm (UTC)However, I think that if it were not for O (my daughter) it would be easier to be away. I live in Los Angeles now, and the weather helps lift my spirits and life is generally much easier and slower paced than out East.
If I were you, I would come out to California and try it for a couple of years. Nothing stops you from going back, but might always wonder "What if?"
BTW, I was thinking of my LJ friends when I created this: http://www.cafeshops.com/planetx_com.10218487
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Date: 2004-03-11 09:21 pm (UTC)For me, being away from my family is a good thing. We all actually get along now, but that's at a 3000 mile distance where we only see each other a couple times each year. More than that and things get a bit strained. The only down side is that I don't get to see my nieces and nephews very much. Ah well.
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Date: 2004-03-12 02:23 am (UTC)Re: *hug*
Add another sign:
Date: 2004-03-12 02:25 am (UTC)SAD.
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Date: 2004-03-12 02:27 am (UTC)And I agree with you that it would be easier to be away from my extended family if I was not planning to have children (and soon). I am okay with seeing my family a couple of times a year, but I would not be okay with my family seeing my children so infrequently. Not to mention trying to travel cross-country with little children is demanding and expensive.
It just seems like the best move for us right now. We still love California and would /love/ living there, but I know that we would feel a lot of guilt trying to email pictures of our children to their great-grandparents on the East Coast.
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Date: 2004-03-12 02:31 am (UTC)The plus side about Boston is that my family thinks it's hellish to drive out there, so I know that I won't be seeing much of my father or grandparents unless I drive to their town... which is fine with me! When I lived in Boston last time, I didn't see my family /too/ often (no surprise visits!) but at the same time, I could be there when they needed me. My grandfather is 86 years old now, and I am worried about not spending enough time with him. :(
Jennifer's brothers and sisters-in-law and niece and nephews live in New Jersey and I know she misses them very much. It will be great to be long-weekend-able from them and I know she wants to spend more time with the kids. I am also looking forward to getting to know all of them better.
It's sad to not be taking a big West Coast adventure, but maybe when things get settled and we get into a routine, we can take another trip out that way. I know I'd certainly love to, and meet that man and basset of yours.
<3 <3 <3
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Date: 2004-03-15 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 10:08 pm (UTC)