The last time I moved was 5 years ago, from Long Beach to La Palma in California. We moved from Los Angeles County to Orange County. In that time a lot of things have happened...I married Dan, Travis went from elementary school to high school, we have 3 shih tzus, I changed jobs and I had a little thing called a stroke, yeah, a few things have changed! More good things than bad things but changes without a doubt.
We now live in the OC, ya' know, the Orange County Housewives, I resemble them in no way, shape or form. My friends have been known to call me Jo, here and there, that's all. I never thought I would but I do enjoy living here. It's very quiet, the people are very friendly and they have everything you need in the OC. When I lived in Long Beach, I thought it was the be all, end all, but it's not. I love the LBC but I seldom go there, it's easier to get around here and it is more wide open and less crowded. The LBC has even more things there but the OC is a simpler and less hectic way to live.
I grew up in Merrillville, Indiana. It's just about 50 miles south of downtown Chicago. I tell people, it was a great place to grow up, it was at that. We had snow, Friday night football games, the "big city" and a cool mall. I have "gone back" to that area to live, twice, as an adult. Needless to say, it didn't work. I stayed about a year, both times and then had to leave, to keep my sanity. I am a California girl, as difficult as it is to admit!
For the first time, I left when I was 19, came to California for vacation and cashed in my round trip ticket within 3 days. I tell people that I followed a boy here, which I did. I followed my high school sweetheart, we went on to live in New Orleans and Chicago and now I have lived in California longer than I lived anywhere else. It's where I grew up, had my child, went to school, got divorced and re-married here. I gave birth to a native and I married a native, both rarities in southern California. I think about living other places, for some reason Tennessee beckons me there and I think about moving "home" again, but I know my "boys" love this state and won't ever leave. Why should they? It's got beautiful weather almost everyday, you can surf and ski in the same day (I do neither) and we are very progressive in our thinking and way of life. It is close to perfection for most, those who don't like it, haven't really seen the real side of it. Maybe they might be a little jealous? Who really knows? But, why leave? The earthquakes, the cost of living, the government and the way of life can really be too much sometimes. Look at the OC housewives and their lives, look at Hollywood or the traffic.
Everything I want or need can be found pretty close to me. We are between Los Angeles and San Diego, we hurt for nothing. Shopping, education, medical, government, it's all here. In Chicago, I long for the tall buildings, great museums and the lakefront and in the French Quarter of New Orleans I miss the uptown trolley, Cafe Du Monde and the jazz. Everyplace has its something, I miss people, places and things each day but when I'm away from California, I miss things too, it's a vicious circle.
I have rented a moving truck a few times, I used to joke that my sofa lived more places than most Americans. I used to think about driving a semi-truck, Californians will understand when I tell them I have thought about calling Debbie Dootson more than once. I've rented a storage container here and there, once for over a year. I have borrowed and paid for plenty of moving boxes and bought my fair share of newsprint to wrap things in. I probably could have bought a newspaper business by now.
It's a pain to move but it can always be erased. Enjoy the fresh start, Wahooman!
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