One year ago today, I started the job I am currently in. Just a little over a year ago, we moved our family three hours from all the grandparents and friends that we have lived near for our entire lives.
It was hard for me...Ray had been wanting to move to North Carolina for some time. I kept pushing back that I wanted to be near family and the friends that I had since graduating college.
But then the housing prices kept rising. And the traffic got worse. And no one seemed to be happy since everyone was in a hurry to get somewhere. I had worked at the same place for six years, and I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be promoted anytime soon as I had just been there too long. And I just didn't care.
Then one day we took Ashley to a park that had a train. It was a nice day, we ran into friends we knew. I was newly pregnant with Audrey, but not so pregnant I felt like crap. We rode the train and then let Ashley play on a playground. She was going down a slide that was enclosed when I watched a little boy who was probably at least six years old run into the slide from the bottom to get to the top. In the process, he literally ran on top of Ashley. My blood boiled. Ashley was screaming, and I looked at the kid. I don't exactly remember what I said to him, but it didn't matter. He didn't understand a word I said and neither did his parents who just looked at me. No apologizes, nothing. I decided then and there we were going to move.
It doesn't matter what ethnicity the child was, or even the fact he didn't understand me. I am not making this about race or language barriers. It was about the fact that the parents didn't care and didn't seem to even want to care. And I know I can meet these same people in North Carolina. I know there are parents everywhere who let their kids wild at the playgrounds and shopping malls. It was just that on top of the hour and a half commutes I had to work even leaving at 6:00am. It was that and the Fridays in the summer when the entire place would grind to a standstill at around 3:00pm.
I love Virginia, I really do. There was so much to do there, so much shopping, Washington DC, baseball games at Camden Yards, wineries, museums, I could go on. I don't mean this to be a cut on Northern Virginia at all as I still "know" people that live there. But I was done. I wanted and needed a change of life. And I am really glad I did.
- Amy W
- I am a 30-something working mom with two daughters; Ashley is 7 and Audrey is 5. Come sit, stay and read my Family Story...
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17 comments:
It's always struck me as odd how some of the biggest, life changing decisions are finally made with something like this happening. It's like the icing on the cake.
Sounds like you guys made the right choice :)
I feel alot like that where I live. I long to live in a "friendlier" place.
Sounds like you made a great decision!
I would move in a heart beat if my kids and grandchildren didn't live here !!
I long for the day when I will finally be able to pick up and move away form this god-awful state! It's so great that it's working out for you
I have so - got to agree with you and understand where you are coming from with this posting.
I used to live and work in Oxford and the chaotic lifestyle in that area together with traffic congestion, house prices etc - made me realise - it was time for a move.
So here I am in a location far more rewarding in every sense and traffic congestion - is when the sheep decide on lying down on the road!!
I hear you! My husband & I wonder when we'll reach our breaking point as well. Thankfully our commutes are not that bad - thank god for telecommuting! But I definately hear you and it really wouldn't surprise me if we just decide one day enough is enough. Earlier this year we considered Richmond, for like an hour, when husband got a job offer. The job was not right but a slower pace of life sounded awesome! You're right, the NoVA area does have a lot to offer, but when the traffic makes you not want to leave your neighborhood on the weekends does it really matter?
It sounds like the change was a good thing and your family is very happy where you are now.
~Christine
www.arewethereyetmom.com
There are times when I wish I still lived in Virginia, and then there are times that I'm totally happy with living in Colorado.
There are times as well that I really miss certain things about Virginia, and then there are times that I absolutely don't.
It's been bittersweet for me that's for sure. I may 'live' in Colorado, but my heart will always be with my 'home' that was in Virginia.
We are so glad you moved here! :) We've really enjoyed getting to know you. Life wouldn't be the same on Chrismill without you guys!!
I'm glad the move worked out for the best. I was worried about moving to Dublin but am delighted that I did.
Sounds like you made the right decision. Sometimes, well, more and more, I entertain the idea of moving away from where I live. I really don't want my kids growing up here because it's not the same city I grew up in, but it's hard to leave. Chris and I were both born here and all of our families are here. We will probably never move.
I didn't know you were a DC escapee too! I have to admit there were things I loved about NoVa. We lived in the City of Falls Church and it was really a nice little community. With block parties like your earlier blog, fantastic schools, great diversity. But the traffic & just the general big city attitude was wearing us down. Plus, the insane hours we worked b/c in DC it's all about WORK.
We're loving SE Virginia. I miss some things about NoVA, but I'll never go back.
I agree-It is always important to really love where your at, I think it helps to live a more happier life if your content in where you reside.
I'm glad you are happy where your at now, It looks gorgeous but most of all it looks very kid -friendly & being a mom I know how important that is..
Take Care!
I'm so glad everything worked out well for you and the family.
Same kind of thing with us moving to Alaska. I've been fighting for years with Kelly and it was things with the kids that finaly pushed me over the top to decide we needed to move somewhere else.
I've always wanted to see North Carolina, so I'm with you-though having lived near Virginia (Maryland) myself, that too is a fun experience. Hopefully things are starting to feel like home.
I've never wanted to live in Northern Virginia/DC area for all those reasons in your post and comments. I live where I grew up in SE Va and I love it. We have the "big city" things I love: theatre, good dining, lots of kid friendly activities and places to go and do but without the "big city" crime and traffic (though our traffic is getting bad). I moved away from here for years but something pulled me back and I will probably never leave. Though we do talk about retiring to NYC one day. I Love That Town!
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