What’s that trite little saying? “Never say Never”?
Yeah. That.
It’s true. All three words. Why?
Because we are moving. Leaving California. Heading to St. Louis, MO. No, that’s not a typo. No, you don’t have to adjust your monitor. No, you don’t have to blink three times.
Pick up your chin off the ground.
After careful consideration and a few sleepless nights rolling around the pros and cons in my brain, I finally fessed up to my husband that yes, a move to the Midwest would do us well. The list of pros and cons in my brain were woefully unbalanced. The only real ‘con’ was WEATHER.
Really?
WEATHER.
And let’s face it: with proper apparel, that’s not even really a ‘con’. It’s a nuisance at best, but not a true ‘con’.
Aside from the change of seasons, and colder climes, I really couldn’t come up with a single reason why a move wasn’t in our best interest. The pros were being closer to family (both sides), being able to afford a true HOME. You know, like the one that has three or four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, ample square footage, a YARD. Remember those? Yeah. Here in Marin, a simple shack will cost you upwards of ONE. MILLION. DOLLARS.
Roll that around in your brain for a while, why don’t you. Chew on it. Let it settle for a bit.
Oh, now you CAN find a decent spread here for about $800,000, but it’s certainly not the norm. Home prices seem to keep climbing, and climbing, and climbing. Pay? Not so much. I suppose it’s the Midwestern gal in me that literally chokes when she sees these homes that are nothing special going for seven figures. Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. I might as well print Monopoly money and use that to make a down payment, because that’s exactly how it feels. For those out there who think this is just the ‘market’, and you choose to make those insane monthly mortgage payments, good for you. You’re either wealthy, or you’re house poor, and I will likely never be the former, and I hope I’m never the latter.
So, moving on….(no pun intended)…..
James’ employer is based in St. Louis, and I know that having him local will be a huge benefit to him AND them. I see the writing on the wall. They WANT him there. Why not give them what they want, I say? Me, the wife who said she would DIE here in California. The wife who said you would have to drag her kicking and screaming from this state I lovingly thought would be the final one in which I would reside. The wife who finally realized that sometimes you have to have the grace to know when you’re wrong and admit it.
The time is right. It FEELS good to eat crow this time.
With a bit of anxiety, I submitted my official resignation yesterday. I am providing a 60-day notice, so hopefully there will be the opportunity to fill my position. There are several other identical positions like mine open, so I’m not overly optimistic that it will happen, but hey, at least I’m giving ample warning.
And yes, it felt GOOOOOOD to hit SEND on that email. I won’t lie. I’ll save those thoughts for another post.
So, the proverbial cat is now out of the bag, our friends and family have heaved their collective gasps, and now we embark upon a new family adventure. I look forward to being closer to my son, my mom, my friends, and to providing much more for our daughter than we ever could have here in California. To stay here would have been incredibly selfish, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes doing what’s best for others is ultimately what’s best for you.
Now, the fun begins…..