Prattling on about Relocating

Both of the jobs I talked about yesterday were in DC. Now I guess I have to really look at relocating. but first:

I Knew This Would Happen
All the excitement about Hurricane Ernesto has had some feedback. I knew this would happen. In defense of part of the fiasco called Katrina last year, I'm sure some staging of relief supplies were put on hold they could make sure where the storm would go. If Katrina had been a bust, I'm thinking FEMA would have gotten burned about all the money spent on wasted effort. I'm not saying everything was done correctly during ( and after) Katrina, so many people missed so many cues. So if no measures are taken, and the storm hits, what are the consequences? It's a lose-lose situation.

Relocation
This is a topic that's been weighing heavily on me for awhile. All the things that must happen before I can leave are overwhelming. And moving back to DC is a tough decision. It's a vibrant, growing area, lots of opportunities jobwise, entertainment-wise, education-wise, truly an International City. I know close to nothing about Jacksonville, Fl, but what appeals to me is the beach, and the laid-back attitude.

When I moved from DC to South Florida, I couldn't wait to get out of there. I wanted new experiences so I wanted to leave. I had almost accepted a job offer in Kansas City, MO with US Sprint, but then the offer from the Shipping company in West Palm Beach came in. So what does one choose? Beaches or cornfields?

The move from SoFla to Atlanta was a bit more difficult. I owned a home, knew the area, had friends, and just loved the area, but I had no job and couldn't find anything that paid anywhere close to what I was making, and what I was making wasn't enough. I had decided that I wanted to move to Dallas, having spent a week there one year and having watched 'Dallas' on TV. I knew I wouldn't be living anywhere close to what the Ewings represented, but it was a new place with new ideas. But the opportunity in Atlanta came up, so I moved here.

I can't say I've ever 'loved' it here, I really miss the water. I didn't want to leave SoFla. But I adapted. There are tons of Single groups doing everything from traveling to hiking to weekend trips to game nights. The arts scene is great, Chastain is a gem, as is the Shakespeare Tavern. Just driving around in neighborhoods in Midtown, East Atlanta, VaHi, even Grant Park and West End, the homes are just beautiful! Piedmont Park is beautiful. Hiking in the North Ga mountains is a wonderful experience, and I got into camping! Ga is close enough to everything that you can do a day trip somewhere, change the scenery and come home. Tennessee, Alabama, NC, all within a day's drive.

So why not go back to SoFl? I've thought about it, but after I spent some time up here, I realize the people in South Florida are horrible. Mostly retired New Yorkers, they are ugly, rude, selfish and demanding. This is a stereotype, not all are like that, I dont' think. A lot of that comes from years in NYCity, you have to be rude, selfish and demanding. But ya gotta let it go. Traffic was a NIGHTMARE! There would be gridlock at most intersections, people either driving REAL slow or REAL fast, lots of people with no insurance. And Cadillacs. Everywhere, a Cadillac.

My ideal location would be Islamorada or the Middle Keys. It's quiet, most of the tourists go to Key West. The Sport Fishing Capital of the world, you get serious fishermen, not necessarily destructive drunks. The scenery is beautiful, watching the birds and fish, bougainvilleas blooming in the summer, scuba diving, being out on the water. But due to lack of cultural things to do (theater, symphony, concerts, etc) I would probably get bored. Yes, I know, I could go to Miami, but that's atleast 2 hours away. Not that I go to any of these events, but if I ever get another date, I would want something different to do other than 'dinner and a movie' or getting a drink at the local pub. (One can dream, can't one?)
Relocating brings up all the Unfinished Business in one's life. It means leaving where you're comfortable, changing everything. It means meeting new people, finding new things to do, getting out of the rut. But I can't be uprooting myself every 10 years or so. But why not? My parents are still in the same house I grew up in, that they purchased somewhere around 1952. I went to school with people who moved every year, so moving every 10 years isn't really a big thing, right?

The Big Issue is moving Back to DC. You can Never Go Home, as They say. There is enough tension in my family anyway, and being physically away from all that is easier for me to deal with it. I know I wouldn't have to see the family daily (or even monthly) but I'd still be close enough that I'd have to be brought in to all the 'Your Father's mad', 'Your mother won't do anything' BS that all parents have (OK, my parents have!)

I guess I'll have to go where the job is. See, being unemployed isn't as easy as it sounds!

More to come...
As things happen, I'll be posting. Thanks for taking the time to read. You're opinions are welcome but if you have to start calling me names, don't bother, I won't read them. As my Dad says 'Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.'