It's no secret that I love Southern California...or SoCal as it's otherwise known. The Beaches are endless, the weather is amazing (I can't even remember the last time it rained out here), and the car culture is a notch above any other place in the country...all traits which are big "plusses" in my book. For a long, long time I've wanted to move to the LA area...it just has so much to offer to a person with my interests. Pretty much every hobby that I have ever had a passion for, from cars to snowboarding to paintball to bodyboarding to mountaing biking to the Filipino Martial Arts (or any Martial Arts for that matter)...you can pretty much find some of the best places for those hobbies in or around (within hours) of the LA area. What can't I find in good ole SoCal? My Family and close knit group of friends...
I have always felt very blessed to have the friends that I have and have always taken a great deal of pride in the friendships I have built up over the years. I have friends that I have known for a long, long time (some from as far back as second grade), and friends that I have been through thick and thin with. This, in addition to having a very close-knit family definitely made it hard to decide to move to a place over 3000 miles away. Why did I do it then? Well, I didn't want to turn 40 (which isn't too far away) and look back and wonder "what if?". I didn't want to look back and regret not making that decision and trying something new. And it hasn't been without it's ups and downs.
On one hand I kinda like being away and doing something different from the "norm". I like being out and about "doing my own thing". However, I do miss the sense of community that I have with my family and friends back home. That sense of community isn't something you can create overnight....or even in a year or two. Our most recent trip back to Baltimore for R&R's wedding definitely placed emphasis on this for me. During our previous visits back to Baltimore, I have always enjoyed our time there and very much enjoyed seeing everyone, but I did't necessarily feel sad when leaving and heading back to LA (Am I dead inside? What's wrong with me?). For some reason, this time was different. This time, on the plane ride back I found myself feeling a little sad...Feeling like I really missed that sense of community...like I was missing out on something. I'm not sure why it was different this time, though. Maybe it was getting to see almost everyone at the wedding and getting to hang out like old times or maybe it was the fact that the kids now seem to out-number the adults and we (P and I) are missing them grow up. I just dont know. The fact of the matter is, it made me sad to leave...regardless of the reason.
Now, don't get me wrong. I don't miss Balimore as a place at all. Deep down inside, I am totally through with Baltimore as a place. The ONLY thing I miss are my Family and Friends...but as we all know, those are definitely a HUGE part of what you are....part of your being. Now, If only I could get all of my family and friends to move here to SoCal...now THAT would be heaven! But I digress...
Anyway, to my Family and Friends that may be reading this...I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that you are, for everything that you have ever done for me, and anything that you may do for me in the future. I thank you for just being a part of my life and want you to know that you are very much appreciated. I learned a long time ago that you should cherish every moment you have with people as that time could be cut short at any moment and I wanted to acknowledge you all for being a very important aspect of my life. I have the best family and friends in the world and that means more to me than anything...
The Love of All Things Blue
15 years ago
