06-26-2010: Home is where the heart is...

Mary and I have been struggling with something for the last few months, deciding where to live.  When we moved to Austin four years ago this July, it was supposed to be a temporary relocation.  Mary would finish her degree in 5-6 years and we would then move to wherever she ended up getting a job.  Maybe a kid would come along in that timeframe, but in 2006 it wasn't on our radar and so was largely a non-factor in our decision-making process.  We didn't worry too much about house size, school districts, number of rooms, etc.  Instead, we picked a house that was convenient for us and which, in 2006, we were able to quickly decide upon during an incredibly hot housing market...

How time changes things...

Mary decided earlier this year that her PhD program wasn't really what she wanted.  And Katie came along, upending everything in the best possible way.  Those two events got us thinking.  No longer tied to Austin for Mary's program, we were now free to move wherever we wanted.  My job still doesn't care where I live, so long as I am willing to travel when needed (though knock on wood there hasn't been much of that since November of last year).  So where should we go?  My immediate family is in Florida.  Mary's is in Louisiana.  We have friends scattered across the country.  And us?  Well we've started to build a life in Austin... Texas of all places!  It's a different age than in the past, where people largely stayed close to family and didn't venture too far from the nest...  But does it have to be that way?

Over the last few months we've talked about it and talked about it some more.  We're not always that great at making the big decisions.  We often miss our close friends who are so far away.  And family is important - we lament the fact that all of ours is so far away.  But when it comes down to it, we've decided to do what we believe is best for us as a family.  And for now, that means staying in Austin.  We've made friends here, we love all that the city has to offer, we're happy with our church, and are largely happy with the climate (though ask me again when we hit the peak summer season and are facing day after day of 100+ degree days).

But we are going to move.  In the coming months we hope to have our house on the market and to begin looking for something a little larger and a bit more permanent.  Lots of features we hope to have in a new place.  I'd like to start a garden.  We've talked about getting some chickens (strange as that may sound).  I'd like to have room for a pool table (a pipe dream, perhaps).  But chief among them, we do plan to have a guest room to ensure we always have a spot for visitors. 

Keep that in mind when you're passing through Austin - we'll leave the light on for you...