Virginia is for Lovers

So, Bree and I went to northern VA a couple of weeks ago to visit our family. It was a really good trip and always really nice to see our families, but I couldn't help but laugh at us when we got back. You see, EVERY time we go that way we inevitably end up in deep conversation on the trip back about moving "home." The plan has always been to eventually migrate that way, but I can't help but find the humor in our recurring deep conversations.

Virginia and Tennessee are very different and I often find myself torn. On the one hand, I love Chattanooga. Our densest population of friends is here, I have a really good job here, we just bought an amazing house that we love, and Chattanooga is a cool city. On the other hand, northern VA is "home." Both of our families, whom we are very close to, are there, some of the people we are closest and most comfortable around are there, there are many diverse professional opportunities for both of us, and northern VA is very different than TN and dare I say, I generally like it better.

When I was growing up, I always wondered why whole families lived in the same town and promised myself I wouldn't let geography hold me back from the things I want to do in life. But as I get older, I find myself more and more reluctant to think about staying away from my extended family long-term. I have gone where the wind has taken me and successfully made a life for myself and now I find that I wish I weren't so far from "home."

I guess what I am ultimately saying is that I love where I live, I love my life here, but I really, really miss my family and the area they live in.

If you are reading this in TN, have no fear, we aren't going anywhere...for a while anyway. As I said before, we really do love it here. I wouldn't have taken a job here and we wouldn't have bought a house here if we didn't. I am just feeling a bit homesick.