Next week is the two year anniversary of our move from New Jersey to South Carolina. It seems like July always has something monumental happen:
In July 2005 I had to buy a new car because my Ford Explorer died and was too expensive to fix (the cost to fix was more than the value of the SUV).
In July 2006 we moved from New Jersey to South Carolina after miraculously selling our house in a downtrending market.
In July 2007 CootieGirl cut her own hair.
In July 2008 CootieGirl cut her own hair. Again.
Another thing that usually happens in July is the Blogathon. But this year it’s not taking place, although others have taken up the slack and are doing their own version of this awesome charity fundraising event. I really enjoyed doing it last year (I not only raised money but acted as a monitor for other participants). But it most likely would have fallen on the weekend that I’ll be in Virginia dropping off CootieGirl at Camp Marmie, so it’s just as well that it got postponed to next summer.
Anyway, I can’t believe it has already been two years since we left New Jersey. And yet despite it being here only two years, it feels like we’ve been in SC forever. I’m fully ensconced at work, Denis recently got a promotion, CG starts kindergarten in five weeks, and CB is turning four next month. I still miss some things about New Jersey, but for the most part I’m content here. And Denis is slowly getting used to being a New Southerner (which is what they call Yankees who are adapting to their new environment). š
Wow.. 2 yrs. From our POV it only seems like you have been away for like 6months. Amazing how time flies. We still miss our Survivor Thursdays.
We would love to have you back in NJ… but you seem so happy down south.
Here’s to many more lovely years to you and your family in SC!
Last night I told Denis I wanted to see “Hell Boy 2” and he said no way. That’s when I sighed and said, “I sure wish Ace lived here so I could go to the movies.”
Just to make my position clear, not a day doesn’t go by that I wouldn’t rather be living up north (Jersey or NY). I just don’t say anything about it anymore since you don’t like me to do it. I will always consider myself a visitor here. Yes, I like the BBQ, but have no friends down here, I think I’ve talked to our neighbors on either side of us a dozen times in total. I talked to our neighbors in NJ that much in any one week. Yes, those are the things you don’t want me to talk about anymore so I shut up. I’m also secretly plotting in my head how we can make the move back north, but again, mums the word from me. “I love being down here.”
Ohhh Denis … I really feel for you.
I know what it is like being in a new state (country, on my part).
For what its worth, those feelings don’t change and it doesn’t get any easier. There are times when I wish I was back home too, I miss so many things where I am from but these are the sacrifices we make.
Still can’t believe it has been two years though!
Denis – I won’t say “never” to the idea of moving back north. But it’s highly doubtful unless 1) we are debt-free, 2) you get offered a NYC salary that is more than double what you make now, 3) the kids opt to go to community college and pay rent to live at home and 4) we inherit a lot of money or win the lottery.
And I felt the same way as you when I moved to NYC in 1997. It took me over two years to feel comfortable living there and even then it was tenuous for at least another year after that. So I know where you are coming from on that end.
But as much as I plotted for 10+ years for our eventual move south, I think it’ll be much longer than that before the possibility of moving back to NJ/NYC is anything more than just a pipe dream.
Jane:
You know, I saw 3 movies last week and two of those I was sitting in the theater all by myself and both of those movies you saw in SC. So, we are in the same boat. We see the same movies but have to do it alone. You so know we would be at the movies together. You know how much I love to have someone to ask useless questions to throughout the film that they (you) wouldn’t have the foggiest idea of what the answer is because you are watching the same movie for the first time like me… but you know I love to ask. Now I just lean back and whisper my question to the person behind me and then I get a boot in the head.
Speaking of movies… since when did it become “OK” for people to talk through the Previews? All three movies I saw last week this happened. How annoying! **jumps off soap box**
Denis: I too have moved all over the place. I moved to NJ so Anthony could have a new career. I only had Jaynee (whom I met twice before moving to NJ) when we actually moved there as a sorta friend. Luckily we got along very well and very fast. Not to mention you were very easy to get to know and get along with so I was able to cope with the move that much better. However, it was only you and Jaynee for the first 3 yrs we lived here.. and not until you left did we really become friends with our old neighbors. Now I live in Sparta. My only friends are our old neighbors who spend the bulk of their time at their second home on Cape Cod. I really can’t stand my neighbors… one woman is a BIA and thinks she has somewhere better to be.. one is a flake and one is a nosey busy body who thinks everyone in the neighborhood should swim in her pool. BLah! So, I am down to my only friend in NJ being Anthony. We get along fantastic now and have only attempted murder on two occasions since moving to Sparta. Who needs friends when you have your Partner (spouse in your case) as a best friend. Give it some time… you will meet people just like you did in NJ. Besides… BBQ (hello)
You can always move to Sparta, NJ and commute with Anthony into the City and Jaynee can work in Morristown which is only a 20 min. commute. Plus they have great schools in Sparta for the kids and Mountains… I am sure you can seek someone out who eats Grits if you miss the South too much and you don’t have to look too far for a Redneck or a Pick-up.