A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to quit renting and buy a house. Well, now it seems, that I have had a change of heart. I am about to sell my house to go back to an apartment. I need to be more liquid as far as a possible move back to Alabama.
I am in a sort of crossroads in my life. I have been desiring a move back to Alabama to be close to my family. When I came here to Georgia, I barely knew a soul. Not only did I move out of my parent’s house for the first time, but I moved out by myself in a strange city a mere 4 hours away. I am sure that I am not the only one to face this, but this is my experience.
I have considered a career change. Going to real estate school. Get my license and try selling real estate for a living. The perks of the job are right along with what I’d want in a job. The cons of the job are some that are going to be hard to take. (such as the lack of benefits). I have also found another Microsoft certificaton path that I can probably easily get with just a small amount of studying. Add this to what I already have and I’d have 3 MS certifications to put on my resume. This is a promising idea. But the types of jobs available still don’t offer the freedom of a real estate agent. The “perks” if you will… so, maybe I do both. I need some real world marketable skills or else the job hunt will be over before it’s begun.
In the time I have been here, I lost my Dad. My Mom has had breast cancer surgery and was in the hospital for the better part of a week for complications due to smoking (more specifically COPD.) . All of my neices are growing up and I am not around. Time has moved on but I haven’t.
So, now, I must decide again where I am going to reside: Here in Georgia or back home in Alabama. To quote the band Alabama…”My home’s in Alabama no matter where I lay my head.” This is how it’s always been. My heart isn’t here. But my job and my life is. Well, part of it. I feel like I have been living a double-life for the last 7 years. One in Alabama and one here. Different friends. Different everything. Something’s gotta give before I totally lose what little sanity I have left.
One the one hand, I hate to leave the friends I have made here behind…but on the other, I would be going back to the friends I have had for many years before I got here. Believe it or not, I will miss it here. I won’t miss the “craperific” traffic or the outrageous real estate prices. But I will miss the places and the people I have met. These are the things that make it hard to leave.
My original plan was to be here for a year. Gain some experience. Move home. The plan did not succeed. Here I am … 7+ years later… working at the same company. I have moved 3 times since I first arrived in Georgia. 3 counties. 4 cities. 7+ years. I move fairly often. Now, it looks like I just may be moving again this year. I must keep up my move every couple of years plan. Add to that, it won’t be my last move. Maybe not even the last move this year. I don’t really look forward to moving, it’s just the way it is.
So, am I making the right decision? I don’t know. But it’s the decision I have made. My house isn’t on the market, yet, so I have time to change my mind. I just need the right guidance.
