Back for a Year
I’m back in Ohio for about a year and a quarter now. It’s probably time to take stock of my situation and figure out how big an error I have made. I mean congratulate myself on what a brilliant dude I am.
My Wife
I had hoped that moving back closer to my family would help my wife. She does a great job at earning money as well as the respect and confidence of her coworkers, but in Seattle she struggled with friends. The root of the problem seems to be that her performance at work intimidates potential friends and she really doesn’t have the kinds of hobbies that lend themselves to other people.
Moving here has actually made some of this worse as my wife now resents the fact that I have pre-existing friends that would drain my time and she is not interested in ‘hanging out” (which I completely understand) with my friends.
We’ll score this -1
The Child
The child complained all through high school that the school she attended did not have enough people that looked like her. Fair enough, we sent her to Central State (U of Wash, somehow wasn’t ‘good enough’). Anyway, the child seems to be doing alright, but not stellar. While her grades are good, her social life is thin. We’ve made some miss-steps in the process, but while my wife disagrees, I think we’re on a good pace.
Let’s call this a +1
Extended Family
Nobody gets to choose their family. That said, Mom and Dad seem happier, my brother seems happier, I think my sister wishes she had a free place to stay in Seattle for her and her boyfriend. Oops, 2 outta 3 ain’t bad.
I call this +1.
Financially
Woof. As much as the House Dragon has terrorized her new employer into a larger paycheck, I have been hammered. I truly do not understand the cost of living indices. For the first time in a long time I am not living ‘well below my means’. I don’t know how I goofed this up. It’s probably the fault of my gigantic brain.
-1
Overall
I mostly moved back to Ohio to be closer to my parents. I miss my friends in Seattle. I’m bad at staying in contact, I feel like my time is gone long before I get to spend it. I don’t get to see my Ohio friends as much as I would like. I spend about as much time with Mom and Dad as possible. I don’t regret my time away, I’d like to go back to Seattle at some point, but its good to be here. For now.
+1
Score
+ 1 = a good decision (hooray for me...)
My Wife
I had hoped that moving back closer to my family would help my wife. She does a great job at earning money as well as the respect and confidence of her coworkers, but in Seattle she struggled with friends. The root of the problem seems to be that her performance at work intimidates potential friends and she really doesn’t have the kinds of hobbies that lend themselves to other people.
Moving here has actually made some of this worse as my wife now resents the fact that I have pre-existing friends that would drain my time and she is not interested in ‘hanging out” (which I completely understand) with my friends.
We’ll score this -1
The Child
The child complained all through high school that the school she attended did not have enough people that looked like her. Fair enough, we sent her to Central State (U of Wash, somehow wasn’t ‘good enough’). Anyway, the child seems to be doing alright, but not stellar. While her grades are good, her social life is thin. We’ve made some miss-steps in the process, but while my wife disagrees, I think we’re on a good pace.
Let’s call this a +1
Extended Family
Nobody gets to choose their family. That said, Mom and Dad seem happier, my brother seems happier, I think my sister wishes she had a free place to stay in Seattle for her and her boyfriend. Oops, 2 outta 3 ain’t bad.
I call this +1.
Financially
Woof. As much as the House Dragon has terrorized her new employer into a larger paycheck, I have been hammered. I truly do not understand the cost of living indices. For the first time in a long time I am not living ‘well below my means’. I don’t know how I goofed this up. It’s probably the fault of my gigantic brain.
-1
Overall
I mostly moved back to Ohio to be closer to my parents. I miss my friends in Seattle. I’m bad at staying in contact, I feel like my time is gone long before I get to spend it. I don’t get to see my Ohio friends as much as I would like. I spend about as much time with Mom and Dad as possible. I don’t regret my time away, I’d like to go back to Seattle at some point, but its good to be here. For now.
+1
Score
+ 1 = a good decision (hooray for me...)
5 Comments:
i think we could set up a grassroots campaign throughout the ohio river valley and running down the mississippi river; stretch west to texas and make inroads through alabama. forget louisiana; add california, new york, and florida, and we're at 271.
Celestial Departure Party (CDP) in 08'!
What's so wrong with your pre-existing Ohio friends anyway???
nothing is wrong with my friends. I miss them.
Why would your wife feel that spending time with your friends is a "drain" on your time? Also, why doesn't your wife want to hang out with your friends?
Dude! It's Robert from Seattle.
I thought you died or something since you haven't emailed me or updated your blog in awhile. Glad to see that's not the case.
Sorry to read the big move back to Ohio wasn't as optimal as you'd like. Then again, life is like that, ain't it?
Same oh same oh in Seattle. Which reminds me - time to ping the folks at the hell hole we used to work at :)
Write me when you have a chance, k?
Oh, I have a blog too but it's all about aikido so you'll probably find it less than interesting.
Keep posting so I know you're still kicking!
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