Don't Fear The Hurt

As our plans to get to Southern California have heated up this Spring, I have noticed that I have been subconsciously holding back in other areas of my life.  Specifically, with certain friends who I guess I have deemed as being 'too fragile' to handle hanging out and having fun with me just as I am truly planning to leave.
One friend mentioned to me that she understands just how difficult it is to manage deep attachments while simultaneously letting go.  She hit the nail on the head.

Hammer And Nails by mrpuen, found at: freedigitalphotos.net

I have lived in this area of the country my entire life.  I have some friends whom I have known since before I started school.  These are actually the friends that I have had the least trouble with remaining close to, even as I go through the process of moving away.  I think I've known that we've been through enough as lifelong friends to know that we will make it in keeping contact, even when I am far away.  It seems to be the newer friends- the good neighbors, the friends I've only had for a few years that have been the sticking point for me.  I have been avoiding them and keeping my distance.
I've realized that I have been holding back because I think I've felt that it's wrong to get close to people that you don't have that much history with and then just pick up and leave them behind.  I've also realized that I'm being hurtful by suddenly pulling back my attention and time, just to supposedly keep these people from being hurt.
Being afraid of hurting people has led me to be hurtful- even though I never meant to be.
Sometimes it's just tough to do the right thing.  And sometimes people get hurt.  But I've come to see that spending time laughing, playing cards and making memories is not wrong.

Playing Cards by foto76 found at: freedigitalphotos.net

People deserve whatever you've got to give them, for however long you can.  And I can't know if those connections are going to last beyond 1,200 miles or if they will simply be pleasant experiences for today.  And that's OK.

Look Out World, Here I Come!

A recent fortune received after some tasty kung pao

Sometimes we have to get back to our core.  That inner 'thing' that tells us what we really want is a powerful tool when we actually pay attention to it.

It's easy to get caught up in over-thinking stuff and hoping to do what we 'ought' to do, all the 'shoulds'.

The facts are what they are in any situation; and yet how those facts pertain to our lives can be something else entirely.

So for me and mine, for now, the most important thing is that we are all on the same page.  We're coming out and declaring to the world that we are going to make a move to Southern California!

My husband and I have spent a lot of time in California, making wonderful memories and strengthening the bonds of family and friendship.  California is our go to, for reliable weather and an easy going attitude.  California has been pretty good to us over the years.

We need to leave the Seattle area.  Hiding out from the grey and the rain 9 months out of the year has never been our bag.  We are constantly seeking out sun.  The snippy 'Seattle freeze' attitude is real.  Frankly we're tired of spending time trying to avoid interaction with people who want very badly to let you know how much better they are because they are greener, donate more to charity and are just way smarter than you.

There are always things we can complain about in any place we choose to live.  It's time to stop complaining and move on. While Washington is beautiful in many ways and Californians can be dopey and apathetic, there is no perfection anywhere.  Only different experiences that can fit us better or worse at different points in our lives.

This feeling of being ready for change is so strong now.  I am familiar with it.  It is the exact same feeling I had when we bought the Palm Springs condo one year ago in November. 

That turned out to be absolutely one of the best things that my husband and I have ever done!