The Confucius quote is, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

A friend of mine just asked me recently how I was doing after my big move to Ohio. My response was, “Best decision I ever made!” I am doing quite well folks.

My friend’s question got me thinking, as another friend of mine was recently in the middle of a life changing move, just how mind blowing a move can be.

There is so much stress usually involved; getting rid of your old place (regardless of selling or renting- it’s a big job!), deciding how to move your stuff or who will move it for you, packing up all your stuff, figuring out if it will fit into what you plan on moving it in, and of course- what to get rid of so you don’t have to move ALL your stuff!

Then there is the stress on the other end. Where are you moving all that stuff to? Who’s going to help you on that other end? Closing on a house or renting, unpacking all your stuff and trying to make your next place into a comfy cozy home. I could go on and on. Anyone that has made a major move (or even a smaller move) across the country or up the street- It all SUCKS! I did it 21 times prior to what I pray is the last one. 22 moves is more than most military folks I know!

But let me tell you what made this move the best one and why I am doing well.

I moved back to where my roots are. I am driving around in familiar territory, even though I’m about 30 minutes from where I grew up. (I still need a GPS since it’s been over 30 years on these back roads!) The very best part of it all is that I have my family close by and I have begun to live again after going thru a horrible experience. All the stress of isolation and loneliness have evaporated into thin air and I am smiling more every day with plans for get-togethers, sitting around a firepit, shopping, eating out at some cool places, etc.

For me, this move has been life saving and has given me hope for the future. It has given me freedom from yardwork and taking care of an in-ground pool. It saved me from the stress of pre-hurricane jitters and dealing with stocking up on non-perishable foods, water and batteries in anticipation of no electricity. It has spared me from numerous excessively hot days. (I know this because I still get alerts on my phone from the county I used to live in!)

There are some glitches (like losing the remainder of this original story into thin air!) but that is why I will continue with changing up my life story. I will not be discouraged.

I used to constantly talk about moving back to an idyllic town in Ohio that I lived in for almost 25 years. I thought I could possibly make it happen, but it had become unaffordable for me, and condos were at a premium price- and usually outdated. Apartments and renting was also out of control. So, why was I so fixated on this place I used to call home? It is not where I was born or raised.

It was about the people more than it was ever about the place- that’s why! But the more I thought about this, the more I realized that the people I had spent most of my time with there were the people that “we” were friends with. Now that it is just “me”, I am more content with my family- sisters, brother, cousins and old friends. It is always about the “people” in your life- not so much the place.

I picked a little big city (I refer to it as the Little Big Town) and it is also idyllic in many ways. I am in an area that is more hilly than I remembered, and very luscious and green countryside everywhere you look. I get held up often by the train or by the tractors, but it doesn’t affect me much because I am still retired- for now. The downtown streets are lined with street lamps (y’all know how much I love that!) and everything I need is close by, which will help me in the winter- cause y’all know I haven’t seen one since 2012! I also heard a man refer to the ladies behind the counter at the shoe store as “Yinz” (pronounced yoonz), a Pittsburgh dialect found up here in the north- used for the plural of you all or the Southern English y’all.

I can go to a farmer’s market every single day. I can find a craft fair every single weekend. Wineries are plentiful and I have bigger towns all around me that I can visit, but don’t deal with all their traffic near my home. My condo is spacious, beautiful and has been updated- all for a reasonable price- and sits in a scenic, lamp lit, hillside location. What’s not to love?

I do believe that I have found a perfect little paradise to enjoy and all that life has left to offer me! It is my new favorite place to be and I no longer constantly yearn to go back to the town I used to love. I will visit eventually (because of the people), but I am currently making new friends, enjoying my family and looking forward to seeing some old friends!

The “glitch” in my original story has forced me to write a new one. I am happy so far with the way it is unfolding.

The bottom line is…and my new quote: “If you bring your heart to a new place, happiness will be sure to follow you!”