Sweet Home Alabama

We spent the week of Jackson's birthday in Mobile with my parents.  I wanted to make sure they got to share J's birthday with him and, since my mom really can't go anywhere right now, we decided to bring the party to them.  As with every trip home, a certain amount of nostalgia comes into play.  I miss home.  A part of me will always reside there.  But I'm not sure I want to live there anymore.

Chris and I seriously discussed moving while we were there this time.  I think I feel the need to be home more so now that I have Jackson and I want him to be close to my roots and because of my mom's condition.  I struggle with this because I want to be there but my life is in Austin now.  We would have to start over on everything if we moved back to Mobile.  We would both have to find jobs and a place to live.  We would need a vet and a doctor and schools for the kids.  And we would need to find friends.  I am still in touch with some of the people I hung out with when I lived there but it's not really the same.  Things have changed and life has moved us in different directions.

Plus there is something that just seems backwards, maybe old fashioned about Mobile.  That's part of it's charm but also part of why I'm glad I'm not there anymore.  It all factors into why I decided not to move home when I got divorced 5 years ago.  Little things I didn't notice or let bother me before I moved away are now very obvious since I've had the chance to step away from them.  Living in/near a bigger city has allowed me to see that there is more out there.  And this is all coming from the girl who never wanted to leave her hometown.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not trying to insult Mobile or Alabama.  I still love my town and my state very much.  I'm just not sure they are the right place for me at this point in my life.  I keep thinking that one day it will happen and we will return.  I'm just not sure when that is going to be.

Comments

aubieangel said…
Nobody gets how you're feeling better than me. I moved "home" almost 4 years ago. At times like right now (when my daddy is in the hospital), I'm SO GLAD I moved home. Other times, I look around this place and wonder how I ever missed it. Some days I hate the "backwards-ness" so much I consider moving away again. Hang in there Julie, and remember that what is meant to be will work out in the end.
August 1, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Jessica said…
I miss the small town I grew up in, but am not sure if I could go back at this point. I like living in (the suburbs of) a city. Lucky for me, my parents live here now, too, so we still get to see them a lot.
August 1, 2012 at 12:29 PM
CraftyHope said…
I understand your stance entirely. However, I'm the opposite. Big cities and their amenities are nice to have when you visit a big city, but I'm at a point that I don't like dealing with the hassle of the traffic and people and crowds. Sure, all of that is nice every once in a while. But I can always go on vacation to a big city or take a trip for a show/concert/exhibit/etc. I like the quiet. Of course, I'm also the girl that's trying to find a bunch of land to put a house in the middle of and just get away from everything. I think your staying in Austin is definitely an extension of who you are. You like the hustle and bustle and there's nothing wrong with that.
I do agree that there is something old fashioned about a smaller town, but to me it's just often opinions. And, I respect everyone's, I just don't have to agree with them! ;)
August 6, 2012 at 5:58 PM
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