So Maybe Virginia Doesn't Suck Afterall....

If you had asked Richard and I a few weeks ago how we like living in Virginia our answer would have been "We hate it here." It seemed like everything sucked.. and our every thought was on how to get back to our lovely Florida. Even the kids really didn't like it here and wanted to go "home."

It was cold, the people were not friendly, Richard wasn't crazy about his job, our house sucked. Well we still hate the house (so so much) but the weather is warming up and we warming up to Virginia.

All along we new there were so many benefits to being here and we could spout them all. The education system and schools were so much better here. The terrain is much more interesting. Beautiful vistas everywhere you drive. There is so much to do here ~ DC, museums, caverns, movies, theater, wineries, blah, blah, blah.

We are closer to our unofficial daughter Alex and her family, my friend Britt from NC lives less than 1/2 hr from here, my cousin Nate and his family are 15 minutes away, I can get to my BFF Mary Ann in much less time, and of course, most importantly is that Jen, Jeremy and CHARLIE will be just 2 1/2 hrs from me by the end of the summer. We knew all that but yet we just wanted out.

Even we couldn't explain why. The winter was cold but the snow was pretty and it really didn't disrupt our lives. The people were not as friendly but we have plenty of friends we keep in touch with via electronic gadgets on a regular basis. I've gotten to see Mary Ann 3 times since the new year. She came up here, we met and had a great time at a quilt show, and I went down there once. We drove to Philly to see Alex and the boys. Been to DC twice and had a good time. Jen's been up to visit as has Richard's mom. The grocery store here is phenomenal. Richard is really learning so much at his new job and most importantly, we were together. Yet it was taking it's toll on all each of us, separately and together.

But like I said, the weather is warming up. Spring has sprung. People are starting to come out of their houses. We are taking walks around the neighborhood and people are actually saying "hello." I've now met 3 neighbors. 2 of them are very nice. Richard is getting more comfortable with his job. The kids are making friends and getting out of the house.

Yesterday both kids were at friends houses. Today Nate went on a field trip to Hershey Park in PA with the school band.

Julianne was at a birthday party. I'm starting to meet other parents. Our moods are improving greatly. We still hate the house, but that's another post for another day. Thing is, if we had won the lottery last month ~ Va would have been a distant bad memory and we'd have been back in Fla. If we won lotto today I guess we'd have to buy two houses. One here and one back in our lovely Florida ~ so we'd have the best of both worlds.