Today's "Not Moving" Interlude

I find it necessary to think about things besides moving to our new apartment periodically in order to keep my sanity. Unfortunately, this has to do with moving, just a different sort.

Matt and I have talked about our various moves, how they impacted us, how we really didn't like moving. By far, the place with my fondest memories is Colorado, where I lived from 4-5 and then from 6-12. (There was a brief span where we were back in NY) Today I discovered that Google maps has a "street view" feature. Since apparently NJ and MI aren't pretty enough for the street view, I googled Colorado. Not only do they have the house I lived in, but almost every street around. I spent almost an hour going from street to street, looking up places I remembered. It got me to thinking: what if we'd never left Colorado?

I didn't want to leave Colorado. I had friends there, it was pretty there. I had plans for myself - to go to the local college (UNC) and become a teacher. But, the day before my 12th birthday, my dad got the call that we were being relocated to NJ, den of cliches', bad drivers, and weird accents.

Things have changed a lot there since we left. Apparently word got out that Colorado is a great place to live, and people moved in left and right. Where there was an empty field behind our house, there is now a subdivision. They've re-done the mall, adding a chuck e cheese. Come on - where was that when I was a kid??) They tore down the movie theater that my daddy took me to see Star Wars in. The elementary school chopped up the field I used to run in and added trailers for the school. Our church physically looks the same, except that they've added a sign, but they're no longer anything like the church we attended. For one thing, I don't think they're baptist affiliated anymore. None of the teachers or pastors that were there are still there.

It's the same ... and yet different. How would I be different if I were still there?
I know, it's the most pointless hypothetical question ever, because the obvious answer is that everything would be different. As much as I like Colorado, I can't say that I wish we'd never moved. If there's one thing that my experiences with moving has taught me, it's that you may not always see it at the time, but there's usually a reason that it's for the best.

Koo would like to add that if I hadn't moved, I wouldn't have her. Well, there ya go. ;)