Arizona vs. California

For labor day weekend, our family went to Arizona to visit my sis-n-law, Jeanne.
She just had surgery and we wanted to surprise her with a visit. We've been horrible and haven't visited her since she moved to Arizona around 3 years ago! So Friday night we head to the desert with Paul's parents and my other sis-n-law, Joyce! I was really hoping that Anthony and Alina were with us, but they stayed behind. Another road trip! This one wasn't that bad. The 5 hour drive down the 10 fwy was a straight shot and went pretty quick.

Jeanne has been telling us to move to Arizona for awhile now. But it wasn't even a thought in my mind to move out there! I would always answer her with a, "hell no" or "heck no...it's haaaauuuut (hot) out there!" Here we are 2am and it's 100 degrees outside! So of course the following day, they take us to some model homes! What a change in tune I had. The houses out there are beautiful! I started doing the math. I can get a house out here that's 3 times bigger than my house for how much? Less than what I pay for my house her in Long Beach! It just surprised me that I would even consider. I mean, I know that I am blessed that Paul and I are in the position that we can really relocate where ever we please. The business gives us that flexibility. But the desert? I've lived in California all my life! I barely survived northern California!
I just started thinking...who's really here. My parents are going to retire in less than 3 years and moving to Vegas. My brother has another 2 years at LaJ olla then he will probably move to another state because he doesn't think that he can afford the cost of living...ahhh...especially in La Jolla (my #1 place to retire). And let's say he stays there...he just has to hop on the 85 to AZ and it's only 4.5 hours away. More like 4 hours the way he drives.

I'm getting older, so my cousins and I don't really hang out anymore. Tone is busy doing his thing in Hollywood. Jess is going through her 20's and partying like a rockstar (too cool to hang out with my old fart!), Carl and Cal are getting older and Cal should be off to college next year. I barely see Dan, Celisse and the twins. We're only with each other on holidays, which I figure will happen if I move anyway.
(Am I trying to convince myself?) I guess with age, I'm starting to think that I'd rather be financially free. Eleanor and I always talk about how we miss our apartment in Cypress because it was less than $1000 a month and if something broke we made a phone call to fix it! No problems with home improvements, or the yard, or silly homeowner stuff. Then there's the whole mortgage payment that creeps up every month, not to mention the HOA and the HO Insurance, OOOOHHH and don't forget the property taxes that get paid twice a year...It really sucks to have all these responsibilities. Now, AZ is sounding really good. I get to be 5 minutes away from my sis-n-law. Sam will have cousins in the same school. But there's also cons. Sam just got into dance, she'd have to start again. And of course, she's leaving her friends since she was 5 years old in Long Beach. And of course, I don't even know what kind of a hard time Sam's dad is gonna give me. WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING? I think that I've got a lot of thinking to do. I guess that's what adults do...think. A lot. I remember when living spontaneously was the norm. Now, things have to be planned and before I start the day I have a schedule to follow. (Do you see why my best friend's names are Kettle and RedBull?)
If we move to Arizona...IF...All I know is that I will miss home a lot. This house especially has so many memories for me. Paul proposed to me here. This is our first house. Paul has done so much to this house. There were a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into this house. I never thought that I would be so attached to this shack at the Beach (what I like to call it). Is this what happens when you get older? The people that you were the closest to, siblings, cousins, good friends...they all start they're own lives and grow apart?...NOOOOOO! I refuse to think that way. I know that where ever we end up, the relationships that we developed stick. Now all I have to do is get everyone out there to one of those model homes that look like the homes in MTV's Cribs and tell them that they're mortgage payment will be less than their car payment! I know I can sell like at least 4 of them to join me! (fingers crossed)