Moving

I’m not moving (for now). I’m not a fan of moving. I’ve lived in the same home for over 24 years. I moved in here when I was in my late-20s, and now I’m in my early-50s. When I do move away (in about 4 or 5 years) I’ll continue to own this home, but I’ll also own another home about 3 hours north of here up in South Central Florida. This home is all paid off. It was all paid off over 6 years ago.

During my first 28 years of life I moved no less than 14 times. I’ve stayed put ever since.

The worst move ever occurred in November 1980 when – 2 months into my 8TH grade – my family moved from Lanham Maryland to McLean Virginia (opposite sides of the Washington D.C. area). It was a radical change of culture for a 13½-year-old. I was plunged into a completely different environment that I was not prepared for, and I never got used to. I had friends in Maryland. I knew nobody in Virginia. I was a “normal” kid in Maryland. I was a “poor” kid in Virginia that nobody really wanted to associate with. I had very few friends in Virginia – and nobody that I hung out with after school. I did poorly in school, as the school system in Virginia was actually at a much higher academic level than the one that I came from in Maryland. I was essentially a “C” and “D” student through my 11TH grade. That wasn’t good enough for college, and everyone around me was definitely going to college in 1985. I eventually made the honor roll during my Senior year in high school – making all “A”s and “B”s. But it was too late. I ended up joining the military – where my now 34-year career continues.

Had it not been for that move from Maryland to Virginia towards the end of 1980 I’m thinking that my life may have been completely different than it turned out to be. Maybe I would have gone with my friends from elementary and junior and senior high school to the University Of Maryland (where my Dad went 25 years earlier). Maybe I would’ve become a Meteorologist, or gone into Radio or Television Broadcasting (my dream jobs as a teen). Maybe I would’ve met the woman of my dreams, gotten married, and started a family. Maybe I would’ve had the perfect life. Maybe I would’ve never known God. Maybe I would’ve never created this blog 12 years ago to journal this journey.

Be careful when you make decisions. Think about the possible consequences of your decisions before you go through with them. Some decisions that you make can be far bigger than you can ever imagine at the time. One decision today could change your life – or a family member’s life – or a loved one’s life – forever – for better or for worse.