It’s funny. For the past couple of years, I have been thinking (and sometimes actively planning) about finding another place for us to live. I figured that since I have lived here (Northern Virginia) since I was three and Bobby was born and raised here, that we should find a new place. A place for us to explore and slow down. It’s so busy here. Too much traffic. I wanted a small town with a real community feel. People who really cared about each other and looked out for one another. As Bill Bryson, an author I really like writes, “I was looking for the perfect town.”

What’s funny is that in just this year, as we have been planning this trip, I have discovered all of that here. I love the children that Elise goes to school with (and the parents are great, too!). I love our church community. I love living so close to family (Mom and Dad are .5 miles away, as is my brother, his wife and 2 girls. My sister and her family live 3 miles away.). We have a small faith group that we belong to and the other couples are wonderful. I found a job that I really like.

And now we are planning to leave it all! Where is the logic in that?! It actually provides a great deal of peace to know that it is all here. We hope to come back here when the trip is over. All told, we really like it here. Yes, it’s expensive and busy and full of traffic. But the people who live here are just as real and caring as people who live anywhere else. You just have to get involved and care back.

Part of the trip, originally, was to take a look around the country and see if there is somewhere else we might call home. While we are still open to that, somewhat, I think we hope to come back here. But never say never, as Elise is always telling me!