The quote for today:

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."

- Arnold Bennett -

I moved out here to Southern California from Wisconsin within an eight-day period. I interviewed with the principal and two of the teachers and was contacted by the district fellow that would be the one to offer me the position - I was gone and being the weekend, I didn't officially get offered the position until a couple of days later.

In a matter of eight days, I went from being a college graduate working as an administrative assistant to a beginning teacher. Holy cow! I was in for the shock of my life.

Wisconsin - fairly flat (there are *some* rolling hills!), forests, lots of different kinds of deciduous and evergreen trees, grass, people mowing lawns during the spring and summer, lots of farms, small towns here and there, and so much more.

California - hi desert, as we call it - sand, dirt, vast expanses of nothingness, joshua trees, spatterings of cactus (cacti?), mountains made of what appears at first to be dirt and rocks, towns that because of the vast expanse of nothingness seem to be deserted, people raking their sand (no lawns), driving through the mountains to get to a decent town, and so much more.

The change was great... as in huge... as in WOW!

I love being on my own, supporting myself, and taking care of *me*. I feel so blessed that I am able to survive on my own. I have a job that I absolutely love. I have a great dog (when he's not piddling on the kitchen floor). I have a nice car. I am able to take myself out to the movies and dinner. I can do whatever it is that I want to do.

But I'm two thousand miles from my family; I'm alone. Even though this change was good, and I don't regret it AT ALL, there are drawbacks. I don't get to see my family on a regular basis. My best friend is back home - she's a nurse. My sisters have children that I don't get to watch grow up. (Pictures would be nice!! Dagnabit! *lol*) I have a niece that barely knows me because she was born after I moved out here. My sister just had another baby less than a year ago that I'm not going to be able to watch grow. He's not going to know me either. It makes me very sad. It's a huge drawback.

Discomforts? I hate being alone. I've been involved in a "special" relationship for over two years, and it's drawing to a close now. Doug has been such a big part of my life, helping me to feel less lonely, giving me more of a purpose. And now? It's coming to an end. He doesn't love me, and I must move on. I must let him move on to find the woman that he will love. I can't be selfish in that regard.

I digress...

I'm lonely. The town that I live in is a pretty small one. Although its population is well over 25,000, it has a very small-town atmosphere - everyone knows everyone's business. There are few people my age who aren't married and/or with kids. If I were to meet someone that was my age, chances are their child goes to my school. That would be uncomfortable.

If it wasn't so late, I could continue to think of things that were features of discomfort or examples of drawbacks, but it would be moot

In my case, change was a good thing. It's given me my first teaching experience, I'm experiencing another part of our country, I've met some great people, and I prove to myself and to others that I am a responsible adult.

Most everything will have drawbacks if we look hard enough, but I'd rather dwell on the good things that are happening in my life.

However, it's just one little example in my life of change - no matter how good it is, there'll be drawbacks and discomforts. It's up to me to overcome them to find advantages and comfort in where I am - physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Yet another ramble.....;-)