Ruminations on relocation
The times, they are a’changing. A few days ago, in a discussion with my sister, I discovered that my mom’s health has been slipping a bit more than she has confessed to me. This means that her situation—emphysema—is something that is slipping slowly towards a foreseeable, if unthinkable, end. That’s got me wondering if it’s time to move back to Austin, if only for a few years.
Since moving away 14 years ago this month, the city has changed, but so have I. I left for many reasons; not least of which to prove I could make it on my own from scratch. I’ve done that, in spades, but now family beckons me back, and so my mind has turned heavily to what that means.
I could certainly continue my current travel insanity from anywhere with an airport, however, that’s not what I want long-term, and I wonder how to extricate myself from the insanity. Much to contemplate.
This entry was posted at 12:01 pm on 2 August 2008 and is filed under Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the post-specific RSS 2.0 feed.
As someone with insights regarding his remaining family, I’m pretty sure all that matters is that he finds a place to be happy, whether it’s Austin, DC, or Upper Slobobia (Formerly the Slobby Republic).
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My father was sick for a couple years before he died, and I considered moving back to Austin to be with him, and I didn’t. I always wish I did. But in my case he was suffering from alcoholism (among other things), so I might have actually been able to help him. I wish my sister had asked me to come back, that might have pushed me enough to make it happen since I wasn’t doing it on my own.
But also know that once you go back home, it is hard to leave again. We’re all allowed to fly free when we are young, and it isn’t held against us. But don’t be surprised if you go back home for several years and then are not supported by your remaining family when you feel it is time to leave again.
In the end though, you always have to listen to your heart. No one’s situation is the same as yours, and no one else truly knows your situation.