Downey Avenue (Photo credit: Wikipedia)I was given a choice between Downey and Chicago. The pay and benefits would be the same job-wise. I'd lived in the Chicagoland area before and knew the weather could be much less pleasant than Southern California. The job site in Chicago was not in an area where there was good housing so that would mean a commute and traffic hassles. In the end, the decision was easy. I chose Downey, California as the location of my new job, my new home.
Downey was all about decisions, but that's what life is after all. In the chosen home for my family the decisions were many. I had taken a job as the manager of a wholesale costume company--the job of a manager requires daily decisions. However, it was the decisions I faced at home that impacted my life the most. They were not just my decisions, but also the decisions of my wife who soon became my ex-wife.
There were tough times. Emotional times. Sad and happy times. In the end though, it was a time of hanging in there and doing what needed to be done. That was the crux of my biggest decisions--the responsibilities of raising kids, running a business, and eventually meeting a woman who would become my next wife.
Over all, things turned out okay despite the job ending after eighteen years. The kids all graduated from Downey High School and went on to be responsible adults. I'm still with the wonderful woman I met and married in Downey. We moved out of Downey after we got married, but not far--it's only a couple miles away and I'm still there several times a week. I guess I could say I live in the Downey area, but for anyone not familiar with that I'd say the Los Angeles area.
I guess what I can say is that when I moved away from East Tennessee in 1991, I moved to Downey, California. And that's all I have to say about that. It was a decision that now I live with.
What decisions have you made that changed your life in a major way? Are you happy with where you live now or would you prefer to live elsewhere?
I'm pleased to where you are now living otherwise we may not have met.
ReplyDeleteI regret moving from Spain, the climate there agrees with me better.
Good choice for the D word.
Yvonne.
I'm so glad your decision turned out to be the right one in the end. It's so nice to hear aspects of the US other than what is gleaned from the televison shows that we watch.
ReplyDeleteI think things always have a way of working themselves out, whatever decisions we make in life. Admittedly, I would love to live somewhere other than the small English town I'm tied to, but there are reasons I have to be here and if I'd moved away, chances are I wouldn't know the people I do now. Great post, very thought provoking!
ReplyDeleteLocation is very important to me. I moved from Pennsylvania to Texas, from Texas to Maine, and from Maine to Massachusetts -- with some brief stops in between. I love where I live now.
ReplyDeleteHi Arlee!
ReplyDeleteWhere I live now is not the desire of my heart (a St.Louis suburb)... but it's been a good place... go Cardinals!
My favorite place is Kennebunkport, Maine.
We moved about 8 miles last year from a town with about a 1000 people in it a a village with about 100. It is very peaceful I love it
ReplyDeleteHi Arlee,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post. Moves are hard, decision-making is hard. LIFE is hard. But we're so fortunate that we can still make decisions, even if it means making a move of our location. So far I've made seven moves in my life. My next one will be either to assisted living, a nursing home, or a cemetery. Se la vie! I'm enjoying the A to Z Challenge and also the Poem-a-Day through Robert Lee Brewer. My blog for the A to Z is http://bayoubloggercom-stargazer.blogspot.com
For the poetry it's: http://patmarcantel.wordpress.com
Come by for a visit.
Where I come from, the subject of geographical location is a very complex one, steeped in history...
ReplyDeleteTo cut a long story short, I chose to move beyond the area demarcated for us, under the old regime, which was not a very easy decision, and was also frowned upon by lots of close-minded people who chose to remain there, and in their comfort zones...
I'm happy with my decision!
Yvonne -- The more temperate climes do have a lot to offer.
ReplyDeleteSally -- One can wonder what would have been different if other decisions were made in life, but I guess the ones we make are the right ones because there's no turning back.
Ride -- Things are what they are.
Kathleen-- I always manage to adapt, but I would consider moving elsewhere.
Cheryl -- I could deal with either of your choices.
Rob -- that could have its advantages.
Pat --It amazes me when I meet people who have lived in the same place, and even the same house, all of their lives.
Michelle-- It's good to be happy with decision we make rather than be miserable about it.
Lee
What if - So many decisions, so many possibilities. Thank you for a very thought provoking post.
ReplyDeletei am pretty content with where life has taken me---loved reading your post today
ReplyDeleteLife is a journey, I have learned not to question the destination just enjoy the ride. Wheeeee!
ReplyDeletedreamweaver
I think you made the right choice. I think I would have chose California over Chicago. :D Visiting from the A to Z challenge and proud new follower of yours.
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/
Didn't know you were down in my neck of the woods, Arlee (did my jr. & sr. high school (first couple of college) years in South Gate). I still have a relatives that live in Downey and SG, in fact. Small world.
ReplyDeletelife is about living with our decisions good or bad. Unfortunately....
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad I stopped in to see your 'D' Post...and altho I've been to LA a few times...I don't know that I've been to Downey. I was lost on the Freeways alot..LOL! Being from PoDunk, Texas that was some experience...but...I do know about your Letter 'B'...Big Bend.
ReplyDeleteGot more than a BS and a MA from SulRoss State Univ. in Alpine with many trips to Big Bend. Lived in Fort Stockton..The Gateway To The Big Bend..for many years. Hit lots of golf balls across the RioGrande at Lajitas. It's a great place to live and visit! Ya'll Come Back!!!!
The decisions I made to marry my husband was a big one. He is in the Air Force. I moved from the only town and state and home I knew to Arizona. I like it here, but I think I would still prefer to live on the east coast.
ReplyDelete~blog hopping from A to Z challenge~ http://monkeyangelasblog.blogspot.com
The most important decision in my life was to marry my wife.
ReplyDeleteWe are still in love after 21 years.
And when I look around in the circle of our friends we are nearly the only couple left. Therest divorced or separated.
I made the decision to go to college one state away instead of clear across the country. At times, I regret it. Other times, it's the best decision I've made!
ReplyDeleteI think a move would be fab. Moving is almost like a baptism, b/c you can wash away the past and start new.
ReplyDeleteMaking the decision to take a writing course at UCLA years ago changed my life in many ways. And also, when I was first in law school, I lived in Downey (I commuted to downtown LA--Loyola Law School). I have many fond memories of Downey!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading all of your comments. Thanks to all of you for making the decision to stop by here and read what I had to say.
ReplyDeleteLee
My husband and I made the decision to move to Cairo last year and enter into the world of international teaching. It's been an amazing experience and given us the opportunity to travel all over the world. Majorly life changing!
ReplyDeleteAhhh....decisions decisions - choices, I wrote a song/poem about that, it's called Listen and you can hear it on my blog in the new "Listen" page :)
ReplyDelete