This afternoon I came home to find the tv on public television. My son was in the other room playing a video game and my sweetheart was steaming the tile floor in the living room. It appeared that the dog was enjoying the show, though. I don’t blame her.
Our PBS station is doing one of their fund drives, and today they aired a beautiful show about Hawai’i. It was mainly just scenery with some Hawai’ian music and commentary from various authorities on different aspects of Hawai’i and Hawai’ian culture, such as historians, botanists, surfers, and so on. It was breath-taking.
The program took me right back to my winter vacation where I had the pleasure of visiting this paradise on earth. I loved it there. The climate, the scenery, the beaches, the people, all were incredible. I hope to go back someday.
The whole experience makes me think about why we live where we do. I live in the desert southwest. I wasn’t raised here. I was raised in a wonderful old rust belt city known for chicken wings and blizzards. It is a fantastic town and a great place to visit every summer. It does have a few issues, though, the snow being one of them.
Many years ago I decided that I didn’t want to live there anymore. I wanted to live in the sunshine. I wanted to live where people could make a living doing what they wanted to do without having to know twenty people to get a job. I wanted to live in a place where the economy was growing, not dying. Things change, including the economy, but I’ve never regretted my decision to leave my hometown.
I’ve been in my adopted state for over two decades, and I still love it, but I love Hawai’i too. Would I like to live there? I might. Yes, it’s pretty far from the rest of the world, but I imagine loved ones would make the effort to visit. Why wouldn’t they? Oh yes, the cost and distance. I like Texas too. I never spent much time there until I met my sweetheart, but since then we’ve been there three times, and each time I’ve liked it more. I could picture myself living there too, where the summers aren’t quite as harsh as they are here.
Still, this has become my home, and I really like it. My son was born here and his father and grandparents live here. I’m in no hurry to pull up stakes and start again elsewhere. I have friends here and a career. Still, maybe someday I’ll go somewhere else. I’m hardly a rolling stone, but I’m not rooted to one spot either.
BulgingButtons 
March 9, 2014 at 4:47 am
Please Tell Me why you had to know twenty ppl to get the job? Was the city small, or is it a place where relationships really matter?
March 9, 2014 at 9:41 am
Relationships do really matter there, and unfortunately there just weren’t that many economic opportunities. When good jobs open up, they typically go to people who are well connected.
I would like to think that it’s because they have others who will give them honest references, but I think in many cases its because someone’s uncle or close family friend makes the hiring decision.
For example, in the school district where I student taught, there were over 1,000 applicants for 6 teaching positions. Those who had ties to current employees had a definite advantage. I think that’s always the way where there are too few jobs and too many applicants.
March 10, 2014 at 7:47 am
I think that’s just small place syndrome. Though relationships also matter in big cities, no doubt! Where is your hometown exactly?
March 10, 2014 at 8:27 am
I suppose you’re right. I’m from Western New York.
April 2, 2014 at 5:52 am
I’m really enjoying the design aand lyout of your blog.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes
it much more pleasant for me to come here
and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?
Great work!
April 3, 2014 at 6:23 am
Thanks. No, I’ve just used what wordpress has available to make my pages look the way they do. I was trying for a crisp, clean layout that’s easy on the eyes. I appreciate your feedback.