A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to quit renting and buy a house.  Well, now it seems, that I have had a change of heart.  I am about to sell my house to go back to an apartment.  I need to be more liquid as far as a possible move back to Alabama.

I am in a sort of crossroads in my life.  I have been desiring a move back to Alabama to be close to my family.  When I came here to Georgia, I barely knew a soul.  Not only did I move out of my parent's house for the first time,  but I moved out by myself in a strange city a mere 4 hours away.  I am sure that I am not the only one to face this, but this is my experience.

I have considered a career change.  Going to real estate school.  Get my license and try selling real estate for a living.  The perks of the job are right along with what I'd want in a job.  The cons of the job are some that are going to be hard to take.  (such as the lack of benefits).  I have also found another Microsoft certificaton path that I can probably easily get with just a small amount of studying.  Add this to what I already have and I'd have 3 MS certifications to put on my resume.  This is a promising idea.  But the types of jobs available still don't offer the freedom of a real estate agent.  The "perks" if you will... so, maybe I do both.  I need some real world marketable skills or else the job hunt will be over before it's begun.

In the time I have been here, I lost my Dad.  My Mom has had breast cancer surgery and was in the hospital for the better part of a week for complications due to smoking (more specifically COPD.) .  All of my neices are growing up and I am not around.   Time has moved on but I haven't.

So, now, I must decide again where I am going to reside: Here in Georgia or back home in Alabama.  To quote the band Alabama..."My home's in Alabama no matter where I lay my head."   This is how it's always been.   My heart isn't here.  But my job and my life is.  Well, part of it.  I feel like I have been living a double-life for the last 7 years.  One in Alabama and one here.  Different friends.  Different everything.  Something's gotta give before I totally lose what little sanity I have left.

One the one hand, I hate to leave the friends I have made here behind...but on the other, I would be going back to the friends I have had for many years before I got here.   Believe it or not, I will miss it here.  I won't miss the "craperific" traffic or the outrageous real estate prices.  But I will miss the places and the people I have met.  These are the things that make it hard to leave.

My original plan was to be here for a year.  Gain some experience.  Move home.  The plan did not succeed.  Here I am ... 7+ years later... working at the same company.  I have moved 3 times since I first arrived in Georgia.  3 counties.  4 cities.  7+ years.  I move fairly often.  Now, it looks like I just may be moving again this year.   I must keep up my move every couple of years plan.  Add to that, it won't be my last move.  Maybe not even the last move this year.  I don't really look forward to moving, it's just the way it is.

So, am I making the right decision?  I don't know.  But it's the decision I have made.  My house isn't on the market, yet, so I have time to change my mind.  I just need the right guidance.