It's been 3 1/2 years now since we moved to Boise, and 3 years this week since we moved into our house. Its made me reflect on life in Boise. I have mixed feelings about our decision to move here.
Cons:
~I miss living in Utah. I really do. It has nothing to do with location, and everything to do with the people in that location. I miss my family. My sister's and I used to have "girls night" where we'd get together to play games, eat food, and talk talk talk. I don't have that now. I miss just talking and laughing with them so much that I can't even express it. We'd have bbq's in the summer. Christmas parites in the winter. Max and I walked together in the mornings too. I totally miss all that.
~I also miss Scott's parents. We could visit them whenever we wanted and we took it for granted. They helped us with so many things, from babysitting, to yard work, to making us Sunday dinners. We were the only kids/grandkids that lived in the area and so we got a lot of attention from them, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it. Its not the same only getting to see them a few times a year.
~I miss our friends. Scott has had basically the same friends for his whole life, and they've been my friends too for the last eleven years. We had get togethers ALL the time. The boys' had band practices every week. The girls would just hang out together. We had Christmas parties, and birthday parties, and just hangin' out parties. We had kids when they had kids, and things were always easy and fun. I totally miss that. Seeing them 1 or 2 times a year is not enough.
Pros:
~Scott's brothers' are close by. We probably don't spend enough time together, but its so fun to have them close. Our kids adore Russell and Collettes kids and beg to play with them often. I'm so glad they've had the opportunity to become such good friends, which may not have happened if we hadn't moved. Also, I've had the opportunity to get to know Russell and Collette a lot better. Before we moved here I don't feel like I knew them very well. Also, Shawn and Shelley live just a couple of blocks from us, and we love getting to have them over for dinner sometimes, and getting to know Shelley better. (I think I already knew Shawn pretty well before).
~Scott's job. He really loves his job and is grateful to still have one. He seriously enjoys going to work everyday, which is an amazing thing for someone to have. It has made our lives so much better and given us opportunities we may not have had otherwise. I'm so grateful that I can stay home with our kids, and not feel guilty about making him support us all at a job he can't stand.
~Boise is a great city. There is less traffic here, and friendlier drivers. Life feels more laid back when you aren't in the hustle and bustle of a bigger city. I love that. There are more trees and grass. Farm animals live across the street from Walgreen's here! It's awesome! I don't miss Salt Lake City at all......except for Training Table and their delicious hot pastrami on rye....yum!
Our ward is awesome. I know a lot of people in our ward now, and that certainly makes it feel more like home. We actually have friends in our ward. I know that sounds weird, but we've never lived anywhere long enough to make ward friends before. Its kind of fun. The coolest part about it is that they all live in our neighborhood also, so we see them all the time, and its easier to get to know people that you see often.
So all in all, I think it was the right decision to move here, we just need people to visit us more. I think we visit Salt Lake plenty, we'd like to see peeps come this direction once in a while (Marde and Ross excluded, because they actually make the trip often, although we wouldn't mind more visits).
