I have called you home for all my life, but today it is no longer so. This morning a Californian boarded a plane. Whether or nor a Californian got off that plane remains to be seen. Monday morning is my first day of work toward a paycheck that will be taxed by another state. On Tuesday, I get the keys to my first home, a townhome in Leesburg, Virginia. Sometime soon after that, the moving truck will belch forth all my worldly possessions into the empty home. Then, finally, on the 14th, the rest of my family will join me and help me transform the house into our new home.

I learned a very interesting musical fact recently: There are plenty of songs about being in California or returning to California, but it's really damn hard to find any about leaving. So I'll just have to plahy my California mix backwards.

Good bye, good luck, and Godspeed, my friend.

Congrats on the new job and new home! Change isn't always a bad thing, for life is all about change. Best of luck to you my friend.

Make sure you tell those movers to handle those Axioms as if they were the baby Jesus. lol



Sutter

Peter, it is NOT easy to pull up stakes, leave an area that has been your lifelong home, and transplant your family to a new area. It hurts. The differences will not only be geographical, but cultural as well. I was stunned by the different behavioral dynamic when I lived in Hartford, CT for a few years. It had a much different pace than Cleveland. You'll actually enjoy some of these differences. Others, you won't. Until you can acclimate yourself to the new area and people, just cling to the fact that "home" is wherever your family is. You're a bright, personable, fun guy. You'll do fine. I'll be thinking of you, and I wish you all the best in your new venture.

Yeah Peter,when I checked a bit for your "changes" thread, Leesburg looked good from the standpoint of being a short commute to Ashburn. Family and Axioms will arrive safely and soon all will be well. How is Sunny traveling?

After moving from New York City, to Cincinnati, to Nashville, it doesn't seem to get any easier. Good luck.

How many songs about moving to Virginia?

Sunny is taking the same flight as the wife and kids. The three cats will be coming by plane as well at a date soon after that. My brother will crate them all separately and deliver them to the airport. They, and Sunny, will be drugged for their trips.

Good idea, chess. I suspect that "Leaving California" by "Afroman" isn't exactly what Peter had in mind.

Peter, your opening post made me sad. As a native Californian myself, there are a multitude of things I dislike as well as a multitude of things I love about this place. All in all, it is tough to dislodge oneself from a place called home for some thirty-odd years and start anew.

There are plenty of good people in the world, and moving gives you a better opportunity to meet more of them. Good luck.

I don't want to mislead. I'm definitely more excited than sad about the move. But as I drove away from Dulles Airport I was thinking about how the drive would soon become as routine as my drives home from Oakland Airport. It was a funny feeling.

The strange becomes familiar.

I just attended our annual Management meeting at the conference center in Lansdowne right down the road from Leesburg. Great area!! I think you'll enjoy the area. Small town but only a few miles from Fairfax and DC.

What a great Christmas present for you and your fam!!

Charlie

Congrats on the move and the new little one. Both decisions took some balls.

I'm really going to miss you guys, Peter. Hell, I already do. I won't miss the cats so much when they leave (stay OFF the damn furniture, Ganzo!). This move is definitely a big adjustment for everyone involved - those moving and those staying behind.

I'll even admit that after you guys had left, and the cable guys had left and I had a chance to sit down, I got a little choked up. I'm blaming that entirely on the lack of sleep.

Adam said what I wanted to say, much better. Except I keep getting choked up. Congrats to all you in Virginia, you're getting a great guy.

When I used to work for Xerox, I used to go to Leesburg all the time to spend time at the Xerox training center out there, also some time at Landsdowne(I think it is/was partly owned by Xerox)

Much different than what I was used to in California, but very nice.

Good luck to you and your family!

Good luck on the move. Methinks you and the family will adapt nicely.

best of luck to you,remember,dont let the stress of all the changes get between you and your family-they are the most important thing you will ever have

btw...you didnt fly the axioms first class???

Hope all goes as well as it posibly can what with so many aspects of the move to contend with. It's not easy.

Speaking of family; it wasen't until the last really-close member of my family passed away that my wife could finally drag me away from the old pleasant surroundings!

It's in the teens in the old neighborhhod at the moment, but a cool 63F right here right now!

So some moves are in fact very benificial!!
Rich.

Good luck on the move and new job Peter.It looks like you had better bundle up for that weather out there.

For Leesburg Va.

Today: Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Cold. Temps nearly steady in the low 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%.

Tonight: Snow likely. Low around 25F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.

Quick thread hijack:

Arrrrrgh,...I miss the snow!

My cross country skiis don't work well on beach sand!

My ice skates are mildewed and shriveled.

If given a choice of shoveling snow at 18F or mowing the yard at 93F.......

......you can have the thread back.....thanx.

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This move is definitely a big adjustment for everyone involved - those moving and those staying behind.

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I've been thinking about this since Peter announced the move, and wondering how you and Ken were handling it.

One of the things I regret about our mobile society is the splintering of the family. Mine is spread from Ft. Myers to Cleveland, to Dallas, to Phoenix, to San Francisco, to Portland, OR. Ironically, this separation, and missing each other, helps keep us emotionally close. But, it's not quite the same as having them right in the same town. Hang in there Adam and Ken.

Hurrah! Peter's moving closer to Axiom!!

Peter:

I say: Congratulations!

Moves are always a bit awkward for awhile, but before long, Virginia will feel like home. With a new house and the family to boot, I think you'll do just fine!

Aw man, you guys...

So I think the best California song for the moment is the one by Tom Petty.

California's been good to me
Hope it don't fall into the sea
Sometimes you got to trust yourself
It ain't like anywhere else
It ain't like anywhere else

There's time to roll, I'm all done
It's time we better hit the road
I got work later on
It's time we better hit the road

California's been good to me
Hope it don't fall into the sea
Sometimes you got to save yourself
It ain't like anywhere else
It ain't like anywhere else

Sundown, red skies
Nobody's been around
Sundown, blue eyes
I kinda like this party town

California's treated me good
I pray to God that the hills
Don't fall into the sea
Sometimes you got to trust yourself
It ain't like anywhere else
It ain't like anywhere else
It ain't like anywhere else

There's a bunch of songs about Virginia here:Possible Virginia State Songs

I haven't checked them out yet, but I don't think any of them have any Heartbreakers Back-up.

The song titled "Take Me Home to Virginia" might be good, but only if sung to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

Good luck with the relocation and adjusting to a another way of life Peter. We moved from California about 3 years after I was born in Bakersfield and I have adjusted quite well on the 'right side of town', and to be quite honest I never did miss California much.

Seriously, good luck!

LOL!

Good luck to you and yours, my friend. I hope this means that you'll get to go to Dallas more often.

Congratulations...time...give it time...

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I hope this means that you'll get to go to Dallas more often.

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If / when you do, give a shout, I'll drive up and we'll all meet for dinner...

Cheers and good luck in your new digs.

WhatFurrer

Dear Peter and friends,

I cannot improve upon the sentiments and wisdom already expressed, but I wanted to lend my voice to the public chorus.

With due apologies for the plagarism I am about to commit, it strikes me that there are many ways to be "Home". A house is not a Home - A House is a machine for living in. Home is where the Heart is, so you may continue to have California as your Home for quite some time - His native home deep imag'd in his soul. Home is Where You Hang Your Hat, so you will undoubtedly learn to love and appreciate your new surroundings - Unless you move, the place where you are is the place where you will always be. I have often mused that this forum is my choice of Internet home, and it is clear that your character and humor have earned you a supportive, adoptive family here. These friends will sustain you during your short quest for new and invigorating relationships in Virginia.

Lastly, the one (of many purloined things) I will attribute is that of Scottish Poet James Thomson:

Home is the resort
Of love, of joy, of peace, and plenty; where
Supporting and supported, polished friends
And dear relations mingle into bliss.

Peter, congratulations and warmest wishes as you and your family embark on your new life.

Peter,

There are a lot of nuts in Virginia. Seriously.

Whitley's and Virginia Diner are two of my favorites.

Good luck to you and family in your new homeplace.

"There are a lot of nuts in Virginia. Seriously."


I guess Peter will fit right in then.


Good luck Peter.

Welcome to Virginia Peter!

It is not that bad here. Besides, pretty close to DC, nation's capital. Leesburg is not that far from DC either. Yes, it is been snowing here, but not too much. It will be around 16 degrees on Wednesday though.

I have to get up really early to do a final walkthrough of the house before I head off to the title company to sign a bajillion times. Damn. I should have bought a scraper while I was out today. The damn rental didn't have one.

Peter,
I hope you enjoy your new home and area. It must have been a difficult decision to leave California. My wife, son and I spent 5 day's during Thanksgiving with my wife's sister and husband in Dublin, CA. If I didn't live in Vancouver I think that the California coast would be my next choice. I have travelled to Washington and Virginia on business before and really enjoyed the area. Good luck and get the home ready for Christmas. It's just around the corner...
Cheers,
Shaun

Peter, yeah sorry about the snow. Don't worry it's already thawing! If it's any comfort my in-laws moved down this year from upstate NY and they just laugh at this stuff. Let me formally extend my welcome to our fair state; it ain't California, but what is, really? Bugbitten is right, if you happen to go through Waverly, definitely check out the Virginia Diner, great peanuts and ham biscuits!

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if you happen to go through Waverly

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If you don't happen to... Order some nuts online. It's just like ordering Axioms.

except for the return policy... I don't think they want back partially chewed peanuts.