As I head back to California following another visit back to our old stomping grounds in Boston, I found myself reflecting on some of the things I have enjoyed about relocating over the years, despite the challenges of moving to a new location.

We just finished our 3rd visit back to Boston since we moved 17 months ago, trips that have involved birthdays, a wedding, and many visits with old friends on Cape Cod, in Maine and all around greater Boston. The Internet has helped us to easily stay in touch with everyone we left, and vice versa, and in some ways you feel as if you are still there (in the "old" days we had to rely on snail mail and occasional phone calls, but with email and the ability to share photos the feelings of closeness seem to hang on, and distances don't seem so great). I always enjoy catching up with good friends from back East over a good meal, and it seems our trips are always filled with lots of eating, drinking, talking, laughing and plenty of driving around in our attempts to see as many people as possible during the few days we are in town. And of course there is NEVER enough time to do it all. Thus, while relocation means a move away from friends and family, the visits back are always something we look forward to. The other nice thing about going back, as opposed to traveling to a new city on a vacation, is that you know your way around and generally don't get lost. And it feels good to see the old neighborhood, and former haunts, as you drive around to visit with friends and family. And, in some ways, it is exciting to see what has changed (new buildings, homes being fixed up and painted) as well as what has not.

I have also found that while a big move can be difficult and stressful, I have enjoyed living in new areas around the country, and learning as much as possible about the new surroundings - things to do, trying out new restaurants, getting used to the new climate and weather patterns, meeting new people, etc. While it takes some time to get acclimated and to stop feeling like a stranger, and learning your way around without getting lost always takes time (thank goodness for my GPS), the excitement of all this change and realizing how adaptable we really are as humans is a terrific feeling. But it DOES take time, sometimes many months, and you have to expect this of yourself, and of your spouse/partner and children. And everyone seems to adapt in different ways and at different rates. Do I miss Boston? Absolutely...well, not the winter weather.

The other pleasure is having old friends and family come to visit - after all, you get to show off your new home and share what you have learned about where you now live. And you realize that despite the new distance, and perhaps being in a different timezone (it's been kinda weird getting used to that now, being on the west coast with everyone we know living life 3 hours later than us - we still have to consciously think about the time when we call or tell others to call us), that friends and family are the most important thing, and despite the changes some things just don't change.