4 years in the Empire State

Four years ago we packed up our moving truck, and then crammed the stuff that didn't fit into the truck into the car, loaded ourselves and the dog into the few spaces left in the car, and headed north for New York. Sometimes it feels like so much time has passed and other times it feels like this all happened yesterday! 

 I hadn't wanted to move from South Jersey. It was where I grew up, the only place I had ever lived, the only place I knew as home. The idea of leaving quiet South Jersey for big bustling New York scared me. I didn't know anyone there, it was a new and much bigger place, and all that change combined with not liking change on a good day made it hard for me to leave South Jersey behind.

 But, now four years later, I look back on this move and think of all the wonderful things that came out of our relocation. If we hadn't moved to NY I'd have never worked at the Alcott School where I decided I wanted to go into special education. I wouldn't have been able to work at Beth El Day Camp last summer and this summer. I wouldn't have met all the people I have met up here, the families I've babysat for, the friends we've made.

South Jersey was a wonderful place to grow up, I will always consider it home, but moving to NY was an adventure. An adventure that I cannot imagine not having traveled.  If I had to do it all again I totally would, but maybe minus the packing and unpacking all those boxes!