10 Years

This past weekend was our 10th moving Anniversary, which we always celebrate by going out to some local cuisine.

10 years.  On the one hand, it is hard to believe it has been that long - after all, once upon a time 10 years seemed like forever and still does in some senses still does (after all, it is most likely 1/8th of our lives for the average person).  On the other hand, in some ways it does not seem like it has been that long at all - excluding leap years, it is 3,652 days, which you would think would seem like a lot more time.

It is odd for the impact on our children as well:  our oldest has spent 50% or so of her life here, the middle one 60%, and youngest almost 75% - she does not really remember living in Old Home.  So for most of them, it will represent 1/8th of their life as well.

Has it been good overall?  I think so, at least for them - they have had the opportunity to see and try many things which I am not sure they would have been able to if we had been in Old Home.  But there are costs, of course:  not really growing up with cousins, not seeing our families (especially grandparents) nearly as much as I did growing up, maybe not having a sense of belonging like I did growing up somewhere where my family had lived for over a century.

For me?  I do not know that my assessment would be different.  On the one hand, I have been able to do many things that I would not otherwise have done.  On the other, I do not see my own family as much as I want to, nor did I get to try or do many of the projects that only somewhere like The Ranch would have allowed.

What does the next 10 years hold?  Man, that is a great question to which I do not fully have the answer.  All I know is that the last time I thought I knew what the future was, it got completely turned on its head.  I have at least learned enough now not to make hard and fast rules.