How did you wind up where you are?

[therock1811]

I have lived here in the Cincinnati, OH area all my life. First in Hamilton for the first couple years, then to the Groesbeck section of the city, then to Florence where I've been since.

[streetsoldier]

beancounterr's family's here...so, WE are here.

All things considered, I'd rather be in Fargo, ND, thanks.

[cajungal]

I was born only 5 miles north of where I live now. (born in Thibodaux, Louisiana and now live only 5 miles away in a very teeny town called Schriever) Moved from Thibodaux to Schriever when I was only 2. And have been living in the same house ever since. If I had the money to move out, and move somewhere else I would. Because I sure wouldn't of picked Louisiana. The only things good about Louisiana is seafood (especially crawfish) Mardi Gras, and fishing. Jobs don't pay enough here that is for sure. We have to be one of the poorest states in the nation.

[HurricaneGirl]

I could write a paperback novel about how I ended up here and why I'm still here......you know, the kind the drugstores' sell..

[CajunMama]

My parents are originally from Pittsburgh, PA. After daddy graduated from Pitt, Conoco hired him and transferred him around the midwest and Oklahoma City, OK where i was born. After that they transferred us to Los Angeles, Houston and then here to Lafayette in 1965. My parents fell in love with the area so much that after 20 years with Conoco, Daddy retired and started his own corrosion coatings and paint business. I attended 2nd grade on here and continued on to college here in town, met my husband who is a local and stayed here where we went into the family business, Kwik Kopy Printing and raised 2 kids. In 1991 we purchased a sign company and i've run the sign shop since then. I've never had the desire to leave Lafayette. It's a wonderful town to raise a family.

[dizzyfish]

Same story - different verse. Interesting to see how many people live in the same town or close.

My entire family was born in the Carolinas. Some how along the way they all ended up migrating to Florida. I was born in Tampa and lived there until 2 years ago when we moved to Pasco County. (we LOVE it) Tampa just isn't the place it was when I was growing up. It was really sad watching it change through the many years. Mom sold the old house in Tampa and moved up with us a year and a half ago.

Dotty

[Miss Mary]

Born and raised in the Cincinnati area. Actually in the Mt. Healthy, northern suburb of Cincinnati. It was a wonderful way to grow up - small town America, sidewalks everywhere, we rode our bikes or walked to school.

Moved to the West Side of Cincinnati when I was 20, married for the first time. Divorced 8 years later. Remained on the West Side for a few more years. Remarried, still stayed on the West Side. Once we had a baby and needed a house with a yard, the search was on. West or East Side? Mmmm......here in Cincinnati, if you don't already know, we have a cultural divide. Yes I-75 cuts our city in half, just about. The East Side folks never venture the West Side. And vice versa. The East Side tends to be upscale, transient, old money, etc. West Side tremendously Catholic, generations after generations remain there, moving just a few blocks from their family home, attending the same schools/church their parents did.

What did we do - we moved to the East Side when we found a builder in our price range (not easy, tight budget) and a floor plan we just loved.

So we became Eastsiders in 1989.

Did I miss the West Side - OMG, yes, yes and yes. So much so, that I cried and wanted to go back 'home'. LOL In time, we became entrenched in our community (Anderson Township), our school district and met many other parents and have wonderful neighbors.

But I still have this desire to move back to the West Side. There's just something wonderful about the traditions over there.

When the Reds won the World Series in 1990, we were one out of maybe 3 families rooting for them on our street. We had neighbors from Africa (not that there's anything wrong with that), Nebraska, California, England, etc. I hung my Reds flag up to proudly say I'm a born and bred Cincinnatian! And yes, this is when the tears started b/c I didn't live near other born and raised Cincinnatians.

Do I love Cincinnati - you bet! We have our problems though.....

Well, there's my long-long explanation as to why I ended up an Eastsider!

Mary

[azskyman]

Lived in the same town in northern Illinois for my first 50 years. After an 18-year career commitment that took me as far as I could go up the ladder in the family owned daily newspaper there (and I wasn't part of the family!), my mid-life crisis had me looking elsewhere. Although opportunities popped up in both the Milwaukee and Chicago regions, we together decided to "test drive" and spend a weekend with a good friend in Arizona. Not only did it appeal to us visually (we both love mountains more than oceans), but a few job possibilities cropped up. After six weeks living out of a hotel by myself, and after selling our home in Illinois in a cash deal, we had no place to go back to.

The icing on the cake was that our youngest son had considered ASU as one of his target schools for a degree...so, once we made the commitment to Phoenix/Scottsdale, he soon followed, lived with us for a year, and got residency status for his final two years at ASU. After that, both career, family, professional, and personal opportunities opened up and here we are!

Both sons finally moved (or were transferred to) Arizona, but since then, both have taken new promotions and opportunities in California. Now, with two granddaughters just one state away, there is no chance of moving back to the Midwest.

So it was a simple as taking a chance, but also as difficult as taking a chance. It has worked out well, and we have been here 8 years already.

We never doubted ourselves. And we never really second-guessed the decision. We just keep looking ahead at the next possibilities.

But I suspect home will become Arizona permanently as we can handle heat better than we can handle cold...and 317 days of sunshine each year make our dispositions much more pleasant.

So, as of today, December 23, 2005, that's where we stand!

[vbhoutex]

I could write a paperback novel about how I ended up here and why I'm still here......you know, the kind the drugstores' sell..

why don't you give a couple of chapters to whet our appetites? Or better yet an abridged version?

[DaylilyDawn]

Come on Hurricane Girl, don't keep us waiting! I for one, read those drugstore paperbacks to keep my mind active. They are the Lays potatoe chips for my mind.

[azsnowman]

Same story - different verse. Interesting to see how many people live in the same town or close.

My entire family was born in the Carolinas. Some how along the way they all ended up migrating to Florida. I was born in Tampa and lived there until 2 years ago when we moved to Pasco County. (we LOVE it) Tampa just isn't the place it was when I was growing up. It was really sad watching it change through the many years. Mom sold the old house in Tampa and moved up with us a year and a half ago.

Dotty

Dotty, I too find it amazing at just how many people never move that far from home! Like David said, we were both "hatched" at the same hospital in Wichita Kansas, Wesley Hospital......and my family moved due to my fathers job at that time with Safeway, he was a Meat Packing Supervisor.

I have thought many times about moving, still may someday to New Mexico, Socorro, Quemado area but for the time being, the hills is my home!

Dennis

[therock1811]

Born and raised in the Cincinnati area. Actually in the Mt. Healthy, northern suburb of Cincinnati. It was a wonderful way to grow up - small town America, sidewalks everywhere, we rode our bikes or walked to school.

Moved to the West Side of Cincinnati when I was 20, married for the first time. Divorced 8 years later. Remained on the West Side for a few more years. Remarried, still stayed on the West Side. Once we had a baby and needed a house with a yard, the search was on. West or East Side? Mmmm......here in Cincinnati, if you don't already know, we have a cultural divide. Yes I-75 cuts our city in half, just about. The East Side folks never venture the West Side. And vice versa. The East Side tends to be upscale, transient, old money, etc. West Side tremendously Catholic, generations after generations remain there, moving just a few blocks from their family home, attending the same schools/church their parents did.

What did we do - we moved to the East Side when we found a builder in our price range (not easy, tight budget) and a floor plan we just loved.

So we became Eastsiders in 1989.

Did I miss the West Side - OMG, yes, yes and yes. So much so, that I cried and wanted to go back 'home'. LOL In time, we became entrenched in our community (Anderson Township), our school district and met many other parents and have wonderful neighbors.

But I still have this desire to move back to the West Side. There's just something wonderful about the traditions over there.

When the Reds won the World Series in 1990, we were one out of maybe 3 families rooting for them on our street. We had neighbors from Africa (not that there's anything wrong with that), Nebraska, California, England, etc. I hung my Reds flag up to proudly say I'm a born and bred Cincinnatian! And yes, this is when the tears started b/c I didn't live near other born and raised Cincinnatians.

Do I love Cincinnati - you bet! We have our problems though.....

Well, there's my long-long explanation as to why I ended up an Eastsider!

Mary

I always did feel that West Side beat East Side, any day. But, the East Side is where Coney and Riverbend are, and I love going to both when I can. I don't hold the fact that someone lives on the East Side against them, but I liked where I lived.

[george_r_1961]

I was born in New Orleans LA while my father was stationed at Camp Leroy Johnson; in fact I was born in the camp hospital. The Army transferred him to Fort Eustis VA and when he retired in 1967 he decided this was to be our home.

[pojo]

1) Menasha... the Fox Cities have been in my life the entire time...
2) Middle East.... don't ask.... we were activated and I had NO choice.

[Kim_in_MN]

beancounterr's family's here...so, WE are here.

All things considered, I'd rather be in Fargo, ND, thanks.

Maybe we can work out a home trade; preferably when it is about 30 below up here ; I get a little tired of the weather in about February or so

Kim

[therock1811]

I was born and raised in CIncinnati, Ohio. My stepfather owned a business manufacturing epoxy adhesives and coatings.

What part of town if I may ask?

[DoctorHurricane2003]

I was born in Pensacola at Baptist Hospital and grew up in Gulf Breeze for 18 years attending Oriole Beach Elementary, Gulf Breeze Middle, briefly Woodlawn Beach Middle, graduated from Gulf Breeze High School and Pensacola Junior College (also took a class at University of West Florida). Then I moved to State College in August for school at Penn State.

Not too terribly exciting, but what will be exciting is where I end up after I get my PhD. I really like Minneapolis/St. Paul, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Charlotte, and Miami. I just don't know. I feel somewhat limited with my degree...I'd love to work at the NHC, but I don't want to really live in Florida because of the hurricanes...I'd love to teach college, but where? I probably won't want to stay in State College forever...although I *do* love it right now...I dunno. *sigh

[coriolis]

I've always lived in Pennsylvania, but at various places.

I was born and raised in Bedford, one of the nicest little towns you'd ever want to know. My parents and one older brother went to Penn State, so I kept the family traditon. After graduation, I found work there in my field and stayed for about 10 years. There's nothing like living in a college town as a single adult and making good money! The company I worked for was bought out by a Philadelphia company. It didn't work out so they closed the office and transferred me to the Philly area. I met my wife at that place (we met on smoke breaks). I wasn't crazy about the city atmosphere, so started looking for work back in the mountains. Finally an opportunity in Williamsport came along and we relocated here. We've been here for 9 years now. I ain't moving again. I like the wide open spaces, the slower pace, the lower cost of living, and the friendly people. The town we live in is a lot like the town I grew up in. It's small, people know each other, not much crime, etc.

[Sean in New Orleans]

I was born two miles from where I'm sitting, in Downtown New Orleans. My parents met when they were 15 years old walking to two different schools about 5 blocks from my present home. Small world, huh?! And I've never wanted to live anywhere else, so, that's why I'm still here. As the saying goes, "There's no place like home."

[HurryKane]

I was born. A tornado picked me up from over there and dropped me over here. I grew some roots and now I can't seem to tug 'em out of the ground. The end.