Leaving Florida

As many of you know, I've accepted a position that will require us to relocate to Columbus, Ohio. Yes, I am moving from south Florida to Columbus, Ohio in freaking January. I think on Tuesday there was a 50 degree difference in the high temperature.

Its been tough at work. My VP continues to lean on me hard trying to get me to stay--offering that I could create my own title and org chart and stopping me after meetings to thank me for staying engaged and telling me, "Just say the word if you change your mind. One word is all it takes" . My director resigned yesterday and the flak from my resignation and the VPs response to her was the final straw in making her decide to leave. Its been hard to see the staff reaction--I thought one of the guys was going to cry. I felt badly when one of the directors on the business side stopped me after a meeting to ask if it true that I was leaving. When I said that it was, he put his face in his hands and said, "God, we're screwed."

Last night was the annual cookie exchange at my friend's house. It was probably the 8 or 9th time I had gone to it. Its the same house where we've had most of our Thanksgivings for the last 8 years. It was sad to know it was the last time I'd do the cookie exchange with them. I'm still planning on coming down for Thanksgiving with them, though.

I went to volleyball after the cookie exchange and told my partner we were moving. We've been playing sooooo good together. Know each other's reactions, who's going to get what, when we're likely to get a set on the first pass so we can attack on the second hit. It made leaving even more sad when we totally dominated the other team. I have one more match there and then its gone.

I'm going to use this space to record my perspectives over the next few weeks. I start my new job January 9. I'm really excited about the job and the opportunity to be near Alan's family but I'm going to really miss my life down here. I hated it when we moved here but I've built up quite a group of good friends and it will be sad to leave them behind.