It seems that lately, a lot of the people whom I had known through high school and elsewhere, have begun leaving for faraway places like Florida and California. Of course, any person's first response is something to the degree of: "Who wouldn't want to move there?"
Anyways, I found it odd that I was a bit hurt by it. Some of these people I have known pretty well, so the disappointment in seeing them leave felt natural. But others, whom I didn't know very well, still invoked a similar response. It made me wonder... why do I feel like that?
I knew that I would encounter feelings like this after I left high school, but not about people I barely knew. I suppose it stems from that fact that I feel sorry to see them leave their home here. The other part seems to come from what might be jealousy at them for having an adventure while I'm still stuck at home.
Before I go any further with this, I should use a disclaimer here to inform everyone reading this that: I'm not missing that fact that everyone need to find a place in this world where they truly belong. I won't ever forget that, even though I might have already found mine, and it happened that it wasn't far from home.
With that said, the real story here can be found in the locations. I mean, c'mon... Florida? California? Obviously these places are being targeted because they are what I like to refer to as "greener" places. Everyone wants to live in either Florida or California at some point in their lives. There's a lot to love. The climate. The people. The lifestyle in general. So why shouldn't someone go there if they have the opportunity?
Now, I'm not necessarily saying that they shouldn't go. I'm just saying that the value of home and family shouldn't be undervalued. EVER. Everyone has ties to the place they are born and raised. No matter how much they dislike aspects of their lives prior to leaving, there is always something that they will dislike about where they go, and something about where they left that will call to them at some point. I'm not saying people shouldn't move to new places and explore new opportunities. I'm just saying that it should be a choice that is carefully thought through before being made. It shouldn't be something that is done on a whim, like what I have seen so many times.
There are plenty of reasons for this. I already mentioned that to most decent people, there are certain ties to the place where they grew up that exist, helping to keep them from leaving. These will obviously pull back at some point, and that is never good for a person's overall happiness.
There is also the issue of lifestyles. Everyone wants to engage in a new lifestyle at some point. The problem with moving to a new place far away that boasts the type of "party lifestyle" that Florida and California do, is that it grows old over time. If a person was meant for a lifestyle like that, they would have entered that lifestyle a long time ago. Not to mention, that fact that these lifestyles are often overblown. Both states that I mentioned have repuatations for being laid-back and easy when it comes to lifestyles. Add that to the party mentality that so many there have, and you have what many people see as the perfect lifestyle. But it is all way overblown.
The main problem is money. Much of what these lifestyles comprise of costs money. And that money still has to be earned somehow. That means the laid-back lifestyle... suddenly doesn't work so well. Also, for those who have gone away to these places to attend college, student debt is often a major factor. I'm not saying that money is everything; just that these lifestyles often cost a lot of money.
When it comes the the climate, there are often setbacks as well. Sure, Florida is nice because it is warm. But have these people ever endured a summer there? I've heard temperatures can average in the mid-90's, and will often go up to 105-110. Thats just what I've heard anyway. And you can't forget about the constant hurricanes. And California? While it has a much more mild climate, I don't think that does much the help the earthquake threat. I'm not going to say that these places don't have some wonderful advantages to their climates. What I am saying, is that one must also consider the disadvantages that the climates and locations have as well. These are things that are often overlooked.
In light of all that, I should also point out that, there are some people who really end up liking it where they go to. One of my friends that did this exact thing really seems to have found his place and really enjoys life there, even while working.
In the end, there are good things, and there are bad things about just about every place. Hopefully, some people start to realize that before they leave a place that does have everything they are looking for.
