The girls playing in grandma's bathtub!
Life in Texas is so different than life in California! And, more specifically, life north of Dallas is so much different than life one mile from the beach in Belmont Heights!!!!
I have to be honest, Belmont Heights was my FAVORITE place that I've ever lived! It has the feeling of a small historic town right in the middle of the big city. The bike rides to the beach were amazingly enjoyable even when they left me beat red and out of breath after the uphill trip home! The choices of eateries were unbelievably diverse! If we wanted a super delicious sandwich, there was Olives on 2nd. Italian? Domincos Outstanding breakfast? The Potholder Authentic Mexican? Veracruz (BEST Mexican food hands down) Great BBQ? Lucilles (my fave) Chinese? China Fang Greasy Burger? Louis Japanese? Kabuki Hibachi? Hibachi Steak House
The kids' school in Long Beach was small and very academically driven. Sad to say, I don't think all CA schools are as driven! Both of the kids' teachers were okay, but nothing outstanding. So far my favorite teacher of Zack's was Mrs. Ulrich, his first grade teacher. She was/is wonderful. Still corresponds with him as a pen pal. :)
Long Beach was very diverse. There were all kinds of races, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses even within Belmont Heights. I think my kids benefited from that diversity. I want them to grow up to be very open minded and loving people so this offered lots of exposure. On one side of us, lived a Mexican family who spoke mostly Spanish. We LOVED them - best neighbors EVER! On the other side a very nice teacher who happened to be a lesbian. The kids loved chatting with her in the afternoons and petting her dog. In Belmont Heights, people are people and stigmas aren't in your face. It's like a little piece of heaven.
Our friends in Belmont Heights are very missed! Claudia lived right next door, and we enjoyed walks to 2nd Street and indulgences such as cigars and rich foods! Sonya visited often and was so so sweet to us. We miss her and Lisa too! Sammy and Aiden were the kids' closest friends who stayed with their grandma next door each afternoon. The four kids were inseparable! Zack and Sophia miss them and are in the process of writing their first letters to them. The list of friends we left behind is long and tough to think about, but leaving my sister and brother and their fams has been toughest!!!!
Which brings me to the answer to why we moved. It's an easy answer. The job market in CA is very very poor, and the economic status of the state is horrible and doesn't look like it will be improving much in the next decade. With all of the things we miss, my kids will have much more opportunity here. I will just have to work harder on keeping them well rounded. Texans are not the most open-minded people, but their state is so much more economically stable. Their school system is also much better than CA schools. The home we will own will be far superior to anything we could own in CA. The kids are close to their grandma and cousins.
In short, I'd move back to Belmont Heights in a second if I won the lottery, but for now, Texas will have to do because the pros far outweigh the cons. However, I'll never be a CA basher! I am a California girl through and through; always will be! And, I'll NEVER be a Cowboys fan!!!!!
