Southern California

Six months after moving here my job went south. A new boss came in and I quit before they could fire me. At that time the smart play would have been to go back to utah. We still had the house. I could get a new job, regroup. Instead I took it as a challenge to stay. That is how I have always framed Southern California and Orange County. For better or worse I viewed it as a bucking bronco that I needed to beg and borrow to stay on. After nine years I resigned myself that I would continue the game until high school graduation. When the layoff happened last month the chain snapped. All of the sudden I was paroled. I could look at things differently. I didn’t need to stay. Relief washes over me. Telling my daughter and wife tonight will be hard. Change involves mixed emotions. But I feel relief. Whether right or wrong Phoenix feels like a gear lower. A place I can relax and find happiness. Rather than a screaming challenge that must be defeated.