So now it's been a couple of weeks since my last entry. Finally got home, spent 3 days - nice but not long enough! Got a different truck, same type; Volvo. Headed back out and have spent most of the time shuttling loads from Salt Lake to Denver and back. Finally get a load going to Ontario and then Rialto Ca, and I can't take it because I'm low on hours. So I have to decline it and am now doing a 34 hour restart at the scenic Salt Lake City Flying J. I will be available Sunday morning, well will see if I get anything. Sunday can be dead for freight, then again Swift surprised me and I got a load on Thanksgiving day-something I thought would never happen!
My wife Sharry finally admitted she can't handle the finances and gave me her blessings to take control. It's going to take a while but I will now be able to slowly pull us back onto solid financial ground.
The Webastco heater on the truck is not working right, meaning I have to idle more, Swift is going to love that!
Debating on when I should get it fixed. I will try to wait until I come in for home time again, hopefully about Christmas time.
George dropped a bombshell on me while he was driving me to the terminal to go out again. He announced that his plans were to only be in Perris for another year to year and a half and then move the whole family (sans my wife-of course) to Mississippi, where he is from and wants to buy land. This turn of events although only a possible at the present time puts a whole new spin on things. Priorities and time tables will need to be adjusted accordingly. I can not take the chance that this will actually occur and we are not ready for it!
It also makes the whole California vs Arizona debate a moot point. If Andrea is not in Cali, there is little to no point in living there. Neither of us really likes it all that much, too expensive, too crowded, too cold in winter.
I have been talking with my wife on this subject a lot; we are both agreed that if Andrea confirms there is even a small chance of this move out east happening we need to begin our plans for our exodus back to Phoenix. This way we have at least a year to save up for the move instead of having an "Oh NO!" moment.
At first we toyed with the idea of staying in So Cal regardless of the possible impending move. Then we got looking at several factors:
1) Cheaper medical vs. Cheaper rent.
2) Overall cost of living
3) Public transit systems
4) Climate
5) Location, age and overall health of relatives in California.
I will enumerate our conclusions:
1) Cost of rent vs. medical about equal out.
2) Overall living expenses lower in Phoenix. (IE. food, etc)
3) Public transit in Phoenix metro area is far superior to anything in the Inland Empire area.
4) Climate in Phoenix is easier for Sharry. (I like it better too!)
5) Only really 3 relatives in area of concern without Andrea, George and Dorian in picture. Her dad is 80 years old, no young man. In good health, but realistically for how long? Her sister Toni, and Brother Alfred are both having serious health issues that sound for all the world like cancer, although no diagnosis has been made for either one. Toni is really scary and not looking like she will be with us for a whole lot longer from what my wife says.
This basically brings me to the point of this issue; if we are staying in the area so she can be near family and her daughter and husband and grandson all move out of state, then that only leaves the three family members mentioned. With the a fore mentioned health and age issues how long will any of them be around? Two maybe 3 years, five at the outside??? I'm not wishing anyone ill! Far from it. But I need to be rational and put this is perspective. If your living somewhere to be near relatives and inside of the next few years none of them will be there, WHAT IS THE POINT IN STAYING??? Sharry would be every bit as isolated in California as she was in Arizona!
So as we currently stand it looks like we are going to start saving to move back to Phoenix as soon as I get George and Andrea payed off.
This is the ONLY logical way to do this. We have agreed she can always go and visit sick family members, and see to other family emergencies as needed.
The bottom line; we agreed, is if your going to be stuck somewhere isolated from your family it may as well be somewhere you ACTUALLY want to be as all other factors are fairly equal.
Andrea may not be aware but her mom wanted to move to Phoenix long before her and I met, Sharry has told me this more than once.
Well I think that's enough for now.
Remember, the road less travelled frequently has unexpected detours.
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