Friday, September 28, 2007

Another Anniversary!

This time of year is full of markers in our lives apparently.

Yesterday marked five years exactly since I came to the USA! When I arrived here I had a mental goal of 2, maybe 3 years before we'd move home to Ireland. Then I put a 5 year maximum on it. And here we are 5 years later, still here!

We both miss family, a lot. Thankfully they've been able to visit frequently, and we've made it back to Ireland a couple of times in the last 5 years. And, the wonders of the internet and webcams make this distance seem not so far.

With the global economy being the way it is, and as I've mentioned before the exchange rate being so far against us, it would literally cause us financial ruin to move back to Ireland right now. I doubt we could afford a cardboard box to live in - compared the security we have with our nice house here that's a move we can't make right now.

So even though we miss out on being close to family, and feel our kids are missing out, we do our very best to keep connections with family at home as strong as possible, and they do the same. There are also a lot worse places than Florida to live that's for sure.

I qualify for my citizenship soon. Two benefits of citizenship over my current Green Card status are that 1. I can vote (ahem, Miss Megan - don't let me get there before you!), and 2. I could work for the government. (I would definitely like to be in a position to vote for a better government, before I would consider working for it ha ha!)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh! Happy Anniversary!

This is a wonderful thing to celebrate...

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I know I don't have as much distance between you and your family, but I moved here to the East Coast from the Midwest over 6... no almost 8 years ago. It was supposed to be "only a couple months." It's funny how life changes!

Jessica @ Little Nesting Doll said...

Happy Anniversary!

The wonders of technology and relatively cheap airfare have also been a big part of our lives, as we live about 500 miles away from my family. Not as far as you, but I feel your pain a little.

laurie said...

happy anniversary!

and thanks for inviting me to join Shelfari. i joined, and as soon as i figure it out we can compare books.

Anonymous said...

Happy USiversary.

Crazed Nitwit said...

you've an award at my blog

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Congratulations. I do know how you feel, missing your family. At least you have the internet. ANd good on you for going for citizenship. After 15 years, I've decided to get British citizenship, so I too can vote and have that handy EU passport. But the questions on the test are so hard. Apparently, native-born Britons can't even answer them.