You can take the girl out of the country but you can never take the country out of the girl.

  There's so much truth to that statement.  In all my years growing up and living in a small rural town located in Oklahoma, I never pictured myself living my life in New York.  Life brings about surprising changes and in my mid 30's it's exactly where I ended up, against the wishes of some family members and friends, I relocated to Albany.  Circumstances that brought me here, well that's a whole other story, that someday may come out for those who don't know it yet.

For those who don't know Albany let me describe the City from my point of view.  It is not a huge place, smaller in area than Oklahoma City or Tulsa, hence earning the name of "smallbany".  It is however croweded, everything as I would describe it is "piled on top of everything else".  When asked from people back home how I like the City, I tolerate it, I've adjusted in some ways, but some things I just can't let go of.
I was afraid that I would be in the middle of what seems to be "chaotic living" as surviving in NYC seems to be, luckily Albany is not that bad.  I can't honestly say from experience that NYC would be that bad as I haven't gathered enough courage to venture even to visit the City, YET.

There are Pros and Cons to my life in NY.  The academic and extra curricular opportunities available for the kids are astounding.  I happened into a job that has given me things that in the past I could have only wished for.  And moving here has also given me the opportunty to meet some wonderful people that I thought no longer existed in todays world.  However there are so many times I miss being able to sit out in the yard, watching kids run and play with no worries in the world, I miss knowing people you pass on the street, going to the lake in the summer time without having to fight a crowd, or just driving down an old dirt road just to clear my mind.

My life now is also so much busier than before.  Always having to do this or that, a meeting of some sort here or there.  Missing the occassions needed for "taking time to stop and smell the roses".  But this all goes hand in hand with having children who are active, who are successful, and supporting them in all that they do.  Living here in NY has its advantages, I just hope someday my children get to experience the luxury of the country.

(orginally posted 9-22-10)