No place like home

I go home to Virginia Beach quite frequently. I plan a visit about once every 3-4 months. I do it for several reasons. The most important of which is to see my family. As independent as I am, I miss bonding with them and spending time with them.

I also go back because I miss home. Long before I was Anne K. in L.A., I was Anne K. in VA. Choosing to go home because I miss the place is a huge leap for me. When I moved 5 years ago, I could not leave Virginia fast enough. Living in Virginia Beach was like squeezing into a sweater that's been washed too many times. It no longer fit and was no longer comfortable. I had a job that was going nowhere and an on again, off again boyfriend that couldn't commit to anything more than dinner.
Flash forward to the present, going home gives me perspective. I enjoy the contrast between Virginia Beach and Los Angeles. Virginia Beach is by no means a small town with one stoplight. It is, however, much smaller than L.A. The differences are more than just size. I adore the Southern sensibilities that are present in Virginia Beach. People are generally more helpful and friendlier than what you would find here in L.A. The cost of living is so much less. Premium gas was a whopping $3.05 a gallon. I don't even want to get started about real estate prices in L.A. versus Virginia Beach. The pace is also a lot slower. The hustle and bustle of the city is not there. Traffic is non-existent. Priorities are different.

Don't get me wrong. I won't be moving back to VA anytime soon. I just need a break from my L.A. life. After a while, the slowness is stifling and I'm bored. So, I'll stick to my 4 day jaunts. It keeps the romance fresh.

A Guy's Girl Converted

You are a guy's girl

Turn on the game and lift a beer You're a true guy's girl - the easy-going, jeans-and-t-shirt sort. Burgers and fries are an essential part of your diet. Definitely low-maintenance and very natural, there's still gobs of femininity under your sporty exterior. Pulling out the little black dress and strappy sandals every so often knocks your man's socks off. Besides knowing the latest sports scores by heart, you actually enjoy hanging out with your significant other's friends. In a romance, you're your man's friend as much as his lover, and he never has to worry about playing mind games with you. The perfect mix of the girl next door and the sporty chick, you're spontaneous & fun.

I took an online quiz and got the above results. I didn't really need to take a quiz to know that I'm a "guy's girl". I've spent the majority of my life having mostly male friends. When I was 4, my best friend was a boy named Robbie. In high school, I had a slew of guy friends that were like my big brothers. This tendency carried on through college and well into adulthood.

This is not to say that I have never had or have women friends. I have just found that I have had differing priorities. When I was kid, I had no interest in Barbies, but I loved to play house and dress-up. In high school, I would giggle like the best of them about crushes on boys, but I didn't share their fascination with make-up and boy bands. I could go on and on. However, I think you can see the pattern.

Flash-forward to the recent past. In June 2006, I got engaged. Suddenly, I became a girly girl. I became obsessed with dresses, shoes, flowers, etc. Looking back on it, the change was remarkable. For while, I think even Rob was a little surprised.

Up until this point, I've had one female friend that I trusted unfailingly - Cicely. A byproduct of this change is now I have a network of women friends. I've bonded with several women over the obsession that is wedding planning. While others, I have met through blogs. The one thing that has been a welcome surprise is that it's been a gift to belong to a circle of women. The support and camaraderie has been a blessing. I never realized what I was missing and I really am grateful. To my friend who has always been there and my new friends thank you, for broadening my horizons.