I am a commuter )-:

Yesterday's commute home was deliriously long.  I think it took us 1.5 hrs to get home, sigh usually it takes us only an hour.  A lot of people think I am seriously touched in the head to commute like that, and most of the time I have to agree with them. I love where I live, and once I get there it is great, but man that drive is atrocious.  I look forward to the day when I can get a job that is much closer to home.  Walking distance would be ideal, but real life is often far from ideal and there are a lot of reasons I am staying where I am.

Reason # 1:  I like what I do
Reason # 2:  I like the people I work with
Reason # 3:  I like my boss
Reason # 4:  Status as a federal employee
Reason # 5:  Flexible schedule to a certain degree
Reason # 6:  I like working in a pink building
Reason # 7:  Taco Thursday
Reason # 8:  Willing to hire me as a first yr RN
Reason # 9:  Good benefits

So you see, there are plenty of reasons why I desire to stay at Tripler.  My big debate I have with myself though, is if I want to stay in the Federal service until retirement.  I don't like the idea of feeling restricted in where I live.  I have big dreams of traveling, even though I am a wee bit tied down at the moment with my menagerie.  I still would love to live in Germany or somewhere overseas for a time.  It doesn't help that I just read Julia Child's My Life in France.  Jesse and I have really gotten quite good at being in a car for an extended period of time together, we enjoy each other's company so it is not too bad.  I took this picture when we were sitting in traffic.  This wall used to be covered in these dense vines, but for some reason they chopped the vines away from their roots and now they are all dying. 

Cut off