My whole life I've wanted to live in Smiths Station, Alabama. Its where i grew up, went to school and church, met my husband and got married. I had always planned on having kids and raising them their too. The past couple of years I've been tossed back and forth from Washington to Alabama because of the army. This time I'm back in Washington, my husband is back from Iraq, I have friends I care about, and a job I enjoy. I'm putting down roots and I didn't really realize it. I was just sitting here tonight and I came to a realization. I like living in Washington. I don't really want to move home any more. Yes I miss my family, but I they are my family, I know I'll see them. I feel like an adult out here. I have an adult job, older friends with families of their own, my own house with my own stuff in it. Back home its too easy to turn to momma and poppy when things get rough. I feel old compared to my friends I grew up with. I love them, but while I was home I realized just how different we've become. They were worried about missing class because they're hungover and I was scared to answer the door sometimes because I was terrified there might be soldiers on the other side of it. And there's nothing wrong with that. They're 21/22, single, in college and having fun. I'm the odd one. I guess it just feels weird to admit that I don't want to move back right now.