Wow. A lot has happened in the last month. I got a new job (yay!) and spent over two weeks in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Going home for as long as I did was amazing. I got to see my best friends on more than one occasion and spend quality time with them instead of just catching up over lunch once while I was in town. Two of my college friends got married, so having those groups of friends together was reminiscent of our college days. It really made me miss them and wish I lived closer so I could have those times more often.
My sister was home while I was, so our whole family was able to be together. We rented a cabin up north and relaxed for 4 days. I turned off my phone for 2 1/2 of those days to get away from the constant checking of email, twitter and facebook ...and instagram. Whoops, I'm pretty addicted to my phone.
Anyway, the whole trip home was great and really got me thinking about the definition of home. When I left to go to Minnesota, I told people I was going home for 2 weeks. When I left to come back to Austin, I told people I was going back home on Sunday. It made me realize that I have really started to make Austin my home. I have developed friendships in Texas that I know will stand the test of time. I have been here long enough to have left a job and gotten my second one with a wonderful non-profit. I have moved in by myself for the first time in my life. Austin really does feel more like home as the months go by.
I have come to the conclusion that most people in their 20's start to have that home-y feeling in a city or house different from their childhood home. We have more than one place we call home. More than one place with best friends who feel more like family. More than one place where we plant roots. Austin is becoming that second home for me. I love you, Minnesota, but I am starting to feel the Texas girl in me.
