Nature vs Nurture

I would have to say I am a firm believer in nurture. This is the only reason I can understand why I stay here in Texas. My top reasons: family-friendly, better schools, better environment, yes there's still all "that stuff" around here but there's also productive, healthy "stuff".

Part of me wants to move back to Cali soooooooooooo bad. I want to be near my parents, to learn from them, I want my kids to grow up near their grandparents. Then I hesitate and think, if that's the case they will also be growing up near millions of potheads, a vacation town where resident or visitor almost everybody acts as if they are permanently on vacation without a care in the world and end up living at home with their parents. They will be growing up away from my sister and her boys, whom I love and are amazing role models.

Then, I wonder, what if my sister hadn't talked me into moving here. I had gotten an apartment on my own in SC at one time. Of course, I found out I was pregnant less than a month later and immediately moved back home. Perhaps I was traumatized by that, thinking I would never be able to get out on my own in SC, and thought coming here to Texas was the only way.

I don't know. I keep trying to understand why I stay here, why I don't just make the decision and say, "Let's go back to Cali." Brando would in a heartbeat. He's also content staying here. So it's up to my gumption to do it.