An Engaging Predicament

There has been some recent drama... not really drama, more like sub-drama. My girl and I have been in conflict for many months over where we would live after moving out of our parents' houses. I wanted to live in the city and she wanted the suburbs.

I don't know who's familiar with the suburbs, but they are a breeders refuge. People move there for the changeless environment, stability, broad lawns and narrow minds (thank you Hemmingway). I still feel as though I am progressing. I don't want to stop where I am right now and settle with what I have. True I have a woman that I love, but I want to provide her with a lifestyle that would limit any potential problems down the road.

She isn't the planning type, although this upcoming wedding is a blaring exception to that rule. She doesn't understand the need to be financially secure before we start having children, to have a nest egg, to be able to stand on our own feet. She is dedicated to going with the flow whereas I try my best to direct the flow.

I know that in order to get noticed in any of my endeavors, I need to be exposed to people. Not just any people, but the people that are of consequence. In the suburbs, even if you do get noticed, there doesn't tend to be much opportunity to put your talents on display. The annual craft shows only attract senior citizens, no art collectors or magazine editors. I need to be where people look for talent. That means I have to move into the city.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, that whole conflict was still unresolved. That is until she got a job in Oak Park. For those unfamiliar with the chicagoland area, Oak Park is a haven for the tasteful and the elite. There are regular shows where people can present their work. There's architecture that attracts the art lovers around the world. The town borders the city and has a public transportation system with no rival. This place is a perfect compromise. She will have her suburb. I will have my city.

Perfect right... wrong. Word got out in my family that we were looking to move into Oak Park. This town is about 15 miles from the parents' house and they are strong believers that the quality of a relationship is inversely related to the distance between members of the relationship. There is some truth to that, but I don't think that 15 miles is that far away.

The area of Oak Park that we're looking at is right around the Metra train station. Both mine and the fiancè's parents live in houses that border the train tracks. We could hop on a train and get to their houses in 20 minutes. With good traffic, it takes 30 minutes to get there by car. No big deal.

Anyway, this got my girl thinking that people were against us moving out there. She started to get cold feet and wasn't into the idea as much. Now I don't think that I'll have another opportunity to move out there so I took the bull by the horns and confronted my parents on the issue.

I stated all the pros and made sure to mention the cons. I told them that the benefits far out weigh the detriments. The fiancè is still weary but hopefully she'll be more supportive when we go out there next week to look at condos.

Until then...