We moved from Indiana to Portland 2 years ago. My husband (then boyfriend) and I had both lived in Indiana our whole lives and were aching to get away. I love Portland (except for the gray, wet, nasty weather we've had for the past month or so). My husband loves Portland. There is so much to do here (beach, mountains, good music scene, arts etc.), I have a good job, the kid can go to a good public school in a few years, the husband loves school and when he's finished he'll have a lot of job opportunities.

The first year we lived here I was totally happy and wouldn't have given moving back a second thought. But ever since I visited over the summer, I've been longing to go home. My dad and step-mother were here for Christmas, and ever since they left I've been so depressed. I miss my dad and my friends (three of whom are like sisters) like crazy. My dad is getting older, and it makes me ponder, is it more important to be in a place that you love, or with the people that you love? Sometimes I think, my dad is not going to live forever. At some point he will be gone, and I'll have my whole life to move to new and exciting places. Shouldn't I be spending the time he does have left with him?

Plus, as awesome at Portland is, it's so hard to make friends. I mean, I have made a lot of friends. But it just isn't the same as friendships you've had since you were practically a kid. I'm a really social person, and I do hang out with people here, but again, it's just not the same.

But I go back and forth. Indiana means hot, sticky, humid summers and long, slushy, cold winters. Boring weekends at the one good bar with the same old people. No jobs. Tricky school options. Lots of scary fundamentalist conservatism.
But it also means being with my family. And we could go to grad school.

So, what would you do?