I remember when I was a kid I used to dream of living in this huge house. I wanted my house to have a lot of land. I didn’t have a clue as a kid about cleaning a house or maintaining a large piece of property. I didn’t have any idea what a mortgage was or how much property taxes could be on large land lots. I wanted a family. I always wanted to have animals. I even fantasized of those small towns where everyone knows each other. Didn’t quite work out that way. I live 15 minutes from where I grew up. 5 minutes from the apartment I lived in when my mom and dad divorced. The furthest I ever lived from home was my four years I spent in college. Even then, I still was in the same state where I grew up. My daughter has already broken an umbilical cord I never could.

I did try. I was thinking of moving to Florida with my college roommate after graduation. I sent my resume to Pepsi Co’s home office in FL. I was applying for a management position within Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or Kentucky Fried Chicken that the company owned. Somehow my resume was sent back to Long Island. I interviewed at a job expo with all three companies. I was offered a job immediately. Pizza Hut had the best offer and I ended up right back where it all started. I’m not complaining. I love where I live. Maybe I don’t love all aspects of New York and Long Island but it’s home.

I just was thinking about the dreams I had when I was younger. A big house represented wealth. I’ve witnessed how money doesn’t solve problems. I have seen it break families apart. I’ve learned that the big house doesn’t necessarily mean the people living inside are happy. Big houses, money isn’t what makes people happy. Happiness starts inside you. It extends outwards. It isn’t in a house, car or any other material thing. My dream as a kid was of material things thinking that was the key to a happy life. Today it was watching my daughter playing with the dogs on my bed until they slept.