I met a woman in 1994 from Minnesota online when I was still living in Ohio and ended up moving 800 miles from my family to start a new life with her. That relationship ended after a decade but, exactly thirty years later, I've never left Minnesota. The decision was a huge double-edged sword for me. It didn't weigh on me as much when I was younger but it does now. I've built a decent life but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some regret. I've grown in ways that I wouldn't have if I would have stayed in Ohio, I realize that. Even after every effort to stay close, the years away have caused my family and I to drift in some ways. I don't feel like I'm part of my nieces and nephews lives as much as I'd like to be. I missed a lot of moments with my parents too. For a variety of reasons the visits are one-sided, I'm the one always traveling there. The realization of this causes me some sadness. Everything comes with a price and I think we just have to ask ourselves if it's worth it.