Dear Jasmine:

Pros for staying:
* an amazing, really advanced school for your son
* he likes hiking and rock climbing in Alaska, lots of outside activity
* you are extremely close to your mother and sister and her kids

Pros for moving:
* jealous at friends who moved a lot (while you stayed in Alaska)
* You may meet a man in Texas (your mother says, if I understand correctly)

Seems to me, better you stay in Alaska. Your son having an advanced school that you and him are happy about is extremely important. From what I heard, public schools in Texas are of poor quality. I was a public school teacher in California and can attest to it that secondary schools in the second biggest school district in the nation (Los Angeles School District) are of extreme poor academic level with lots and lots of gang activity.

Outside activity in Alaska- very important. Maybe the snow will return this winter? It certainly will not be snowing in Texas!

You will probably miss your mother, sister and her kids a whole lot when in Texas. (I hope “lots of drama” with them is not damaging to you and you can assert your boundaries with them in Alaska).

Regarding your jealousy of those who moved a lot- I am sure it is not as glamorous as it sounds, living in different places. You may see photos of your friends in different tourist attractions in different states and even countries, your friends smiling and seem so happy- those are fractions of seconds caught by the camera, out of a whole day, week or month. They may not be smiling the rest of the time.

All in all, I vote for Alaska, definitely.

anita