I'm moving back closer to my family.

I'm from northern England but I've lived and worked in London for nine years. This month I am moving back to Manchester. There are a number of reasons why. London is an expensive place to live and I can't afford to rent my own place here. Also, its a young person's city and I'm now 37. A big reason also is that both my parents - my mother in particular - have health problems and I want to be closer to home. They are still active and only in their late 60s but recent events put things in perspective. I've always been different from my parents in some way because I've never been much a family orientated person but I think maybe this is wrong.

Whatever our differences; they are both good people. They seemed really pleased when I told them and a colleague of mine said they would be because though parents never say so, they always want their kids living close by. In Manchester, I can visit them on weekends, instead of just twice a year.

My life has been down here for a decade, as are 100% of the friends I am in contact with. I know I can make new friends though because I did that four years ago when my life fell apart after my divorce. So I can do it again. I've said to people I will visit London once a year and I will stick to that. Though there are people I will miss, including my best friend. He is a super intellectual guy who has lots of problems and I like to be near him too but I can't be. I just need to make sure I pick up the phone regularly because I am his only friend. He has told me that leaving London is the right thing for me to do.

I feel really melancholic typic this. I'm frustrated at all the crap I have to sort out and nervous about the future. I am also excited because it is a new chapter and I also feel I need a change of scene to help me to grow up a bit. I feel some sadness but I don't have any doubts about what I'm doing. It's time.