Well, we did it.

The Arboretum in Overland Park, Kansas

The family and I have moved from what some consider America’s Finest City, San Diego, to middle America and Kansas City.

How did we end up deciding to move from beautiful and sunny Southern California to the geographical center of the United States? Well, the answer is complex but I’ll try and share with you some of the reasoning and the crux of it here. I’ll also post several times on what we’re experiencing in our new hometown and how everyone is doing with the big change.

First and foremost, we’re here because of a great opportunity that came my way. Just six months ago, I left my 10-year job at Intuit (maker of TurboTax) for a risky yet intriguing opportunity at Sony Online Entertainment. It was a move that really challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and, ultimately, led me to Kansas City and a new opportunity.

This Monday, I start as the first-ever Director of Social Media & Digital Content at Applebee’s. The world’s largest casual dining chain recognizes the importance of engaging with its customers and I am excited about the job. Be sure to check for more details over at Shamable.com as I get started.

There are other reasons why we left San Diego – my home for over 25 years of my life.

As you all know, California is an economic mess. My family and had just gotten tired of the treadmill that is living in Southern California. Despite its beauty and amazing weather, we wanted a better quality of life at a much lower cost. We tired of 2000 square foot homes on small lots for $600,000. We tired of rising taxes and depleted public services. We wanted more.

Surprisingly, my two oldest kids – 13 and 9 – wanted to leave. They had friends that they’ll miss but they too knew the most important lesson at a time when you move your family across the country – wherever your family is, that is home.

Our move happened fast. Within just five weeks of accepting the job, we were on a plane and saying goodbye to our family and friends in San Diego. Overland Park, Kansas, our new home, welcomed us with open arms and we’re excited to join this vibrant and family oriented community. In fact, Money magazine recently named Overland Park the 7th best place to live in America. In a later post, I’ll even tell you about another EOT Dad and his connection to Overland Park.

For me, it’s sort of the circle of life thing happening in real-time. From the ages of two until 10, my family lived here in Kansas before moving to San Diego. Thirty years later I find myself back to where I had my first memories as a child ready to make new memories with my family.

Sure, we’ll have an adjustment period (soon I’ll tell you about the unexpected twist on our first night here and bed bugs!) but we’re excited about this new chapter in our family’s history. We’re happy and excited about what the future holds.

Moves can be hard on a family. We’ll share with you what we experience over the next few months. But like everything else in life, your attitude and outlook on the future create or undermine your happiness. We’re focused on embracing our new home and making the most of what is an amazing place filled with friendly and helpful neighbors.

We’ll explore the feelings and challenges we face along the way. With millions of families on the move each year, I am sure you’ll know someone who can relate.

Follow Scott on Twitter @sdgully or email him at sgulbransen@gmail.com. His personal blog, where he writes about leadership and social media, is www.scottgulbransen.com. Scott also a contributor on Technorati,  to the Shamable Blog, The Friarhood, and is the Director of Social Media & Digital Content for Applebee’s at their corporate office in Lenexa, Ks.

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