A Record Broken

Don't get too excited by that blog title. I haven't run any crazy distances (or any at all) or baked the world's largest scone or even held my breath for more than a few seconds. I'm not talking about that kind of a record.
I'm talking about a personal one. One that really doesn't matter in the long scheme of things, but dawned on me the other day.
Before my husband and I moved to Tennessee in 2017, I had never lived anywhere longer than six years. Ever. And most places I had lived less than that. So, last year, when I realized we'd been here for six years, I told my husband, "We have to stay here at least one more year."

And we have. I've lived in middle Tennessee for seven years now. Most of that in one house. There's a part of my itching to pack up and move somewhere else simply to have the excuse to purge my home of some of the junk we've acquired. But I could do that without the hassle of moving too.
In some ways, this record feels big. And in other ways very small. So many people have lived in the same place their entire lives. I can't even imagine that. But I have learned a few things from being here so "long."

• ​Just because we've decided to settle here and stay, doesn't mean those here with us will do the same. We've had quite a few friends move away and it never gets easier. I used to think it was harder being the one moving away, but now I'm thinking it's even.
• Just because something is one way when you move in, doesn't mean it will stay that way. The town we live in is growing by leaps and bounds, adding more stores and apartments and car washes and banks. It feels much bigger and the traffic worse than when we moved here seven years ago. But we still like it.
• Even staying somewhere for seven years doesn't mean you'll take the time to go do all the nearby tourist things. We're so close to Nashville and haven't done half the attractions there. I took my husband to Gatlinburg for the first time this summer, and it's only about five hours away. There are tons of waterfalls and lakes we haven't been to within easy driving distance. Apparently, we need to stay a while longer.
• And, as mentioned earlier, when you don't move, you don't purge your stuff as often, which means your garage (and other parts of the house) is full of things you should probably get rid of. Oops.
• Staying somewhere means you can make closer relationships (with the ones not moving away). And be more involved in different activities. And even take on roles you've never been able to hold before. So, that's nice.
• The librarians know you by name. ;)
• You know all the back roads.
• And your gardens are well-established and producing well every year, not to mention that the apple trees had fruit (until an animal snuck in and stole them).

So, am I happy to have broken my record of living somewhere longer than six years? Yes. And I'm not suggesting we move anytime soon. Who knows? Maybe we'll stay here long enough that I'll have a giant record to break next time.
What's the longest you've ever lived somewhere? Any lessons you think I missed?