Delaware is known as:
"Small Wonder"
"The First State"
and most importantly, "The Home of Tax-Free Shopping"

For my wife, Kathleen, and I Delaware is the vortex of our universe. We have never planned on living in Delaware, but yet opportunities arise that keep us in "The First State." Looks like I'll be a Delaware resident for at least a few more years or possibly until the end of my time...

The vortex first captured us when Kathleen was finishing medical school in Philadelphia. We were currently living in Chestnut Hill, approximately 50 yards from Wissahickon Valley Park, a great place to live in Philadelphia if you enjoy the outdoors. We really liked living in Chestnut Hill, but we both knew that we wouldn't be staying forever. After medical school, all med school graduates are subjected to match day. Match day is the day when every medical school graduate in the United States gets assigned to where they will be doing their residency program. Nobody knows for certain where they will be doing their residency until match day arrives... it's a very nerve wrenching experience knot knowing where you will be spending the next 3-5 years of your life.

The match is not random, but mathematically determined. Potential residents (med students) interview at various residency programs, once the interview period is over, both the potential residents and residency program submit lists containing their choices for placement. Kathleen's list was this: Baltimore, MD (U of Maryland); Portland, ME (Maine Med Center); Wilmington, DE (A.I. duPont Children's); Minneapolis; Alberque; and a few others. Her first choice was Baltimore, so we were expecting to be placed there. When the match lists were calculated by the computer matching system, Wilmington, DE came out on top as the best match. The Delaware vortex strengthens.

Now it is three years later. Kathleen's residency program ends in a month. She has been to many job interviews, most of the interviews were in the greater Philadelphia area (we love Philly), some were on the west coast in Oregon, a couple in Jersey, and a few in Delaware. Wouldn't you know it, the best job offers came from Delaware. Being level-headed folks, Kathleen and I decided that one of the Delaware positions was our best option. The vortex kicks it up a notch.

Tomorrow I start a new consulting position with a local company. For the three years I have been in Delaware I haven't worked for a local company. All of my clients have been located in the Philly area. I guess Delaware really wants to keep us here... at least it's not Jersey!