Cross(road) Reference

The books of California and Minnesota written for the Weaver Olsons were pretty well researched by the time our little family arrived in San Diego in 2008. Though the Minnesota Trail has survived primarily as a hepcat foot path, the ruts become much more established when we throw in the journeys of the Olson family. Preachers, students and nomads alike have volleyed between the forces of the Midwest and West coast poles.
Our little family grew into a bigger little family after we moved. Micah is 100% Californian for all intent and purpose (though he doesn't know it yet). We've grown very attached to our little apartment, have found places we like to buy food and parks where we like to play. Nate has gotten to know his colleagues in Latin American Studies as well as the history department. He can bike to school and be home within 20 minutes. Our church is 4 blocks away, and our Ethie (Blue Car) is 12 miles (on a Sunday). We become journeymen despite the transient nature of our lives.
Nate will finish his Master's degree in Latin American Studies this June. He has applied for Ph.D. studies in history with a Latin American Studies emphasis for the fall of 2010. He was accepted at the University of Minnesota, was not admitted to UW Madison (his first choice), and we suspect will be admitted to the history program at UC San Diego. (We have yet to hear officially.) Now that the door has opened for us to return to Minnesota (nullifying most aspects of anything the University of Iowa would have to offer, from which we have yet to hear), it seems that we will once again be deciding to extend our time in California another half decade, or make a move to Minnesota that, as far as we can tell, would be the beginnings of establishing roots in a place we long to be, for a long time. Would it be that simple.
We've done the following on several scales: made pro/con lists, made the decision based on sentiment, logic, prayers (past and current), money, made the decision about the kid's futures, made it based on family, on friends, on spiritual, emotional and physical needs, what would be best for Nathan, best for Kimberly, best for our little family, best for our big family, best for our careers, best for our vision of what we would like our lives to look like, best for what we think God has designed us to do, made the decision based on housing costs, moving costs, access to fresh produce all year, where we can hear free outdoor concerts, which place has the most trees, and the fewest mean people.
When we decide (or when it is decided for us) on which place affords us all these things equally we'll probably buy some furniture and then buy a cat so we can name that cat.