We really didn't want to live in the San Fernando valley which would have been closest to Jim's work because it was hot, crowded and costly. So we began looking in the Conejo Valley, further north and west. Development was just beginning to "take off" there so it was still considered somewhat rural. We liked that, and it was still only about a 30 minute drive for Jim. That wasn't too bad for California where people were used to long commutes in order to live in nicer communities. With all the kids in tow, we began looking in Simi Valley, a newer small city. It was nice, but there weren't too many places to rent, especially to a family with 6 children. We were getting a little discouraged and the children were getting tired of being in the car as we drove from place to place. So we stopped at a little store to get them snacks and drinks and to let them run around. In the store we began talking to a man and mentioned we were looking for a place to rent without much success. Well, to make a long story short, this man mentioned that he had just bought a new home in Thousand Oaks (the next community over the hill from Simi Valley) and was looking to rent his current home, also in Thousand Oaks and he didn't seem too reluctant to rent to a family of 8. I guess it was because the home had 5 bedrooms. We were able to rent that home at a ridiculously low price, and it just "felt" right. Our prayers had been answered.
It was a few weeks before we were able to move in, and school was about to start, so we moved into a motel. The kids loved that because there was a swimming pool. The first thing they did when we arrived was put on their swim suits and head for the pool, with little Jon (who was now just 3 years old) and us right behind. All of the older children had taken swimming lessons and were pretty much water safe, so they just ran and jumped into the pool. All of a sudden we watched in horror as Jon ran right after them and jumped into the pool, clothes and all. It only took seconds for Jim to jump in after him, fully clothed as well, to haul out a sputtering and choking little boy. It was time to get Jon some swimming lessons.
The next few weeks were a little crazy taking Jeanie and Debbie to Waverly Junior High School and Kathi and the twins to Glenwood Elementary school and then picking them up after school every day. We were looking forward to moving into what would be our home for quite a few years on Dryden Street in Thousand Oaks. And best of all, we loved Thousand Oaks!
