Confused about moving in with my mom

Ok, my mom ran off w/ my dad's brother and be came a drug addict and left me in california with my father (best choice she ever made) and she stayed in tampa. My dad has just recently remarried (16 years later) and is planning on moving to arkansas ... Now I (21 of age) am not moving to arkansas but do want to leave the state of california I am speaking to my mom now and found out I have 4 younger brothers and sisters (that are sooo cool) and she is telling me to move out to tampa ... (am considering) I would have to get transfered with my well paying job and find an apartment I can afford out there and transfer my college credits... All which I am willing to do ... But I am not sure what I should do ... Stay in cali or go on to tampa and start a new life? Please do not tell me to listen to my heart because that isn't going to work ... I need opinions ... I have had a rough time here in cali and I do want a fresh start ...

So please help

Ps ... My dad would be extremely upset if I went out to tampa to live with my mom after all that happened (that is the only reason I haven't left yet)

Help please !!

The best advice I can give you is to stay in Cali with your job until you can get a paid vacation time and then go visit your mom, brothers, and sisters while on vacation.
I definitely don't think it's wise to just up and leave and go live with your mom in Tampa.
(I'm assuming that you haven't seen your mom in a long time,) You don't just want to go down there with all these high expectations to find out that maybe you'd have been better off staying in Cali, because over the phone you can't be 100% certain what it'll be like with your mom now, so vacation time would give you a good idea and it would be a wise start.

Appears you answered it yourself: >> I do want a fresh start ... << - I wish you every happiness !!

realize that tampa has nasty humidity. it's a lot hotter than california. -but it's cheaper, too. it's also got mostly east-coasters in it...so if you don't like east coasters this could be a problem. just some things to think about.

Instead of moving out there right away, why don't you just go for a visit. See if you would like living there, I like it in the winter, but really hate it in the summer unless I lived on the water or near an ocean where the cool breezes are. It is very humid there in the summer. It is your life not your dad's. He has apparently found someone and just tell your dad that , & that you want to make your own life now that you are of age.

thanks all this really helped!

Simply a Rose to brighten your day,
And maybe lessen the cares in your way;
And also, too, to help you to know,
That in knowing you, many others grow!

 
Consider too, has your mother changed? Or might she want you to come to be with her so that she would have a regular babysitter?

You can communicate with your mom and siblings by telephone, email and letter. Don't move their just to be able to communicate with them.

You are at a point in your life where you do have some roots, are getting yourself a college education and are employed. I think it is probably best to stay where you are and accomplish those things you are doing now. After you have accomplished these immediate goals you will have the rest of your life to communicate and bond with your mother and siblings.