in a strange space
it's 3.5 months until we go on holiday to the U.S., and the plan is that as soon as we return from that trip we'll start working on getting Bex her U.S. residency so that we can move to Oakland in March of 2012
what feels so strange about moving is that it seems that i'm leaving a really good life to go to an uncertain one.
when Bex and i first started (early 2009) talking about leaving Wellington* we were just coming out of what had in several ways been a couple of hard years.
by the time we had made the decision (late 2009) that yes, we would be moving, and after much consideration that our target destination was Oakland CA our lives were certainly getting better, but they still felt lacking... there was a richness of experience and interaction that we were craving and not yet really finding.
now, a year and half later, a lot of that has changed. both Bex's and my respective injuries are significantly improved. our social lives are wonderful and varied. i've taken up pole dancing (still pretty darn novice), Bex is pursuing burlesque (her first performance is in ~5 weeks), we regularly go to roller derby games (much like with burlesque, the local derby scene is thriving). connected to all of those activities and more we have an amazing circle of friends.
in a way, it feels to me sort of like late 2002 - early 2003. i had spent a couple of years feeling like i was on the periphery of the Rhythm Society. but then, as we were preparing to move to Thailand, i was then starting to develop some the friendships that i still have now. even though i've been away for most of the last 8 years. and it's those friendships that are a significant part of what is pulling me back to the U.S.
one notable difference is that when i left, the U.S. the economy was in bad shape, and although i wasn't specifically moving away from it, it did contribute to making the decision to moving to New Zealand instead of back to the U.S.
now we're in a position where we have good jobs and we're planning on moving to a country where friends of mine have recently been laid off.
Bex has also noted that our life here in Wellington is really good. and that's really saying something given that for a long time she has said that she would have left Wellington years ago if it weren't for me. she is also getting a lot out of our/and her lives here... although she still is not fond of the weather.
what does it all mean? i don't know. probably nothing. but i'm noting it.
at the same time that i'm having these thoughts i'm also thinking about the people and things in the U.S. that i'm missing out on.
i've even been talking to an old friend/co-worker in the U.S. about possibly working together again... and how i might move to the U.S. sooner if the right job came along.
*for me, leaving Wellington means leaving New Zealand because there is no other place in this country that i would rather be
what feels so strange about moving is that it seems that i'm leaving a really good life to go to an uncertain one.
when Bex and i first started (early 2009) talking about leaving Wellington* we were just coming out of what had in several ways been a couple of hard years.
by the time we had made the decision (late 2009) that yes, we would be moving, and after much consideration that our target destination was Oakland CA our lives were certainly getting better, but they still felt lacking... there was a richness of experience and interaction that we were craving and not yet really finding.
now, a year and half later, a lot of that has changed. both Bex's and my respective injuries are significantly improved. our social lives are wonderful and varied. i've taken up pole dancing (still pretty darn novice), Bex is pursuing burlesque (her first performance is in ~5 weeks), we regularly go to roller derby games (much like with burlesque, the local derby scene is thriving). connected to all of those activities and more we have an amazing circle of friends.
in a way, it feels to me sort of like late 2002 - early 2003. i had spent a couple of years feeling like i was on the periphery of the Rhythm Society. but then, as we were preparing to move to Thailand, i was then starting to develop some the friendships that i still have now. even though i've been away for most of the last 8 years. and it's those friendships that are a significant part of what is pulling me back to the U.S.
one notable difference is that when i left, the U.S. the economy was in bad shape, and although i wasn't specifically moving away from it, it did contribute to making the decision to moving to New Zealand instead of back to the U.S.
now we're in a position where we have good jobs and we're planning on moving to a country where friends of mine have recently been laid off.
Bex has also noted that our life here in Wellington is really good. and that's really saying something given that for a long time she has said that she would have left Wellington years ago if it weren't for me. she is also getting a lot out of our/and her lives here... although she still is not fond of the weather.
what does it all mean? i don't know. probably nothing. but i'm noting it.
at the same time that i'm having these thoughts i'm also thinking about the people and things in the U.S. that i'm missing out on.
i've even been talking to an old friend/co-worker in the U.S. about possibly working together again... and how i might move to the U.S. sooner if the right job came along.
*for me, leaving Wellington means leaving New Zealand because there is no other place in this country that i would rather be