A change in direction

[madcanadian]

"You can only be young once. But you can always be immature."
- Dave Barry

As it turns out, my move to Portland is not working the way it did in my head. First of all, I am not even in Portland. I am in Vancouver, Wash. I am carless and practically unemployed unless you want to count the 10 hours I work in a week for a grocery store. Although I am familiar with the saying, "All good things come to those that wait," I guess I am not that patient.

With no job prospects here, I was faced with two decisions. Well... more like two ideas. I could continue to waste my savings here in hopes of a turnaround, which in all fairness is not completely a waste in my mind. You never know what opportunities wait. But as a backup, I decided to expand my search nationally. I didn't think it could hurt, as it is a big world out there and more chances.

I was offered a job in Alaska, which I turned down. As much as I would like to go to Alaska, I know that there is no way I could afford the move there, nor am I ready for such isolation. I was offered a job in North Dakota. But I have really no interest in North Dakota.

Yesterday, I was offered a job in Galveston, Texas, doing page design and copy editing. And I decided to accept it. And I am very excited about accepting it. I am getting a chance to learn more about something that  I enjoy, and I am getting the chance live on my own terms.

Although a part of me feels like I am turning my back on a dream, I realistically know that it is a fantasy. I am not happy here. Its just as simple as that. Its not because of the area. Although, it really is too cold and rainy to enjoy. I think it is a nice area and a fine place to live. But I am looking for a place where the pieces fit together.  They didn't here. I accept that. I am moving on.

Things I always knew but now I have learned:

• I like having a car.
• I like having a steady job.
• Don't quit your job without having another one lined up.
• My skills and experience are marketable in the workforce. I just have to be patient.
• Moving cross country with nothing is damn hard.
• I really, really, really need to plan better. :D

Louis and I will leave in a week to move to Galveston. We are searching out apartments, and I would like to have one lined up before we get there despite my fear of renting a place I have never seen. We should just start the application process so that things will be ready I guess. We have decided to do a few last things before leaving that we haven't had the chance to do yet. Louis would like to see the Pacific Ocean and I want to go to VooDoo Donuts. I know on a scale that doesn't seem even, but they have donuts with bacon on top. That has to be worth something.

Since I have been here, I have done some exploring of downtown Portland, and other than wanting to take a few more photos, I think I got to see what I wanted to here. Its a nice comfortable laid back city. I got to walk around Powell's Used Books, which seems to be be a bit of an iconic place. I could spend days there. And I tried Seattle's Best coffee, which is awful.

I think, all in all, I need to come back and visit this place again, but I am okay with cutting my time here short. I am excited about moving to Galveston (actually Texas City). It is close to Houston, and it is closer to home (but not too close). And I may decide a year or two down the line to move again. But I'll have a job lined up first.