There is a damn good reason I haven't posted in a month. And here it is: for the past three years my entire familia (parents, siblings, and most recently, Jack's sister) has been working towards moving to the country with us. Yes, you heard right. We actually wanted to end up in the same town. And after much deliberation, we all agreed that the central coast of California would do just fine. Ocean, wilderness, seasons sort of, open space, smaller towns, and wine. What else is there to consider?
And so J and I, along with my parents, began our bi-yearly recon missions. Three years ago. J and I threw down our "go" date about a year ago, because if we know anything about human nature, it's that we are creatures of habit and not overly inclined to risk and change. Moving for no other reason but the betterment of the soul is not an American value. To most, it's downright crazy. Especially for a couple (us) who have no complaints about our present situation. We both love what we do. We love where we live. We have everything at our fingertips living where we do in Orange County. It's all so easy and comfortable. Why would anyone want to move away from something so decent? And that is exactly why we knew we needed a deadline. If nothing is pushing us out, it is easy to stay and stay and stay. All of the sudden you forget your dream in this sea of comfort (or is it complacency) and wake up 20 years later living in the same place, doing the same job, eating with the same people. That is something J and I promised each other we would never do. So we knew enough to set a date, and that date is September 1, 2012. We shared this with the family, and all tacitly agreed that we would at least attempt to head out around that time. That was a little over a year ago and we have spent all of our time, resources and energy on moving to the central coast ever since. J sold his bar. I told my school I won't be returning in the fall. We didn't renew our lease for September. I have sold clothes, given away jewelry - this is serious.
Jump forward to about a month ago. My mom gets a call from my sister in which the following statement was made (dramatic reenactment): "R and I and the kids have decided that it is best for us to take the first job offer he gets, no matter where it is." Two weeks after that: "We are taking a job in Northern Washington." One family down. Right around the same time, my brother and his wife announce: "We are thinking about going overseas for a year or so to teach English." Two down. Then J's sister: "We would love to move, but we can't leave our jobs. Maybe in five years or so." Three down.
Enter this scene: J, myself, mom and dad sitting at our table staring at each other. Our worlds literally turned upside down in a matter of weeks. Crickets. Then, slowly, someone musters up The Question: "What now?"
