5 pairs of shoes, one pair of jeans, 3 skirts, 3 tank tops, 5 shirts, 2 bathing suits, 15 pairs of underwear, 4 bars of soap, 18 pairs of contacts, one bottle of shampoo, OH MY!
How does one prepare for an eight month journey and pack as if you are only going to be gone for a couple weeks? If I was traveling on my own to another country I’d probably only take one backpack but packing to live on a ship is a completely different challenge – I need work clothes, dress clothes, travel clothes, clothes for hot weather, clothes for cold weather, computer, work materials, photos from home, first aid and medicine, beach towel, and on and on. And I have to fit it all into two fifty pound bags!
It’s no easy task but believe it or not it’s one of my favorite challenges. I’ll say it – I’m a good packer. During my last voyage I was quite proud because I used 99.9% of what I took and didn’t feel that I was missing anything significant – I was dead on in my choices. This time around has been a little tougher only because I had to move my life into storage last month and have been living out of boxes and bags since then. It is a real bitch when you start pulling things to pack and can’t remember where you put something or realizing that it’s packed in some random box at the back of your storage unit. I’m so thankful that I had it so easy the last time around – I think I would have gone crazy if I had to pack in this manner last time (THANK YOU to Mark and Trista for allowing me to keep my home in Maryland with them in 2005).
You never know until you are there what you’ll really need – what the cabin will be like, what the ship will offer, what ports will have toiletries you need, etc. but I’ve been fairly ok with the frustrations of packing after moving to storage just because I do have a solid idea of what I will most likely need and want with me. It’s also been a comfort to know that my dad is meeting me in Hong Kong in December (exactly half way through my eight months) so anything I desperately need he can bring along to me.
I just finished packing my bags and would you believe that they both weigh about 48 lbs? I wasn’t even trying that hard – resigned to the fact that I might have to pay an overweight baggage fee on one of them. HA HA – what luck! Not a bad start.
Now I’m off to shower and then head to the airport. I don’t know how soon in Greece I’ll be able to post something because we dive right into training as soon as we land but I’ll try and post something when the ship leaves Greece on September 5th.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Thanks and Gratitude
Not many people know that I have kept a gratitude journal for about eight years now. Every night I write something that I am thankful for from the day. I saw it on the Oprah show many years ago and when I was in Gettysburg I started doing it. It is a great way to always be looking for the positive in life. It’s also a great gauge on how life is faring for me at the moment – if it takes me a long time to think of something to be thankful for that day then it’s usually a sign that all is not right in my life and I need to reassess what I’m doing and where I’m at.
As I prepare for this big journey the things I am thankful for in life are overflowing. I know that it is only because of the generosity, flexibility, patience, kindness and encouragement from many people in my life that I’ve been able to seek out this opportunity and go for it. For that reason I feel compelled to share some thanks before I embark on this journey.
I’m thankful to my parents for encouraging me to always try new things and never discouraging me even if, at times, they didn’t understand my choices (I think they finally understand that the work world really has changed and me switching careers every 3-4 years is not necessarily a sign of indecisiveness or flightiness). I’m thankful for my grandparents being able to give my sister and me money to pay for part of college so that both of us could get out of school without any debt – I definitely couldn’t take this job if I had debt.
I’m thankful for employers, co-workers and friends that can see beyond job titles and credentials and see the whole of one’s experience and skills and how they can apply in multiple fields and environments.
I’m thankful for all the experiences in life that have expanded my comfort zones, and successfully battled my easily out of control tendency to worry, worry, worry. I’m thankful for my planning and organization skills, my thorough attention and capacity for crazy amounts of details, and my training and teaching skills. All of the above will not only help me to succeed in this job but to help me enjoy it as well.
I’m thankful to my mom for dealing with all of my crap at her house as I prepare and pack. I’m thankful to Becky, Danny, Mark and Trista for understanding why I will miss so many things this year in life and loving me anyway.
I’m thankful for my dad and his sense of adventure and love of travel – it makes me feel much less crazy when I want to run around the world two more times (maybe the travel bug is hereditary??). I’m thankful for my friend Karen and how she has inspired me with her own adventurous choices in life (and really “getting” why I make the choices I do).
I’m thankful for all the friends I’ve made along the way that make the effort to stay connected even when life takes us in very different directions – the Algonquin gang, Towson friends, Gordy/Morris/Sweeney families, etc – these friendships are comforting because whether it’s one month, one year or even five years a part – just a few minutes together and we slip back into an easy, comfortable friendship. I’m thankful for all of the friends I have such a long history with – sharing the good, the bad and the ugly and seeing each other through to the other side no matter how much we have evolved differently in the process is a pretty rare and precious thing (Becca has it really been 15 years??). I’m thankful too for all of the friends that encourage me and support me along the way (Jenny and Susan your letters were a touching comfort last time around). I’m thankful for my friends in Philly that are already proving to be more than just “friends of convenience” (Laura and Chris –thanks for driving to the beach this weekend). I’m thankful for Mark and Trista not only including me in their family unconditionally but offering me a place in their home upon my return. I’m thankful to my sister and Danny and my mom for also offering space for me in their homes. Being so unsettled can be unsettling and stressful but having so many people offering options makes me feel loved (and less like a unemployed loser).
And thanks to all of you for cheering me on, reading my journals and sharing my journals. Writing them has always helped me to feel more connected to home and I’m glad that so many people have enjoyed them.
As I prepare for this big journey the things I am thankful for in life are overflowing. I know that it is only because of the generosity, flexibility, patience, kindness and encouragement from many people in my life that I’ve been able to seek out this opportunity and go for it. For that reason I feel compelled to share some thanks before I embark on this journey.
I’m thankful to my parents for encouraging me to always try new things and never discouraging me even if, at times, they didn’t understand my choices (I think they finally understand that the work world really has changed and me switching careers every 3-4 years is not necessarily a sign of indecisiveness or flightiness). I’m thankful for my grandparents being able to give my sister and me money to pay for part of college so that both of us could get out of school without any debt – I definitely couldn’t take this job if I had debt.
I’m thankful for employers, co-workers and friends that can see beyond job titles and credentials and see the whole of one’s experience and skills and how they can apply in multiple fields and environments.
I’m thankful for all the experiences in life that have expanded my comfort zones, and successfully battled my easily out of control tendency to worry, worry, worry. I’m thankful for my planning and organization skills, my thorough attention and capacity for crazy amounts of details, and my training and teaching skills. All of the above will not only help me to succeed in this job but to help me enjoy it as well.
I’m thankful to my mom for dealing with all of my crap at her house as I prepare and pack. I’m thankful to Becky, Danny, Mark and Trista for understanding why I will miss so many things this year in life and loving me anyway.
I’m thankful for my dad and his sense of adventure and love of travel – it makes me feel much less crazy when I want to run around the world two more times (maybe the travel bug is hereditary??). I’m thankful for my friend Karen and how she has inspired me with her own adventurous choices in life (and really “getting” why I make the choices I do).
I’m thankful for all the friends I’ve made along the way that make the effort to stay connected even when life takes us in very different directions – the Algonquin gang, Towson friends, Gordy/Morris/Sweeney families, etc – these friendships are comforting because whether it’s one month, one year or even five years a part – just a few minutes together and we slip back into an easy, comfortable friendship. I’m thankful for all of the friends I have such a long history with – sharing the good, the bad and the ugly and seeing each other through to the other side no matter how much we have evolved differently in the process is a pretty rare and precious thing (Becca has it really been 15 years??). I’m thankful too for all of the friends that encourage me and support me along the way (Jenny and Susan your letters were a touching comfort last time around). I’m thankful for my friends in Philly that are already proving to be more than just “friends of convenience” (Laura and Chris –thanks for driving to the beach this weekend). I’m thankful for Mark and Trista not only including me in their family unconditionally but offering me a place in their home upon my return. I’m thankful to my sister and Danny and my mom for also offering space for me in their homes. Being so unsettled can be unsettling and stressful but having so many people offering options makes me feel loved (and less like a unemployed loser).
And thanks to all of you for cheering me on, reading my journals and sharing my journals. Writing them has always helped me to feel more connected to home and I’m glad that so many people have enjoyed them.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
I Need Your Help
Eight months – that is feeling like a really long time to be gone. When I left for my last voyage four months felt like a long time, but I quickly realized that four months goes by really quickly. I really didn’t miss that much while I was gone. But eight months is feeling so much bigger, so much scarier than four months ever did.
At first I thought it was feeling big because most of my adult life has been lived in semesters – four month increments that do fly by. But then I realized that all of us – whether you work in higher ed or not – live in four month increments. As the summer comes to an end it’s only four months until Christmas, then it will only be four months until Spring, then only four months until the end of summer and the start of school. Four months feels reasonable, manageable, long enough to have an adventure but not long enough that I miss too much here at home. I guess that’s why eight months is feeling so much bigger to me this time.
I’ve already thought about all that I will miss this year… My god daughter will be talking when I get back. My college roommate’s newborn will be pulling himself up and getting ready to walk. I’ll miss every holiday and I’ll miss a whole TV season (I know that’s lame I even thought about that). My sister and her husband will have been in their new house for almost a year and I will never have even seen the inside (they close on the house four days after I leave). And here is the real kicker – when I come back I will have a one month old niece or nephew! Yup, I’m going to miss almost all of my sister’s pregnancy, the birth and their first month home. The reality of eight months away really hits me with that one!
I know that once I’m on the ship and focused on work and the adventure that time will fly by like always and when I come back I’ll be able to slip back into old relationships like we didn’t skip a beat. I know that…intellectually. That doesn’t make it any easier to come to terms with all of the things I will miss.
The weight of eight months is also weighing heavy on my shoulders because last time I lived on the ship was the first time that I ever experienced homesickness. Not having a phone to pick up when I want or a TV or movies to distract me or a familiar friend to chat with or go to lunch with all made ship life hard at times. I made good friends on the ship last time, and know I will this time as well, but there is something different about spending time with a friend you have history with, a friend who really knows you, a friend who knows your quirks and your past. It’s hard to go for a long period of time with very limited contact with any of those friends and family.
That is where I could use your help. While I’m gone I want to hear about what’s going on in your lives here. I think last time people were afraid to send me updates about their own lives because they thought I would not be interested or feel it’s mundane compared to my world adventure. Let me make it perfectly clear….THAT IS NOT TRUE. I love hearing about what is going on here…I need to hear what’s going on here…it really helps me feel connected and less homesick. Tell me about your day…keep me up on work gossip…what’s going on in the news?...how about Hollywood trash news?...give me an update on what’s happening on the hot TV shows…tell me about your trip to the grocery store…whatever you want. Everything helps me feel less homesick and less out of the loop with home.
Email is the best way to communicate – we will have internet on the ship and I should be able to get on email every couple of days. Please send me updates on your life – send pictures, tell stories, any tidbit will do. It doesn’t have to be some grand story or adventure. It’s the simple things in normal life that I am going to miss most.
Thank you for your help! Only eight days til take off!
At first I thought it was feeling big because most of my adult life has been lived in semesters – four month increments that do fly by. But then I realized that all of us – whether you work in higher ed or not – live in four month increments. As the summer comes to an end it’s only four months until Christmas, then it will only be four months until Spring, then only four months until the end of summer and the start of school. Four months feels reasonable, manageable, long enough to have an adventure but not long enough that I miss too much here at home. I guess that’s why eight months is feeling so much bigger to me this time.
I’ve already thought about all that I will miss this year… My god daughter will be talking when I get back. My college roommate’s newborn will be pulling himself up and getting ready to walk. I’ll miss every holiday and I’ll miss a whole TV season (I know that’s lame I even thought about that). My sister and her husband will have been in their new house for almost a year and I will never have even seen the inside (they close on the house four days after I leave). And here is the real kicker – when I come back I will have a one month old niece or nephew! Yup, I’m going to miss almost all of my sister’s pregnancy, the birth and their first month home. The reality of eight months away really hits me with that one!
I know that once I’m on the ship and focused on work and the adventure that time will fly by like always and when I come back I’ll be able to slip back into old relationships like we didn’t skip a beat. I know that…intellectually. That doesn’t make it any easier to come to terms with all of the things I will miss.
The weight of eight months is also weighing heavy on my shoulders because last time I lived on the ship was the first time that I ever experienced homesickness. Not having a phone to pick up when I want or a TV or movies to distract me or a familiar friend to chat with or go to lunch with all made ship life hard at times. I made good friends on the ship last time, and know I will this time as well, but there is something different about spending time with a friend you have history with, a friend who really knows you, a friend who knows your quirks and your past. It’s hard to go for a long period of time with very limited contact with any of those friends and family.
That is where I could use your help. While I’m gone I want to hear about what’s going on in your lives here. I think last time people were afraid to send me updates about their own lives because they thought I would not be interested or feel it’s mundane compared to my world adventure. Let me make it perfectly clear….THAT IS NOT TRUE. I love hearing about what is going on here…I need to hear what’s going on here…it really helps me feel connected and less homesick. Tell me about your day…keep me up on work gossip…what’s going on in the news?...how about Hollywood trash news?...give me an update on what’s happening on the hot TV shows…tell me about your trip to the grocery store…whatever you want. Everything helps me feel less homesick and less out of the loop with home.
Email is the best way to communicate – we will have internet on the ship and I should be able to get on email every couple of days. Please send me updates on your life – send pictures, tell stories, any tidbit will do. It doesn’t have to be some grand story or adventure. It’s the simple things in normal life that I am going to miss most.
Thank you for your help! Only eight days til take off!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Torn Between Two Worlds
Who knew that a month of unemployment could be so busy? I’ve spent the last two weeks running around on what I like to call my Friends and Family tour – visiting everyone I can in Maryland and Virginia before I leave. I also had the chance this week to spend a few days in Baltimore working and absorbing at the home office of my new job. I got to meet some of the people I will sail with, got to see some of the behind the scenes stuff that I will be taking over in Greece and just generally began absorbing this huge task ahead of me. It’s going to be a big job.
I find myself currently feeling torn between wrapping up life here in the states – saying my goodbyes, visiting, packing, trying to find time to relax (haven’t found that yet but I’m still hoping) – and starting to focus on my new job responsibilities – there are so many things to prepare, begin planning and just simply learn, absorb and understand (I sometimes just sit at the computer or lay in bed staring not sure where to even begin). I want and need my priority to be focusing on wrapping up things here but at the same time I feel the need to focus on preparing for the new job so that I don’t feel completely overwhelmed when I arrive in Greece. The struggle has been that I find myself not being completely “present” to either task. While I was in Baltimore I found my head not totally “in the game” at times because of thoughts of the other things I need to do/people I need to see. And when I’ve been spending time with friends and family I find myself distracted thinking about work.
I think I’ve decided that my goal for these last two weeks is to dedicate one to two hours a day to work stuff but then I will leave it alone, try not to stress about it, and just focus on what I need to do here. We’ll see how that goes.
I find myself currently feeling torn between wrapping up life here in the states – saying my goodbyes, visiting, packing, trying to find time to relax (haven’t found that yet but I’m still hoping) – and starting to focus on my new job responsibilities – there are so many things to prepare, begin planning and just simply learn, absorb and understand (I sometimes just sit at the computer or lay in bed staring not sure where to even begin). I want and need my priority to be focusing on wrapping up things here but at the same time I feel the need to focus on preparing for the new job so that I don’t feel completely overwhelmed when I arrive in Greece. The struggle has been that I find myself not being completely “present” to either task. While I was in Baltimore I found my head not totally “in the game” at times because of thoughts of the other things I need to do/people I need to see. And when I’ve been spending time with friends and family I find myself distracted thinking about work.
I think I’ve decided that my goal for these last two weeks is to dedicate one to two hours a day to work stuff but then I will leave it alone, try not to stress about it, and just focus on what I need to do here. We’ll see how that goes.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
And the Roller Coaster Begins...
Making the decision to leave your job, pack your entire life into a storage unit and take a job that pays next to nothing and live in a tiny cabin for 8 months so that you can see the world isn’t that difficult of a decision when you are sitting in a comfortable home and spending your steady paychecks and living in a community where you are comfortable and have friends and support. It’s not that hard of a decision at all – it sounds exciting – it feels adventurous.
Well last week I started the part of this process that feels much less exciting and far less adventurous. I dove head first into the process of ripping my nice, comfortable life here in Philly from it’s very seams. Friday, July 20th was my last day at work. While I definitely feel it was time for me to make this career move I can’t help but think how much I will miss the tight-knit community and camaraderie that exists working in a small hotel environment.
It was hard to say goodbye but leaving work turned out to be the easy part (we’ll see if I’m still saying that after the paychecks stop). I spent all last week packing up my apartment and moving it all into storage. Talk about stress – I couldn’t sleep…thinking about how to pack, what’s going to storage, what’s going to my mom’s house, will it all fit in the truck, will it all fit into storage, how will I get that huge desk out of my room….and on and on and on. Luckily all of my stress was totally unfounded and my move went surprisingly smoothly. No problems with the rental truck, an hour and half for two of us to load everything into the truck and a half hour for 4 of us to load it all into storage.
As I emptied cabinets, drawers and closets – becoming more and more appalled at just how much stuff I have – I thought about the reflection email I sent during my last voyage. In reflecting on the lessons I learned I talked about how US Americans have way too much “stuff” in our lives. In an effort to “live” the lessons I learned on that voyage I did make a concerted effort to rid my life of excess “stuff” over the past two years. Despite that effort I still have enough “stuff” to fill a 10 x 15 storage unit. How depressing. On the bright side – I did do a lot of purging and didn’t allow myself to pack ANYTHING that I hadn’t used in the last year. What can I say? I guess I rationalize by saying that I’m not 23 anymore – when I am living in the US I want my crock pot, I want my coffee grinder, I want my million throw blankets, I want my pictures on the wall and displays of some of my goodies from abroad, I want to live comfortably and not like I’m in waiting for my “real life” to start. So if that means renting a 14 foot truck and having to get help with the move than so be it.
So anyway, I started thinking about all the crazy stress I was feeling and started wondering why? Yes, I haven’t moved in two years and yes I had more stuff than before but my stress level still seemed out of proportion to the move. Let’s be serious – I’ve moved 22 times since I left for college (ok so if I take out the 16 moves during college than I’ve still moved 6 times in the last 10 years) – so moving is nothing new to me.
I think part of the stress came from the fact that I am almost 33 years old and I thought maybe I would be more settled in my life at this point. I started having those crazy doubts – what was I thinking taking this job?...this means that I won’t be settled anywhere for at least another year….am I really getting on a ship with hundreds of people not knowing a single soul?....I’m really going to do a job search while being unemployed?...am I totally crazy??? See what happens when I’m not working and have too much time on my hands? – I obsess like a mad woman. Well after all of my fears of moving were unfounded these doubts started to settle down. I do know that this is what I’m supposed to do next. It is extremely inconvenient to pack my whole life away and live out of two bags for a year but the rewards will far outweigh the inconvenience. This endeavor feels scary but without change there is no growth.
I have irrational doubts and fears all the time so I knew that all of the stress wasn’t coming solely from that. What was it then? I put my finger on it late last week. I think I’m mourning leaving Philly. I never thought of myself as a city girl but I have absolutely loved living here. I hate the parking (or lack there of), I hate worrying about my car being side-swiped, I hate my freezing cold apartment in the winter and the fact that I still live in a place with no closets, I hate that you can’t buy a cocktail for under $9. Despite those frustrations there are so many things that have endeared me to this city. The coffee shop and ice cream shop around the corner from my apartment, the ease of navigating the streets (William Penn and Ben Franklin planned it out right!), the fact that Philly is the 6th largest city in the US but yet somehow has a small town feel (9 times out of 10 I see someone I know when I’m in Center City), all of the green spaces, parks, running and biking trails, the fact that I can walk everywhere in the city, the distinct feels of different neighborhoods, the smells, the energy and the fabulous fresh produce at the Italian Market….my list of loves could go on and on…
I love walking home from work with friends and deciding to spontaneously stop and grab dinner at the new restaurant in the neighborhood. I love my boot camp exercise class at 6am on the steps of the Art Museum. I love not having to drive my car for 3 weeks at a time and never worrying about traffic. I love that I’m in better shape than I have been in years because of all the walking I do and the convenience of running and bike trails all over the city. I love all the great people that I have met in this city.
Looking back I think this is the first time since I left Salisbury that I am really mourning leaving a place. During my other moves I always mourned something – the people, the work, my roommates, etc. but not the place I lived.
It was sad to lock my apartment for the last time this week and turn the keys over to the landlord. Even if I some day come back to the city it will never be the same as it’s been these past two years – the neighborhoods and people are always changing. I will always cherish my two years here and am comforted by the fact that I will only be a short train-ride away when I return to NJ in May.
So as the title of this post reflects – as I begin this adventure in earnest my emotions are rollercoastering up and down and all over the place. I know that this is just part of the process and there are more ups and downs to come. All I can do is hang on and soak in every part of this ride
Well last week I started the part of this process that feels much less exciting and far less adventurous. I dove head first into the process of ripping my nice, comfortable life here in Philly from it’s very seams. Friday, July 20th was my last day at work. While I definitely feel it was time for me to make this career move I can’t help but think how much I will miss the tight-knit community and camaraderie that exists working in a small hotel environment.
It was hard to say goodbye but leaving work turned out to be the easy part (we’ll see if I’m still saying that after the paychecks stop). I spent all last week packing up my apartment and moving it all into storage. Talk about stress – I couldn’t sleep…thinking about how to pack, what’s going to storage, what’s going to my mom’s house, will it all fit in the truck, will it all fit into storage, how will I get that huge desk out of my room….and on and on and on. Luckily all of my stress was totally unfounded and my move went surprisingly smoothly. No problems with the rental truck, an hour and half for two of us to load everything into the truck and a half hour for 4 of us to load it all into storage.
As I emptied cabinets, drawers and closets – becoming more and more appalled at just how much stuff I have – I thought about the reflection email I sent during my last voyage. In reflecting on the lessons I learned I talked about how US Americans have way too much “stuff” in our lives. In an effort to “live” the lessons I learned on that voyage I did make a concerted effort to rid my life of excess “stuff” over the past two years. Despite that effort I still have enough “stuff” to fill a 10 x 15 storage unit. How depressing. On the bright side – I did do a lot of purging and didn’t allow myself to pack ANYTHING that I hadn’t used in the last year. What can I say? I guess I rationalize by saying that I’m not 23 anymore – when I am living in the US I want my crock pot, I want my coffee grinder, I want my million throw blankets, I want my pictures on the wall and displays of some of my goodies from abroad, I want to live comfortably and not like I’m in waiting for my “real life” to start. So if that means renting a 14 foot truck and having to get help with the move than so be it.
So anyway, I started thinking about all the crazy stress I was feeling and started wondering why? Yes, I haven’t moved in two years and yes I had more stuff than before but my stress level still seemed out of proportion to the move. Let’s be serious – I’ve moved 22 times since I left for college (ok so if I take out the 16 moves during college than I’ve still moved 6 times in the last 10 years) – so moving is nothing new to me.
I think part of the stress came from the fact that I am almost 33 years old and I thought maybe I would be more settled in my life at this point. I started having those crazy doubts – what was I thinking taking this job?...this means that I won’t be settled anywhere for at least another year….am I really getting on a ship with hundreds of people not knowing a single soul?....I’m really going to do a job search while being unemployed?...am I totally crazy??? See what happens when I’m not working and have too much time on my hands? – I obsess like a mad woman. Well after all of my fears of moving were unfounded these doubts started to settle down. I do know that this is what I’m supposed to do next. It is extremely inconvenient to pack my whole life away and live out of two bags for a year but the rewards will far outweigh the inconvenience. This endeavor feels scary but without change there is no growth.
I have irrational doubts and fears all the time so I knew that all of the stress wasn’t coming solely from that. What was it then? I put my finger on it late last week. I think I’m mourning leaving Philly. I never thought of myself as a city girl but I have absolutely loved living here. I hate the parking (or lack there of), I hate worrying about my car being side-swiped, I hate my freezing cold apartment in the winter and the fact that I still live in a place with no closets, I hate that you can’t buy a cocktail for under $9. Despite those frustrations there are so many things that have endeared me to this city. The coffee shop and ice cream shop around the corner from my apartment, the ease of navigating the streets (William Penn and Ben Franklin planned it out right!), the fact that Philly is the 6th largest city in the US but yet somehow has a small town feel (9 times out of 10 I see someone I know when I’m in Center City), all of the green spaces, parks, running and biking trails, the fact that I can walk everywhere in the city, the distinct feels of different neighborhoods, the smells, the energy and the fabulous fresh produce at the Italian Market….my list of loves could go on and on…
I love walking home from work with friends and deciding to spontaneously stop and grab dinner at the new restaurant in the neighborhood. I love my boot camp exercise class at 6am on the steps of the Art Museum. I love not having to drive my car for 3 weeks at a time and never worrying about traffic. I love that I’m in better shape than I have been in years because of all the walking I do and the convenience of running and bike trails all over the city. I love all the great people that I have met in this city.
Looking back I think this is the first time since I left Salisbury that I am really mourning leaving a place. During my other moves I always mourned something – the people, the work, my roommates, etc. but not the place I lived.
It was sad to lock my apartment for the last time this week and turn the keys over to the landlord. Even if I some day come back to the city it will never be the same as it’s been these past two years – the neighborhoods and people are always changing. I will always cherish my two years here and am comforted by the fact that I will only be a short train-ride away when I return to NJ in May.
So as the title of this post reflects – as I begin this adventure in earnest my emotions are rollercoastering up and down and all over the place. I know that this is just part of the process and there are more ups and downs to come. All I can do is hang on and soak in every part of this ride
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