The 2nd Big Move

OK, so it's official. I thought I would never leave Maryland, but here I am in Miami. I'm sitting out by a pool in corporate housing, surrounded by palm trees, looking for a job on Craigslist in a city where it is definitely preferred if you speak Spanish fluently...a little different. But, (and I'm a little surprised) I'm kinda loving it. The idea of moving away from home was not my favorite. I hated the idea of being so far away from my family, from you all, from any and all networking I had done. I'll admit, I was pretty mad at Mik for awhile, completely unfairly, because he "dragged" me all the way to the west coast. I'm not as adventurous as you all, back packing around different countries, teaching English in foreign cultures. But you know what...I'm actually enjoying myself!

Seattle is a really pretty city (Erica will you still get to see it this summer?). It's incredibly well kept, there's art everywhere you turn, and once things start growing the while city is a mess of flowers and green. It probably feels the least like a city of any city I've ever been in. There are so many restaurants, coffee shops, quirky retail places, salvage yards, and bookstores and it's really intellectual. That said, I didn't fall in love. It felt like a place to stay, but not quite like home. Maybe if I'd had a job or been there longer... I would still venture back. Maybe years from now, it'll seem like the place to be. I'm sure it would be a good place to have kids. But right now, it was a good place to be for 6 months. I think Mik had similar feelings about it.

But Miami...WOW. It is another universe! It's so vibrant and alive! We've only been here for 2 days, but I feel really optimistic about it. Being here makes me want to take classes in Spanish, eat more Cuban food, and learn how to salsa (OK we all know that the last thing won't happen). I feel like this is a good place to be right now, for both of us. I'm loving the heat (even the humidity), the thunder storms that roll in at night, all the people from all over the world you meet out. It's amazing. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'll ever completely embrace the Miami nighttime dress code, but I'm willing to paint my toenails and wear a bikini in December. It's still an adjustment, but I'm ready to jump into this head first. I think this is a good place to have fun, and not get all complacent at home every night, which is what we were doing in Seattle.

So here's to being adventurous, which is a ride I'm finally ready to join you all on! :) Love you.