My Rainy Daze

One of the reasons I moved back to Texas was because I was tired of the gray, rainy days in Portland, OR.  Had I known that Central Texas was just as dreary during the winter and early spring, I would thought about sticking around PDX a little bit longer. The fact that I've really been missing Portland doesn't help things either.

My Tumbling Tumbleweed

Once again, I find myself going back on something that I thought I wanted.  A few posts ago, I talked about how seeing my nieces made me realize that I want to start settling down and yadda, yadda, yadda.  After a couple of days, I'm not so sure that's the case anymore.

The thought of being cemented to one place has always been unnerving to me.  Maybe I'm just not the settling type, and I'm the kind of person that needs to shake things up from time to time, even if the act of constant change is a pattern unto itself (ironic, right?).

I'm bringing this up because one day I had this idea that was kind of exciting, and I could not remember the last time I was excited.  I told myself how cool it would be if I set a goal for myself that involved me living in ten different cities throughout the country.  At the time it sounded like an admirable target to hit.

What's even more encouraging is the fact that I'm almost half way there since I've spent time in Midland, San Antonio, Portland, and now San Marcos.  My sights are now set on Austin, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Boulder or Ft. Collins, and Hawaii.  Sounds do-able?

I know that this is a lofty goal, and I'd be lucky to get to one or two of these cities, but it's good to be ambitious (or delusional).  And I know that I need to figure out what I'm chasing after before I end up without a true home because maybe it's just around the corner instead of half-way across the country.

My Christmas Break

Although I have to go in on Monday to help tie up some end of the semester loose ends, I am officially on break until January 4.  Yup, that's two weeks of holiday vacation, and to be honest I don't know what I'm going to do with so much time on my hands.

The plan for Christmas is set.  We're going to Houston to celebrate since my sister is expecting another child, and making her travel didn't make much sense.  My folks are going to be swinging through San Marcos on Tuesday, and then we're off to H-town.  Right now, I don't know how long we're going to be there, but I'm looking forward to it, which is an odd thing for me to say.

After Christmas is a whole different story.  Part of me wouldn't mind going back to Midland for a few days, but my low tolerance for my hometown combined with limited traveling funds makes coming back to San Marcos a more appealing option.  Then again, it's the holidays, and it's not like I have a ton to do in Central TX, so I might as well head back for some home cooking.  We'll just have to see what happens.

Regardless, I'm pumped to have some time off even though I've only been technically working for a little more than two months.  What can I say, it was a hectic couple of months...

My Reminiscence

Earlier tonight I was driving one of the back roads in San Marcos in order to get to know the city a little better, and for some reason it reminded me of living in Portland. I guess it reminded me of exploring my new surroundings a few years back, so I started to become nostalgic, and I started to miss Portland. The clouds and cold didn't help matters either.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't regret leaving Oregon because it was the right move, but there are a lot of things that I'm going to miss. While I don't see myself ever living there again, I know that I'll be back to visit sooner rather than later.

At first, I was a little thrown by these memories because I'm not the most sentimental person in the world, but I guess it hit me that here I am starting from scratch all over again. I pride myself on my adventurous spirit and longing for new things, but I was also reminded that constantly moving around in order to have these new experiences leads to a lack of familiarity...a lack of feeling at home.

Maybe San Marcos (or better yet, Austin) will be it for me, and I'll finally start laying down some roots, or maybe I'll be off to somewhere new in a couple of years, but at least I know that I want someplace to call home before it's too late.

My New Digs

I'm finally all moved in to my new place in San Marcos, and it's a huge weight off of my shoulders. It's a nice place, and I'm excited to be here. The next thing in line is my first day of work at Texas State on Monday. Man, it's been a crazy whirlwind, but in the best way possible. Let's start writing this new chapter...

P.S. - All of this craziness reminded me that I have wonderful parents. I wouldn't be anywhere without their love and support.