My New Goal Revisited

Last August, I made a goal for myself that I would be back in the Pacific Northwest in a year's time. Obviously that time has come and gone, and I'm still here in Texas, so that didn't end up happening, but I have been giving it more thought over the last couple of weeks.

The original plan was for me to end up Seattle since I had already experienced Portland, but in all reality I'd be happy with either. Heck, anywhere on the West Coast would be nice at this point (well, almost. Don't know about L.A.). I just feel like being on that side of the country would match up with who I am better than my current location even though I'm a Texan born and raised.

Honestly, I think I'm just nostalgic for what I had in Portland, and I'd like to have it back. The thing is, I don't want to give up what I have here in Texas either. While being back home, I've realized how much I need to be around my family, and I've been spoiled by being so close to them over the past two years. I don't know if I can go back to living half-way across the country and only getting to come home once or twice a year.

If I was a smart man, I'd compromise and settle down in Austin which has similar sensibilities as Seattle and Portland  but is still close to those I love. I just don't want to feel like I missed out on something by not living in Seattle for a spell. Plus, I've always gotten by on my looks and not on my brain ;)

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 Blues & Grays

So, Texans might be overweight, but at least they're happy...unlike Portlanders and Seattleites. Hmm, I wonder if there's a connection? I'd be unhappy too if I had to eat granola and rabbit food while being rained on day after day ;)

In all seriousness, I don't take the findings of this report to heart because any study can skew its data to say whatever it wants. Portland's not that bad of a place to live, but I could do with some better food and more sun.