FAR AWAY FROM HERE

Texas was never my choice of residence. In fact, it is the last place I would ever have considered to live. Having spent much of my life in California, I was used to cooler weather, no allergies, and a community of people to whom I could relate.

The weather in Texas is unbearable. Hot and humid. The time from December to March is pretty much a nightmare with the Cedar Fever allergies. The time of year when you look and feel absolutely awful. When you wished you were anywhere but Texas. Consider yourself lucky if the Cedar Fever doesn’t get you when you first move here. But don’t get too excited, because your time will come.

There is no nature as in California. No pleasant ocean breeze or a short drive for skiing or snowboarding in the mountains. No beautiful redwood trees or forests to explore. Others will say there is Lake Austin to visit, but it’s just not the same.

At the time, all those years ago, I had to follow the person who ended up being the father of my three children. He did the research and found that Austin was more affordable than San Francisco in order to raise a family. However, that is no longer the case and much more difficult to manage as a single mother. For now, I am simply following the court order which binds me to Austin until my youngest turns 18.

I have had the experience of living in many parts of the country. All except for the Northeast or most of the upper central states. California is where I spent most of my life, but I doubt I would return to the LA area or even the Bay Area.

It’s never too early to start planning the next move. Certainly, when the move is out of state, the decision where to live involves much research and visits to the area. One of the criteria is affordability. Where I do not have to spend more than half of my income on housing. Another important requirement is an international airport for convenient flights to Europe.

At the moment, the research for a new life in the States has just begun. My preferred option is simply to live in Europe, but that is a bit more complicated.

Knowing that I will not be stuck in Austin for the rest of my life makes it a bit easier to handle living here now. It also prevents me from buying any more furniture and unpacking the many boxes which are still taped up from my move after the divorce from my children’s father.

Life is full of surprises and opportunities. Rarely does it end up as we had planned. Though I am grateful for the time I have here now, I do look forward to the day I move somewhere far away from here.