Day 137

This May will mark 18 years since I moved to Georgia. From Nebraska! That's a long time to live in one place. Maybe that's why I keep thinking about where Dawn and I will go next, after Georgia – I'm getting restless; ready for something new.

I've never loved Georgia but I don't hate it either. Not anymore. I did for awhile but that was because I wasn't prepared mentally for what I was doing when we move here. I thought I was, but I was naive. I'd lived in Omaha for 23 years and took a lot for granted. Like the ease and convenience of getting anywhere regardless of the day of the week or the time of day. Or the simplicity of navigating its airport, Eppley Airfield. (Five minutes from parking garage to gate was very doable; it if was busy, ten minutes.) The midwestern sensibility and pragmatism. Here, south of the Mason-Dixon line, it felt like everything and everyone was different. It took several years to make the adjustment but I'm glad that we stuck it out. 

Dawn and I made lots of memories here that I will cherish to my last breath. Most notably, this is where we made the conscious decision to graduate from being a couple to being a family. Here is also where I really grew up, morphing from self-centered, self-absorbed man-child to full-fledged adult. I became a father and, with time, a better husband. 

Georgia is the only place Damian ever lived. Interesting then that he was determined to college go out of state. I was gently pushing him to consider going to Georgia Tech but he was having none of it. Knowing the Damian would be graduating in only a couple more years and very likely leaving Georgia once done with high school, Dawn and I had already started discussing possible relocation destinations. That is until we were jettisoned from the Before and with it any thought of the future was accompanied by deep, searing pain. But now that it feels like I'm starting to move forward again, thoughts of where we go next are starting to creep back in. 

For the moment, I've become very intrigued by Portugal. I've read many articles about foreign countries that are a good fit for Americans and Portugal is consistently on these lists. Friendly people, low cost of living, beautiful country, and good financial incentives are some of the primary reasons cited as for why it ranks so high. Seems kind of exotic and very far afield, but I think it could be amazing. Rapidly approaching my mid-50s, now is the time to make this kind of stuff happen. If we wait too much longer, I fear we will get complacent and settle for a retirement community in Boca Raton. (God, help me.) I want to do something bold and audacious. So why not Portugal? 

Practically speaking, there are several reasons why this is unrealistic or, at least, inadvisable. For starters there are Dawn's parents and my mother. They are all very rapidly approaching 80 and are starting to show their age so long distance travel is not really practical. Which means the onus is on us to go to them, ergo long travel days and big expenses. There is also the question of work. I don't know how accommodating my employer will be if I tell them I'm moving overseas. I don't see living in Portugal as realistic if I don't have a job. At least for the first few years. Maybe they will be receptive, but I just don't know.

Practical, shmactical. That's what my whole life has been about. Bold and audacious, remember! Nothing will happen unless I (we) make it happen so I just need to get out of my own way and go for it. 

I wonder if they allow dogs at that retirement community in Boca...