New Places

Well, I made my deadline. Had at least a first draft ready on time for the reading but now have lots of changes to make. The reading was really helpful -- I received a lot of great feedback and suggestions for improving the script. I have a pretty good idea what direction I want to take it in, so I need to get to work. This is where the heavy lifting begins.

On to another topic: I'm thinking of (finally) leaving Texas. Austin is great, but I'm not sure I want to stay here. It's getting too crowded, and too expensive, and it's too hot in the summer time, which is most of the year. The only trouble is, well, actually, there's a few problems with this idea. Number 1, I like my job and my boss, and the pay is good and I'm treated fairly. Plus I'm sort of vested with the company, so each year my vacation hours increase, which is nice. It would be hard to let all of that go. I also have a few friends here whom I will miss. And I hate interviewing for a job, but . . .

I like the idea of starting over. I've made so many mistakes along the way, but I feel like I've learned a thing or two. The past few times I've moved, I didn't start over with a clean slate, I just brought all of my problems with me, and I don't know why I think this time will be any different, but I feel like it will be, and I have no idea why. Maybe it's because I often feel like Texas chose me, rather than me choosing it. How I ended up here was just sort of a whim. Well, it was my grandpa, filling my head with stories of Texas. He had been all around the world, but most of his stories were about Texas, so I had to see it for myself. Okay, have done that, now what? I'm ready to choose a place now that is for me -- not for anybody else or for any other reason. But where?

I have established a few criteria:
1. It must not be too, hot but it also shouldn't be too cold.
2. It needs to be very near an airport for all those flights home.
3. Near water and/or mountains.
4. It needs to have some culture and be near a university that also emphasizes the arts.
5. It should have a film festival, or be near a city with a film and book festival.
6. The people should be relatively friendly.
7. Should have lots of trees and nature all around.
8. Not too expensive.
9. Low crime.
10. Smallish town near a city but not a suburb (or a smallish city with a cultural center).

A few areas I'm considering are Raleigh/Durham or Chapel Hill, N.C. Somewhere in the Pacific NW, but I'm not sure where. I guess the next step is to start researching and querying people I know who live in any of those areas, then go scope it out myself. I wonder how long it will take? I wonder if I will really do it? I wonder if it will lead to love? :)