Where Do I Go?

I have no idea where I’ll be six months from now. Not simply in the broad sense of “will I have a job, will I be happy, will I find my purpose?” Although that counts too. Quite literally, I do not know where my body will be in a few months. The anticipation is killing me. It’s not completely up to me, you see.

I’ve learned, being part of a couple, that thinking about the other person’s happiness is pretty important. While I’m sure people will see this potential move as me doing it for him rather than with him, just read on and you might understand. Now, what’s on the table, you ask? The possible locations for Collin’s grad school and our general future:

• University of Washington (Seattle)
• Portland State University (Portland)
• University of Oregon (Eugene. Ducks. I’m a Beaver. Noooo!)
• Eastern Washington University (Spokane)

Still, we could end up staying in NYC. Initially the idea freaked me out – “What?! I can’t leave! It’s only been two years!” I have started to warm to the idea… of change, of new opportunities, of a bigger apartment (seriously. hah). I’d feel stronger about staying if I had something bigger going on in NYC, but my dream job isn’t falling in my lap, mainly because I haven’t figured it out yet.

Add in my love of the PNW (and Fred Meyer!), my four years of college in Oregon and friends out there, and the idea of mixing things up again isn’t so scary. I’ve embraced all the crazy, random, serendipitous opportunities that have fallen in my lap in the past, so why not now?

No matter what, I’d feel a great deal of sadness leaving New York. Friends, Brooklyn, musicals, etc. – everything about living here. But I’d be back. All the time. Just like when I lived on the west coast before. A few week-long trips a year would obviously be necessary.

I’ll check back at the end of October with the decision.