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Here I am, two weeks later. Still in Arizona.
Molly and I decided about halfway through the first week that I was going to need a lot more time to job hunt here, and came to a decision: let's just make the trip into a permanent relocation. Thus, my return plane tickets were canceled, a roommate was found so I wasn't living in the hotel (a most expensive prospect), and my car is currently scheduled to arrive Tuesday between 2-5pm via car carrier so we can cut out the rental car cost and, to be honest, provide me a relatively inexpensive means of returning to Illinois in the unlikely prospect that I don't find any employment whatsoever. I've spent the last two weeks hounding placement agencies and firing off resumes like water from a hose, while Molly has diligently pressed her employer for some means of being able to work from out here, be it either remotely or through a transfer. And while there isn't anything to really show for our efforts just yet, we've both made a lot of progress and will, by the grace of whatever higher powers that may be out there, have something positive to hopefully report soon.
It has been difficult, I will not lie. Especially being separated from my wife for an indefinite period of time. There are days where I think I'm coping well. But then a day will come along like this morning, a bright and beautiful Saturday morning. A morning where I have nowhere to go, nothing to do aside from homework, and no one to just waste the day with. The distance hits me hard on days like this. I think it would be a lot easier if we had some definite time frame as to when we will be seeing each other again, but the Universe isn't quite that generous (especially as I suspect that, given my reliance on Molly, there's a lesson here regarding learning to stand on my own two feet again that I'm to learn). I just try to remember that every new day brings me one step closer to seeing my wife again, and do my best to hold to hold that thought as close to my heart as I can.
Otherwise, I'm really enjoying being back again. I thought it would be weird to be back, or that there would be some sort of, I don't know, culture shock at returning to the desert. But it's instead been like putting on a comfortable old pair of shoes. The best way to describe it is that it fits perfectly. I fit (and so, I sit!). Yes, I'm having to reaclimate to the heat, but that's been the only hiccup. It feels very right to be back.
I'm trying to not be a hermit, either. One of the things I'm learning is that while I may be an introvert, I do *not* do well for extended periods of time without having people around. Finding a roommate has helped a bit, but I've also started going to local coffee events in an attempt to force myself to be more outgoing around new people. I won't say it hasn't been difficult, being surrounded by a group of people I don't know, but I've already made a few new friends so I'm obviously doing something right.
In other news, I did make my way back down to Tucson last week. First, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY DESERT!? It's all built up now! When I left, the stretch of the I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix was almost completely light free. Now there's nary a mile without lights on either side of the freeway. It made me sad to see that all of that beautiful desert is not so slowly being built up, but that's man for you. I also remember that drive being a hell of a lot longer. Tucson itself also has gone through a lot of changes. I wasn't wrong a long time ago when I said that I felt like a soldier returning home after a very long march. So much has changed since I left. But it's still my Old Pueblo, and I still know my way around it like the back of my hand. I spent most of the day just driving around and visiting old places, as well as meeting up with my ex-fiancee and her new husband (please don't give me that look) and my old friend, Wolf. I actually had a really good time down there, and was sad when the day ended and I had to drive back "home" to Phoenix. Thankfully, it's just a quick hop down the 10, so it's not like I have to wait another 8 years to go back down again whenever I want to visit.
And that's about it for me for now. I've got to take care of homework today, and I've also been tasked this morning with looking at a few apartments, so I must be off. Need to stay busy so I don't dwell on being lonely.
Molly and I decided about halfway through the first week that I was going to need a lot more time to job hunt here, and came to a decision: let's just make the trip into a permanent relocation. Thus, my return plane tickets were canceled, a roommate was found so I wasn't living in the hotel (a most expensive prospect), and my car is currently scheduled to arrive Tuesday between 2-5pm via car carrier so we can cut out the rental car cost and, to be honest, provide me a relatively inexpensive means of returning to Illinois in the unlikely prospect that I don't find any employment whatsoever. I've spent the last two weeks hounding placement agencies and firing off resumes like water from a hose, while Molly has diligently pressed her employer for some means of being able to work from out here, be it either remotely or through a transfer. And while there isn't anything to really show for our efforts just yet, we've both made a lot of progress and will, by the grace of whatever higher powers that may be out there, have something positive to hopefully report soon.
It has been difficult, I will not lie. Especially being separated from my wife for an indefinite period of time. There are days where I think I'm coping well. But then a day will come along like this morning, a bright and beautiful Saturday morning. A morning where I have nowhere to go, nothing to do aside from homework, and no one to just waste the day with. The distance hits me hard on days like this. I think it would be a lot easier if we had some definite time frame as to when we will be seeing each other again, but the Universe isn't quite that generous (especially as I suspect that, given my reliance on Molly, there's a lesson here regarding learning to stand on my own two feet again that I'm to learn). I just try to remember that every new day brings me one step closer to seeing my wife again, and do my best to hold to hold that thought as close to my heart as I can.
Otherwise, I'm really enjoying being back again. I thought it would be weird to be back, or that there would be some sort of, I don't know, culture shock at returning to the desert. But it's instead been like putting on a comfortable old pair of shoes. The best way to describe it is that it fits perfectly. I fit (and so, I sit!). Yes, I'm having to reaclimate to the heat, but that's been the only hiccup. It feels very right to be back.
I'm trying to not be a hermit, either. One of the things I'm learning is that while I may be an introvert, I do *not* do well for extended periods of time without having people around. Finding a roommate has helped a bit, but I've also started going to local coffee events in an attempt to force myself to be more outgoing around new people. I won't say it hasn't been difficult, being surrounded by a group of people I don't know, but I've already made a few new friends so I'm obviously doing something right.
In other news, I did make my way back down to Tucson last week. First, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY DESERT!? It's all built up now! When I left, the stretch of the I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix was almost completely light free. Now there's nary a mile without lights on either side of the freeway. It made me sad to see that all of that beautiful desert is not so slowly being built up, but that's man for you. I also remember that drive being a hell of a lot longer. Tucson itself also has gone through a lot of changes. I wasn't wrong a long time ago when I said that I felt like a soldier returning home after a very long march. So much has changed since I left. But it's still my Old Pueblo, and I still know my way around it like the back of my hand. I spent most of the day just driving around and visiting old places, as well as meeting up with my ex-fiancee and her new husband (please don't give me that look) and my old friend, Wolf. I actually had a really good time down there, and was sad when the day ended and I had to drive back "home" to Phoenix. Thankfully, it's just a quick hop down the 10, so it's not like I have to wait another 8 years to go back down again whenever I want to visit.
And that's about it for me for now. I've got to take care of homework today, and I've also been tasked this morning with looking at a few apartments, so I must be off. Need to stay busy so I don't dwell on being lonely.
