Blind Date With Phoenix.

Countdown To Oregon Exitus: 13 days.

When I say blind date with Phoenix, I'm not talking about the deceased River or Johnny Cash-man Joaquin. I'm moving to Phoenix, and I have never actually visited there. I've only seen pictures, read articles, and talked to people who live(d) there or have visited. It's like going on a date with someone you met on the internet, who you also have mutual friends with. I suppose it's not even like going on a date with them - it's like marrying them.

Today, I put in my notice at work. Let me just say that it was not well received.

Maybe that's a good sign though? They don't want me to leave? I just wish I weren't getting a cold shoulder from certain people. I haven't gotten a work related email in over an hour. I had to email Shellie just to make sure my email was still working... They've already seemed to have cut me out of the wire process. Maybe this means they're going to let me go early? All the better for me - go ahead and pay me to NOT work those last 2 weeks. I can go mess around with friends, pack REALLY well, etc.

Speaking of packing, I took all of my stuff out of storage last night and put it in mom's garage. Time to go through ALL of the boxes and figure out what I cannot live without. Slim down my inventory of random and sometimes useless items. I'll be starting that process this weekend. In need of luck. Also needed: for my procrastination inclination to disappear. I can't put this one off. Luckily, I'm also fairly organized when I AM motivated, so I hope the volume gets turned up on the organization and turned DOWN on the procrastination.

Tonight, I'm allowed to not repack anything. Tonight, I have a date with my Dad and Barb. Guess who doesn't know yet that I'm moving? Yeah, that's right, Dad and Barb. I'm telling them tonight, but my stomach is doing somersaults! My planned opening line: "Wanna go on a road trip, Dad?" Some of my fondest memories of childhood involve road trips with my Dad. Even as a young adult, we had a Seattle to Portland road trip, and it was good. We got a lot off our chests. I hope he says yes. Maybe we could use a road trip.

Two Weeks to Rollout. SURPRISE!

Yesterday, I got the call.

I'm getting a job offer. In Phoenix. I'm taking it.

Why? Why not. I'm single [with no prospects by the way]. I'll be 28 at the end of the month. No kids. No mortgage. WHY NOT.

Yes, Portland has been my comfort zone since 1991. But maybe it's time for the little birdie to leave Portland's nest and migrate South.

Yes, my parents, sister, nephew, and friends are here. My parent's were able to survive when they were first starting in the NW (Seattle area), my sister in tow, and me to follow years later, with their parents in SoCal and Missouri, and siblings scattered all over the place. The friends part reminds me of a little nursery rhyme from childhood: "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

Yes, it is HOT in Arizona, and I get pretty miserable with 100+ degree weather, which they have quite often (pretty much daily to my understanding) June through August. June through August of too hot (with A/C in EVERY rental and business) with the rest of the year being similar to NW Spring and Summer sounds better than September through May of rain and gray. Do the math: three months of not being able to do outdoor activities vs. nine months of not being able to do outdoor activities. Hmmm... Also, Arizona has monsoons July through September. Thunder and lightning and massive rainfall. In the heat. It sounds delicious.

Also plusses: Lower state income tax (yes, they do have sales tax though). Bad housing market is making rentals awesome. Great road trips (Grand Canyon: 4 hours. Joshua Tree Nat'l Park: 4 hours. Vegas: 5 hours. 4-Corners: 5 hours. Hoover Dam: 6 hours. Family in SoCal: 6 hours. Lake Havasu: 3.5 hours. Palm Springs: 4 hours. Plus many lakes and rivers MUCH CLOSER.). New adventures.

So the countdown is on: I'll be rolling out of Beaverton, Oregon, and on my way to Surprise, Arizona on the morning of June 3rd.