last hurrahs

the other day, a flickr contact of mine had posted photos from his friend’s going away shindig. i didn’t know the person, but i was intrigued by the series of photos. they were basic snapshots of people drinking and having a good time, saying good-byes, with the focus obviously being the man of honor who was leaving for one reason or another. and i wondered what that man’s story is/was.

i’m often captivated by photos and blog entries of people’s departures. what incites people to get up and move? a new job? a lover is afar? tired of a scene or particular environment (ahem cold weather)? or simply wanting to grab hold of a new adventure?

i, myself, had a farewell get-together a few years ago when i got up and moved to the caribbean. it was a time of flux in my life and to throw fuel on the fire, i decided to be the most impetuous i’d ever been. my job was crap, friendships with some people were falling to the wayside, and i had no attachments to anything. so i figured, why the hell not? turns out, i didn’t hold the ex-pat title for very long, but it was the perspective i needed at the time, and three months was really all it took.

it is no secret that the boy and i were toying long and hard with the notion of a cross-country move. after our first visit to san francisco together (the trip where we got engaged), we were enamored with the way of life, the people, the weather, the bike geekiness, and so forth. our most recent visit in february, though just as much of a good time, was viewed with a more critical eye. we put on the shoes of would-be residents: could the 7 × 7 mi. dimension of SF keep us occupied? could we forego our random trips throughout the year just so we could afford monthly rent in a high-priced city? would we get outside of the city much to explore other areas of california? were we willing to give up a 1200+ sq. ft. 2-bedroom apartment for maybe a 700 sq. ft. 1-bedroom place? the answer to all of those: no.

chicago, through dreary too many months out of the year to dwell on, is a fabulous city. it’s affordable, has a boatload of great restaurants, is bike friendly, and above all, has some inspiring and fun people whom i call dear friends. admittedly, our creature comforts are too numerous and important to sacrifice. perhaps if we were 7 years younger or so and not accustomed to certain ways of life, the trek and lifestyle change would be easier to stomach.

having said all that, though, i’d be lying if i said we won’t ever move. we already know our next destination. we already know it will be one ginormous endeavor. but it is a ways off yet. much to prepare for, much to anticipate.

and when the time comes, i imagine we’ll have a pretty big bon voyage bash. and maybe onlookers will wonder about our story, and perhaps, be inspired to embark on new adventures of their own.

16 April 2008