It was a dream 14 years ago: I rolled into Austin, TX.
05/06/2008
1 suitcase, 1 set of pots and pans & 1 coffee maker.
No job, no friends or family living near and no place to live.
That’s how I started in this sleepy little city back then. I had my stuff sitting on a loading dock back in Connecticut waiting for an address to ship it too. I was on an adventure; I told myself I would give it one full year no matter what happened.
I met up with a friend J. here, he used to do a lot of business in Austin. He told me about this place. We met up after my cross county trip. Same hotel, me looking for a place to live, he was in business meetings during the day. We went down to 6th Street that night, I had tried to learn about the area, I had done a lot of research before I left, but couldn’t land a job before I got here. Yes, that was pre-internet days when you had to go to the library to do research. Mail your resume and follow up with phone calls. I had ordered the Austin news paper for months before I left Connecticut. I knew there were jobs here and housing was inexpensive back then.
I met up with the apartment locator: She had a couple of places for me to see. One was a complete dump, the other one was triple the size I had in CT, and it was clean and new so I took that one. From a studio apartment to a one bedroom place. That was a nice change; every thing was bigger in Texas. I called the moving company, gave them the address and my Austin, TX adventure began. I started temping; I worked for a franchise teaching a part time course at night and on the weekends. I got my first traffic ticket up by the University, an illegal left hand turn. I didn’t see the sign; I was looking for an address for a job interview. I didn’t get that job, but I did find one eventually. The first one didn’t work out so well. I took a road trip to Colorado to see the mountains and then found another job. I changed apartments after the first six months; I found a better, cheaper place and moved into my current neighborhood.
A whole lot has changed in 14 years, but a whole lot hasn’t. I have made some great friends; I got involved in my neighborhood, got involved in city politics, I have moved up and down in my career. I went to Europe for a month when one company downsized. That was a great severance package! I bought a little rundown place with a wish and a dream of stability. I got a dog as the fence was going up. I converted the barn to a house so now I am a landlord. I still love to travel, I have seen a lot of the states, but I love pulling in the driveway to my place at the end of a trip. I am still chasing that elusive thing called love, but somehow, someday that will work out too, I am a very patient woman.
I have an awful lot to be proud of: I made a huge change years ago, I took a big risk and it has paid off rather well. I don’t have many ties back in CT, but still keep in touch with a few close friends, the ones that supported my decision so many years ago. I know I can pick up the phone and the conversation will flow like it always has.
I called J. last night and asked if he remembered where he was 14 years ago. We chatted a bit on the phone and I found out he was in Talladega the other weekend also. I forget he does business with the race teams and I should always call him when I am at a track. We could have had dinner: I could have thanked him again in person for helping me so many years ago, meeting me at the end of my trip across country and beginning my new life.
What will the next few years bring? I really don’t know. I am happy with my life right now. I am happy with my decisions, happy with my self. I wish I could find that elusive “right” man to share my life with, but I want a good one, I am not going to settle for less. I want someone that embraces life like I do. I want someone that appreciates all I have done. I want someone that shares my interests and dreams and will be happy to call me their partner.
I have changed coffee makers a couple of times, I still have the same pots and pans, but the whole set with me now. I have changed luggage a few times, wore a couple of sets out seeing parts of the word. Some things change, others stay the same. I still have dreams and desires. I made a nice life and it’s still an adventure for me. I am rather proud of myself, proud of my accomplishments. I have come a long way from that young lady, making her way in the world, in a new city.
