Moving is Scary

I didn't want to do it, but I did. I counted the days! I have 75 more days before I get on a plane and leave Japan FOREVER. {Okay, probably not forever, but I have no idea when I'll be able to come back.}

Naturally, there are a lot of emotions involved. I'm sad to leave but excited for what the future holds. But then again, I'm nervous about that unknown future and don't want to leave a life I've become comfortable with. One of the most common questions I've been getting lately is Where are you moving? and I just hate that I have to say I don't know. Since moving to Japan Sean and I feel like we've faced our moving fears and moving anywhere within the U.S. would be a breeze compared to Japan. With that in mind, we're really open to moving almost anywhere! Well, anywhere that meets the following qualifications:

• Has a mild climate, not as cold as miserable frigid Michigan or miserable frigid no-central-heating Japan
• Isn't Hickville, has an international airport
• Has a lot of diversity in people and in restaurants
• Sushi and Tex Mex readily available
• Has museums, festivals, an art community
• Is not in Michigan {or Indiana or Ohio, for that matter}

Don't get the wrong idea, I LOVE Michigan. It'll be my forever home, but I'm simply not ready to move back there. Japan has been such an adventure and I don't want to lose that yet. I'm afraid that if we moved back to Grand Rapids I would get stuck in the same old routine! There are so many new places for us to discover, it seems a shame to miss out on them. Plus, career opportunities for both Sean and I are really lacking there. Okay, career opportunities for Sean. I've resigned to being either a happily unemployed intelligent person or a happily enrolled intelligent student for the rest of my life!

Based on our requirements we've come up with the following city candidates:

For both of us, San Francisco is becoming the dream city and Sean has been focusing his job getting efforts there. I'm already getting excited reading the blogs of SF natives and see articles about art exhibits, street fairs or restaurant openings there. We also would love to be in a city with a Japan-Town for when we get homesick for Japan!

Wherever we end up I know there will be a lot of adjustments and worries but I have to think it will be easier than moving to Japan. At least I'll speak the local language! And the grocery stores should hopefully look a bit more familiar :)