In almost exactly 36 hours, Patrick and I will be boarding a plane to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. We have traveled together before, domestic and international, but never to move out of our country, and never for more than 6 months at a time. We are looking at 3 years of living in one of the poorest regions of a run down, beat down country. We have sold all our sellable items, stored all the things we won't need down there but can't possibly get rid of, and thrown away a million random battery chargers, scratched cd's and other miscellaneous junk. What is left is scattered in the living room and dining room of Patrick's parent's house. Where we just stare at it. Slowly we are sorting it out, putting it into bags, deciding not to bring it, refolding, repacking, resorting. How do you look at a pile of clothes and toiletries and card games and know that you have all you will need and want? What if I leave my favorite book, Last of the Mohicans, behind and it turns out I am dying to read it for the umpteenth time a few months from now? What if I only bring one pair of flip flops and they break in two weeks? What if I don't bring conditioner and my hair gets all frizzy and sticky? If we were living in a city or even a town, these things would not matter. We are living in a VILLAGE. Think Africa. Think no stores, no banks, no nothing. These things would also not be an issue if money were not an issue. We are about to reduce our income by 75%. And yes, cost of living will be lower, but not 75% lower! I know that these things seem so trivial, but thats what goes through your head after you've already made the decision and the plans to move. Its no longer about missing family and friends, healthcare, safety, and communication. We have that worked out in our heads and have moved on with our choice. Now, I think about the comforts we are sacrificing. I am enjoying a hot shower like never before, wandering the grocery stores wondering what food shopping will be like there, even just sitting on a comfy couch can't be taken for granted these days. Every once in a while we look at each other and one of us will say "why are we doing this again?"
But then there are other moments, like today, stuck in traffic, where I am so thankful to be moving to a place where we will walk everywhere, and so will everyone else. Bombarded by billboards and commercials about all the things we NEED to buy to stay up with the times, makes me relieved to be able to wear whatever I want, even if it is 5 years old, and not feel out of place. (yes, sometimes I am that vain) We have been scrambling around taking car of all these THINGS that need to be taken car of, but once we get there, the number of things will be greatly decreased, not to rise again until we come back.
We just need to throw it all in a bag, hop on a plane and get there already. You know?
Sorry for that blast of thoughts, they are as messy as the living room right now.
7 years ago
