I’m not a Kenny Rogers fan, but The Gambler is iconic enough for me to know it and sympathize with the chorus. I’ve held, folded and now it’s time to walk away (I don’t run) and have decided my LA adventure is coming to a close. I stopped pouring money into a project that didn’t seem viable (for me at least), placed the property for sale (wow, the market is rough right now!), and have made the decision to leave LA and start again somewhere else.
I don’t feel LA has beaten me, and I’m not one of those leaving with nothing but bad things to say. I’ve greatly enjoyed my time in SoCal and had many memorable milestones – from seeing my sons graduate college here, to getting divorced (how LA!), to experiencing so much of the culture and history of the city and its surrounding areas, to learning to be ‘laid back’ by living a more healthy and less stressed life (still a work in progress). Mostly it’s become clear to me that the issues with CA and the greater LA area are not things I want to be focused on in my future. The time it takes to get things done (or get any place), the rules and restrictions, the societal breakdowns and the cost to get anything accomplished – are just not working in my favor. Yeah, all those things can and will probably improve to some degree over time here – but time is less on my side at this stage of life – and I’ve learned a lot about myself these last five years and everything that has happened during that time.
I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that gives me some options with respect to where I can work – and Seattle seems to be the best option for me (howdy, my Stillwater neighbors). With nature closer to my doorstep and many more options for how to live, while still having a vibrant city with major businesses calling it home – its a place where I can imagine my future happiness. It’s also familiar, as I’ve visited many times in past lives of work, and a recent trip up – during the worst time of winter – really sealed the deal. If I can still have a great time even with rain and cold everyday – there’s not much else to dislike. Like any major city, it’s not perfect, or inexpensive and definitely has its share of problems – but it certainly checks a ton of boxes for me and fits what I’ve been evolving into.
Although my move is not until September – I’m looking forward to starting again. I’ll spend my initial time more deeply exploring areas, getting advice and figuring out my options, but the ultimate goal is to get back to moving forward on my last home – now in a different state.