A Sort of Homecoming
I believe Muse has already let the kitteh out of the bag, so to speak, but we will be coming home to St. Louis this year. Muse will be leaving Hong Kong before me to get the pets all sorted and safe. I was the first to arrive between us and I’ll be the last to leave. I suppose I should take some comfort in that I’ll get to live here in Hong Kong for just a bit longer but I also remember the loneliness of my first month here. But that was a long time ago now and I’m no longer a stranger in a strange land with no idea of what to do/where to go/what to eat. I no longer need to subsist on ham sandwiches and cans of soup. Although I may just because.
Now, when the time comes, I’ll probably spend my free time leisurely walking the street markets and shopping malls without the worry of wasting Muse’s time or needing to feed or walk the dogs. Maybe I’ll go directly from the office to a local bar with people from work and see what the night life is like before I leave. Maybe I’ll go for a hike without worrying about time constraints or anything but my own ability. Or maybe I’ll just sit in front of the computer and play World of Warcraft all night. It’s hard to say.
Actually when I say we will be coming home this year that makes it sound like something that will be happening at some far point in the future. But really it’s nothing like that. Muse may be leaving in a month or less. I won’t be here any longer than mid-August. It’s scary close to those dates already. By the end of August we will be back in the United States of America and trying to figure out life once more. This time with a baby on the way.
When we moved we did so on short notice and also threw in our wedding because it wasn’t a stressful enough experience. Now with a baby coming, I see now that we just really like to complicate things. I can offer no other explanation. We sold our house and our cars and most of the rest of the stuff we didn’t ship to Hong Kong. So add in another layer of sphincter-clenching in that we have a baby coming and we need to buy a house and at least one car but really we need two and baby stuff and furniture and Oh My Gawd what are we insane?
Yes. Yes we are. Nice to meet you.
Ah insanity. I wish I could say it was a strange bedfellow…but I’d be lying. My wife and I did the cross nations move thing once, thankfully for us it was just a 3200 mile drive and not an airplane ride but yes, things can get strangely complicated even though it sounds deceptively simple. Much luck to you both and Huzzah for the little one since I hadn’t ever mentioned that before =)
A little insane, yes.
It is kinda funny how the trip home mirrors the trip here, only kinda reversed.
As far as how you spend your time after I’m gone…take a cell phone or hike with a buddy, it is recommended in the HK Hikers Guide in case you encounter an attacking snake (and some of them do attack here and they are venomous, look it up).
You forgot to mention how you would be pining for my love and affection in your alone time…must have been an oversight. I forgive you.
That’s a lot of stress to deal with. I will certainly miss your writings on the HK experience, but your move is probably for the best. It takes a village to raise a child and it’s better when that village consists of family.
Oh yeah…I forgot…when is Mini-Cybr (or Mini-Muse) due?
No worries, Mae and I will be glad to advise you on your many many many many trips to Babies-R-about-a-ten-billion-dollar-a-year-industry-paid-for-by-Us.
Wow. Yes, you guys are just a little insane :)
Best of luck to you guys though! I hope that goes as smoothly as it possibly can.
I continue to be amazed by your move TO Hong Kong — what an adventurous thing to have done, and from what I’ve read over the last (how long has it been?) you guys did it well.
Compared to moving to Hong Kong, moving home will be a breeze. Although I can recently attest to the fact that moving, no matter where and what the distance (even a mile and a half) is very stressful.
Good luck with everything.
I think this is good news! Isn’t it? I’m glad you’ll be heading back although I’ll miss seeing you online and posting at odd hours like me. I hope everything goes well!