Tiger Woods, who cares?

The t.v. is inundated with Tiger Woods scandals. I mean really people, is it that interesting? Big phooey to Tiger Woods press. That's all I'm saying about because I'm not giving into the drama.

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. I lit the kitty menorah and the fire is a blazin'. I'm feeling a bit under the weather tonight. I think the turkey burger and broccoli soup this afternoon did me in. Or the massive amounts of chocolate, cookies, and candy canes consumed at work today could be the more likely culprit. Is my body finally telling me I'm too old to be doing that? Well guess what body, I'm doing what I want, and I will suffer the consequences later!

I looked at gym memberships again tonight. I'm determined to get up early, join, and make it in time for the cardio class. God help me. I'm not a gym kind of lady. It's so common for people to join gyms, but I fight it tooth and nail. There is something unnatural about being in a closed room, running in place on a machine to nowhere. I prefer to be outside having physical adventures. Only problem is, I am not motivated to do that consistently or strenuously. Looks like I need the help of a gym to do this...and the help of self-control over cookies.

In typical fashion, I was trolling boards, forums, and misc. pages of the place I want to move. I found a great kayaking group in the local area. Meetup.com is a pretty sweet site. In addition to the kayaking group, who also does other outdoor adventures, is a dining out group, a board game group, and other social stuff. I think when you move to a place where you know few, it's best to toss yourself in there and see what sticks.

I was thinking about my move and California. I'm very grateful that I now have the opportunity to not rush the move, do proper research, and do some true soul seeking.

The soul seeking involves WHY I am doing this move. I mean come on. I live right outside of San Francisco. It's beautiful. The food is fresh and yummy. The scenery is unbelievable, and the culture of the city is hard to beat. So why in my right mind would I leave this paradise? I've thought long and hard about this. I've tossed around the idea that maybe I'm trying to run away from myself. I've tossed around the idea that it's the cost of living. Basically, it boils down to a few key things.

I really miss east coast people. I miss the boldness, the bluntness, the no frills and in your face kind of attitude. And I miss it because, well, I feel I have that attitude.

I miss the lifestyle. I am surrounded by greatness, but really, I'd rather be sitting around with a beer, doing a whole lot of nothing with down to earth people and just enjoy their company.

I would be much closer to family and old friends. Family is a two hour flight away or a car ride an hour and a half north. Friends are spread out, mostly closer to the eastern side of the country.

I need a change of pace. The city life is not for me. It's very fast, with a huge focus on career. I talked to a friend in NYC who says the same. People go to work early and stay late, myself included. I'm pretty simple. I go to work to pay the bills, and that's about where work ends for me.

I'm a water baby. I want to live near water THAT I CAN SWIM IN. The bay is cold and dirty - no swimming in that body of water. You have to travel pretty far to get into some water, and every summer I find myself pining for a pool, ocean or lake to jump into.

I suppose that's what it boils down to. There are other things like my dream of living in a snowy place and having a snow day that cancels work. There are things like more moderate weather (seasons!) and no freakouts in elevators over irrational earthquake fears. Maybe not so irrational?

The move is a constant on my mind. It's what I think of first thing in the morning, and the last thing when I go to sleep. It gnaws on my brain in bursts throughout the day. I'm afraid that if I stop thinking about it, I will lose the ummph behind it and get complacent. I have about 6 months to go, which isn't that long in the grand scheme of things, but it feels so incredibly far away all the same. With the holidays looming, I find myself romanticizing about going to NYC and enjoying the beautiful decorations and snow that are so reminiscent of a true winter.

There's always next winter...