I finally made it back to Sarasota last Friday evening. As I exited the highway and drove west toward the downtown, I had the eeriest feeling. Somehow, this doesn’t feel like home anymore. I have been gone for ten weeks, but I can’t imagine that is the reason; I left for seven months when I traveled around the world and it still felt like home when I returned. It could have something to do with selling my house in North Carolina, but again, I cannot imagine that is the reason. While I loved my house, I was not a tremendous fan of the Outer Banks. It was too cold in the winter and for some time I had longed to get back to a warmer climate. Plus, I have never in my life been attached to a house. To me, home is where I am. I carry it inside me wherever I go.
So, I really don’t know what is going on. I have been thinking a lot about southern California these days. There are a lot of reasons that California calls to me. I have numerous friends out there. The social climate is much more liberal, which suits my politics better than the conservative east coast. San Diego, in particular, intrigues me because it has a vibrant, safe downtown. In California I wouldn’t be considered weird because I want vegetarian or vegan food. No one would scoff when I asked where the recycle bin is. I wouldn’t have to think twice when I talk about alternative healing and the work I am doing with energy and color. I’d have warm weather, good beaches, access to major airports, and I’d be closer to SE Asia, which draws me. On the other hand, California’s economy is a mess and the tax environment in Florida is much friendlier.
I don’t have it all figured out yet, and I realize I don’t have to. I’m just putting one foot in front of the other and taking it a day at a time. I figure I will be shown what to do if I just keep doing the next right thing. In the meantime, I have one property sold and two to go, and on Friday I leave for Key West to see if I can do something to get that property sold. If North Carolina was any indication, it seems like I need to BE THERE to get the place sold. And it’s not such a bitter pill to swallow to be in Key West for a couple of weeks.
