Oooh, oooh!! Me, me!!
Just out of high school, I took a week’s vacation in New Mexico (my first visit to the southwest). By the time I came home I had made up my mind that I was going to move, and shortly thereafter I did just that. I quit my job, left my boyfriend of several years, packed what I could fit in the back of my Mustang, and set off with a map and a few hundred dollars (my savings) in travelers checks. I don’t think you want to hear the details of my specific move, but I’ll just say that it was one of the greatest things I ever did. I have since said more than once that, in spite of my immutable opposition to compulsory anything, if there were anything mandatory I could support it would be that everyone must at some point move at least 500 miles from their familiar home territory to a totally new and uncertain (that is, the destination doesn’t come with a home, job, etc already lined up) place and live there for at least a year. An indescribably enlightening and broadening experience, not to mention tremendously fun more often than not. Challenging and daunting, to be sure, but it was immensely satisfying to make it on my own in such an atmosphere (no one to help me out, no one to go back to if things weren’t working out). Not every experience was a happy one, but without hesitation I would do it all again.
Even though I had visited once before I moved (though I had never given it a thought before that), I too felt that same call, that it was just the place I needed to go. It’s a feeling that, while inexplicable, is compelling and, I think, does not go away. I can’t say I found my dream job (since my dream job is picking money off the trees in my back yard for about an hour a day when the weather is nice), although I did eventually end up at a job, that, ironically, did indeed pay for me to move across the country again some eight years later. I did, however, find my dream mate (although it took a while), which is even better. [self-hijack] Though I don’t believe in “destiny”, maybe that’s part of what was calling me there that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I sincerely believe that sometimes our actions are guided by some higher awareness within us that sees pattern and purpose that is not perceived by our conscious mind. In other words, if that voice inside is telling you something loud enough and often enough, it may be steering you toward something important that you recognize on some level but aren’t consciously aware of yet. (Not to get too metaphysical here.) [end self-hijack]
I can’t give an opinion on Denver, as I was only there once. When I visited Colorado, maybe half a dozen times over those years, my favorite city was Colorado Springs, but I was never there longer than a day or two, which makes it kind of meaningless, and besides, everyone responds to something different. If Denver is where your spirit wants to go, then that’s where you should go.
And go you should!! No job? Sounds to me like a great excuse to move, since you have no “I shouldn’t be that irresponsible and quit this good job” reason to keep you where you are. (I did but quit anyway.) You shouldn’t have to max out your credit cards to move to Denver either, assuming you don’t have a family/kids to worry about (other issues arise there) and can bear to not move a whole vanload of stuff with you. It’s amazing how little you can get by on, and you can set yourself up cheaply after you arrive and gradually work your way back up to nicer stuff after you have the job and home nailed down. Just get enough of a bankroll together (selling most of your current possessions at a yard sales serves two purposes) to cover startup costs like apartment deposit, utility connections, etc, plus the cost of the trip itself (not too much if you eat and sleep cheap, and those are good expenses to put on plastic if you don’t have a whole lot of cash). Once you arrive you’d probably spend the first night in a motel, but the next day (or at least really soon) you should be able to find something like a furnished efficiency at a fairly cheap price. Voila, you are established and ready to begin! From there you get to start the real fun and adventure, looking for work, looking for a more long-term place to live, finding the grocery stores, picking up a few words in other languages, learning the best route to Red Rocks. During my first few years out west I did something different every single weekend, be it hiking in the mountains or exploring the Indian pueblos or riding a horse along the Rio Grande. It’s impossible to describe how enlightening and expansive the whole experience was. It ended up not being the place I wanted to spend the rest of my days (mainly because of developments in my personal life, not because of the move or the location itself), but it was one of the richest and most rewarding times of my life, and an experience I recommend absolutely without reservation. The worst that can happen is you don’t like it as much as you thought you would, so you move back where you were, or move to yet another place. Even if it came to that, I almost guarantee you that you would nevertheless relish the experience, the adventure, the challenge, and the exposure to life.
When I visit my hometown I notice that it seems that almost everyone I went to school with is either still living in Mom and Dad’s basement :rolleyes: or married with families and living maybe as much as ten miles from where they grew up. To each his own, and more power to them if that’s what they really want, but no words can adequately capture how much richer, wiser, and happier I am for having had to nerve to pick up and go and live the life I wanted. Years after I had moved, family and acquaintances confided to me that they had never really expected me to stay out west. They thought that my moving was a young, idealistic dream that would last maybe six months, and then I would be coming back home with my tail between my legs. They were wrong, and it was funny because from the day I made up my mind, I never had a moment’s doubt. And they’re still where they were all those years ago, but I’m not. I’m miles and years and worlds of experience beyond. Can you tell I’m happy about my life? It sure hasn’t always been easy, and at times it’s been downright hellish, but when I die I’ll have LIVED, and that’s damned satisfying.
So, got the truck packed yet? Need some maps? Want some packing tips? Listen to that inner voice and GO!!!
P.S. Hope you weren’t looking for people to tell you to be sensible and get this silly notion out of your head.
P.P.S. Sorry to be so wordy, but your question is something I had a strong response to. And why are you still sitting there reading this when you should be off making plans?
