During the three years I spent home, I found myself working two jobs that didn’t align with my professional aspirations. Although I could have explored opportunities at Gateway, the company faced challenges after opening Gateway Country stores, leading to closures and layoffs. The last job I took, despite its favorable aspects like a rotating schedule and ample free time, became monotonous.

In the midst of movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings, and the discovery of the short-lived but fantastic Firefly, loneliness crept in. Online platforms like Yahoo chat introduced me to various individuals, including a friend of a friend and someone referred to as the amberdragonfly (Wisconsin). The latter, a seemingly unhappy housewife, and I connected over a shared love for a video game series. Despite the eventual fade of this connection, it marked a significant chapter.

Feeling the need for change, I reached a breaking point and called a friend to inquire about their open invitation out west. After confirmation, I departed home for the last time, with a brief stop in Colorado to visit friends and then onto the place I had found as my new home. Revisiting old friends, including one I had left behind, now in a seemingly stable relationship, revealed the impact I had left.

While the first attempt to make things work wasn’t successful, the subsequent years have seen us grow into the people we needed to be. Today, we are each other’s rocks. As I reconnected with friends, unintentionally, a deeper connection developed with someone special. Within a few months, we found ourselves talking and falling asleep together on the phone.

A travel tip for those approaching the 101 in Sunny California: when it feels like the road is never-ending, and you’ve been driving for hours, know that you’re on the right path. Upon arriving, my friend and brother, Xaos, had a special plan – a trip to Monterrey and the vast Pacific Ocean. The breeze, the sound of the tide, and crashing waves provided serenity. It wasn’t home yet, but it was exactly where I needed to be at that moment.