#break year

Acclimation is a funny thing: I think it's something you only notice in retrospect. You know? Like, it's not as if every day of the past 186 I woke up consciously feeling more at home. It's only when I look back at the whole journey that I realize how different things feel now than when they did when I first got here. I remember getting the address for my first day of work and trying to make sense of it (how is "3833 FM 1960 W" even an address, Texas?) and now I can navigate Houston with my eyes closed. I remember being so confused by a city where people drive everywhere, and now I have to fight the urge to get in my car when I want to go to the grocery store around the corner. I remember being so nervous to make friends that I would come home from a night out and literally friend everyone on Facebook that I had met. And now...

well, I guess not everything changes.

Most of all, the thing about Houston is how easy and relaxed everything feels here. My job isn't really that hard, I work forty hours a week (maximum), I usually have time to go out on weekends, and in between there's plenty of time to hang out with friends or eat good food or run errands or just chill out and have a West Wing marathon. Sometimes I feel stressed while I'm at work, but it all melts as soon as I walk out the door and doesn't appear until the next time I'm back. Basically, I'm in this weird place where I put on a suit and tie every day and I'm eating a lot more salads for lunch- but the dress clothes end up in a pile by my front door and I use Taco Bell sauce packets as salad dressing.

This ain't to say that everything's always awesome- but maybe I got the California experience I wanted post-graduation, just wrapped up in an unexpected package.

I had a summer in Boston once that felt a lot like the last six months have. Although I'm sure I had responsibilities and things to do and it wasn't all relaxing, when I look back all I remember is a lot of drinking (or whatever) on weekdays and hanging out with friends and stumbling back from bars and making a big ol' pot of melted cheese and falling asleep mid-conversation. I think that's how I might remember Houston when I leave- sort of a blur of good things with the bad ones faded into the background. It's not a forever kind of life, but I'm embracing this break year while it lasts.

I still really can't see myself staying here forever- but I don't really have plans to leave, either. I guess I just figure I'll know when the time is right? Unless I won't. I certainly didn't think the time was right when I came here.

Come visit me, if you don't already live here! It's a little chilly now, but by the beginning of March it'll be pretty reliably in the 70s every day. You bring the lobster rolls (or Primantis sandwich), I'll bring the margaritas, and we can chill by the pool as I convince you to take a break year in Houston, too.

From Texas with love,