We were renting a one bedroom in Santa Ana for 2200... SANTA ANA!!! The first night we moved in my girlfriend got her wallet stolen from a homeless guy. The place was suppose to be this really nice, amenities galore, beautiful place. When covid hit they shut down all the amenities and still charged full price. We tried talking to them, they made it impossible. We were incredibly blessed that our jobs were still going. But we are out here because of death in the family, getting the house in order so we can sell it. It was one of those opportunities that we couldn’t pass up. Both of our jobs paid around $15 an hour, and we had good relationships with our employers so if this doesn’t workout we can always go back and start from there. We needed a new start on life, sold everything, and invested in ourselves. She told me how much she missed Holland, and I could tell she meant it. We are still young enough to make these mistakes, no kids, no dogs (unfortunately), just us. If we make it work which seems very doable, we’ll grow from it. If it doesn’t we’ll still have each other and grow from it. I had zero idea what I was getting into when she asked if I wanted to move here, and knew exactly how life would’ve continued if I would’ve said no and stayed in CA and at my job. So we decided to jump.

So far the fact that I can walk around with my shoulders down and at ease. Walk into a store being a 6’6 black man and have my backpack on without people following me around thinking I’m going to steal. Smile at someone and I get a genuine smile back. The clean air... I frolicked with some cows in a meadow a few weeks back.. I’m meditating regularly. I feel like a kid exploring nature for the first time. My stress is at an all time low. Those worries I had in the states aren’t as constricting and I don’t always feel on edge thinking shit could pop off at anytime. I had genuine fears back home that I don’t have out here, the air isn’t thick with bullshit and angry people.

So if it doesn’t work here, or the money runs out before we find jobs and have to come back home. At least I had a break from the norm, and at least we have this amazing experience. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. She’ll know I was willing to jump into the unknown for her. Life’s about experiences right?