The Hairy Eyeball

The question has been raised recently via e-mail: "how you livin?"
A fair question, one that can be answered in both short or long form responses.
You may in fact be surprised that I have decided to go for the long form.
First the big news - My sentence has apparently been reduced - and I will be released from the confines of Gallup, NM sometime in the very near future. Depending on where the new destination is located, we may revisit this idea and decide that it was not a reduction of sentence, but rather a simple prisoner exchange.
It has been almost 6 years to the day that I first made my way to Gallup. It was April of 2000, Ann was nearing graduation, wedding plans were well underway, and career shopping was a chief priority as I was continuing a strong trend towards not utilizing any of my degrees to earn a decent living. Now, 6 years later and a lot has changed, and there have been a few times when I could at least envision ANn and I staying here for the long term and then figuring out where to retire to.
There is no need to continue with that particular musing.
For various reasons, Ann has taken it upon herself to find a new post within the Indian Health Service. This saturday she'll head out to Albuquerque, jump on a plane, and fly to the current frontrunner for procuring her services. The far flung outpost? Bemidji Minnesota.
Those who know me well are no doubt chuckling to themselves, as my love of winter weather and ICE-centric sports is in fact nonexistant. Cold is something for your bevarage to be, not you. Stll, you have to get at least a little excited about a town that has boldy declared itself "Curling Capital U.S.A.". These are obviously folk who don't feel the need to bitch about the cold and snow.
I have to say I'm actually pretty up on the idea of moving to MN. Partly because I've at least been there a few times, and when not covered with ice and snow, the place is pretty spectacular. The countryside, along with the uncountable lakes (400 or so in a 25 mile radius of Bemidji, I hear) is picture perfect really. But there is another reason why I am up on MN.
It is not Alaska.
See, currently the number 2 selection on Ann's job hunt is located in Anchorage. For some this would be the ultimate adventure. I think for me it might be the start of the ultimate breakdown. 19 hour summer days, and 19 hour winter nights sound interesting in conversation, but I suspect the practicality of it is less than optimal. It might be argued that there are some days when it seems like I'm in complete darkness, but in fact I can see the light outside through the gaps in the curtains. It is that kind of knowledge that keeps me comfortable in the dim confines of the computer room some days. There is also the increased expense of living there. The utterly remoteness of the location; by my guess it's damn near equidistant from Anchorage to Tokyo or Anchorage to Pittsburgh. I'm not sure that's the sort of comparison I'm comfortable making with my city of residence.
As it stands I wait for next tuesday, when Ann gets back from Bemidji and tells me if we're heading to the Land O Lakes or not. One way or another, it seems we'll be leaving Gallup. It's a question of when, not if.
It will be strange walking away from everything we've put together here, but it is also more than a little exciting to shake things up again.
go and tell me all about it