Happy Tuesday, all.

Well, the last 24 hours have been pretty momentous. Was speaking with a friend who lives in Florida last night and the topic of me needing to get out of this area came up again. We had a long discussion about how much cheaper the cost of living is for military retirees in FL. Then I was speaking with my dear female friend who lives down there too, and the subject came up yet again. After some thinking, I've made my decision. Next August I am moving to Florida. That is where I will start my master's program and begin blazing my new trail.

I'm just not happy where I'm at. Have not been happy here for a while now. It was a good stepping stone, getting me out of my parents' house and out of that toxic environment, but I think it's time to move on. I'm a firm believer in the mantra "everything happens for a reason." I think that this move has been a long time brewing in my mind... since this winter actually. Before the ex BF and imploded plans of moving in with him... the planets were aligning for me to let the idea of me leaving here marinate in my mind. So I'm ready. I'm making the plans.

Spent all morning on the phone with my current school straightening out the last few classes for my undergrad degree; researched schools in Florida and started contacting them to get the admissions requirements sorted out so I can finalize the academics over the next year and get into a grad program this winter and make the move next summer right before the classes would begin.

I feel like a weight has finally been lifted from my shoulders. I had my second major mental crash two months ago and came out of it like a new, improved person. My meds are right, so my brain's not all effed up and the good ol' neurons are correctly firing. And I've just made up a plan of action and am setting about getting all the logistics sorted.

I once read a quote, which I cannot remember who it's attributed to, but the quote is "If you want to see change, you must become the change." This is my inspiration. I'm not quite "whole" in my current location, so it's time to get off my butt and kick the plan into action..... become the change.

Florida will be good for me in SO many ways... I have two very dear and long-time friends there; the weather is sunny 80% of the year and outdoor activity is possible year round; the location I'm moving to is on the water and I'll get to watch beautiful sunsets every night; it's TONS cheaper to live there; this place will be MY OWN. Every corner I turn, I will not see government buildings that remind me of the career I no longer have and the people I no longer associate with; I can take walks there and not have to carry mace to ward off rapists; I won't have to lock my doors just to take my dogs outside; I will not have to fight mad traffic just to go to the store; I will not have to put up with the negative and neurotic rat-racy people that are here in the nation's capital. It will be MINE... peaceful, better, wonderful, new, exciting and .....MINE.

I'm totally jazzed.

Only one more snow-filled winter here in the north!!!!!! 12 more months and I can throw out my winter coats and snow shovel!

Today a smile is on my face... and I'm really happy... really really happy.

Koshka

Well done sweetheart, you are in that drivers seat, and doing some precision driving.... ya cheeky little hoon, you!

LOL... I love Aussie slang!