Journeys with Jrod — Part II: Moving

This is the second installment in a series of posts recording my observations and thoughts during my move from Washington, D.C. to Mountain View, CA.

I write this from my hotel room in Mountain View.  I’ve been in California less than 48 hours.  I’ve managed to get a car, and this afternoon I signed the papers for an apartment.  Tomorrow, I begin orientation as a “Noogler” – a new Google employee.  Just over a week ago, I was in D.C. packing up my things and saying goodbye to my friends.

What the heck is going on?

To be sure, I’ve had doubts along the way.  Did I think this all the way through?  Do I really know what it means to set off to a completely new place, not knowing anyone or anything?  Was I giving up more than I was getting?  Yesterday, I felt those fears acutely as I drove around my new city.  Today, I am stronger.  I have the day of traveling and culture shock behind me.  I now know I’ll have a place to rest my head, and wheels to get me from there to work and back.  And, for whatever reason, I know that I’ll find friends in time.  I also think that after a few days at my job, I’ll be reminded about the reason I came out here — a very good reason.

Packing for this move was odd.  I had to condense boxes and boxes worth of books, clothes, computers, and other “things” into two bags for my voyage here.  My parents will ship some more things out to me once I’m in my apartment, but I really had to go bare-bones during this first leg.  For a pack rat like me, that was no easy task.

Now that the scenery- and culture-shock have subsided, I think I’m really going to like Mountain View.  It’s very suburban — quieter and slower-paced than D.C., for sure.  The people are really friendly — not the Southern brand, but still a good one.  The weather is amazing — after living in Alabama, North Carolina, and D.C., a little less humidity is highly welcome.

My feet are still running, and it will take weeks if not months to get and feel setttled.  It still feels like a dream, but each day the fog is lifting on this new life I’ve chosen.  More to come!