And I'm out...

With last week’s involuntary forced closure of (temporary) Grand Central, and the making Itinerant of Neverland Transit Authority and its Conductor, a hard look upon was called to on life in the San Francisco Bay Area and the greater California region. The kind that requires more than two Space Balls and a jumbo economy sized Ace hair pick. And after much ruminations what was the outcome?

Given the trends in the economy, and the direction that the state is taking, that there is little to no value to remain in the place of my birth and the first forty two years of life.

This was not an easy decision to come to. All factors were considered in the making of this. I looked up north in the Sacramento area but nothing in my job field paid as good as this one; which would be required to stay. I looked to see if I could endure a further commute. However, the first affordable place was Santa Rose; making my commute almost one hundred and seventy miles round trip… daily… plus a toll bridge. That would be four hours commuting – if I’m lucky, plus eight hours working with a cost so prohibitive that it priced itself right out of range.

I also took my case to my management team; explaining the economy of the area, showing them rental prices and sizes, and explaining the finer points of living in Silicon Valley (My company is based out of Waterloo, Ontario.) But, despite their assured understanding, there was no way they could issue me a cost of living increase large enough to make it worthwhile to hang on to my home.

My last day at the office is July 29^th. I’m spending this month getting things in order and getting the whole of Grand Central mobile so it can move up and into storage until I can find more stable digs. Through the grace of friends there is a place for me to land when I get up there and get solid ground under my feet.

    

I’m trying to take my anger, frustration, and trepidation and channel that energy into making this a positive adventure of change. A new city, a new state, with possibly new friends, opportunities, and building roots in one of the newest, fastest growing comic book communities in America. (Not to mention home to one of the oldest Comic Book stores, too.) I’m no stranger to Washington, but life there is certainly not life here. So this is going to be a thing, for sure. 

I am, however, not cool with how this went down. I am not cool with being forced out and away from family; especially given the timing. I am not cool being forced away from those I'm close to. I am not cool with being made into a second class citizen. And I am certainly not cool with what the San Francisco Bay Area, my home, has done to the people I know and work with around here. For as frustrated as I am with this place it does have quite a great many people and places I will miss.

But, if I have learned anything in my now four plus decades it’s that sometimes you just have to let go and move on. So, that’s what is getting underway here at Neverland Transit Authority. It’s a long haul, so we’re making sure there’s enough in the tender, the box cars are secure, and the boiler is clean and ready. If we’ve any business or personal issues needing attending to now is the time, because once this engine gets rolling there’s really no stopping it.

Or, as a mass of departing hyper intelligent mammals once said:

(Except, you know, we couldn't understand it...)