So, as I had mentioned in a previous post, Brian applied for post doc positions this spring. (For those that aren't familiar with a post doc, it is a job that you take after receiving your Ph.D. as a way to get more experience beyond graduate school before you get a permanent position at a national lab or university. They are typically 2 to 3 year positions.) We wanted to get the ball rolling not knowing how easy or difficult it would be to secure a job. He was contacted by four of the places that he applied to, and arranged interviews with three. For the sake of Brian's summer, it made for a stressful one. Each interview was spaced just right so that he was prepping for one right after another. The potential job locations were labs in Livermore, CA., Los Alamos, NM., and Michigan State University. Each interview went well and he received offers from each of them. All of these years of hard work is paying off!
Now, making the decision. I will admit, I eliminated the position in Los Alamos, NM, straight away. If I am going to live far away from home, Los Alamos is not going to be it. If I had no other choice, then I would happily go and be grateful for the opportunity, but since I have a choice, it's at the bottom of the list. That left us with moving to Northern California, or a skip and a hop north to East Lansing. It was a very, very tough decision. Brian wanted to go where I would be happiest, and I wanted to go where the best career move was for Brian.
After a meltdown from me, some consulting of our closest friends (physicist's and non-physicist's), the choice was unanimous.
Our little family will be moving to Northern California this winter.
As much as I hate to leave our precious little house, family and friends behind, I am equally as excited to start this new chapter in our lives. Our house here is precious, yet all to "LITTLE". We have outgrown it, or we have become hoarders. I thinks it's a combination of both. ;) So, I am ready. Sad, but ready.
Since we have lived in California before, I am looking forward to the things I miss, such as the diversity and culture. I miss the wide variety of restaurants and being closer to a big city. It will be exciting to share it with our kids. It will be a learning experience for all. I am super excited to explore San Francisco! Even though I am about the farthest thing from outdoorsy, I can not wait to see the Sequoia trees and adventure into some national forests/parks. It's going to be a lot of fun!
So, next on the agenda....packing! I have to face my basement full of crap and efficiently thin out what I have hoarded for the past 5 years and accomplish this while parenting our three kids. Good luck to me! So far, I have realized that I hoard greeting cards. If you have sent one to this house or anywhere else we have lived, I can promise you I probably still have it. RIDICULOUS! It's time to purge! I need one of those HGTV shows to come make the special piles for me; donate, trash or keep, along with their sneaky negotiating skills when it comes time to decide whether or not to keep that teddy bear that's been in a box for 10 years! Ughhhh! Pray for me!
Stay tuned through our adventure!