Niffer’s Continental Tour 2009

About 5 years or so ago I started plotting a move to California. Since I was a kid I had been fascinated with the state and loved watching movies that would give me glimpses of the landscape. When I started seriously thinking about this Trip I gave my self deadline for this goal. I wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday in San Francisco California and live there for a few years at least.

When I got into Belly Dance 6 years ago, I found out that the styles I gravitated too were started in San Fran and all the professional dancers I loved were there as well.

So here we are 1 month before my 30th and I’m planning my my big cross continental move to California. There were a few times were I though this would never happen. The last year or so has been really rough, but I have made it out on the other side and I’m still standing and moving forward.

This new chapter in my life starting to unfold is really exciting!! Its been awhile since any dream of mine has come true so I’m still getting use to the sensation. I have put in my notice for my current job for July 10th and will hopefully starting out on the road July 13th.

Because my first cross country trek is a once in a life time kind of deal I have decided to give it two weeks and stop and see sites I’ve always wanted to see along the way. This will be my first real vacation in like 10 years and the first vacation of this scale that I have taken with out my family. I just can’t get over the how awesome it feels to have the universe open just the right doors and windows of opportunity to allow me to accomplish this.

I’ve always wondered what to right a blog about… always starting and stopping. With this new and exciting adventure looming on my horizon, and will all the friends and family that will want to stay up today on my whereabouts on this adventure I decided to kill two birds with one stone and start this blog to document the journey and Living in California.

With the technology we have today it will be hopefully easy to keep this travel log up to date. Because I might not always have a lot to write or may be to tired to write I will also be posting stills and video. So armed with my Mac laptop, iPhone, and new Webbie camera I  will sonter off into the sunset well prepared to document my journey across this continent.

Once in the Bay area I will also log my adventures in the sunshine state. I will be residing in Oakland California at least for the first few months. Don’t worry I’ve done my homework. San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to live in the US. But the coast of living in Oakland and Berkley is comparable to the coast of living in Raleigh. I have a built in roommate once I get there. An awesome old friend that I can’t wait to see.

Just about everyone I have talk to about this over the years usually says on or a combination of the following:

• Its so expensive to live there.
• Its going to fall off into the ocean.
• Your going to have to work your ass off to survive.
• People are crazy out there.
• Etc… etc..ect..

I know that it will not be a picnic or walk in the park moving to this state. I know that they are having finical troubles at the moment. But The time is right… I can feel it. Plus there are so many people living there and surviving I’m sure I can pull it off. Why live in fear of new experiences. I’ve unfortunately have been doing that for a few years now if not most of my life. I want to live with out fear and I follow my gut feeling. When I’ve done this it has not failed me. Its when I’ve ignored it and listened to others that I have ended up in the worst situations. This past three years I’ve been working to get to a place were I’m not afraid to follow my heart. To better stick up for my self and not let others decide what the safest route is for me. I know I’ll be ok and if I have to struggle I would rather struggle someplace I want to be than someplace I don’t.

I have made some really good friends here in Raleigh in the 3 years I have lived in North Carolina. I will always cherish my time with them and will miss them. But its time to move on so I will try to keep in touch (which I’m going to work on getting better at SC crew) with them and hopefully they will know they will have a sofa to surf when I get to the bay area…. when I can afford to buy one. lol

This is going to be fun and I’m about to jump out of my skin with excitement.