*sigh*

Take my word for it...that speck in the center of the side-view-mirror is the "Welcome to Montana" sign. A few minutes past 10am this morning I saw Montana disappearing behind me and there was a lump in my throat and an empty feeling in my stomach. I arrived in Montana 18 years ago and never really thought I would leave. I was 27 then. Single. I found someone to sublease my apartment in Virginia...and when I arrived in Montana I already knew quite a few people...aunts, uncles and cousins. Today I'm off to my new job in Milwaukee (a place where I really don't know anyone) and I'm leaving behind my wife...and my mom...my friends, my cousins and my former co-workers.

People my age shouldn't have to "start over" again. It's a lot harder now than it was in 1991...but hell, if it was easy everyone could do it. I'm so fortunate to have a very cool job in Milwaukee...one I believe is a perfect fit for me. There's a couple of guys I have "met" on the prostate cancer message boards that just cannot find a job. They're not that much older than I am. One has been unemployed for a year - the other has just given up on finding a job...he's trying to settle on a treatment while his COBRA is still active and he and his wife are selling their house and most of their possessions and moving into an apartment. I really have it pretty good.

I worked pretty hard in Montana and in the last couple years I missed out on much the state has to offer. I didn't much ski/fish/camp/visit relatives. In one of my earliest posts I lamented the fact that I was too scared/busy/stressed to take all my vacation time in my previous jobs. Well, my new job at Radio Milwaukee comes with a generous amount of vacation time. I'm sure I'll spend a lot of it in the "Last Best Place"...