I'm ready.

There is a very strong possibility that Caspian and I will be applying for permanent residence and moving to Montréal, Québec within the next several weeks.

We have discussed it together, with our families, with our friends - and from everybody we've talked to, we've gotten resounding DO ITs. We'd be leaving behind all of our people and the places we're familiar with to embrace a completely different lifestyle and a new language. Caspian's company would pay for our moving costs (including airfare), place us in a temporary apartment until we found a permanent residence, assist with our immigration papers and work permits and provide us with free French classes. I am completely and utterly thrilled with the idea, but I can't get too excited about it until we have all of the information we need.

I laid awake thinking about it last night, and I feel that this move would be a step in the right direction on my personal path toward fulfillment. I've lived the American dream, achieved a quality education, held a career - and now I'm ready for something completely new. A different perspective. A challenge. I am completely ready for this.

In the case that we do move, we would likely be selling one, and possibly both cars to cut down on our personal expenses (insurance, parking, gas, etc.) because public transportation is so advanced there. This is completely terrifying to me, but only because I grew up in sprawling American suburbia, where everybody uneconomically commutes by car. We would probably get a little apartment in the suburbs and use the transportation system. We would take our little cats. I would donate everything that we don't need (not that we have much extra), culling with ruthless precision. I will have to learn how to be frugal in another nation. I will have to find a new career. Life may soon become a flurry of the unfamiliar.

I have formally submitted my YES. All we need now is Caspian to make up his mind. This blog will probably get very emotional/exciting/interesting in the next few weeks if this goes down. Stay tuned!