10 Year Annniversary

Yesterday marked the 10 year anniversary of my journey out west to California. This was easily the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, and I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on some of the things I’ve experienced since then.

1. I spent five days driving cross-country on my own, stopping in Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona along the way.
2. I spent over a year living with [redacted], [redacted], and [redacted], and learned in the process that if every story you tell about someone starts with, “They’re really good people, but…,” then they probably aren’t really good people.
3. I played kickball on-and-off for four years, even making it to the WAKA (World Adult Kickball Association) World Championship in Vegas in 2009 (we lost all three games in a combined 30-2).
4. By chance, I caught up with an old high school friend, Jeff, and have spent the last nine years living with him in Burbank. I also met the majority of my friends out here through him.
5. I got a job with a television studios (that’s lasted seven years and counting) because “I knew a guy (Jeff) who knew a guy (Brian).” Hollywood, am I right?
6. I tried my hand working in non-profit theatre for about a year and a half, which was a fantastic experience even though it didn’t work out in the end.
7. I got to attend six weddings, one of which I take credit for helping make happen. Sadly, my matchmaking skills have not seen any use since then.
8. I entered a nerd renaissance thanks to new friends, discovering a world of board games so much larger than I previously knew existed, rediscovering both Dungeons & Dragons and Magic the Gathering in 2010, and doing my best to spread the gospel since that time.
9. I went to Europe for two weeks on my own, visiting Paris, Amsterdam, and London. I’m hoping to get back out this year for three weeks and hit up Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.
10. I’ve hosted about a dozen potlucks, freaked out every time that I wasn’t going to have enough food, and ended up with massive amounts of leftovers after everyone one. Also, I learned a valuable lesson about not setting a recommended dish list (No more cupcakes. Ever).
11. I had my first real long-term relationship, discovered both love and heartbreak for the first time, and grew more as a person during that period than I have at any other point in my life.
12. I’ve performed in three musicals as well as a cabaret , and met dozens of amazing people along the way, most of whom I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like these days.
13. I learned there is at least one type of red wine that I actively like (A.S. Kiken from Reverie Winery, located north of San Francisco).
14. I took tap dance lessons for about a year, and tango lessons for a few months. Singing lessons are next in line.
15. I attended my first and second Buffalo Bills games, in Buffalo and San Diego respectively.
16. I’ve visited San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, Vegas, Hearst Castle, the Grand Canyon, Seattle, Portland, and made it back out to the cottage in Maine a handful of times, eventually even bringing some of my L.A. friends with me.
17. I’ve attended the San Diego Comic-Con and PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) four times each, and look forward to getting back out to the latter in another year or two.
18. I’ve hosted about two dozen LAN parties, built two more computers from scratch, and spent more hours playing Sid Meier’s Civilization V than I’m willing to publicly admit.
19. I’ve experience one notable earthquake, one day of air quality so bad (due to wildfires on three sides of Burbank) that I had to stay indoors, and one day of snow (replete with baby snowmen on the bike trail), the last of which is probably the most impressive of the three to have happen in Southern California.

Obviously, this isn’t everything, hell it’s probably not even all the big ticket items (I’ve a notoriously bad memory), but it’s a good idea of what that one decision has garnered me over the years.

Good job, me. Good job.