The layover is, according to Google's define: feature, "a period of rest or waiting before a further stage in a journey." According to Anthony Bourdain's marketing department, it's an underrated opportunity for adventure on a more compact scale.
I'm not one to write year-in-review posts, but in the case of 2011 my life was both. I uprooted myself and settled back down twice with a third trip on the horizon.
The first move was from San Diego to Palo Alto, SoCal to NorCal. I had spent the last several months in SD in that period of rest and waiting. With one quarter to go in school, I came pretty close to burning out, so I took a supremely easy quarter and spent my time enjoying the place, the weather, and a very positive relationship.
Now, with 6 months' hindsight, I hate having left. San Diego rocked, and I miss living in an atmosphere of constant learning, constant international exposure, and constant ramen while living in a wonderful, comfortable apartment. Alas, graduation happens.
The second move was from Palo Alto to Dallas, from the place I always wanted to live in to home. With less than 6 weeks' hindsight, I wish I hadn't left. PA rocked. Aroon made me learn that I actually can live with the right roommate, and that it's really fun to live with a techie gamer who loves being social, loves beer and happens to be an awesome friend all around. A visit from Ale was that return to the best parts of the high school days that become oh-so-rare after age 25. Nick and Sam, I'm forever in debt to both of you. Everyone at Apple (especially iOS Maps and Keyboards; Tableau employee spouses who throw awesome parties and former employees bound to other startups included) is awesome, and my hat collectively goes off to you. The privilege of still hanging out with some of my favorite grad school friends there was icing on the cake.
I absorbed so much of the professional atmosphere there, and not just the lack of dress code. I worked at a tee-tiny startup for a couple months as a contractor, showing me the value of fast failure, being decisive, and just getting things done yourself - lack of skill isn't a valid excuse. It's the pace, challenge, control and collaboration I want. Can't wait to come back with a thicker resume and do something awesome.
That life was still one of waiting - to see if I could land a job. To see if I could move out of Aroon's place, get an apartment, and go on an IKEA shopping rampage. There were days when I wanted nothing more; I felt like that had been my destiny for months. I was ultimately waiting to see if someone would make a bet on me. Alas, they didn't. I wasn't pigeonholing myself properly.
My pigeonhole is overseas. My job search did end, and it's off to Tokyo I go. Since the search was over, it was time to clear out of Aroon's place (but thank you again for the generosity dude!) but I have four months to go before my job actually starts.
So here I am, in Dallas, resting and waiting before the next stage in the journey. It's an awesome chance to get quality time with hometown friends and family before that opportunity becomes exceedingly rare.
