Fin

This will be the final post here.

The morning of 28 Oct 2008, all of my belongings were loaded into a container and secured with a seal by the customs officials (that would be the curious yellow object on the left) for a six week luxury cruise through the Panama Canal headed towards San Francisco. After almost three years in this most magical of cities, I auspiciously return on the day of the U.S. national elections just in time to see history made one way or the other. The results will reflect either inspirational courage or epic stupidity.

(If you've followed my previous missives, there is no mystery as to who got my vote.)

I decided to spend my final week living in a hotel which features my favorite bar in the city and is conveniently located across the street from the Louvre. This has proven to be a wise move, as there is free wi-fi throughout the hotel. So far, I have managed not to spill a cocktail into my computer. Talk about a posh office!

A slight cloud of melancholy seems to be following me around, reminding me of what's afoot. While I am eager to return to my home in the Bay Area, I reflect on things that I will miss, e.g. many excellent places to eat that are open late and accessible via public transportation. Those forthcoming losses are balanced equally by things to which I am more than happy to say au revoir -- excessive bureaucracy and customer 'service,' to name two. And while I look forward to returning to the unique experience that America can offer, I am definitely not ready to for that which seems to often define us as a nation: the whole "fear and greed" thing, as Brad has put it.

So in true American style, I am will be trading in my métro pass for an H&K P2000 V2 .40S&W (metaphorically and literally).

My final night here will purposely be spent alone reflecting on what all this has meant to me. I've definitely learned more about myself, Paris, and everything in between. The question currently on my mind: will I ever really be a tourist here again? Having spent a total of over four years of my life as a resident (including a shorter stay 1990-1991), future visits will always feel like returning 'home.' Such is the magic of a gorgeous, passionate place. Rather than wrack my remaining brain cells for a summary of it all, I'll just cite the title of a film that was a respectable effort in capturing the espirit de vivre of this place:

Paris, je t'aime.

Boomerang!

Time to make this official: I am leaving Paris.

After 2.5 years of magic, melancholy, mirth and Morel mushrooms, I will soon pack up and head back to the Bay Area. Attempts to purchase a property here have been adventurous indeed, but reality bites: I cannot afford to do so in Paris, and living out in la province is pointless. That, coupled with missing my family, friends and yes, the R6, I decided not to ride out the financial equivalent of the Titanic.

The catalyst appeared in a spreadsheet: once I realized that 53% of my gross income was being handed over annually to the French government (including mandatory retirement contributions) and that as an owner, my fixed cost of living would be another 33% on top of that, it was not going to leave much disposable income for fun. I could have paid cash for a home in rural France or bought a much smaller place in Paris, but neither would have been a fit, figuratively or literally. Having been a homeowner for over fourteen years, the idea of continuing to rent left a bad taste in my mouth. So that left but one possibility.

Strangely, I am not sad, nor do I feel defeated. I have been extraordinarily fortunate to have had the adventure, my French has improved, and Paris will always be my other 'home.' Time has eroded the novelty, which makes leaving a lot easier. It would be dishonest to state that I am thrilled with the idea of living back in America at this dubious point in history, but do intend to find the same work/life balance that I have here to offset the things about my native culture that are irksome.

There are other reasons behind my decision as well, professional and personal, which aren't appropriate here. Instead, I'll simply thank my family and friends for their love and support while I've been here, and my employer for the flexibility and opportunities (past, present, future).

Perhaps another post or two here, and then this blog will go idle when I finally say au revoir.

The numbers

Why is Madame SIX in charge of ligne 10?

The métro version of The Prisoner?