Fujikoma.com Blog

In 2004, I made the journey from my hometown in Jacksonville, FL to Atlanta, GA. It was a great decision and the last few years I have made a plethora of friends and gone to some amazing shows. Forever I love Atlanta, but now it’s time to go. Since my arrival I have met so many wonderful friends from all walks of life; Polish, Serbian, Korean, Mexican, Peruvian, Lebanese, Nepali, Persian, Swedish, Dominican and so many others. They’ve given me so many stories to tell and taken me on a lifetime of experiences and adventures.
I’ve seen some amazing concerts and shows.
I’ve met celebrities.
I’ve rocked VIP at clubs.
I’ve raised a shih tzu.
I’ve attended a ridiculous amount of conventions.

Now it’s time for another large move. Next week I will be driving almost 3,000 miles from Atlanta, GA to Portland, OR.
I couldn’t be more excited for this trip. I actually requested this move after a life changing week-long visit to the place. As soon as I got back I put in for a request from my job at Sage Software. Sage has an office in Portland and while it took nearly 6 months for something suitable to come, it finally did! Not only does my pay go up, but the job is also paying for the relocation.

I made the announcement at my 31st birthday dinner at Bone Garden Cantina. I had been told the news as a special birthday present at 6:30 after work was over from HR who wasn’t officially supposed to tell me until the following day. I first told my previous coworker who was thrilled but told everyone else after a small birthday song. I was met with both congratulatory and concern. It wasn’t just a small move to another city or state, but across the country. They’re all happy for me because they know this is something I’ve been working so hard to achieve.

My drive was inevitable. I love my 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit and bought it at only 10 miles from the dealer. It has now reached an amazing 60,000 miles and still churns away, good as new. I made full inspection and cleaned her up. I also had to decide who would be going with me to this. I could take a friend from Atlanta with me and fly em back, or a friend from Portland and fly them here.  I had a few offers but none solid enough. Luckily one of the greatest people in my life volunteered for this.

My mom.

She is now retired from over 30 years of teaching school and has all of the free time she could ever need. Lately she’s traveled to Grand Canyon, Maine, Orlando and a few other places, as well as going on Cruise adventures to several islands with my sister. She’s defeintely the person I inherited my travel bug from. So this weekend I will be picking her up from Florida and then heading off.

I’ve accumulated SO much in my 31 years! I’m still downsizing all kinds of photos, VHS tapes, high school drawings, and all sorts of other things. The only things coming with me are my two TVs, PS3, clothes, Ikea shelf (my only truely owned furniture), and bedset. I’m a keeper, a saver. I look at something as sentimental value and think one day it’ll either be worth something or maybe I’ll buy a scanner and scan it or something else to the point it just won’t go into the garbage. Luckily the family offered to store a few boxes for me.

So wish me luck, this will be the move to end it all. East coast goes West coast and while I’m going to visit, I’m living out here for a good while. Thanks to everyone for the great times.