25 Days to go

[Richard Purves 58]

It's been an interesting ride since my visa approval on October 1st. Lots of things have conspired to keep me offline: my grandmother's 100th birthday, trying to juggle work and migration planning, booking flights, my grandmother's passing a week before my job ended, trying to arrange accommodation and so on. There's also stuff about possibly working for my now former employer in the USA, then that disappeared, then working for someone else, then that not happening. I've chopped and changed where I'm going three times now.

 

(yeah my grandmother's passing is the gift that keeps on giving. long story about violations of medical power of attorney outside the scope of this post.)

 

So job's finished, flights are booked. £375 + 230,000 Flying Blue miles, which is about 13 years worth in one go. Yes, I'm going to be flying "La Premiere" which I couldn't hope to afford otherwise! I figure if you're going to make that kind of life change then do it in style! 28th December and I am off to Sunny California before Air France raises it's prices in the new year. See you there!

 

However ...

 

As I found out, no Social Security number means things are a lot more difficult for someone like me than anyone who's going for marriage or for employment. I've been unable to get an apartment arranged because no number, no US bank account as proof of funds and no waiting job offer. So I've had to book a month in an AirBNB and hope like hell that the Social Security office issues my card (automatic if chosen with the DS-260 form) within three weeks. Oh, did I mention that it's going to my attorney? In Miami? No permanent address will do that for you.

 

Anyways, I look forward to eventually meeting you California peoples out there at some point. Now ... back to Christmas prep. Those presents won't wrap themselves!