At the end of this month, I am moving out of the country. Where precisely I will end up, I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to live overseas and, when I came back from my last Middle East trip, decided the time is now. I’ve rented my home on a two-year lease and soon will be planting myself somewhere in the Mid East. I feel perfectly comfortable throwing my life up in the air and seeing where the pieces land, praying and hoping, and trying to make it all fall into a colorful, well-formed mosaic.
I’m not selling my condo because I want to leave open the door to my life here, as I may well return. I’ve always loved southern New England and as I’ve been emotionally preparing to leave, my adoration for this area has grown. So I don’t know. I may get my fill of the rest of the world and come back.
Initially I’m traveling to Australia, to a spot called Forresters Beach about an hour outside of Sydney, where I’ll be house sitting. The couple who owns the home is being just so incredibly nice and welcoming to me, and I cannot wait to meet them. Recently, they informed me that I will be arriving during whale season. I find this quite exciting, as I have never lived anywhere near a whale. I’m sure I’ll stay and explore Australia for the three-month duration of my visa, then move on to the Middle East, which is where I really want to live.
I’ve been spending the past couple of months fastidiously readying myself to leave with an unusual degree of forethought and caution. As my move-out date moves up, soon I will be in machine mode, with almost every move I make exquisitely deliberate and precision timed, so that there will be no forgotten task, last-minute panic or overwhelming stress.
I’ve completed much of the pre-move work, but a lot remains on the plate. This weekend I hope to sell the bulk of the belongings which I’ve decided not to keep. And happily, I’ve already managed to work out the exceedingly important details behind my critical last moments in the U.S., which revolve around getting money for my car and getting on an airplane. As I need my car right up until the moment I leave, I searched for a car dealer I felt I could trust to hand me a check after I pull into their parking lot on my way to the airport. I found an established family-run used car dealership nearby and stopped in, and they agreed to buy my car. So the day I leave, I’ll lock up my condo, drive to the dealership, grab my backpack out of the car and get the check, at which time they’ll drive me to the bank and on to the airport. How smooth is that? So the beginning phases of moving out of the country are complete, and the end moments are lined up and waiting. Now I must spend my remaining time whittling away at the middle.
I am leaving not only my home but the job I’ve held my entire adult life and will be supporting myself by other means. My six-year boyfriend and the love of my life already left me. This seems to be a season of leaving. Soon I’ll be working on finding whatever else is good in the world and staying with it.
Swan Song
Thumbnail earth photo by pixagraphic
Wooohooo, the long anticipated announcement! Year of change indeed. I’m positive you won’t be having any regrets.
Congrats!
Candice´s last [type] ..How to Piss Off Customers and Guarantee a Crappy Review on Someone’s Blog
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:21
I think you’re probably right, Candice.
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Wow! Congratulations and your decision to follow your inspiration. Trust me, I know how emotionally crazy the process is, getting ready and I have also witness first hand, the universe closing the doors behind me, work, relationships, etc. It’s interesting that once you make a decision, the word seems to support you, sometimes the changes though are abrupt. Good luck to you and look forward to reading about your adventures. Rest assured, you’ll have some.
lainie´s last [type] ..Agatha’s Aftermath: Helping San Miguel Escobar Recover
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:22
Thank you so much, Lainie! It sounds as if you know just exactly what it’s like.
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All the best luck to you. Deciding to move somewhere else is a big change, but really an awesome one.
Andrew´s last [type] ..Traveling at Home – Phototour of Freiburg Market
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:23
I hope it will be an awesome change, Andrew.
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Oh WOW!!! Since I moved to Canada from the UK 10 years ago I have ALWAYS wanted to move somewhere else… where, I don’t know yet… but this is so exciting!! Best of luck!
Emily Jane´s last [type] ..2 Years. Or 7, depending on where you start
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:24
Thank you, Emily Jane. Maybe you can just start traveling around and figure out where you want to land.
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congrats!! you will have blast I remember that point in my life
@Emily your trying to move out of Canada Im trying to move into canada! lol 
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:25
Thanks, Marcello. I hope to have at least a little bit of a blast.
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Happy and safe travel, Sabina! I’m happy for you
I haven’t been much in Mid East other than a few days in Cairo/Alexandria and Dubai, and wish to see that someday too. And hey, maybe we can meet up in Sydney 
Dina´s last [type] ..Top 3 Modes of Transportation by Travelers Around the World
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:25
I would like to meet up in Sydney if you’re around, Dina.
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We can`t wait to welcome you here ..You will have the time of your life
) Jack,Jess and Dozer :O)))
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:26
Hi Jess!!! I can’t wait to meet you!!!
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How very exciting. I’m sure this will bring great changes. Can’t wait to read more. Good luck.
Alouise´s last [type] ..Musings From A Road Trip To Calgary
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:27
Thanks a lot, Alouise! It will certainly bring changes.
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Whoa Sabina! What a huge and exciting next step in your life. Looking forward to following your new journey and wishing you the very best every step of the way.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:28
Thanks so much, Lola. I really appreciate it.
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You’re a brave gal, thinking of all the important details and planning ahead; that’s admirable. Just don’t let all the preparations stress you out. It’s the unexpected that makes travel the most fun !
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:28
Oh, the details, they consume my days. Thank you for your support, Mike.
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Hi Sabina,
I am still waiting for my kid to be a little older before I make a home in Copenhagen.
Congrats and keep me posted to your move. It is an exciting time. Sorry to hear about the boyfriend — unless that’s a good thing too.
devin
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:30
Hi Devin! It’s great to hear from you. So you’re moving to Copenhagen! I actually wondered why you still lived here. This explains it. And no, the boyfriend thing was not good.
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I was doing exactly what you are doing now ten years ago. Rented my house, sold a lot of stuff. and took off. Eventually, I sold my house and got rid of everything I had stored (thinking I would be back). Almost ten years later, and I still have no desire to return. Enjoy your adventure!
Nancie (Ladyexpat)´s last [type] ..Rolling the Omelet
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:31
Hi Nancie. Wow. I know. That could happen to me. I have no idea.
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Such a wonderful blog you have here.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:32
Thanks, Faith.
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cool .. best of luck
Jaspal´s last [type] ..Gmail Chat Box is Looking Cool with its New Design
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:32
Thank you, Jaspal.
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Oh my gosh! What a HUGE life change! I’m sorry about your boyfriend. I know what an emotional upheaval that can be. Time and distance, in this situation, are definitely your friends. May I ask exactly how does an American living in the Middle East make a living? Remotely? Online? In any case, best of luck to you, bon voyage, and happy adventures!
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:34
I’ll be doing it on-line, Gray. Many Westerners teach English over there, too. Are you interested?
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This is so exciting. Living overseas was an incredible experience in my life, and I hope to do it again soon. I have written that everyone can and should do it, especially because there are usually enough ways to make a living, and if the worst happens, you come back to whereever “home” is. Best of luck and I look forward to following your journey!
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:35
Exactly, Jenna. There are tons of ways of making money and if worse comes to worse, just come home. Or move to a really, really cheap country.
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It’s always fun to read about someone’s new adventure as they leave the familiar and head into the unknown. I’m an American who has been living in Australia for the last five years and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time here. I’m really interested to discover where you end up in the Middle East – we’re thinking about looking for work opportunities there for my fiance in the next two years (after we do more travelling around) – maybe Abu Dhabi or Oman or Dubai? I think it would be a great base for travel in the region (and good money on top of that). Look forward to keeping up with your travels! =) Good luck!
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 20:39
Hi Andrea! I’m glad you commented. We have a lot in common, it seems. I’m sure I’ll love Australia too. I’m looking into settling in to the UAE. The fact that it’s a great base for travel is a huge part of its appeal to me. I’ll be writing about it, so you can find out all about how things go right here.
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Such an exciting time for you! Discovering a new country and culture is a great experience. Safe journeys.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 13th, 2010 at 09:14
Hi, Mary. Thanks a lot!
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cool plan. looking forward to updates!
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 19th, 2010 at 11:14
And I’ll be giving updates. Thanks, Claire!
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Congratulations with the start of your new life! Packing everything up and leaving is an incredible experience and very addictive, I can tell you. Your life will never be the same again after this. The experiences you will have, will stay with you for the rest of your life!
Maria Staal´s last [type] ..Radbod the Bishop Part I
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 08:34
Oh, gee, I hope it’s not addictive. Incredible, though, yes.
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Starting a new life is really great . There comes new experiences , new dreams . But leaving old is also sorrowful .
Best of luck .
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Sabina Reply:
May 2nd, 2011 at 01:13
You are exactly correct.
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