Considering I wasn’t planning to be in Oregon a few weeks ago, this is slightly crazy. But it happened and is real and wonderful and I’m loving it here already even though I’ve only been here half a week.

So how did this all happen?

Well, on May 3 I was fed up with my situation living at home and felt the need to get out of what was a toxic environment for me. I posted on Facebook a flippant comment about figuring out someplace to live for just two months. I wanted to leave but wasn’t really sure that I would make the commitment to leave since it wasn’t a long period of time.

My former college roommate from my freshman year who lives in Oregon replied saying that she needed a roomie. I’d been trying to move in with her for the past year but something always came up – going to Vermont, going to New Zealand, etc. When she asked I thought that it sounded like the best idea ever. I’d finally get to live in Oregon and experience the West Coast. We talked about it and she ended up getting another roommate but still wanted me to come and crash at her place. Since I’m a fan of air mattresses and will sleep/live almost anywhere I decided to still go.

I decided on a Tuesday and left for Oregon on Saturday morning. I packed up my car, printed off directions, bought some food for the trip, and set off headed West.

I drove 12 hours the first day, 7 the next, and then another 7 the day after that. I stayed with bloggers in Fremont, Nebraska, and Salt Lake City, Utah. I spent an extra day in Utah hanging out and meeting several other bloggers in the area. I loved my stay in Utah and had a ton of fun there. The day I left Utah I drove over 14 hours to get to Salem, Oregon.

And that’s where I am now. I love it so far and I can’t wait to explore the city further. It’s going to be an interesting month or two up here.

I wish that this ticket was for this week and I was heading off for a quick visit, but unfortunately it’s not. It is however the plane ticket for my big move to New Zealand. And I bought it on my birthday! It wasn’t planned that way, that just happened to be the day that the particular savings account hit the amount to purchase the ticket. The date was just a cool side benefit. But a plane ticket for a move across the world is a pretty nice gift for yourself I think.

So I’m officially going! Now that I’ve bought the plane ticket it’s a real event that is going to happen in just a few months.

On August 13 I’m moving to New Zealand.

That’s the date that I settled on, which happens to also be Friday the 13th. I found that funny so I went a step further and reserved seats on row 13. You know, just because. I’ve never been the superstitious type and once even used the number 13 for softball. If anything it’s more of a lucky number than an unlucky one. Hopefully my flight/row will be empty. ;)

I could have waited to get the ticket but I like to do things in advance so I know there won’t be any problems later on. I didn’t want to wait and let prices jump or possibly use the money on something else so that I then couldn’t purchase a ticket. No, I like to be prepared way in advance for something like this. Because something like this is pretty huge.

So that’s why this particular plane ticket is THE plane ticket. It’s the one that is taking me to a new country for a year. It’s the one taking me to some new adventures. It’s the one taking me back to my love. It’s a pretty special plane ticket. Plus it’s only one stop this time.  Awesome.