Crazy timing

There was always a sneaking suspicion in our minds that this just wasn't going to happen. We were having so many worries about what to do when we arrived in the US that it just seemed like an insurmountable task. Well maybe I knew that I was pregnant! Yes I just did the test (three in fact) and we are having another baby. So it makes a lot of sense that we stay here where Jeremy already has a secure job (albeit not paying vast sums) and a free healthcare system that will provide all the antenatal and birthing options we could possibly need. Of course we are turning down the opportunity to live rent free in the US for a while and the huge support network of friends and family that we were looking forward to , but it seems a little crazy to head over into the unknown with an extra mouth to feed (I'll be eating for two from today!!).

Second thoughts (and third, fourth..)

Phew, what a couple of weeks we have had. Items of furniture have been leaving the house one by one, but it is still so difficult to imagine that we are leaving the country in a couple of months.

Life has to pretty much carry on as normal in the meantime, so it is hard to picture what our lives might look like six months from now. It is strange to have a date on the calendar after which there is just a lot of empty space. A blank canvas on which we need to paint a brand new life. But looking around our cosy little house, our leafy back garden and the green open fields that stretch beyond it.. of course we keep wondering if we are doing the right thing. Jeremy really does seem to love his job at the council and over the past few weeks he has had time to really appreciate all the aspects of it that he will miss. I, on the other hand need to get a new life whether we stay here or move. I have been going slightly mad at times being at home with Dylan all day every day, despite the fact that he is the most joyous human bean anyone could ever wish to hang out with. I do crave some adult conversation and a chance to use my brain for a few hours a day and I think Dylan would relish the chance to stretch his social butterfly wings at nursery. In the US that cannot happen at least until the new year, because I have to submit my visa application on arrival and wait for at least three months before they issue me even a temporary work visa. Of course if we stayed in England I could probably get a job next week and get on with life, but where would be the adventure in that?

Dreams & schemes

The last couple of days I have spent lots of time online (no surprise there then) looking at houses in the Middlesex area of Massachusetts.. I think we can afford something with a nice leafy back garden/yard and not too far from a lake - there are lots to choose from! Marlborough is looking like a good contender, just a few miles from family and not too far to Sudbury Valley School.

I've also been checking out a few business opportunities, although just arriving in the country and getting out and about will be much more useful research than googling every damn thing. I have lots of ideas for baby businesses and related activities.. I'm just reading up about nappy recycling, with a view to maybe providing a collection service, although I don't think I'd be so keen to provide a nappy washing service! Anyway, lots of food for thought and more investigating to do while I'm waiting for all my ebay auctions to end!

Is that your final answer?

It seems to have taken us approximately 8 years to make the decision, but we have finally agreed... "The Goddards are going to America!!". The tickets are booked for 7th October, so we have about 10 weeks to sell everything we own, pack a few of the biggest suitcases we can find for everything that is left and get on that plane!