Fellow Free-Staters!
Everything's lined up, I've got a NH job, I've sold my NC house, and I wanted to let everybody know I'm moving THIS WEEK!
I'm posting because I wanted those "potential" Free Staters who might be on the fence right now to know that, yes, it is tough to finally pull that trigger and decide you're moving. And yes, the timing may never be quite right. But I have it on very good authority that, as FSP'ers trickle into NH one by one, Boston liberals and big government types are pouring into NH by the hundreds! So we need to go, NOW.
And yes, most people will give up a few things to move to NH. I'm taking a big pay cut (hopefully temporary), selling an awesome 3brdm little house that I love to rent a 1 bdrm apt., trading a wonderfully mild beach climate for a slightly colder (and hotter) 4 seasons, and leaving a lot of friends behind. But I wanted everyone to know- I do NOT consider those sacrifices! Not at all.
As Ayn Rand reminds us, a sacrifice is when you give up a greater value to gain a lesser one, and that is not at all what I consider this to be. Yes, I'm taking a pay cut, but I'm moving from a large company job where I'm stagnating, to a small, agile company where I'm going to learn an exciting new field and the sky's the limit! (Because I chose it that way from where I sent my resumes.)
Yes, I have to sell my awesome house, but with the market so hot right now, I found a buyer who wants it at a price high enough to satisfy me, but low enough for him to ALSO turn a profit once he flips it. (Because we both chose it that way.)
Yes, I'm losing a mild beach climate, but I'm gaining snow days and skiing and sledding and mountains and hiking, and hot chocolate by the fire, all of which I haven't seen for 3 years! (I choose to view it this way. And my new apt does happen to come with a fireplace.)
But most of all, I am making all these changes to gain something I could get nowhere else in the world! (Think about it, really. If NH falls, where will we go?) And that is a line in the sand against tyranny. An outpost worth defending. Somewhere we can all dig in and say, "This is where men will be free." That incalculable gain is worth any small thing I may lose by moving.
I also wanted to let potentials know how long it takes. I first got serious about Free State at last year's PorcFest, July 2005. I considered all my options, then started sending out resumes in Sept. 2005. I finally got fed up with my old job and REALLY started sending out resumes Dec 2005 (3-5 a week, for about 8 weeks). I only started getting responses back in March 2006. I interviewed in April 2006, and now, after 3 weeks of breakneck preparations, I'm finally moving in May 2006. 10 months from start to finish.
But even though I rationally made the decision in July 2005, I only emotionally made the decision in April 2006, when I got the job I really wanted, in a NH city I really wanted, and found the apt I really wanted.
To sum up, I've seen a lot of posts on here that say "I'd love to move, but...." or "I support FSP ideas, but I'm not ready yet...." and I understand it's tough. It's been an emotional roller coaster these last few weeks, saying good-bye to people I've grown to care about, and leaving a job I really think is important.
But let me tell you...once I made the decision, once there was no turning back, that night, I slept better than I had in a last year. It's worth it now, and it will be much more worth it later. And I need freedom-loving people like you to come with me, so we can make this stand together.
My
ghoses@cox.net e-mail will only work until Wednesday, but my cell (252) 646-2643 I'll keep even after I'm up there. And I'll post on this forum again after I move, with some version of the username "Shuvom" to give out my NH e-mail.
Any FSP'er who wants ANY help moving into the Manchester area, who wants me to run down phone-books or numbers which would help them move, or needs ANYTHING done (advice, coaching, job tips) that would tip them over the edge into moving, contact me, and I'll do what I can.
Hope to see you there. Freedom- In our lifetime!
Best Regards,
Shuvom