So why does a guy who's largish butt is still planted firmly in his chair in his room in his house in his town even need a "travelogue"? Because I hope this will help me get out of said places and go somewhere. "So" you say "what's stopping you"?

The main thing would be: money, lack of.

I gave away my nestegg (and the nest, for that matter) in my divorce. I could have fought about it, but honestly, why bother. it was just money. I had no plans for it at the time, my ex-wife really likes the stuff and she takes great care of our son with it. I guess now I wish I had kept some, though in all honesty, the ten grand or so I spent whooping it up in Vegas, Phoenix, Sand Diego, LA, and Seattle (not to mention Oklahoma City, but that's a whole 'nother story) after I "moved out" would have been plenty had I hung on to just that. Water under the bridge, or, considering my desert theme, sand through the hourglass (when I left Chicago it was in a record blizzard--went to the airport and asked for the first plane going West).

So now here I am, I've given up law 'cause I don't like the side-effects (weight-gain, insomnia, depression and the heartbreak of psoriasis) but teaching high school ain't just a pack of pop-rocks either. I'm just about finished with my student teaching, and I'm not sure if I even want a job offer. I've decided if I get one I will do it for one semester, just to save money, I'm also going to try a little side work. With any luck I can save 6 to 8 grand by June (I have next to no expenses). Should be enough to explore a few places and find one I like. Otherwise I'll bite the bullet and practice for 6 months (and probably make more if I don't blow my brains out in the first week...)

Next installment: Where to...