Goodbye, Santa Barbara :(

I'm obviously very behind and I have LOTSSSS of catching up to do, so I'm going to post this entry as if I haven't left CA yet. Go with it.

Wednesday, I had my last day at work. It was too busy to be super emotional, as I had a TON to wrap up. My [former] boss, Mike took me out to lunch to say goodbye. It was so surreal packing up my desk. I can't even imagine the void Janet is staring at day after day :(

Thursday, I sold my car. THAT was tough. I reallyreallyreallyreallyreally loved my car. The buyers made it SO easy for me, which I am eternally grateful for. She let me drive it home (to drop me off) and I just kept touching it. I stood in the doorway, my throat a little tight, watching my baby drive away. On the upside, I paid off my car loan IN CASH. That felt good. I also no longer have to deal with car payments, insurance, gas, oil changes, parking tickets, registration, ect anymore.

Thursday night I have to say goodbye to Tom. It was really emotional. It really was the last piece of my SB life falling apart. I love that man so hard. We had a lot of fun having sushi and drinking sake and forcing him to take cleaning supplies because he lives with Toe. I kept it together really well until the very very end, but as soon as I went to hug him, I lost it. I just started bawling. He made me laugh a few times by reminding me of all the things I never have to deal with again, and all the useless people I never have to hang out with again. Other than people I work with, I see him the most. We hang out multiple times a week and I don't know how to not have him around. I think that will be one of my biggest adjustments.

Friday, I have to leave my apartment. My brother drove up to help me move, and his help was invaluable. I was far too busy to be at all emotional about leaving. My empty apartment was a sight to see, after three years of residency.

After turning in my apartment keys, I had a Farewell Lunch with my coworkers! It was so awesome to see everyone in the same place one last time. Plus, they all pitched in to get me a 12 swim punch card at a pool near my new place!! I am so so excited! Swimming is my most effective way of blowing off stress, and I undoubtedly have plenty of that in my future with potential job rejection and homesickness. I could not have asked for a more perfect gift. Janet snaked out before either of us could get emotional, and I'm not sure if I'm grateful or regretful. Why create an unnecessarily dramatic scene right? I really didn't want to face that goodbye. I spent 40 hours a week with that woman and she will leave a gaping void.

Driving away from SB was tough. I was pressed up against the passenger window (thank goodness my brother was driving!) watching Santa Barbara disappear behind me with tears streaming down my face. This place was my home and my sanctuary for 5.5 years. I grew up so much here. I huge part of who I am now can be attributed to the friends I've made, and experiences I've had. I definitely left a chunk of my heart in Santa Barbara.