A Chick with Baggage - aChickWithBaggage.com

Hey, I'm trying out something new. I'm a big music buff and think that there are a lot of posts that I write that's stage would be set much better with a little background music loving. So try it out, if you like and leave feedback if it's something you'd like to see stick around. I also don't know how this will show up in an RSS reader or in e-mail so bear with me please!

Background Music - Max Richter - On the Nature of Daylight

Shit happens all the time. People make big decisions. Big decisions are made for people. No matter how much you try to plan your life, everyday, something happens that you don't expect. And it's how we deal with those unexpected visitors that make us unique. Our ability to handle change, in my opinion, is the most important scale we are weighed on in life.

Today, someone made a decision for me.

I will not be getting my visa to go back and work in Spain this year.

I have been jumping through the application hoops since around June 2010 when I decided I wanted to live in Spain full-time. Unfortunately, due to a bad economy, high unemployment and the lack of a job skill that MUST be supplied by a non-EU employee, I will not be able to stay in what I now consider my home for more than 90 days at a time.

The downside to this is that I am yet again, unstable. I am homeless. I have a horse in Spain who will continue to have a temporary mother. I have a cat in America who will not be able to be imported into Spain and thus will have to be given up for adoption (I think 5 years of her on the road is enough - if I had gotten residency and could guarantee her a steady life for the next 5 years, I would keep her, draggin her throug another year of 3 month houses, isn't fair). I get to spent 3 months next summer running away from the Schengen police and another 3 months next winter. It's going to be expensive.

The upside is that I have an excuse (an obligation) to travel next summer and next winter. I can't hide out in Spain and I have to get out. This is bound to be expensive, but the gain for my vitality definitely outweighs the losses my bank account is sure to face. I have another 6 months trial to make sure that Spain is the right fit for me before signing on to a 5+ year committment. I still get to do what I love (ride horses, travel, immerse myself) without upsetting anyone and without starving.

I am sad. Of course. But on another hand, I'm relieved. I get to make plans now, and so much is already coming together. I'm hoping to plan a trip to Eastern Europe, maybe the Middle East and the British Isles sometime over the summer. I will get the chance to meet up with some people I miss tremendously and the opportunity to see more, and more, and more.

It's just a new chapter.

So where should I go? I'd love your feedback. I'm looking at the Balkans, the Adriatic Coast, the Dead Sea area, the Middle East and Northern Africa. I would appreciate all the feedback I can get as these are ALL uncharted water for me. I need to stay cheap, I'd prefer to stay overland, and I have to stay non-Schengen. Everything else is up for grabs. My travel dates are June 8 - July 29 and then again from August 8 - September 11. Anyone up for a meetup? My slate is blank. Please leave me your comments or send me an e-mail and let me know what you're up to this summer!