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October 4, 2005
Considering New Orleans again
Much to my surprise, Gina is pretty gung-ho about the possibility of moving back to New Orleans for a year or two. She's driven partly by professional interest ("the architecture there is just too juicy"), partly I think by wanting a change, partly (and she won't say so, but I'm guessing) because maybe she thinks this is the lever that will finally pry me out of the software business.
So it's not a serious thing, yet, but not necessarily a complete fantasy either. My brother has connections in town which he can work to help me find me a job. Gina is trying to get on either with FEMA or through other architect contacts. I have high school friends I can talk to about which Orleans Parish schools are still viable (the Algiers schools were a bright spot when I was a kid), or whether private school is the way to go. At least until high school, when I know the kids can go to Franklin, my alma mater.
So Gina keeps looking up rental properties, both Uptown and in my childhood neighborhood of Algiers. Unfortunately, rental rates in the non-flooded areas have doubled since Katrina, making it just about as expensive as Austin for renters. And I don't think buying right off the bat is a good idea because the market there is going to be absolutely psycho for a few years.
It's a very weird time. Many monumental choices. Karl probably remembers 12 years ago when Gina and I just up and decided overnight to move from the Bay Area back to Texas. But now there are kids. You don't just up and do things when there are kids involved. But neither should the kids be an excuse for inaction, for stagnation.
I just don't know.
Posted by ray at October 4, 2005 9:21 AM | Permalink
Categories: [family | katrina | new orleans | work ]
Comments
I've got a couple of friends who are looking to sublet their dry apartments in New Orleans. They are anthropologists who are off to do fieldwork this year anyway. There are some lists here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tulane_anthro/
I'd think it would be both horribly exciting and a little scary to go back right now. I'm tempted too, though it's completely impractical for me right now. Good luck with your decision-making.
Take care --
Posted by: Kate at October 4, 2005 11:10 AM
i hope that everyone is able to repair their homes and get back on their feet. i also want the people to know (like bush) that GOD does not like ugly so you better do something about what's going on.........
Posted by: whitney jackson at October 4, 2005 2:03 PM
pry you out of software so that you will do what? which of your many talents would result in your dream job?
Posted by: sarah at October 5, 2005 12:18 AM
Gigolo.
Duh.
Seriously, I have this vague notion that I'd like to try teaching.
Posted by: Ray at October 5, 2005 6:43 AM
Yeah, sure Ray. Teaching at the local school for wayward girls.
Wait, that's MY dream job...
Posted by: Karl Elvis at October 5, 2005 9:45 AM
I was going to post something serious, but you and KE put me off track. Well, you didn't really. I was just going to comment on your kids comment.
I think it's important that you do what is right for your family, but that means putting you and your wife as number one. My reason for thinking that way is that if a child has happy and loving parents they can endure a lot of other minor glitches along the way. However, if you end up with unhappy parents it's a much harder deal, and you might end up with an eternal guilt burden forever after that. "We gave up our dreams because of you!"
Posted by: Henrik at October 6, 2005 4:12 PM
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