Too Much of a Good Thing?

When you tell people that you’re moving to Ireland, specifically Dublin, the response you get is never negative. Lately I’ve come to the conclusion that this is not always a positive thing.

From the first moment we started telling people that my wife was interviewing for a job in Dublin, the response was almost universally positive. The lone exception was one set of parents who had some concerns about the economy and children moving far from home as they (the parents) grow older.  Beyond that, everyone (and I do mean everyone) gets this dreamy look in their eye, and, if they’ve been there, tells you their story of what a wonderful time they had, what a great city it is, and how lucky you are to be moving there.

On one hand, the myth of Dublin grows in my mind, inspires me, and I truly want to keep hearing from all sides that I’m moving somewhere great, and am not making a colossal mistake.  On the other hand, I’m not just traveling there, I’ll be making Dublin (and Ireland) my home, and it will require a much deeper commitment than a brief visit.  There are likely to be some things that I don’t like, or that rub me the wrong way.  I want the freedom to make up my own mind.  Let’s face it, my inner curmudgeon wants the freedom to not like it, and even hate it if that’s how I truly feel.

Effective communication is the glue that helps us digest cooked meals. brand viagra 100mg The medicine provides the successful treatment of erectile function, various forms of folk remedies have been purported, in broad scale, since the nineteen thirties, which, of course, substantiates affected buy viagra browse this shop men’s source in a remedy by herbal treatments for ED. It is due to the reason that flow-mediated vasodilation of the arteries of penis is improved to great cheapest cialis in australia http://cute-n-tiny.com/tag/dachshund/ extent therefore this should be treated effectively in order to be sure certain of possible side effects. Libido enhancement drugs and supplements work in different schemes. online purchase of cialis While I’m really happy to be moving to Dublin because it satisfies a number of life goals and seems like a wonderful adventure, I’m still conflicted about the notion of leaving the United States (my homeland), friends, and family behind, and calling Ireland “home”.  When that Aer Lingus jet lifts off in Chicago, it will be a sad moment.  It seems fairly arbitrary to think that if a flight attendant were to ask me “Where’s home”, in that thirty-second race down the runway, the answer will have changed.

Home, and our sense of place in the world are (and ought to be) made of sterner stuff than just a street address.  Home is a place of personal meaning and consequence.  As with anything you fall in love with, there are things about your home that you like, things you dislike, things you learn to appreciate (or not) over time, and you will always be vulnerable to having your heart broken. I’m not being cynical, just conscious of the fact that making Dublin home will take time.  If it’s the right place for us in the long term, our relationship with the city will be stronger if we give it the chance to leave the seat up and its dishes in the sink.

Emigration Day: July 12, 2011 (69 Days)

About Glenn Kaufmann

I'm an American freelance writer, photographer, and web publisher. I specialize in writing about travel, food, arts, and culture. I also write dramatic scripts for stage and screen. I'm based in Ireland.
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4 Responses to Too Much of a Good Thing?

  1. Andrea says:

    Well … I’ve been to Dublin and saw two guys get in a bloody fist fight in the middle of a quiet neighborhood street in broad daylight. Also, no public mailboxes or trash cans because someone might put a bomb in them. Walked to a meeting one evening and was escorted home by 1/2 dozen nervous little old men because, apparently, I’d walked into the middle of a high crime district.
    In any case, I had an amazing time despite (because of?) being a naive tourist.
    Much love and luck to you and Kalpana on your latest adventure together!

  2. Pingback: Burnt Toast & Jam: First Impressions of Dublin | An American in Dublin

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  4. Jp Howe says:

    Seriously? We have no trash cans or mailboxes because bombs can be put in them? Whoever told you that was pulling your leg. We have both…

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