On Friday morning, I woke up at Karen’s house in beautiful, sunny, Escondido, California. That night, I went to bed in Christine’s house in cold, rainy Brooklyn, New York – and although I have been here for four days – I can’t believe that I am actually here.

The reason I am here is simple – to gather my belongings and return to my home state of California – and leave Brooklyn for good. I am also here to get Beavis (who is as fat as a house, by the way) and take him back with me – as well as say goodbye to the family and friends I will now only see when them or I are on vacation. So far, I have seen my mother, Christine, Lisa, my sister, niece and nephew – and of course – my friends at Applebee’s. I have also been to the Five Towns to check on my belongings, and pick up some heart medication. All that is left to do here before bidding Brooklyn adieu is to see a few more friends, book a one-way ticket for me and Beavis – and watch my hometown get smaller and smaller as I leave it and all that it was to me behind.

To be honest, being here feels weird. After spending two months in California, I almost have that, “What am I doing here?” feeling. It’s like Rescue From Gilligan’s Island when they tied the huts together, got off the island and returned to society – only to go on another “three hour tour” and wind up back on the very same island. When I landed here at JFK and I smelled the air again for the first time – I was immediately punched in the face with the reality that I was right back where I did not want to be. Granted, this trip has a purpose, a finality if you will – but nonetheless – I don’t want to be here and can’t wait to leave.

Having that feeling about Brooklyn has made my decision to relocate to California easier. I have to admit that while I was on the plane on the way to JFK – I did wonder what I would feel once I returned here. I thought that maybe once I saw everyone and everything again – I might change my mind because this is where I belong. But alas – I did not get through my first cigarette after getting off the plane before realizing that the decision to move away from here is definitely the right one.

Are there people, places and things I will miss about Brooklyn? Without a doubt. There is much here in Brooklyn that I will be leaving behind that I will find unable to live without. But on the flipside – there is so much in California that I have ahead of me that I can’t wait to discover. Like I have said in previous columns, one of my recent life goals is to rid myself of the past and only move forward toward the rest of my life and the future that lies ahead – and what better way to do that then to literally leave it all behind and move on to greener pastures…

…that are 3,000 miles away.