Moving Countries during a Pandemic

What I’ve learned — and what I’m still learning.

Newport Beach a few weeks ago.

When I boarded my flight from Melbourne to move to the United States on March 22, I assumed the pandemic would be over in a month or two, tops.

My fiancé met me at LAX and we headed north along a surreally empty Highway 101. I gazed out at green hills and palm trees as they rolled past.

“Work just announced our office is closed until sometime in May.”

“That’s cool,” I enthused. “A few weeks’ break from commuting.”

That date came and went. Seven months later, the pandemic is still here. And I still don’t feel at home in this new place.

Back in March, I felt confident that I’d soon settle into southern California. I’ve moved countries multiple times and have always made it work. I had my ‘settle in and feel at home’ routine dialed. Plus I’d spent time here before. Heck, I even owned a Mustang, Ruby, the greatest car on earth.

“I’ll be feeling at home before I know it,” I was certain.

My foolproof new-place MO

First up, find my new favorite local grocery store for essential supplies (food is very important to me).