Background Part III - The Move

Once I got the contact, came to terms with Claire on the divorce, the rest was easy. I had a lot to do between August and late September when I had planned to leave.

I had to find a place to live. I knew no one in Australia. I got on the internet and started looking for places to rent in Perth. I had no idea what neighborhoods were safe, close, or what.

Then I stumbled on a little ad for a place called Holland House. It was a home made web page for a family that was renting a granny unit in their house in Perth. The room was fully furnished and came with meals, laundry, private bath. The house had a pool, and a cat and a dog. The owners looked really nice. They were seeking an English language student from Asia who needed a complete and safe place to live.

So I called them up and asked them if they could take a 38 year old systems programmer. It was not the call they expected. I think they were a little startled by the response.

I was blessed. The husband of the house, Martin Lentz, also worked as a systems programmer, and he used to work at IBM Perth doing exactly what I was being hired for. He no longer worked there, bit still kept in contact. So he called some friends of his there, confirmed that I was legit, and said yes. Awesome!

Claire moved in with her new boyfriend. I helped pack up the house and helped them move everything over, or into storage. I packed up everything that got to keep and put it in the back of my pickup truck.

I then drove to my mom's house in Tucson Arizona and stored my remaining belongings there. I also left my pickup truck in her garage. I did not know if I would be coming back in a year. If so, I would need something to drive. My truck was old, but it still ran fine and was paid for. It made no sense to get rid of it. Besides, mom could use it from time to time to haul things to the house.

After mom's, all I had left in the world was my little laptop and one suitcase with some clothes. I had to borrow $3k from a friend to buy a ticket, then I took off for my new life in the unknown.

I would like to go out of my way to thank my friend John who loaned me the $3k I needed to start my life over again. John. You saved my life. I did pay him back, with interest (I'm not a total deadbeat), once I got settled in Australia and started earning money again. Honestly, I got more out of that $3000 than I have gotten out of any money in my life before. It allowed me to get my life back on track. I can't tell you how difficult it was for me to ask you. I didn't know what else I could do.

I will always be grateful for your trust and faith in me in my time of need. I hope that someday I can help you out the way you did for me.

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