Time Flies

It's official: We are leaving Mumbai at the end of May. Diego and I have been talking about this for some time now. Well, now he's given notice at work, we've given notice to our landlord, we've given notice to our staff and we've requested quotes from relocation companies.

I have mixed emotions about this departure. Our time in Mumbai did not turn out to be what we thought it would be - or hoped it would be. For the most part, Luis, Ashley and I have had a fairly charmed life. I am convinced that Luis's entourage of doters and supporters are a big part of why he is so happy and confident. Ashley is the trimmest she's been in a long time and also the most active. I, for the most part, have settled in to life here and accepted all that it comes with.

Diego has had the harder time, managing things at work. It's a very different professional environment here. He's been sick quite a bit. Besides the horrific Pink Eye incident back in the fall, he has had several colds, chest infections, sinus infections and days of just feeling crummy. We have both worried about what would happen if Luis got really sick here as we have heard too many bad stories about the health care our friends have received. I worried about Ashley. We have all missed being able to spend time outside (because of some combination of rains, pollution, heat, and smell).

For all of this and more, we have decided to leave. The plan is to pack up the apartment the last week in May and ship our stuff back home (VA). Ashley, Luis, Diego and I will leave here a few days later and head back to the States. We are hoping to be able to take a month or two-long family vacation, maybe renting a house in Florida. As for our next destination... that's still up in the air. At this point, anything is possible (outside of India).