ORACLE

4/13/2010

The Sleeper Must Awaken

"...a person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing him to grow. Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken." --Duke Leto Atreides, Dune

I love that quote, and it is very relevant to what is going on in my life right now. It is rare that I share anything personal about myself on this blog, but I felt that I would break away from this and talk about what has been going on in my life recently. Long story short, my girlfriend, Stephanie McNally, recently landed a job in Raleigh, NC and I will be joining her there in the coming weeks. It took us a while to find her a new place, but we did it and this past week I helped her get moved in. What an exhausting process!... and I am only half way finished, because now I have to get all my things packed and moved as well. I hope to have all this done by month's end. (/crossing fingers)

This is a very big step for me. I can honestly say that the friends I have right now are the best friends I have ever had in my life. They are also the core of my gaming group. It is going to be tough leaving them behind, but I am sure we will all keep in touch. Who knows, maybe I can coax a few to follow me in time. I am not sure what I can expect when it comes to making new friends or finding new people to game with. I believe this is the scariest part of the whole thing for me, because it is such a huge unknown.

Obviously, the decision to move has been a hard one, but I feel it is also a necessary one for several reasons. First and foremost, I love my girlfriend, and will support her in all things, so moving to be with her is a no-brainer. Beyond that, I just feel it is time for a clean slate. It has been a very long time since I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried anything drastic or new. As the quote states above, it is time for new experiences, and I hope moving to Raleigh will open up new opportunities for me -- especially career-wise. Finding interesting employment here in the town that I currently live in is almost impossible, so I am excited to see what kind of job I can find once I get moved.

So, why am I sharing this, and what does this have to do with Swords Against the Outer Dark? Well, nothing and everything. I have failed to post anything I consider worthwhile these past few weeks simply because of the amount of time I have dedicated to "life stuff." I felt it was necessary to let everyone know why this is the case. This will change once I get moved and get settled in. I have not run out of steam yet! The good news is that I have several projects that I have started and just need to find time to complete. More on this a little later... promise!

Well, there it is in a nutshell. The sleeper must awaken! Wish me luck on my big move.

17 comments:

James said...

Good Luck!

Trey said...

Congratulations to your girlfriend, and good luck to you both. I'm sure you'll enjoy Raleigh.

James Maliszewski said...

I've always enjoyed North Carolina; I'd love to go back and visit there some day.

R.R. Hunsinger said...

Ok, my first reaction is to get violent... but since I knew this was coming....
Good luck my old friend and know I envy you the adventure....slightly. ;-)

Brutorz Bill said...

Best of luck to you and your g.f.

brandykruse said...

Good luck with the packing and moving and congrats on the shackin' up!

Alex Schroeder said...

Good luck! You'll find new friends, I'm sure. As they say... Friends come and go, enemies accumulate. :)

Joe Bardales said...

Having moved three times in the last 18 months, I completely understand where you're coming from. Best of luck with the move, and I hope you both find everything you desire in your new home! :)

Gerall Kahla said...

Obviously, Step 1 after unpacking is to locate the FLGS...

Congrats to the two of you!

The Grey Elf said...

Best of luck! In many ways I envy you--my situation is opposite yours. I would LOVE to pick up and leave Western PA for different streets and a clean slate...but my wife's job and family commitments trap us here.

Fran Terminiello said...

Inspirational quote. Best of luck on this exciting new chapter!

word verification: salti (italian for leaps, appropriate non?)

Sean Robson said...

About six years ago, my wife got a job in a new city and I was forced to leave behind friends I had gamed with for twenty-five years. Obviously this was very sad, and it took me a while to find new people to game with, but find them I did - eventually. The new group is a fantastic, dedicated, and enthusiastic bunch, and I found that playing with new people forced me out of a gaming rut that I didn't know I was in. The sleeper awakes, indeed.
Best of luck with your move, and I look forward to future posts after you get settled.

Rex Venom said...

Adventure is what happens when you walk out your front door.
Enjoy this chance to be more.
Gamers will find gamers, anywhere!
Rock on!

Anonymous said...

sounds like a good move.
i did the same thing about seven years ago and it's worked out better than i ever expected.

i have no doubt you will settle right in, get a good job, and get a group in no time.

keep looking at the horizon!

Shane Mangus said...

Thanks to all for the words of encouragement. It means a lot!

Tom Hudson said...

Welcome to the Triangle!

Shane Mangus said...

Tom,

Thanks! I will be living in north Raleigh. Maybe you can send me some information about the gaming stores in and around town. Use the link for my Google profile to email me.

Talk to you soon,

Shane