I've talked openly here about leaving Portland for a while now, obviously to do my bike ride this summer. But I've also decided that after the ride, I'm likely not heading back here. I've had an awesome time here in Portland. It's been a big part of my evolution as a person. I feel a lot less upset and stressed out than I was in San Francisco. But I think my journey needs to continue somewhere else. I've had a lot of trouble with the weather, for example. And I feel very far from my family. This is also a bit of a difficult job market for me. But, to be clear, I am leaving with very fond memories of Portland. I love the commitment to the outdoors, the generally intelligent and live-and-let-live attitude of people, and some of the creativity. The Pearl has been a fun place to live, and Planet Granite is just an absolutely amazing rock climbing gym. So no complaints, but I think it's time to move on. I'll be moving back across the country with my Dad at the end of April, staying in Jacksonville for about a month with my parents, and then heading out on my ride. When the ride is over, I'm looking at a few spots, mostly the Austin area, the Bay area again (though not in the city anymore), and possibly also in Jacksonville.
If anyone knows of any opportunities for a quality Senior software engineer, especially one specializing in graphics, in the Austin metro area, Bay area or in Jacksonville, please keep me in mind! I wouldn't be available until August but I'm ready to hit the ground running then!