I'm from Ramsgate on the east coast of Kent. I don't go to London much, I get twitchy if I can't smell the sea ("they cant take the brine from me..." did'nt jos whedon write a song about that?)
Talking of exchange students' I've been hosting foriegn students in my home for a couple of years now. That was another one of the reasons why i decided to give up the day job and look at life from somewhere other than inside the box.
If you ever come to Blighty again let me know and i'll take you to my local pub. I allways feel sorry for people living on the north American continent and the terrible Beer they have to drink.
See you around Yank (does that count for Canadians?)

Hey there English! How are things across the pond? I'm always amazed at how far the Firefly influence ranges.

Where in England are you from? (When I was a sprite, I spent time in London as an exchange student and some fo my fondest memories were made between Earl's Court and Kensington High Street with a bag of books on my shoulder.)

While I was there our school traveled all over, from Wales to Scotland and from Brighton to Edinbourough. I saw more fantastic places on that trip than I've seen in the fifteen years since!

As for wargaming figures, I used to be the Manager of a gaming store in my first post-college days. I ordered for the store so I bought and painted my fair share of miniature tanks, creatures, heroes and other stuff to game with. (Did historical for US Civil War and WWII as well as sci-fi and fantasy - a lot of 40K stuff.) Unfortunately, I haven't done much in the last decade although I still have a toolbox worth of figures (many still in the packs) waiting for paint. (Saving those for retrirement age! Chuckle!)

I know what you mean by achieving peace of mind through following a dream. Years ago I did the "sensible" thing and lived a sensible life. The kind my parents approved of. It was all very nice, but not very good. There's more in earlier sections of the blog, so I won't bore you here.

But like yourself, I self-downsized and for the first time in many, many years I'm looking at the future with anticipation and excitement despite the financial hardships that lie ahead.

I think I gave the wrong impression in this blog by not explaining about the friends. I'm not leaving them behind and I won't give them up as something in my past. Despite what may be some hard feelings (either directly as a result or as a side-effect of my decision), I've always believed that really good friends are able to be angry with each other once in awhile without losing the friendship. These are good people, some of the best I have ever known. I value them greatly and would not give them up lightly.

Thank you for your kind words and well wishing. I would also wish you well in your endeavors and experiences. Hopefully, we'll end up on the same ship (Serenity?) one day and be able to congratulate each other on the wonderful lives we've led.

-Rkangel

Forgive me for leaping in with both feet because i have'nt read all of your blogs and don't know if you have decided what your future plans may be but let me give you a brief resume of my recent experience.
Untill just over a year ago i worked in a trade which in my country (England)is considered by everyone except the people who pay the wages as a fairly skilled and worthwhile profession. I was an upholsterer making leather furniture, you know, Buttoned Chesterfield suites and those big leather wing chairs that you see in Victorian libraries. After 15 years the job had become so pressurized and thankless that i felt like a zombie (and not in a good way). So after much soul-searching and one to many back injuries i just gave it all up.I think you colonial chaps call it downsizing. I left on good terms with my boss who was convinced (as was I to tell the truth) that my new venture would fall flat and i would be back in the factory in six months.
Well so far my venture (I paint wargaming figures and sell them over the internet) is still up and running and because i have contact with my customers, I get to hear about it when they are happy with a completed job. Something that never happened in the factory.
I won't give you any B.S. about following a dream but there seems to be something in your situation, something that you are searching for, that has similarities with mine and can be summed up in three words:
Peace of mind.
I hope you can find it and it's a lasting kind of peace. Maybe a good place to start would be with the friends that you are leaving behind. Theres nothing that chews so badly on the regret-bone than a lost friendship.
I hope that i have'nt been to familiar and I also hope that you have all kinds of good luck in whatever you decide to do.