While I was growing up and as a young adult I always thought that the answers to life’s mysteries would become clearer as I got older. It would seem I have it backwards.

Until recently most of my friends did not know that I was not a citizen of the US, here since 1982 and on a green card since 1988. It never came up and it never seemed important to mention it. The only things I was not able to do were vote and do jury duty. I paid my taxes and got my licenses, did the work, did the play, married well, all good. Until now.

Having lived in three states; California (10 years), Tennessee (10 years) and Wisconsin (25 years) and also working for extended periods in six other states I feel I’ve had a pretty good experience of what is “American” and what that stands for. However, until now I’ve not really thought about that gathered wisdom. My time in this country has been delightful, fulfilling and nuturing and I’ve met so many bright, talented and loving people – not least of whom is my lovely and talented wife Janice.

Now that I think back to my time living in Tennessee I now realize I saw the signs of Trumpism way before 2016. Jacked up pickup trucks with large hand-painted signs telling “Mexicans go Home” or “Abortion is Murder” or incessant Rush Limbaugh playing in the background in every local business. I was having a good time flying hang gliders to pay much attention at the time.**

Not once in my time have I thought about how secure my immigration status is, except when I overstayed my visa for a few years in the early 1980s (although I think my mother worried more about it than I did). But nowadays this is just the kind of minor infraction that gets people arrested, deported or disappeared (and then deported). But I can’t be constantly looking over my shoulder, so we’ve made the difficult decision to sell our house and move to Ireland.

Probably the hardest thing I am dealing with right now is the confusion. Confused as to how can a country that has been so good to me be turning so inward and backward? How can the dismantling of the systems that have brought such prosperity be seen as anything but deliberate self-sabotage? How can decades of scientific progress be smashed up by such ignorance?

Our target date is the end of October, but may change due to circumstances, not the least of which will be if we can sell our house. So, if you know of anyone itching to get out of the city and move into a place set up for creative and entrepreneurial pursuits, let us know. Will be posting photos soon. In an attempt to find creative types we will start with advertising on “For the Love of Old Houses” a Facebook group that has 4 million subs. There are some AMAZING places on there but ours will fit right in I think – and be cheaper than most of them.

Update: I wrote this a few months ago and many friends do now know that we are going. We have a firm offer on the table for our house. Closing is planned for November 17th, probably leaving a week or two after that. Will be doing a “Farewell to America” show at the Cafe Carpe here in Fort on October 30th (Thursday) so come on by if you can. We would love to see you there.”