"I want to get away. I wanna fly away."

I've never been one who was particularly obsessed with the idea of traveling abroad. I've some curiosity about other cultures, languages, and locations, but I had only marginal interest in getting on anyone's boat or plane for international travel - especially for a long-term stay.

That has changed.

I would love it if, within the next two years, I could move to some other English-speaking country. I've thought about England, which would be so very close to other countries of-interest. I'm all but in-love with the accents of Australia and New Zealand (mmm, Rachel Hunterrrrrr), so that's definitely a consideration. I'm still deciding on a location, though.

Why am I so interested in leaving the U.S., now, despite my strong aversion to the current state of air travel and security, as well as my strong family ties?

It's simple: stupidity.

This country is unique in a lot of ways - many of them good. Unfortunately, there's also an atmosphere of arrogance, entitlement, and mental lethargy.

We don't just breed stupidity. We embrace it. We root in it and we celebrate it.

I'll be the first to admit, though, that we don't have a patent on it. We just happen to excel at it.

Maybe I'll go to these other countries and find so much ignorant shit (and high prices) that I'll long for American shores. After all, no place is perfect.

But that's a chance that, at the moment, I'm willing to take. Even the illusion of betterment is welcome.

There are a ton of examples of the kind of ridiculous behavior and statements that have brought me to this state of disgust - so many that I hardly know where to begin.

The fact is, though, these persistent encounters with people who embrace and embody the worst elements of our society have eaten away at my patience and tolerance to the point that my personal/familial relationships may suffer.

I need a change and I need it soon. For now, I'll be happy with the smaller steps I'll be making in the coming months, then I'll take bigger strides from that point on.

I've always joked about how I'm gonna be a hermit, "when I grow up," to get away from it all. The truth is that I crave contact from my fellow human-beings.

Hopefully, this move would serve as a good compromise.