I don’t know if I’m just in need of a vacation or not, but lately, I have been getting tired of being here. Not just being in Atlanta — lord knows that can be tiring enough — but just being in the U.S. altogether.

Call me crazy, but I think I’m having the expatriate blues.

It’s been a feeling that’s been building since I was 16. I had been so eager and desperate to get the hell out of rural Alabama that I applied for an exchange program, got in, and spent a year in France. I can honestly say that trip changed my life. After coming back to the States after a year abroad, everything just seemed…different. And things have always been different. My taste in music is a lot more worldly. I love learning about different cultures. And I keep in contact with friends on three continents (who I met online, I should say). I’m learning different languages. Just in this past two years, thanks to Goofball and Milk-Chan, I’ve certainly gotten to see the strong multicultural side to Atlanta. I’ve even been extended an invitation to join the Southern Center for International Studies.

Lately though, my mind has turned to Canada.

I’ve always wanted to visit, and for the past month or so after leaving Big Company, Inc., I’ve had the plan in the back of my mind to do it this year. And as soon as I had the plan in my mind, certain things just started happening.

Friends of mine started sending me links to Globe and Mail articles.

I start hearing about Toronto starting to target gay U.S. travellers.

Oh, and I’ve started spelling “travelling” with two l’s. Not to mention that my French has been picking up more lately.

So I’m thinking sometime in September or October, I’m flying to Toronto. You know…to check things out. See how the city is. See how the country is, since it’s #1 on my list of countries to live in. (#2 is France. #3, the UK. Typical, but hey.)

Of course, staying in the States is still in the picture. Definitely not in Atlanta (I give my tolerance for staying here another two or three years…tops), and most definitely to parts West. Atlanta, in the years since I’ve graduated college, has hardly showed me any favors. Chalk my general malaise these days up to a loathing for current policies, city, state and national government and the continual battle over basic civil rights restricted by my sexuality.

At least if I did go to Canada, during the astronomical chance I’d actually want to get married, having the option to do so would be nice.

In any regard, right now I’m in the information gathering phase, and won’t really make a full decision yet until I come back from visiting. But for now, the thought’s there, and it’s not leaving any time soon.