I love you Paris, but it's time for Barcelona

As I'm packing a box of items to ship back to the United States, I can't help but sit in disbelief that I've been in Paris for weeks and that it is time to move on. The City of Lights is a city I can always call home, and someday might call it home—permanently. Here are a few things I did:

• Retraced my steps from my last visit (2005) on the first night.
• Stayed with one of my best friends and collaborated on projects together. This is what I want—to be able to travel and work.
• Randomly meet up with my friends Lorraine, Rachel and Vivian to have coffee or hang out.
• Revisit stores and get to know the people living in the Marais.
• Converse with Parisians in French.
• Visited the Apple Store four times. This was actually not cool because it was about replacing my MacBook Air, which died.
• Had a MacBook Pro shipped from the United States.
• Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower...and took a picture of Darth Vader.
• Tried to roller blade from Bastille to the Eiffel Tower...failing miserably, but tried nonetheless.
• Sat outside at cafes to people watch and read my new Chuck Klosterman book.
• Be able to stay in and not say "Oh man, I'm in Paris. I need to go out every night." The fact was that I lived there and there was no rush.
• Take naps daily.
• Went to Easter Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral.
• Eat a bunch of cheese.
• Read all the notes in Shakespeare & Company.

That's some of the things I did...probably a bunch I'm missing. The reality is I have to go back to Paris in about a month to pick up the repaired MacBook Air, but it definitely won't be the same. I am so thankful to have made so many friends during this trip, revisit friendships and have solid conversations.I got what I want, which was just to be a Parisian for a while. It was so pleasant to sit at a cafe, ask for the WIFI (pronounced "wee fee") an forget where I was. I've really discovered my home. No, it's not Seattle, Washington. Home is where I am at with my friends, whether they were people I was Skyping with in San Francisco or physically with me. Location is overrated and people use it as an excuse.Tomorrow I'm getting on the plane and going to Barcelona, Spain. In my continual quest to simplify, I am sending back a box of gifts and other items I don't need to try to lighten up my backpack. Yes, I only packed one backpack and still am wearing ONE pair of shoes. Count them ladies, one pair of shoes for an indefinite trip.How long am I going for? As always, the answer is...I don't know.My traveling theme song is "Voyager" by Daft Punk, who are from Paris. Here's another remix of this amazing song/lifestyle.