We were stuck in a maple grove next to a river in Burgundy having to endure 68F weather while I made BBQ on my new grill.  It would have been perfect if Burgundy had beer.  I suffered through a 7€ pinot that actually was kind of magnificent. I only brought one long sleeved shirt and a medium rain jacket with me on this trip. I just don’t think of the second week of June as being sweater weather. Last year in Texas the air conditioning went on in April and came off in November. I don’t even have air conditioning in the camper or either apartment.

Did I imply that I have two apartments? Well I will for the month of July. We decided to move for a variety of reasons. One reason is it doesn’t look like we’re going back to the land of the divided and the mango monarch. Not anytime soon anyway and while the new apartment is expensive, it’s almost 400€ less than we pay to live in the center of Strasbourg. We also needed to find a place to park this camping-car. G was happy biking to work most days, but it was a long ride, and being closer eliminates a few tram rides which are not smart rides during a pandemic.

Those are all solid rational reasons but they are not the main reason. G’s telecommuting experience during le confinement wasn’t the best because she was stuck inside. We have use of two little courtyards but they have crappy cell reception and my wifi won’t reach there. Plus, while they are outside, they are more like being in an alley. The walls might be a thousand years old, but an alley is an alley. Not to mention the closest bathroom is fifty-six steps up. The new apartment has two large balconies. One of them overlooks a canal. It has a garage that my camping-car car won’t fit in and a reserved outdoor parking space that my camping-car won’t fit in. Fortunately there’s free parking in front of it that’s adequate. It also has a secure bicycle garage for all nine tenants of the building and a private underground wine cave (obviously I will be storing judicious amounts of beer there). The apartment itself is a ten meters smaller than what we have now and the kitchen is not equipped. So we have to buy appliances including a washing machine which all implies a commitment to staying in France.

I like the idea of staying here in France, but I will always be an American. I have a weird sense of shameful pride in what is happening in America now. I’m ashamed of the wretched excuse for a president that 40% of Americans support. I’m ashamed of those 40% of Americans even more. Some of them are my friends and I struggle to understand how well-reasoned people can continue to support someone who has come to represent dishonesty and bigotry. I’m proud that Americans are trying to make some real changes to fundamental systemic issues. I will be voting in this election and again in two years. I don’t know if I will still be an American after that. I don’t know if my vote will be counted since it will be mailed in. I pay a shitload of taxes in the US and my right to vote is about all I get for it. So I guess I’m suggesting that if there isn’t a peaceful transition of power in January, then I reserve the right to pick and choose which American laws I need to follow.