Our Anthem of Departure

As you may know, Kristie and I have moved around more than most people. We met in LA, where we lived in two different apartments over the first year and a half that we were together. We then moved to Portland Oregon, where we lived in two apartments and one house over five years.

Next up was San Diego – one apartment and one duplex in five years, followed by two houses in two years in Santa Rosa … it goes on from there.

One thing I can say about all these moves is that, with only one exception, it always felt like we were moving TO something rather than AWAY from something. There was almost always motivation, some kind of goal in our mind that informed our choice to move.

Now, I’ll admit, there was a touch of ‘the grass is greener’ thinking now and then, but I can honestly say that wasn’t the major part of the equation.

But one thing that all moves since San Diego have had in common: a soundtrack. More specifically, one song.

I was introduced to the music of Steve Earle in 1988 when I was volunteering as a DJ at the Cal State Northridge radio station. I had a weekly show playing, “American Roots Music,” which was very loosely interpreted as blues, folk, country, rockabilly, Cajun, and all their various subgenres. I learned a lot about music during the two years I had this gig, and I still listen today to artists I discovered as I browsed the station’s record library.

Steve Earle had just released his first album, “Guitar Town,” which was a preview of the genius he still exhibits today as a songwriter. But it’s his masterpiece album from 2000, “Transcendental Blues,” which is the source of our anthem.

At this time, we were almost at the end of our San Diego chapter. San Diego had proven to be a mixed bag – we had some good times, but we also suffered through career and financial problems which had really taken the shine off the city. We were ready to go, and were already planning our move to Santa Rosa and California Wine Country.

And then we heard it – “Another Town.” This song really resonated with us. It had just the right mix of optimism and disillusionment, delivered with a rollicking joie de vivre that captured our hearts.

“One of these days when my mind’s made up
And I’m sick and tired of hanging around
I’ll be on my way in a cloud of dust
On the road to another town

Once upon a time I loved this house
Now I’m thinking about burning it down
And I’ll be long gone when the fire burns out
On the way to another town”

And so, here we are – 2025, a quarter century down multiple roads to multiple towns, and this song is still blasting away in our hearts. We’ve loved our Portuguese adventure, but now our minds are made up, and it’s time to shake off some Lusitanian dust from our feet and head out to the next adventure!

Here’s a link to the song on YouTube – I recommend listening to it played loud!