It's been decided. Discussed endlessly. Weighed pro against con. Announced to our landlords.

We are staying in the Drôme.

As much as we loved Greece. As much as we loved Kalymnos, and the people, and the apartment, and the food, and the climbing. As much as we loved waking up to a seaside view, to the sounds of goats bleating and their bells ringing, to watching the sponge diver weave his way in that heavenly blue water just underneath our balcony.

Oh, I fell in love with Greece. On climbing days we'd hike up to the Grande Grotta to warm up and then pick our projects of the day. Sometimes we'd rent a scooter and ride to the far side of Kalymnos, to Ghost Kitchen and Arhi, to do fun tufa routes. On our off days we'd walk up the slope to collect thyme, or to the teeny chapel hanging off the edge of the island. Or go into Pothia by scooter. I could spend a lifetime living on Kalymnos, bumming around town, discovering all the little nooks and crannies of life on a heavenly island, and climbing at the cliffs, and making friends with all the climbers.

You know there's a "but" somewhere, and you're right. Here it is:

There is something intangible that I can't possibly describe in words because you'd have to close your eyes and think, think about how living in Europe has transformed you in the last nineteen months, about what is still to come. If you're a nomadic traveler and finally come to love and settle in one place and discover you never want to leave it, and know with all finality that you will have to, you'll know how I feel right this moment. *sigh* Here, have a sip of this wine; it'll do you good!

In the end it came down to this: we really like the climbing here. La Baleine, Baume Rousse, le Beaucet, le Groseau: all good areas, good routes, South-facing and conveniently located within an hour's drive. We like the area we live in. Frank could spend the rest of his off days just painting that damn chapel and he'd be happy! (smiles) I could knit and work on the laptop (thank God, telecommuting). We can go places; Avignon and Arles are still on my list. I want to see the great cathedrals of the popes and drink more of their wine. We have a car, a house, a view. We have each other. So here we are.

We're home.