Its been nearly over 25 years since the launch of the first Space Shuttle on April 12 1981 - a day after it was due to launch on my birthday, April the 11th.

Something about that day has stuck with me, and my interest in the Shuttle Space program has stayed strong even to this day. But not once back then did I ever think that I would be some day living a stones throw from the Mission Control center at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Its amazing how your life pans out, even if you really do not plan for it.

When myself and Robbi made plans to move back to the USA at no point did we ever think we would be considering moving to Texas, far from it. We were making plans to move back to Florida, and perhaps even South Carolina. In fact we even started to make plans to rent in Charleston.

Things just a dramatic change of direction when I happened to stumble across a website listing the undervalued areas of the United States, and one of the places on that site was Houston. We started to browse Houston real estate websites and quickly found that we could easily get 50% more house for our money. We looked at each other and we knew just what the other person was thinking. What did we have to lose? We have no real ties in the USA, well I certainly do not, that required us to live in a certain state. We both have skills that are in demand right across the USA, and we have the ability to adapt. Houston it was to be.

Looking back it seems like it was only yesterday that we made that decision, and now we are only a month and a few weeks away from finally making the move into our new home in Seabrook, Texas.

Could I be a luckier man? Not only do I have two of the most adorable Pugs in the world, but I also found my soul-mate and love of my life. And now to top it all off I have the opportunity to live the dream that started such a long time ago.

The dream is not fully complete though, there is still a part of me that dearly wants to be part of the Space Program. The dream of becoming a Shuttle Commander I gave up a long time ago, so I don't mind settling for a job in the IT department.

Can you imagine the email address? Cool!