I made a New Year's resolution. I mean, not really. I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I did more or less make a decision for this year: I'm leaving the USA.

I'm not certain exactly what I'm doing next. There are lots of tempting possibilities: going back to Berlin, maybe doing a start-up with my friend Julius. Going to Dublin, get in touch with my Irish roots (now that I've done that with my American roots) and work in a strong EU tech sector. Maybe do technical development aid in Morocco, learn some Arabic, do some good.

Right now the most likely is, I think, go back to Berlin and finally get my German citizenship. It's something I've been putting off for a while (since having a US citizenship helps when you want to work here), but gosh, it would be nice to vote in a real parliamentary democracy. And my German has gotten noticeably rusty, which always leaves me shaken - this is the language of my home, and I don't even speak it any more? That's scary.

Why now? Well, in October I'll have lived in SF for three years, after living in Chicago for three. I can tell I'm getting more an more American - when Ron Paul starts to sound like he's making some good points, that's one way to know. It's getting harder and harder to leave. I have fantastic friends I don't want to leave behind, but ultimately, I don't want to settle down in America, so I don't want to get stuck there. Every reason to stay is becoming a reason to leave, now before it's too late.

So I'm starting to think - what's on my checklist? If I have less than a year in America, what should I do? Learn to drive? Road-trip across the country? See the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or something?

EDIT: Everyone seems to agree, road trip. Have to admit, a "Goodbye, America!" road trip around the country, visiting friends, maybe having them tag along for bits, is sounding better and better!