There are only two certainties in life: Death and Taxes! I am currently struggling with what all people in Basel struggle with at this time of year: tax declaration form and trying to save taxes. But yahoo, this year I'll get myself a tax consultant to do the "dirty" work. I am sick and I have debts: that means heavy tax reductions!!!

I remember the city council people of my tax friendly hometown who urged me to stay when they found out that I was moving to Basel city. I had to face laughter, disbelief and majorly negative responses. Of course our apartment is great and as we don't have any children, we can stand the bad schools and the ghetto feel.

My home town is just some blocks away. It takes 5 Min. by bus and 15 Min. to get there. Switzerland is a small country. Still I miss my life there sometimes. I used to know so many people, people were friendly on the streets and I felt well integrated and at home. A few blocks away, in a beautiful apartment, hour home is paradise, but outside there is nothing. I have grown to know a few people - most of them I knew before I moved in such as the Ladies from the cat shelter and the pet shop owner who had sold me my second hamster years ago...

I don't know many of our neighbors and with most of them I don't have anything in common to share.
All my friends are consumed in their careers and as such don't have any time. Either they are totally consumed in their job and their spare time is used for sports and life partner, or they have family and it's all job, kids, partner. I miss the chatter with a good friend. But it's also up to me to reach out and do something about it. The last few months I have been too much consumed in my own world, seeking comfort at home. I need to reach out and recreate the net that I have and establish new connections.