Keeping Secrets

Every time you move, you have the opportunity to reinvent yourself. Even small moves create new communities, where you can answer each question however you like. I've decided to provide only selective information to the crowds I'm meeting. For instance:

How old are your kids?
They are 3 months, 3 years, and 5 years old.

With Lilly in kindergarten and Sophia in preschool, the girls are now 2 school years apart in age. Lilly may not be quite 5 yet, but I'm telling people that we spaced the girls apart perfectly in age.


Where did you live in Shanghai?
We lived in a lane house in the French Concession.

I'm not sharing that we lived in 3 different homes over only 3 years. Because although it had the benefit of allowing us to get to know Shanghai quite well, it also makes us look a bit flaky. Plus, the above answer has a bit of hip cache attached to it.


What does your husband do?
He's an HR consultant who has been seconded to work here.

This is entirely true, actually. I just love some of the language in there.
Seconded means to "transfer (a military officer or other official or worker) temporarily to other employment or another position." e.g. "I was seconded to a public relations unit."
I previously had named the company where he is seconded, but decided to leave work and home separate. Suffice it to say that Dave will be working with one of the largest employers in the world.


How long will you be in Shenzhen?
Up to a year, and who knows after that.

I'm just leaving the whole Foreign Service out of the mix. I thought that answer better than this one:
Well, we could be leaving within a few months, if my husband gets this job that he's been vying for. He applied for it about 2 years ago, and we really think that they're going to decide they want him eventually.
Those of you who know Dave, and those of you who understand current hiring practices of the U.S. Foreign Service would have a positive feeling about that last answer, but anyone else might not. In fact, anyone else might think he's a bit of a loser. The rest of us just think there must be a mighty fine crowd of people running our diplomatic corps, for Dave to be so low on the list.