Happy Christmas Adam! (If the 24th
is Eve, our kids decided long ago the 23rd was Adam)
I thought about writing something
profound for today, reflecting on the season. Instead, I found myself
looking back at an astonishing year and forward into the Great
Unknown.
Mostly I thought about our mountain
property.
I wrote my very first blog post (ever)
almost exactly two years ago - I Didn't Get a Tractor for Christmas.
Since then, I've shared bits and pieces
about our adjustment to rural life. My husband and I actually enjoyed
clearing the property (for a while there, we were in a close personal
relationship with the guy at the county dump!) and loved watching
the birds and critters who showed up on the new paths through the
woods or at the pond and river. We've met most of the people in our
valley and enjoy the genuine friendships that aren't looking to
further a career or do anything other than get to know you.
This fall, we've begun working on house
plans. Sure, we have a small weekend place that will one day be a
guest house (fabulous for the two of us). It'll be interesting to
have both kids, spouse, and multiple dogs here for several days.
Let's just say the sleeping arrangements will get creative. :)
The further we got into the planning process, the more the reality of the transition took hold. In order for us to live here full-time, my husband has to take early retirement. With my day job, I can work anywhere, as long as I can access the internet. Not possible with my husband's career.
That Next Great Transition is what taps at the
back of my head as I wrap the last presents, grocery shop and plan
meals. Part of me leaps at the opportunity for travel, for not being
tied to his work schedule. Another part worries, have we saved enough
money. And another part thinks, Oh my (fill in your own blank), he'll
be home All The Time.
So, what transforming events do you see
on your planning horizon?
Writing news update – the MysteryThriller Horror Box Set is still on the Amazon Top Ten in its
category and For Love or Money will be included in Entangled
Publishing's Valentine's Day.
Boxed Set, releasing January 27,
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
6 comments:
Congrats on the joys the future holds.
In the past 12 years I've had mine and 10 other peoples share of life changing events. It all works out. Really.
That's so exciting, Cathy! I went through the clearing of land, living in a wall tent and using an outhouse while we built a house in the country. Definitely a transformative experience.
You will adjust and thrive. Promise.
Cathy, that looks amazing. I can't imagine living in the country but ENJOY!!!! Hubs will soon find enough to fill his days. We all know how fast that can happen, right? And LOL--my daughter called it Christmas Adam this morning :) Cute :)
Thanks Rita! We have reached an interesting stage of life, haven't we? Congrats on surviving 11 people's worth of life changing events!
Wow, Marcelle - wall tent. Outhouse.
(Bowing in awe)
We had The Block Building for a while, before the county made us tear it down. (That says a lot, right there, doesn't it?) Plumbing that went...somewhere. A chimney that didn't draw. Birds raised babies in the walls of that place and we don't want to talk about the other creatures we discovered living there when the walls came tumbling down.
But you could sit outside at the end of the day, drink a beer or a glass of wine and watch the sun set over the mountains. Worth it.
Toni - I used to swear I'd never live north of I-10 (Rita will know where that is)
It astonishes me that we moved to the Pacific NW - which we love - and are planning to live a very long time in the mountains - a place we've really love.
Fortunately Seattle isn't that far when you absolutely MUST HAVE a restaurant meal! Or get your hair cut. Hit the Market...
Post a Comment