New Beginnings

I have moved again. This is my 10th house in my 4th state of residence in the 8 wonderful years since bringing home Sebastian from the Juneau pound. My guess is that a more pessimistic person than myself may view this as a personal flaw: always moving, always needing change.. However, I am not a pessimistic person.

Moving is a wonderful opportunity for me to reassess my life and to work at more closely matching my actions with my ideals. Every move I learn about what is really important to me and I alter my surroundings to best nurture this discovery.

This time there are three major points that I wish to nurture with this move:

1. Be fully independent. No more housemates. Living alone on my previous student income and before that on server's wages that was spent largely on the good life was not conducive to renting a house alone. During those times having housemates was the more favorable than renting an apartment, so that was the choice I always made. But no more.

Honestly the hardest part about having housemates for me is never finding a person with similar views on TV watching. The constant droning on the TV in another room followed me around like a mosquito in every house I have shared. Good-bye TV!!

2. Live simply. Always on my list of important things, but this time around I am re-invigorated to work on my simple skills, such as: quilting, gardening, and preserving foods! Goals that have been put on hold over and over due to course work and finances, this is my big opportunity to move forward on them! Well.. After I pass the RD exam that is..

3. Surround myself with beauty. This was accomplished in my last residence as well, but will be even more important with my new job being in a metro hospital. There is so much pain and tragedy in a large city, as well as kindness and beauty, but I find myself easily depressed by the extreme poverty and wealth, the traffic, and the chain stores that plague the cities. My house must be my safe zone, surrounded by nature and peace.

So the house I chose is 45 minutes away from the medical center, situated on Lake Medina, and although it is in close proximity to the neighbors, it is just the most perfect little house for me and Sebastian.

The owners are a fire fighter turned construction worker and a super-mom/artist. The house is speckled with art and is a cozy nest, having one bedroom and a U-shaped main room consisting of the kitchen, dining nook, and living space.

"Are you lonely out there yet?"

This was the concerned text I received this morning from my friend Liz, who lives in the San Marcos area.

Yes, I now live an hour to two hours away from the handful of friends that I have made since moving to Texas a year ago and yes, I imagine that it will be another lonely winter this year. I am no stranger to lonely, she comes and goes at different times in my life.

But I am happy. And I am grateful for my time here on this beautiful Earth with my most trusted canine companion.