Yes, I’ve been MIA. Life for the past few months has been about transition – California to Oregon, rental places to our new home, cardboard boxes to new resting places. I struggled to remember what zip code I was in. Energy to write? Pah!
Now, there are no more excuses. While much is still in controlled chaos, my writing muse woke up from her sabbatical, stretched and decided to kick me in the butt. So I’m back!
Settling into a new city is quite an adventure, and things I never thought about capture my attention on a daily basis. For example, I lived in the same area for thirty years. I knew who to call, where to shop, and what to expect on the roads. Meals planned around seasonal ingredients was no big deal, since I had that down too. In short, it was comfy.
Today, I grab my truck keys and venture out with the mindset of an explorer. Some of my foraging brings me big surprises. What do you mean there aren’t heirloom tomatoes in August at the farmer’s market? Time to visit the roadside farm stand a couple of miles away. And oh yes, fish so fresh that it was probably still swimming while I had my morning coffee – yum!
Other revelations please me less. Freeway traffic on the interstate creeps after 3 pm. Luckily, I never have to go far. Everything is close by, so close that I often forget that my foraging trips don’t have to be full day affairs.
Another phenom I’d rather not examine too closely is the fact that – yes, while it’s hard to admit – I’m older now. (Shocking, right?) Adjusting to change takes more time. I could have driven from my old hometown to the ranch with my eyes closed, but here, I have to concentrate to make sure I don’t miss an exit. I’m sure my previous level of comfort will return, with time and experience.
But for now, I’m still a stranger, foraging in a new land.
How do you keep the fun-filled mindset of an explorer after you’re settled? I’d love to hear about it!
