Thirteen-years ago, I was working through an accumulation of documents that spanned 40 years. They were the leftovers of Wife’s fear that there would be a document we needed from long past. It was also an incredible exposure of data that could be used for identity theft if just thrown out. Therefore, I was grinding those documents and discarding the chaff.
That rumination came up on my Dailies recently and reminded me that I am another juncture in life. I am completing another huge personal project that has gone on for a year and a half. It should close before the end of the year. At that time I can take on another large personal project — a move.
I need to leave this rental. It served me well and provided housing for doggo and I for ten years. (Actually, two doggos — Sera and her predecessor, Ki.) My problem is not simply that I have outgrown the space (I have). I do not want to live in the city. I do not care for city noise. And, although Carson City is not a large city, it is noisy. There is also not enough room for decent radio antennas and there is way too much radio noise for good hearing. There is also not enough room for The Girl to spend some time outdoors during good weather.
So, now I am faced with grinding through another project, this one to decide where to move, then find a place that I want to live in for the remainder of my life, then to execute the move. That sounds simple; it is and it is not.
I am old enough that I begin to be concerned about health. The what-ifs make me think that I should be closer to family, which means my children. If I should need someone to check on me or need a ride, then it would be better to have one of them closer. When I leave this mortal coil, it would be better for them if I was not on the other side of the country.
But, and this is a BIG BUT, they all live east. I live in the west for a reason, I like it here. I like the landscape and I like the weather. I like the availability of public lands where I can roam and camp.
Therefore, my heart is in the west but my reason says “go east”.
So, that is the plan. Regardless of my preference for geography, I am grateful. Life is good.
N.B. The image was made on a weekend camping trip a few weeks ago. My friends were out camping near Toulon, NV and invited me along. On a whim, I threw some necessities into the camper and headed out. That was the right thing to do.