And, sometimes: Still. Here.
Have I ever gone an entire year without a blog post, before this, since starting? I would have to check, but regardless, I am still here, and have been - although the "here" has changed. In November, we left our cul-de-sac home of twenty-nine years for the long-longed-for home in the country.
We're now on nearly three acres with a large shop for D. and an incredible view, and lots of room for me to garden. I received three swarms this spring, and have a lovely little apiary. We also purchased nine chickens of various varieties six weeks ago, and they are in that awkward stage of not looking like chicks or, really, like chickens. They've been living in a box in our sunroom and will move to a coop in a stable stall this coming weekend.
The grand-toddler comes to stay at least one night per weekend, and there is a little brother on the way. We have aspirations of turning the 4-car garage into a home for the kids and their kids, but it will take a lot of work and time and money, the latter of which are a little scarce.
I changed jobs in August - a longer commute, but more pay. And in the end, far too much stress and anxiety for me personally than any amount of money would be worth. I reached a level of burnout and angst that I hadn't seen in many years, and self-demoted to a much less challenging job within the system - closer to home. In the interim I took a couple of weeks of sick leave and spent a month filling a role in yet another department that was delightful - very task-oriented, very detail oriented. I love productivity, even if it's a daily list of the same chores with different moving parts. (Sending books to libraries all over California, processing books coming to our patrons from all over California, and processing the returns.)
I just like physical work and working with books and helping people, and this new job has all those components. So between the house and the job and D. finishing his big 2-year-long projects and the kids doing well, I'm sitting here full enough of gratitude and "spoons" that I can write something in this blog, and in my poetry blog soon, too - especially since I'll be a featured reader in a month from now at the cafe, and will have to present a lot of material to a live audience.
