Author: Joyful Wanderer

Since 2018, I have been searching for a simpler, happier life. I first started blogging when I moved to Montana's Flathead Valley. (The earlier posts in this blog chronicle that year and a little beyond.) In 2022, I embarked on a new journey, this time selling my home, retiring from my teaching position, and taking up a nomadic life. The journey continues...

Next Steps

I have been living in Montana for about six weeks now. Definitely no regrets so far, even with Glacier National Park burning up and bringing smoke down the valley. I am hoping this doesn’t become an annual event, though.

Last Monday, I had a moment where I felt like my new place was set up well enough to call home. I could finally stop thinking about what needed to be done next, and just sit back and savor what I have accomplished. That is really one of the best feelings in the world, isn’t it? Having a place to call home. I’m also making new friends and enjoying an active social life. I love my surroundings, and already feel healthier. I have to say things are going better than expected.

So what’s next? Well, I’m too young and not-quite wealthy enough to fully retire. I did leave behind a twenty-seven-year teaching career when I packed up the boxes in June, but I had fully intended to at least work part-time here. I tend to lean in the Type A direction and prefer to be occupied. My primary goal in finding employment was to avoid working a traditional forty-hour week. But what would I do to become self-employed? This is a difficult mental hurdle to overcome for a person who has consistently worked for someone else since the age of fifteen. I knew that a little more time and research would bring some answers.

I’ve decided to give it a go with my own proofreading and editing business. (I know; you were expecting something more exciting.) Why not? Everyone seems to be making a buck out there on the internet. Don’t worry. I have been taking proper steps by planning this all out. I’m even completing an online class to learn the tools of the trade.  (Humility is an important trait when taking on a new venture.) I expect to launch in about three weeks.

A year ago, I would never have taken risks like this: Packing up and moving to a new state, starting my own business…It’s funny that what I once thought would be too scary to even consider, now feels exciting and empowering. I honestly don’t fear failure. If it doesn’t work out, I will move on to something different.

 

 

New Neighbors and Night Skies

A couple of weeks ago my new neighbor shared her excitement for the upcoming Perseid meteor showers, which would be at their peak this past weekend. She invited me to meet up in their backyard on Sunday for some late night viewing. This included an agreement that we’d all take afternoon naps to be able to stay up as late as possible.

After scaring the heck out of them with my 10:45 knock at the back door, we got arranged in their cushy patio chairs to see the night-sky action. Having lived in a rather populated area for most of my adult life, star-gazing was an infrequent event, mostly enjoyed when we were out on our boat. It was, however, a big part of my childhood. Talk about simple pleasures. This was one of the many things I was searching for in making this move. The night sky didn’t disappoint. We saw quite a few meteors and managed to stay up until almost 1:00 AM.

The unexpected joy of the evening was the opportunity to get acquainted with my new neighbor.  She and I stayed out together after her husband had grown tired and turned in for the night. We all have our stories, and what could be a better setting to share them? Feeling grateful this morning for our night-sky bonding.

Dog Watching

From an entire month’s experience, I have come to the conclusion that Montanans truly embrace their summer days. I’m guessing that may be because of the cold winters and extreme temperatures they endure. This isn’t a strange concept for a girl from the Seattle area. We take delight in every rainless summer day! But there’s something magical about the more extreme seasonal changes in a mountain climate.

I was surprised and absolutely thrilled to find out that I can experience live music (mostly free of charge) pretty much every summer evening throughout the Flathead Valley. I have been averaging four or five nights a week, mostly in parks.

One of the joys of live outdoor music is people watching, but I have to say a close second is dog watching. Last night, I strategically sat behind a big sad-faced service dog who was slumped under a folding chair.  There was also a little cutie who wandered over to me a few times for some pets.  The most adorable was a golden retriever, who appeared to be smiling at times. The female half of last night’s folk/rock duo even mentioned that dogs like their music.  I’m pretty sure he did.

dog watching

Sleep-in Days

During the quarter decade or so that I was teaching, I always felt that the very best thing about summer break was not just the time off, but sleeping in. As a secondary educator, I often had to wake up as early as 5:45. I’ve never felt like a morning person, and it was usually about second period by the time I got into my groove.  The sheer bliss of sleeping until 8:00 was the best gift of summer.

After more than a month of moving from one state to another, I decided to enjoy some carefree sleepy mornings this weekend. Clearly, my body was telling me to slow down. Not only have I been occupied with setting up a new home, but I have also been pursuing an active social life by hiking, kayaking, and getting out for live music almost every night. This is in addition to researching and setting up a new online business, as well as doing some fill-in work for one of the shop owners in town. I guess I have been busy.

Taking the time to wake up and leisurely lie in bed was a much-needed reward. Saturday morning I decided to set aside the to-do list for the weekend and just relax. It will all still be there tomorrow.

Santa Claus Arrives in August

Making a significant life change can challenge a person to overcome obstacles and branch out a bit.  Those obstacles can also bring out our resourcefulness.

Honestly, I don’t know if I was being more resourceful, stubborn, absolutely silly, or all of the above regarding my laundry conundrum today.  I will admit that this afternoon I just had to stop and laugh at myself.

Okay, let’s set the scene. I signed the papers to buy my new home in late June, and my move-in date was in mid-July. As you can imagine, I was quite busy there for a couple of weeks making arrangements for the out-of-state move. One big purchase that I needed to take care of up front was the washer and dryer. Lucky for me, the big box stores were having their annual 4th of July sales. Great timing! I shopped at my local store back home, and then called the store here in Montana to make my purchase. I was told that the set I had chosen was out of stock and would arrive around July 23rd or so. No problem, I thought. I have extra sets of bedsheets and plenty of towels to get me through. And like many women, I have far too many clothes.

On July 25th, I hadn’t heard anything, so I called the store to see if they had an estimate on the arrival of my new appliances. No information. On Friday, I did get the right person. The washer and dryer were in transit and would be there soon. Okay, I could hold out a little longer. I’m used to handwashing underwear anyway.

Then, this past Monday, I finally got the news that the set was in Spokane. Okay, we were getting closer. I should get them by Friday, for sure. They still needed to make it to Missoula before shipping to Kalispell, though. On Wednesday when the phone rang, I thought finally I would get my delivery time. Nope. Sorry. They were trucking them up Thursday, so I would probably get them Friday, or Saturday for sure. He apologized for the delay. The next day, on Thursday, they told me that the delivery would be Saturday, but I would just need to stay near home because I’d get a call thirty minutes beforehand.

As you can imagine, I woke up this morning and called the store. (They had left a couple of messages yesterday when I was out hiking.) I was assured that I would get the delivery sometime today, but they didn’t know when.

Less than five minutes later, the phone rang. “Ya, I’m sorry, but we opened the box, and the washer is damaged. I can deliver the dryer if you want.” Was this really happening? No, I preferred to wait for the full set. By this point, I wasn’t even upset at all. My situation had become quite humorous. I decided that I wouldn’t let this ruin my day in any way. I had plans with my new friend this morning and an event this evening. I could wait another week or so.

When I got home this afternoon, I realized that the only thing I was really running low on was dishtowels. Should I go to the laundromat for a load of towels? I still had a few clean bath towels. Then my stubbornness, or maybe resourcefulness, kicked in. I can hand wash a few dish towels, right? Throw a little detergent and bleach in the laundry room sink, swish them around, rinse a couple of times.  No problem. Oh yes, I did.

Then some Montana magic happened. As I sat down to write this post, a white pickup truck pulled into the driveway with a brand new washer and dryer in the back. One of the two gentlemen had a fluffy white beard with some sporty sunglasses. Undoubtedly, he was my summertime Santa.  I told them the story of that morning’s phone call, but they had no knowledge of it.  They just said this set had my name on it since yesterday, and they were sent from the store to deliver it. It was mine, and it wasn’t damaged in any way. This was also their only delivery of the day. Interesting. Clearly, someone at the store was taking care of me.

They were both very friendly, Montana Friendly, as I now like to say.  After it was all set up, we chatted a bit about great places to kayak, and they left me with the owner’s manuals. I thanked them and made a comment about the fact that I hoped they weren’t more complicated than my automatic sprinkler system. (I thought I had reprogramed it yesterday, but, well I didn’t.) Summer Santa said, “Where is it?” He walked over, punched a few buttons and re-programmed it for me. Merry Christmas!

After they left, I realized that if I had gone to the laundromat, I wouldn’t have been home for the surprise delivery. (There was no thirty-minute call.) Sometimes stubbornness, or maybe resourcefulness, pays off.

 

 

Should I Even Reveal This?

I almost want to keep this secret; you may not even believe it, but here goes…

I had a most pleasant experience getting my driver’s license today. First, you have to know that I’m a rule follower. Legally, you are supposed to get a Montana license within sixty days of moving here. Clearly, not everyone does this. Mine was still valid for two more years in Washington, but rules are rules.  I pretty much have to follow them.

I don’t know how many states are doing this, but all of them should!  You can make an appointment online at the department of licensing. This isn’t just for a driver’s test, but for any service. They even send you a reminder via text.

I arrived today just in time for my 11:30 appointment, and immediately received a friendly greeting: “We’ll be right with you.”  A couple of minutes later, a woman came to the waiting area and asked the few of us waiting who had an appointment. When I said that I did, she handed me a clipboard with a two-sided form to fill out, (The second side included my voter’s registration.) and then helped another person.

I was back at a desk within a few minutes. The employee working with me checked my documents, and we engaged in friendly conversation. As I took a quick vision test, we commiserated a little about our aging eyes. She then took my photo, I wrote a check, and I was out of there before noon. It was all so simple and efficient: a one-stop deal.  I don’t think I’ve ever left the DOL that quickly or that happily before.

 

 

My Deer

Some of my friends back home think I should get a dog. I tend to disagree. Dogs are really cool and all. I generally like them, but I like them best if they belong to someone else.   They are great companions, but at the same time, they can be a huge commitment. I enjoy the freedom to travel and sometimes am away from home all day. I’m not really into the whole poop and scoop thing, either.

Besides, I already have a whole herd of low maintenance pets, and they don’t cost me a thing. There are deer everywhere around here. Directly behind my house lies an alfalfa field where they hang out. I’ve counted as many as sixteen out there at a time. For me, there is something soothing about watching them graze. Occasionally, I even catch them romping around, appearing to be at play.

These deer clearly know that they are living the good life. There’s limitless alfalfa to feed on, and when they get tired in the late afternoon, some of them take a break in the shade on the north side of the house. Must be pretty sweet.

deer in field

Hang-ups

Moving into a new home involves ample time with the drill, hammer, and screwdriver. Really, there are so many things to put on the walls, and not just artwork. Actually, hanging art is the easiest. If it isn’t quite right, just move it up or down or over, hammer the picture hook back in, and done.

It’s all the other stuff that’s consuming my time and energy. For example, I thought it would be simple to hang up two racks of hooks for the mudroom. Not quite. Each rack had three screws. Not only did I have to get the holes in exactly the right spots, but I then had to line up the second rack next to it. That ended up being a two-day thing; I finally got it right this morning. There just might be a few extra holes hiding under those racks, but they look great now.

However, the mother of all hang-ups is the large curtain or drapery rod. Oh, those do scare me a bit. Fortunately, I have been schooled in anchors, both from my cousin who came to help me the first week, and some trial and error. Today, my new friend brought over some like-new, gorgeous draperies that just happen to be perfect for my bedroom and living room. (Once again, I am pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed by the kindness of my new friends and neighbors.) I got on the ladder to hold them up for size, and she approved. Now I’m a little anxious about drilling: okay maybe more than a little. I just can’t mess up. It may take a couple of days to psych up for this job.

So yes, I do have to admit that I have a hang-up about hanging things up.

Postscript (August 25, 2018): It did take two tries to get the big, double-traverse drapery rod correctly installed in the master bedroom. The first time, I had set the brackets too close to the window frame. This was after carefully calculating and being absolutely certain about the measurements.  I made my second attempt last Monday, and after a couple of hours and a few expletives, it looks just right. It’s starting to feel like home.

 

Sometimes You Just Have to Ask

Yesterday I had some good luck with Craigslist. Well actually, mixed luck. I did make a run to go see a table that I thought might serve as an ideal desk/workspace. It wasn’t so great. Now I know why the photo was a bit blurry.

But my other quest was better than expected. First, the house was just a few miles away, which is not always the case around here. I was looking at a queen bed and bed frame. It was in exceptional condition and was a classic style, perfect for the guest room. The owners were friendly, too.  She then showed me a couple of other items: a scrumptious oversized chair with an ottoman and a custom-made steel coffee table with a glass top. I didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take it all.”

One little problem: I just moved here, and I have a small SUV. How was I going to get all of this fabulous stuff transported? Only the coffee table would fit, but I wouldn’t be able to lift it by myself.

Fortunately, this is Montana, where practically every household owns a pick-up, and most people are pretty darn friendly.  And let’s just say I’m not exactly shy.  I first tried my new friend in the neighborhood. Surely she would know someone with a truck who could help me. Oops. She couldn’t think of anyone, but she did offer the services of her son who was coming into town for a visit. My next option was a neighbor. I had only met him once, but he seemed like a good guy. Really, what was the worst thing that could happen? He could say no, or make an excuse. He didn’t. Most people are helpful by nature.

So late this morning the three of us headed out to pick up my not new, but gently used, furniture. I’m so very thankful for the kindness of those who were nearly strangers. No doubt I’ll have an opportunity to repay their kindness sometime soon.

 

Inspiration on the Water

Sadly, my kayaking plans for this evening were canceled due to potentially stormy weather on Flathead Lake. It’s a bit of a letdown because I was very much looking forward to my first group paddle under the full moon.

However, I now get to tell about my experience on the lake last Friday. So let’s back up a week.

A new acquaintance had asked me to kayak for an open swim race. I didn’t really know what I was getting into, but of course, I said yes. It would be an opportunity to meet some new people and get out on the lake for the first time. And who wouldn’t want to be out on the water on a hot and sunny July afternoon?  I was a bit nervous though, about both finding the location and my potentially precariously-loaded kayak. Was it tied down well enough to stay put at highway speeds?

Just when I was sure I had passed the park without seeing it, (Yikes—No data!) I rounded a corner, and there it was.  The kayak was still attached, and I had arrived on time. Relief.

After we kayakers received our instructions, I volunteered to be the sweeper. That meant I would follow the swimmer in last place to ensure his/her safety. Honestly, I took the sweeper position because I had no idea how fast the swimmers would be. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to keep up with those in the lead.

It took me a few minutes to realize why my swimmer was in last place. She was paraplegic. Think about it. She was swimming an entire mile in unpredictable open water, solely with her arms!  A determined optimist, she occasionally paused, checking in with me and smiling every time.  I did what I could to encourage her and guide her without overdoing it. At times, it seemed like she wasn’t making progress due to the winds and the currents, but that apparently didn’t matter to her.  I soon concluded that she would finish at her own pace. Giving up was not an option.

Grateful and inspired are not strong enough words to describe how I felt about this experience. My swimmer thanked me at the end of the race and said she couldn’t have done it without me.  I can’t adequately convey the gift she gave to me.  My maiden kayak voyage on Flathead Lake was certainly memorable. Lucky me.