Tag: changes

Reflecting and Planning, Second Edition

January 1, 2025

As 2025 begins, it’s time to reflect on my second full year as a nomad.

The biggest questions are, “Am I happy with the nomadic lifestyle? Was this the right choice?”

Yes! Absolutely. I tell people that my life is 90% wonderful. I wouldn’t have said that three years ago. In fact, I was pretty miserable and felt trapped by my career and home ownership.

I never thought I would be so happy to be unemployed. (I’m not quite retired; I just decided to quit working and make some lifestyle changes two and a half years ago.) I wake up grateful every day for the sights that I get to see, the people and pets I meet, and a more relaxed lifestyle.

Highlights of 2024

  • House and Pet sitting: The main thing that keeps me on a reasonable budget. Think about it; I’m not paying rent or utilities for half the year. I house and pet-sat for 164 days last year. That included one “pet less” sit of seven weeks. I used that time to take online courses and renew my teaching certificate. (Even though I don’t plan to teach full-time again, allowing my cert to lapse would be careless.) My favorites sits are still the “one-dog sits.” Single dogs tend to be good company, and at least one daily walk is guaranteed.
  • Hawaii: I love the Hawaiian Islands! Thanks to a two-week sit, I was able to enjoy several weeks in the islands this year. It has become a regular thing for me to visit in late August and September.
  • The Greek Islands: There are over 200 islands to explore in Greece, and I saw seven more of them this past spring, increasing my list to eleven. I started with three weeks on Kos, where I was volunteering. Volunteering didn’t go well, but I saw much of the island. The weeklong yoga and Zen meditation retreat on Sérifos was most certainly a highlight! After the retreat, I spent nearly three weeks walking and hiking on Sifnos, Naxos, and Tinos. I also took day trips to Kalymnos and Nisyros while on Kos.
  • Scandinavia: I have been waiting a long time to visit Scandinavia and decided to make it happen. It is not the most budget-friendly place, so I could only enjoy three weeks, visiting Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and Oslo. I also saw some of the Norwegian coast on a weeklong cruise (Yes, the cruise was cheaper than staying on land.) I loved Geiranger and enjoyed Kristiansand and Stavanger. In fact, I at least liked every location in Scandinavia. Gothenburg was number one, though.
  • Cruises: I ended up taking two very different cruises in 2024. In June, I cruised up the coast of Norway from Copenhagen. The best parts were the wonderful people I met and the day cruising Geiranger Fjord. The food and entertainment were mediocre. I cruised on Celebrity Edge from Honolulu to Sydney in October, a much better experience. Edge is a newer ship with a more upscale yet relaxed vibe. The food was sensational, and the service was excellent! And I had no trouble keeping busy on the sea days.
  • Australia and New Zealand: More on my bucket list! I thoroughly enjoyed Sydney and the spots I was able to see in Australia. I even visited new friends I had met while traveling last year. But New Zealand—wow! I loved every place that I visited.

Plans for 2025

  • Continue housesitting and pet-sitting: I have been pet sitting since the middle of December when I arrived home from Australia and New Zealand. And I will spend most of my days on sits through late March. All of my upcoming sits are for friends and family, so I can invite people to visit. I’m currently enjoying a New Year’s sit with a sweet little dog in a gorgeous bayfront house. If it were an Airbnb, it would run about $2500-3000 for this week.
  • Continue to seek volunteer opportunities: I had a successful one-day volunteer gig last summer, but my longer volunteer situation was less than ideal. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up, though!
  • Transitioning from laptop to iPad: My kids bought me an iPad for Christmas! Since it’s a little lighter and more compact, I plan to use it as my primary computer while traveling. I have previously used one in my teaching career, but I always had a PC on hand, too. Old habits are hard to break.
  • Learning Croatian: It’s time for me to pick up another language and learn something new. Since it is part of my ethnic background, I have decided to dedicate time this summer to learning the language in Croatia. I’m beginning my online courses today!
  • More Cruises: The Panama Canal has been near the top of my bucket list, and I found a great rate on a cruise that fit my schedule. I’ll leave from Los Angeles, just a short plane ride from Seattle. Then, nine days after arriving in Florida, I will get on another ship from Florida to Barcelona. The transatlantic cruise will be with a group of fellow travelers/nomads. Very much looking forward to that!
  • Asia: I plan to revisit New Zealand and see some of Asia in the autumn and early winter. I might go minimalist with just a backpack for that one.

I continue to be grateful for the opportunities that this lifestyle gives me. Friends and family members continue to be supportive; I really couldn’t do this without them! It’s not perfect, and a part of me would love to have a permanent home, but that will happen when the time is right. As time passes, I feel more settled with the decision to be nomadic and roll with the year’s rhythms. I have been able to visit with friends and family for the holidays and continue to have quality time with my adult children when I’m in my house sitting in Washington. It’s a good life!

I wish you all the best for 2025!

Lessons Learned from Two Years of Nomad Life

April 12, 2024

Two years ago, I sold my home and most of my possessions to embark on a life of more adventure, higher happiness, and less stuff. I’ve experienced a lot and am still figuring it out. Here are some of the things I’ve learned along the way.

There are no Rules

Everyone has an opinion or wants to throw out an acronym. Did you FIRE? Are you a Slomad? Some people give up all their possessions and live out of backpacks, while others keep a home. I’m somewhere in between. I no longer own a home but have a car and rent a storage unit. And no, I don’t sleep in my car.

The reality is—who cares about labels? Do your own thing. I initially considered living as an expat in Spain. I soon realized I preferred moving around and experiencing different cultures. Additionally, I love my friends and family in the US, so I spend about half my year here.

If you’re thinking of giving it a try, do just that. Try it out. Maybe you can take a leave of absence and go on an adventure. I have been an enthusiastic traveler my entire adult life. As a teacher, I could take long summer trips once my kids had left the nest. I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into. Living as a nomad is different than taking a ten-day vacation, though.

This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.

Don’t Make Big Plans

Plans change. That’s the reality whether you live a nomadic life or not. When I returned from an extended visit to Europe in December 2022, I found my sister in an unhealthy state. I dropped all my plans to take care of her. Sadly, she passed away from pancreatic cancer a few weeks later. But I am happy I could be with her in her final weeks.

I do, however, make general plans. It’s April, and I have a skeleton plan for the rest of my year. That’s partly my personality and partly that I get requests for house sits. Would you turn down two weeks taking care of a cat in Hawaii?

Housesitting is a Huge Budget Saver

I first learned about housesitting over a decade ago, and it has been part of my retirement plan ever since. I have to say, I mostly love it. I enjoy meeting new people and their pets, and pet parents are grateful for the service. I also get a free place to stay with furry roommates.

I have completed nineteen house sits in the past year. Six have been for friends, thirteen from Trusted House Sitters, and two have been “no pet” sits. The length of sits has been between three days and seven weeks. A couple pets have been a little challenging, but it has mostly been a positive experience. Some people leave snacks, and some invite me for dinner the night before the sit. In total, I have stayed for free 165 nights over the past year, and I’ve made new friends, too.

Get a Credit Card (or Two) to Support Your Lifestyle

I have one card that gets me free hotel stays and one that racks up airline miles. Some people continually open new credit cards to get free points. That’s not really my style. But again, I’m not making the rules.

Call in Your Support People

I am fortunate to have friends and family members who support me in various ways. I have a home base and permanent address with a family member. Several people in my life have offered me a place to stay, whether I’m traveling around the western US or needing a place to crash between house sits.

When I travel outside the country, I have a family member and a friend who allow me to park my car on their property.

Not everyone has such good fortune; I am grateful for their support.

You Meet a lot of Interesting People

I strike up more conversations with strangers than I used to. I believe I am more open, given my lifestyle. Another aspect is my “dog magnetism.” Ever since I started pet sitting, I tend to chat with dog owners, even when I’m not walking a dog.

While abroad, I’ve met some fellow adventurers and have started meeting up with new friends in other countries.

Find the Combination that Works for You

As I stated earlier, I like to spend part of my year in the Western US near friends and family. I love southern Europe and will never tire of Spain, Portugal, and Greece. But there are many parts of the world that I have yet to see. This year, I will be checking off more bucket list destinations.

I look at my budget as a yearly number. House sits don’t cost me much. However, a little apartment in Oslo is more expensive than one on a Greek island. It all evens out in the end.

The nomad life isn’t for everyone. I’m still figuring it out, and my lifestyle continues to evolve. Sometimes, I feel like I need to do more; then, I remember the high-stress life I was living before I made this change. I haven’t worked in nearly two years, but I don’t know if I’m fully retired. I am open to working remotely, part-time, or seasonally in the future.

So, two years later, am I living a happier, simpler life with a lower stress level? Yes! And the adventures continue.

Reflecting and Planning

January 4, 2024

As 2024 begins, I reflect on my first full year as a nomad.

The biggest question is, “Am I happy with the nomadic lifestyle?”

Yes! Absolutely. As the months pass, I can’t imagine returning to my former profession, teaching.

I never thought I would be so happy to be unemployed. (I still don’t believe I am retired.)

I wake up grateful every day for the sights I see, the people I meet, and a more relaxed lifestyle.

New Experiences in 2023:

  • House and pet sitting: From May to July, I mostly house-sat and pet-sat. My favorites have been the “one-dog sits.” Cats are easy, but dogs are good company, and at least one daily walk is guaranteed. It’s also a huge budget saver!
  • European National Parks: I visited Plitvice and Mljet in Croatia and Teide and Garajonay in the Canary Islands. The national parks in Croatia were stunning! Trails were well-marked and easy to navigate. Tiede, Spain’s highest peak, is located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. I visited on a group tour that included star gazing. It was an unforgettable experience. I also spent a day on La Gomera in the Canaries, which is primarily a National Park. Absolutely gorgeous!
  • The Greek Islands: I spent about a month in Greece, starting in Athens and moving on to Crete, Karpathos, Rhodes, and Santorini. Each place had its unique character, and I enjoyed all of them. There are over 200 islands to explore in Greece, and I have plans to return this spring.
  • Reading: Okay, I have known how to read for a long time! I have always struggled with leisurely reading, though. I no longer feel guilty about spending the afternoon with my nose in a good book.

Plans and Changes for 2024:

  • More weeks of house sitting and pet sitting: I have been pet sitting since the middle of December when I arrived home from an extended trip to Europe. (I was able to schedule the sits around family Christmas celebrations.) And I will spend most of my days on sits through April. Requests have come my way, and I can be picky about pets and locations. I’m currently enjoying a gorgeous view of Puget Sound.
  • Volunteer Work: I’m researching options for volunteer positions both here in my home state and overseas. I’m hoping to make this part of my lifestyle.
  • Travel farther from home: I am going “Down Under” for the first time. After spending September in the Hawaiian Islands, I will head to Sydney, Australia, in October. I still need to plan the rest of the trip, including New Zealand.
  • No big US road trip: The past two years, I took off on extended road trips around the Western US (seven and ten weeks). Although I enjoyed those trips, which included visits with friends and family, I don’t have an open block of time this year. I will make some shorter trips instead.
  • Cruises: I haven’t been on a cruise ship in several years. I have mixed feelings about cruising, but incredible deals are out there as the cruise lines recover from the pandemic. And most cruise companies are responding to solo travelers with single rooms. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Two years ago, I never imagined that I would be living this lifestyle. I get a kick out of telling people that I am a nomad. Their reactions are almost always positive, and I enjoy answering their questions. Some people can’t believe that I no longer have a physical home. I have adapted and find it easy to make myself “at home” almost anywhere.

I have always enjoyed home renovation shows (I have remodeled one home and partially remodeled another.), and I love to see how people decorate. I now have a routine when I arrive for a sit. I take in the surroundings and appreciate their sense of style and the fact that they are entrusting me with their home and pets.

One of the best things about this lifestyle is that I see more of my adult kids now than I did in previous years. I schedule enough sits in the Seattle area that we get together quite often throughout the year. And Mom isn’t asking for their help with projects around the house. We just enjoy each other’s company.

Here’s to the year ahead! I wish you peace and happiness.

My Biggest Burden as a Nomad


August 4, 2023
I have been living a nomadic life for just over a year now. There have been many adjustments along the way, and my lifestyle continues to evolve.
Over the past few months, I have added house-sitting and pet-sitting. In fact, I’ve only paid for one night in a hotel this summer. I’ve hiked and paddle-boarded to my heart’s content and caught up with friends and family in my home state. Indeed, I can’t complain.


But being in my home area, there is also something I can’t avoid—my storage unit.
When I sold my house and most of its contents last year, I gave up a lot, but not everything. I still have my car; the rest is in the ten-by-ten storage unit.
I dread going to that storage unit. Why?
It’s too full and too hard to find anything.
I thought I had a great idea last spring when my son helped me set up two shelving units. But honestly, it is still too cluttered. Also, when my sister passed away last January, I re-inherited some things that I had given her.
Becoming a minimalist is a journey, and I’m still working on it. My travel wardrobe is pared down, but I still have a few bins full of clothes in that storage unit. I will defend my winter wardrobe and sports-related attire, but I’m not sure if I have a decent excuse to keep the rest.


And then there are those bins of mementos, my personal history that I haven’t been able to part with yet. Perhaps I could reduce the number of containers.
The bottom line is that I don’t think I will be a nomad forever. That’s why giving up some of those big items like my vacuum cleaner and favorite wool rug is hard.
I plan to pare down a bit more when I return from my next adventure. I’m impressed with fellow nomads who have “a few boxes in someone else’s garage.” I’m not sure if I will ever get there, but that’s okay. We are each navigating our own journey.

Update: August 11, 2024

I did, indeed, manage to downsize my storage unit last spring before embarking on another extended European journey. In the process, I also saved myself some money by switching to a 7 x 10 unit, which was one-third the price!

Now I can roll out my bike and get to the items I’m seeking. I realized that I could dispose of some of those mementos and Christmas decorations without missing them. And paring down my wardrobe is a constant battle.

The dreaded storage unit no longer feels like a burden!

Nomad Life: How Did I Get Here?

June 20, 2023

Do you ever stop and wonder about the twists and turns of your life?

Mine has taken many in the past five years.

If you had told me in June 2018 that in five years, I would be homeless by choice and changing doggie diapers, I don’t know if I would have laughed, freaked out, or broken down in tears.

But here I am.

You see, I was one of those Type A people who liked to be in control and lead a tidy, secure life. I was a lifelong educator, and although I always found it challenging, I figured I would segway into a new career at some point.

In fact, I did make a change in 2018. I sold my condo in the Seattle area and moved to Montana’s Flathead Valley.

This is it! I thought. But it wasn’t.

Don’t get me wrong—there were a lot of wonderful outcomes from that move. I enjoyed a year of outdoor recreation and made tons of new friends. What I didn’t do was plan for a source of income. I was overly optimistic about finding a suitable job that would give me some income but still allow for ample time in the great outdoors. It just didn’t work out.

I have an old friend who firmly believes life is all about timing. I guess I didn’t time that one right.

After a year, I returned to my home state, Washington, and returned to my safe but stressful career teaching high school. I took a position in Eastern Washington, thinking that changing to a smaller rural school would be better and keep me closer to new friends in Montana.

Then, you know what happened: Pandemic. There’s nothing like being in a new job in a new location and then being locked up alone in your isolated home in the country.  

A couple of months into the pandemic, a friend and colleague stopped by for an on-the-porch visit. She encouraged me to head back to the west side of the state to be closer to friends and family. It was May, and we still didn’t know what the following months and years would bring.

I got online, found an appropriate open position, arranged for a nontraditional interview, and got the job.

It was time to move again.

I bought a “fixer-upper” to have something to do. Ha! I would not recommend remodeling a house during a pandemic. Supply shortages, inflated prices…it was not a fun experience.

That’s the short version of what led me to my current lifestyle.

If you or someone close to you works in public education, you know how tough the past few years have been. We teachers have been dropping like flies.

A year ago, I decided to sell that newly remodeled house, got rid of most of my possessions, and quit my job. Another teacher down.

My initial plan was to retire in Spain, at least for a year or two. I had traveled there about a dozen times over the years, and two involved longer stays in educational programs. I had always loved Spain. Why not live the Spanish ex-pat life for a while?

After traveling around the Western US in the summer of 2022, I set out for a three-month trip to Europe in September. I had an apartment reserved in Valencia, Spain, for the month of October. It would be an excellent trial period to see if I wanted to live there for a year or two.

In the end, I realized that traveling was what gave me the most joy. Exploring new places fed my soul like nothing else in life.

I had been following the blog of a nomadic couple from Seattle for several months. Initially, I thought there was no way I would ever do it. Nine months later, I realized it was exactly what I wanted to do.

So here I am. My nomadic lifestyle continues to evolve.

Last December, I returned from Europe to find my sister in a poor state physically and emotionally. I instantly put the brakes on my life to take care of her. I rented a house for three months (negotiated an Airbnb) to allow us time to assess her health and make a plan. I was ready to go back to work, at least part-time.

Sadly, my sister passed away from pancreatic cancer in January.

I decided to keep the short-term rental through March, as planned, to grieve and help sort out my sister’s affairs. Looking back, it was the right move. I spent more time with my adult children than I had in years, and there were numerous visits with family and friends. I also bonded further with my niece and her husband and kids.

That experience made me realize that I needed a hybrid plan. I wanted to spend a chunk of the year in Western Washington near family and friends. In other words, this is still home. I don’t want to lose that.

After traveling throughout the western states again this spring, I arrived “home” on June first. I was able to arrange pet-sitting and house-sitting gigs in the area through mid-July.

One of the most important things I have learned over the past few years is to be flexible because changes will always arise.

And there are no rules to the nomadic lifestyle. You can make it what you want.

Who knows? I may go back to work one of these days. For now, I appreciate the freedom and joy that come with simplifying.

Loss and Recovery

January 24, 2023

I haven’t written in over a month. I’m still recovering from the most profound shock of my life.
After a three-month, life-changing trip to Europe, I came back “home” on December 7th, energized and optimistic. I was anticipating more travels in 2023 and looked forward to spending time with friends and family through the holidays. I planned my itinerary, including a house-sitting gig for a friend from December 25th through January 6th. Then I would ski before resuming my nomadic life. I thought Costa Rica might be next.
Thankfully, I hadn’t bought a plane ticket yet.
On the evening of December 8th, I called my sister to check-in. From our texts, I knew she had been experiencing lower back pain; she felt like she hadn’t fully recovered from her hip surgery earlier in the year.
When I heard her voice, my heart sank. She was in despair. The pain had kept her from sleeping, she had lost her appetite, and she wasn’t getting a firm answer from her medical providers. Additionally, she had been laid off while on medical leave. She had been hiding her misery from family and close friends, not one to trouble other people, especially at Christmastime.
I took a day to gather my thoughts and figure out a plan of action.
I rented an Airbnb at one of her favorite places on the bay for the next two weeks and then arranged for a three-month house rental through the end of March. That would give us time to figure out her medical needs and get her in a better place emotionally. When I saw her on Saturday, she agreed to the plan without hesitation.


A few days later, an MRI showed irregularities in her liver.
The following Monday, we were in the ER. Another scan revealed tumors in her liver and pancreas, likely cancerous. That was December 19th.
On December 22nd, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—she would not survive. She remained in the hospital for five more days due to low sodium levels.
On December 27th, we moved her into the house I had rented. One of her oldest friends arrived to help me care for her. A small group of friends and family members came to visit and support her.


She passed away on January 3rd.

Pancreatic cancer is sneaky. In most cases, people don’t receive a diagnosis until it’s advanced, often stage four. I’ve never seen someone decline so rapidly. She slipped visibly every day. I didn’t even have time to contact all our relatives and her friends to tell them she was sick.
Over the past three weeks, I have told the story countless times to friends and relatives, every time experiencing the pain again.

You know how some people say, “Man makes plans, and God laughs”? That sums up the past few years of my life. Every time that I have it all mapped out, something changes. I’ve learned to accept and embrace those changes.
Losing my sister was certainly not in my plan, but I’m grateful I was with her at the end of her life. The best thing is that I have no regrets regarding our relationship. We talked on the phone often and supported each other through the bad days. We had a lot of fun over the past decade, too. We enjoyed some great sister trips; we swam with the dolphins in Mexico, and I finally took her to Hawaii in 2021.
We have all heard the advice: “Be grateful every day. Tell people you love them. Live with no regrets.”
We really don’t know when our time will come. What keeps you from chasing your dreams and checking off that bucket list?
Right now, I’m taking my time and allowing myself to grieve. We need to do that, too. I have this beautiful lake-view home for two more months. It wasn’t in my plan, but I’m doing my best. My kids and friends have been coming to visit, I’m taking long restorative walks, and I’m helping my nieces with the work that’s involved in wrapping up my sister’s affairs. Every day the pain lifts a little. I embrace the happy moments, the tears, and the time to read, meditate, and enjoy this place’s peacefulness.

My Biggest Dilemma (Which Eventually Resolved Itself)

October 11, 2022

I’m truly enjoying my time in Valencia despite my aching feet. Since visiting with the Spanish family last weekend, I have probably been thinking too much about where I want to live when I return next year. In fact, I’m a bit obsessed. I keep researching smaller towns in eastern Spain. Then I look at the real estate sites. But do I really want to live in a small town? Won’t I get bored? Would I have social life? Is there a city that is big enough but not too big? If I were closer to the mountains, I could ski…

Valencia’s Botanical Garden

Then I worry about Valencia being too noisy for me. In some ways, I like the noise. I never feel entirely alone. Other neighborhoods would be quieter, though. I like the botanical garden. What if I could get an apartment that backs on the garden? That would be sweet!

My friends talked about the possibility of finding an area that was accessible by metro on the outskirts of the city. But again, I don’t want to live in the suburbs, and when people visit, they want to see the city.

Now, do you understand what I’ve been going through? I know. It has to be where I want to live. Don’t choose your home based on potential visitors.

How many Airbnb’s have a bookcase like this?

I fell in love with this apartment the moment I walked in. It has super-high ceilings, over ten feet, more like twelve. The desk sits in front of the “wall of windows.” I love the natural daylight, but I have the privacy of frosted and colored glass. Throughout the apartment, the walls are bright white with sparse décor. It’s clean and happy without being cluttered. The preserved original tile mosaic floors are charming, as are many other details in this turn-of-the-century home. I couldn’t imagine a better place to write. And the built-in bookcase has some interesting reading material. It would be great if the owner were willing to lease it to me at a lower rate for a longer term.

Sometimes the Universe, God, or our higher power hears us. Yesterday, I received a message from my host:

Hi Shannon.

 Hope you are well, I wanted to ask you because I thought I understood that you wanted to stay longer in Valencia (maybe you were thinking of staying a year, or am I wrong?).

 I mention it because I’m interested in long-term rentals and you might be interested in staying at my house longer.

We then proceeded to message back and forth. Me with questions and he with answers. He’s looking at the numbers and has promised to get back to me with a price and terms. I’ll stop obsessing for a while.

January 24, 2023

By the time my month-long stay in Valencia had ended, I had come to an important realization. I’m not ready to settle in one spot—adventure is what I want now. 

Cape Sagres, Portugal

When my host got back to me with a number, I had already decided to continue my wandering life. There’s so much more of the world that I want to see. I’ve loved Costa Rica for decades, but somehow, I have never visited. Machu Pichu, the Galapagos…the list goes on.

Getting in the Spirit

One of the things that drew me to my new hometown was that they celebrate Christmas in a big way. Yes, I am one of those people who absolutely loves Christmas, and I have been anticipating “Elf Day” since I signed the papers on my house back in June.

What exactly is “Elf Day?” Everyone in town is invited to just show up at 8:00 to do their part to transform our town into a Christmas village. There are no age restrictions, no need to sign up ahead of time; you just make your way to the local inn where everyone gathers for instructions, followed by a group photo.

After the photo, I turned to the couple standing beside me and asked, “So where do I go?”

They replied, “Is this your first time? Come with us. We are putting bows on the trees along the bay.” We proceeded to introduce ourselves and chatted as we walked up to the trees.

We had all just been instructed on proper bow hanging, so I felt up to the task. There were maybe fifty trees wired up to the railing along the bay. Our instructions were to put five bows on each tree. In theory, it was an easy task, but it became a bit challenging as our fingers began to freeze. Our work ended quickly, though, as several other elves wandered our way to help.

All of this isn’t just Christmas magic, though. Clearly, there is a sizeable crew of people who work behind the scenes to put this in motion. Last weekend, a friend and I joined the group that was checking bins and making sure light strings were functioning. We then properly gathered up each string to make short work for the elves. Another group was busily tying bows, oodles of red bows!

Earlier in the week, fresh evergreen trees had been wired up all over town. This is where the bows came in. And evergreen garlands were set out in front of the shops this morning. I’m sure there are other details involved that I’ll learn about with time. Clearly, this is a well-orchestrated event.

After heading back to the fire pit to warm up from hanging bows—it was in the twenties— I asked one of the head elves where to go next. She sent me to a building that was missing its bin of lights. They had gathered up some spares and needed help getting the garlands strung. Two fellow elves started at one end while the building owner and I took the other. We got acquainted and began talking about my recent relocation to Montana. His smiling response was, “Good move.” I agreed.

After figuring out our plan for the lighted garlands, a couple of men with ladders appeared to help hang them. They were a jovial pair, obviously enjoying the privilege of being ladder guys.

All throughout town, everyone was pitching in to help where they were needed. It was really quite a production requiring a couple of lifts, numerous ladders, and I’d guess over a hundred elves. There were people with tools and extra hooks, and there was even a volunteer in a golf cart offering hot cocoa and coffee. It was heartwarming to see the community spirit in action.

By the time we had finished our task, I had befriended one of my fellow elves. She and I made our way back to the inn where yet another group of volunteers was serving chili. While I was busy buying a t-shirt, my new friend started chatting with an acquaintance of mine, and another friendship began to blossom. A bit of Christmas magic was touching our little town. And I have no doubt that this was a good move.

 

Just Being Neighborly

One of the things I was looking for when I decided to move to a small town was a sense of community. I knew the town offered several events throughout the year which was certainly attractive. Along with that, I wanted to get to know my neighbors and feel like I was part of something.

Last week, my neighborhood had our annual homeowners’ meeting. I had a vested interest in making sure that we got a quorum since that had always been a struggle at the condo where I had most recently lived. When my friend called to ask if I was planning on attending the meeting, I confirmed that I would be there and offered to knock on doors, if needed, to remind people to attend.

Ten minutes later, the HOA president was at my door with proxy forms in hand. Well, I certainly was committed then. She gave me the run-down regarding some of the neighborhood issues, and we strategized my door-knocking plan since I wouldn’t be able to get to every single resident in one afternoon.

I headed out the next day around 4:00 PM and was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming everyone was. I do believe that every single person who was at home answered the door. Some of them assured me that they would be at the meeting, others had already given proxies to a trusted neighbor, and a few of them even invited me in. Everyone was at least cordial, and most were downright friendly. Such a great way to get acquainted with my neighbors!

The next night it was fun to see so many familiar faces at the meeting, more than I would have if I hadn’t gone knocking. And we barely made the quorum. That little extra effort was more than worth it.