Day 0 - 👊
It would have been difficult for Minnesota to have provided me a more fitting send off as I departed to Transylvania County.
4 days prior - rain... just kind of a mess
Dig in to Brene Brown (books, TED talks, podcasts, whatever...)
4 days prior - rain... just kind of a mess
3 days prior - ridiculous ice storm
2 days prior - snow. not a ton, but still
1 day prior - light dusting of snow
day of... there was some sort of shitshow as I was heading towards Woodbury on 494. What's another 45 minutes added to a 17 hour drive. It was actually fairly cold too. I was really glad to be leaving.
The drive was actually not bad. I learned that I have zero love for IL though. People drive absolutely nuts (seemingly for no reason - but, hey, maybe EVERYONE there is a heart surgeon and late for some surgery). And the toll ways. Some take credit cards, all take cash - and why is there a toll on an Interstate Highway in the first place - didn't we already pay for that thing? Indiana was nothing special as well.
As I traversed Kentucky, I started to really recognize exactly why I was doing this (moving to Brevard, NC). The scenery towards the southeast portion of the state was tear-worthy. I suppose it is worth mentioning that I have little (or no) tolerance for people that text-and-drive.. and generally drive like shitheads, for whatever reason. And for the record: total hypocrite - I used to drive like a shithead and I have broken the posted speed limit by a multiplier of 3. (55 MPH = 165 MPH). I cannot rationalize my own behavior and have no context for their behavior or thought-process. I digress, I just realized as I watch these minivans with families.. and old people motoring by - that there are so many of us completely wrapped up in this "go.. go.. GO!!!" mindset.
I managed to get to my temporary domicile with little/no fanfare. I actually slept OK in my truck.. drive was uneventful and even though I made a turn 1 block too soon, I still drove right to the house. Put my code in the door and I was off to the races. Super cool house - wifi worked. Zero complaints.
And, finally, the reason I am actually typing right at this moment. I had visited this town a year-and-a-half ago - I am somewhat familiar with the layout. After I unloaded most of my stuff and got stuff put away, etc.. I wanted to go to a restaurant that I really dug before (and the name always eludes me, but when I see it, or look it up - it makes me smile) The Square Root. This place is only accessible via the alley and is across the alley from an amazing chocolate store - Downtown Chocolates. As I was leaving the house, I could hear small prop plane in the background... a dog barking off in the distance - and I "felt something".. some emotion - which, to me, felt primal (acknowledging that it is NOT primal though). I tried to deconstruct the feeling(s). The air was cool and crisp. I had a vest on with a long-sleeve wool shirt. I was fairly warm, but I could still tell it was cooler outside. I started to realize that this was all familiar, but seemingly a lifetime ago. Later, when I returned, I was wandering around this sizable home and then it hit me: no noise. No busses, or sirens.. or shitty cars (or not-shitty cars, for that matter). Do I not like the city? (but... I LOVE the city - uh-oh?).
This is actually a pretty big discovery that I hope to unpack a bit more. Brevard is a small college town of around 8000 people. There is a CVS and Walgreens - a few chain restaurants - but downtown is all tiny "mom and pop" stores. Can I do this? If I have Internet and the airport, is this "my place"? Is it my place only because I am decompressing from being in the city? Time will tell, I suppose.
As I traversed Kentucky, I started to really recognize exactly why I was doing this (moving to Brevard, NC). The scenery towards the southeast portion of the state was tear-worthy. I suppose it is worth mentioning that I have little (or no) tolerance for people that text-and-drive.. and generally drive like shitheads, for whatever reason. And for the record: total hypocrite - I used to drive like a shithead and I have broken the posted speed limit by a multiplier of 3. (55 MPH = 165 MPH). I cannot rationalize my own behavior and have no context for their behavior or thought-process. I digress, I just realized as I watch these minivans with families.. and old people motoring by - that there are so many of us completely wrapped up in this "go.. go.. GO!!!" mindset.
I managed to get to my temporary domicile with little/no fanfare. I actually slept OK in my truck.. drive was uneventful and even though I made a turn 1 block too soon, I still drove right to the house. Put my code in the door and I was off to the races. Super cool house - wifi worked. Zero complaints.
And, finally, the reason I am actually typing right at this moment. I had visited this town a year-and-a-half ago - I am somewhat familiar with the layout. After I unloaded most of my stuff and got stuff put away, etc.. I wanted to go to a restaurant that I really dug before (and the name always eludes me, but when I see it, or look it up - it makes me smile) The Square Root. This place is only accessible via the alley and is across the alley from an amazing chocolate store - Downtown Chocolates. As I was leaving the house, I could hear small prop plane in the background... a dog barking off in the distance - and I "felt something".. some emotion - which, to me, felt primal (acknowledging that it is NOT primal though). I tried to deconstruct the feeling(s). The air was cool and crisp. I had a vest on with a long-sleeve wool shirt. I was fairly warm, but I could still tell it was cooler outside. I started to realize that this was all familiar, but seemingly a lifetime ago. Later, when I returned, I was wandering around this sizable home and then it hit me: no noise. No busses, or sirens.. or shitty cars (or not-shitty cars, for that matter). Do I not like the city? (but... I LOVE the city - uh-oh?).
This is actually a pretty big discovery that I hope to unpack a bit more. Brevard is a small college town of around 8000 people. There is a CVS and Walgreens - a few chain restaurants - but downtown is all tiny "mom and pop" stores. Can I do this? If I have Internet and the airport, is this "my place"? Is it my place only because I am decompressing from being in the city? Time will tell, I suppose.
It is so dark here! I might actually need night lights so I can get around at night.
It is going to rain for the next few days. Not ideal, but will insist that I accept my chosen "station". I have voluntarily moved myself to a small town in the Western North Carolina mountains for 3 months. While mountain biking is a primary focus - the disconnect and realignment is another. I want to re-read Pema Chodron - When Things Fall Apart (I think that's the title) as I believe she also talks about "getting away from it all" and how the situation surprised her in the way she focused her thoughts/energy. This is going to be a good ride.
Bucketlist while I'm here:
Dark Nights of the Soul - Thomas Moore
When Things Fall Apart - Pema Chodron
It is going to rain for the next few days. Not ideal, but will insist that I accept my chosen "station". I have voluntarily moved myself to a small town in the Western North Carolina mountains for 3 months. While mountain biking is a primary focus - the disconnect and realignment is another. I want to re-read Pema Chodron - When Things Fall Apart (I think that's the title) as I believe she also talks about "getting away from it all" and how the situation surprised her in the way she focused her thoughts/energy. This is going to be a good ride.
Bucketlist while I'm here:
Dark Nights of the Soul - Thomas Moore
When Things Fall Apart - Pema Chodron
Terraform - James Trumbull
Dig in to Brene Brown (books, TED talks, podcasts, whatever...)
Work on my guitar (with Rocksmith)
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