It’s been a year since we moved here. I remember not wanting to move, but trying to put on a brave face for everyone else. But more than that I was grateful to have my family with me again, and not just for weekends. I’m grateful we only had to go a month and a half of me driving ten hours round trip each weekend–when I got to go home. I know people who have managed to do that for a lot longer, and they have my admiration. We do what we have to do.
The kids barely had enough time to get used to the new house and yard before starting school. I remember being nervous for them as they headed off to a new school, starting their lives over from scratch. I recall shedding a few tears with them when the transition didn’t go entirely smoothly. I was proud as I would offer my children advice that I had been too timid to follow myself at that age–and they would do it, and make friends. Even then, however, friendships are sometimes a fickle thing, and the school year was still a struggle at times. But they all did very well with their grades.
I’m so glad they’re not starting over from scratch again this year.
I’ve been in my job for over a year now. It’s not always enjoyable, but after two years without a paycheck, I sure enjoy seeing that money drop into my account regularly. That itself covers a lot of unpleasantness. I don’t know how long I’ll stay in my present job at my present company. I promised myself I’d give it two years, so we’ll see how the next eleven months go.
We’ve found some unexpected connection points. We’ve yet to find an animal shelter down here nearly as well-run as the Idaho Humane Society, but we’ve found a place that cares about animals and gives us a chance to make a difference. It’s not been easy there, either, but Terhi has found a place that needs her, and they have taken us all into their family.
It’s safe to say now that we’re settled. It’s not been an easy year, and truth be told, I’m probably the least settled of the family. I’ve yet to make any friends beyond casual friendships at work and church. If anything I’ve become even more of a hermit, since I spend much of my free time writing. It’s my own fault, I know, and most of the time I don’t mind. I still have good friends in Idaho to talk to. But I will admit it would be nice at times to have someone to do something with. Perhaps in time.
But quite frankly I have nothing at all to complain about. Life is good, and I would be ungrateful to say otherwise. But I do wonder where the next year will take us.
It’s been an interesting year, for sure. The one who had the hardest time settling into our new house has now actually forgotten what his old room looked like. I guess that’s a sign that we are okay here. 🙂 I don’t think any of us would like to move again any time soon.
I sometimes wonder how we would feel about moving back to Boise if we had the chance. There have been times I’d jump at the chance, but I suspect the longer we stay here the harder it would get.