July 1st marks the 2nd year since Bob and I purchased our New Hampshire home. 2019 certainly brought on a whirlwind of activities. Looking back, we shake our heads and say, “How did we do it?” Then comes the answer. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without our friends and professionals on the West Coast and family, friends, and professionals on the East Coast.
That mid-May of 2019, we took a risk in an offer on a beautiful home that would fulfill Bob’s love of driving on more country roads of New Hampshire and also situate us closer to our New England and Canadian families putting us in the same time zone. Our risk was grabbing onto an opportunity that might not have appeared again in our lives.
When the offer for our home was accepted, within a matter of 1-1/2 months, we went into first gear. We hired two realtors on the east and west coasts of the US; put our townhome up for sale; hired a mover; retired; packed; sold our townhome; and met with the RoL board, thrivers and supporters to assure them that we will still support RoL with the help of technology. Little did we know, ZOOM, would be so handy—especially when COVID hit.
We now live in place of peace. There is a balance of solitude, activity, and relaxation. We peer out our windows that provide us with great views of all the four seasons. In the summer, we sit on our front porch or back patio entertained by the antics of chipmunks, acrobatic squirrels, and rabbits jaunting around nibbling on grass or bushes. We listen and spot a variety of song birds. We can walk/drive to ponds, farm animals, artisans and historical places. The seasonal flowers, blossoms on trees, green leaves, autumn leaves, winter trees, sound of rain and silence of snow along with frozen and unfrozen ponds, rocks and minerals, bring us such curiosity and joy. There is also the lobster-like fragrance of the sea. COVID or NO COVID, the nearby ocean is a short drive away as we watch and listen to the waves rolling in and out.
Bob is enjoying his creation of his own man cave in our basement, which is almost the same size as our townhome in Ventura. He loves having his own work bench at home and plenty of storage for his tools (and mine). He has completed many projects without the pressure of having a deadline. He is now in the process of adding ship lap to the walls he built making a utility room that includes a craft sink, vacuums and other items to keep organized and hidden. When he’s done, he’ll finish out the basement ceiling and add a barn door for the small utility room.
Feeling fortunate that I don’t have lymphedema on my left side, being left-handed has allowed me to create artwork, learn new artistic techniques, earn certifications via ZOOM and using Zentangle®️and Neurographica®️art methods that are both relaxing and exciting for me.
Yes. Much can happen in two years. For us, these past two years affirm that our decision to move where we are now was a good one. And tonight, I am reminded of that after opening a DOVE chocolate containing a quote on its foil. It reads: “Don’t wait for sleep to start dreaming.”