Well. It finally happened. That move I mentioned a while back. It took 7 months, a lot of angst, rebuilding a credit score and in general a lot of aggravation. But it's done. I've now moved across country to the eastern seaboard where it rains. I've been here 3 weeks now. I finally got internet connection as well. So I must let you know what I had to leave behind in Texas.
First and foremost I had to leave friends. More friends than I've ever had in my life. I couldn't bring them with me. Some of them close enough to be surrogate parents, one of those women I would have forcefully packed in the car with me the day I left had I had room to stick her in there with all the critters. Friends that mostly accepted me for me. Which is a huge deal in Texas, I'm not 'normal' out there, though I'd probably fit in really well with those folks in Austin.
I had to leave one of the oldest quilting clubs in Texas. We were 12 members ranging from 35 to 90+. We only met once a week but we did beautiful hand quilting. I don't get to take quilt show trips with them anymore and have one member exclaim in the middle of a parking lot that the pie she just had was better that sex. Or spend and entire day quilt shop hoping. Or a day thrift store hoping with a few of the ladies.
I lost a very dear pet right before the move. My 100 pound puppy, Tesla. She was my first dog once we moved there and had a yard. 4 years was not long enough and I still tear up when I see a black great dane on TV or any huge black dog. Though I didn't completely leave her behind, I brought her urn with me.
I had to leave the food. Which in all honesty was perfectly fine with me since I couldn't eat out due to being allergic to peppers and tomatoes.
I had to leave the heat. Well no, I didn't get to leave it there, it followed me here. It was 103* the afternoon we left and 4 days later it was 104* here.
I had to leave the lack of rain, gladly I tell you, gladly. It's rained more here in 3 weeks than it did in the last 10 months there.
I had to leave my first house there. It was small. The carpet was old. The kitchen was minuscule but it was MINE. I had so many plans for it. Now though I have a bigger house, with acreage, 2 sheds and a massive shop. Time to start over.
I had to leave my peach trees. Hoping to start planting fruit trees here very soon (well as soon as I can find any for sale!).
I would like to say I left the drive to town but well I'm further out in the sticks now than I was there.
All in all I left a piece of myself there. That's never happened before. Texas somehow has a way of getting under your skin and taking root.
So I'm mostly settled in. Once the produce starts coming my way again I'll go right back to canning and post my progress. Along with a few projects I need to get done for the place, maybe some ideas on what to do with all the stuff already in the pantry, who knows what else.
