Thoughts on leaving home

Travels with JacobAs you can see from the entry below, I opened this blog some time ago, shortly after I realized that I would be selling my home and living in my Sportsmobile, travelling to see some of the beautiful parts of this country.

I think I will be starting my travels sometime between April 15 and April 22. Right now, it's hard to believe that I will manage to get everything done that I need to before I leave; I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed.

I'm also feeling a lot of sadness, leaving my home of 23 years. The air was so clear and crisp today; the mountains were right there, the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds, and everything is so green. I will be leaving a neighborhood I know -- all the streets, where to get my car fixed, the vet, familiar checkout clerks at the grocery -- for a series of neighborhoods that are strange. My "next door neighbors" will be the folks in the adjoining campground, and will be very temporary.

This afternoon, during a discussion with my realtor about the location of my property line, I was reminded of all the hours I spent sitting on my downhill neighbor's sofa, talking with him about all sorts of things. Bruce was a gay man in his 60's who made me feel very welcome when I first moved here and became a very dear friend. Although he died several years ago, it still feels like moving away from the place where I knew him is another step in losing him.

The buyer for my house is a young (early 30's, I'd guess) woman of Filipina/Chinese ancestry who is very excited about living here. I gave her the set of house numbers I made when I took pottery classes. She seemed pleased with them; I hope she will use them. I like the idea of something I made continuing to be part of the house.

I don't plan on adding any more posts until I'm underway; check back sometime after April 20th.

Travels with Jacob

Travels with JacobAs you can see from the entry above, I opened this blog some time ago, shortly after I realized that I would be selling my home and living in my Sportsmobile, travelling to see some of the beautiful parts of this country.

I think I will be starting my travels sometime between April 15 and April 22. Right now, it's hard to believe that I will manage to get everything done that I need to before I leave; I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed.

I'm also feeling a lot of sadness, leaving my home of 23 years. The air was so clear and crisp today; the mountains were right there, the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds, and everything is so green. I will be leaving a neighborhood I know -- all the streets, where to get my car fixed, the vet, familiar checkout clerks at the grocery -- for a series of neighborhoods that are strange. My "next door neighbors" will be the folks in the adjoining campground, and will be very temporary.

This afternoon, during a discussion with my realtor about the location of my property line, I was reminded of all the hours I spent sitting on my downhill neighbor's sofa, talking with him about all sorts of things. Bruce was a gay man in his 60's who made me feel very welcome when I first moved here and became a very dear friend. Although he died several years ago, it still feels like moving away from the place where I knew him is another step in losing him.

The buyer for my house is a young (early 30's, I'd guess) woman of Filipina/Chinese ancestry who is very excited about living here. I gave her the set of house numbers I made when I took pottery classes. She seemed pleased with them; I hope she will use them. I like the idea of something I made continuing to be part of the house.

I don't plan on adding any more posts until I'm underway; check back sometime after April 20th.