Now that we’re in the new place, and have had a little time to get settled in, I feel like things are returning to normal. Well, normal-ish. (Of course, philosophers have argued over what ‘normal’ is for centuries.)
I’ve acquired a driver’s license. That still doesn’t feel normal. I’ve had a Texas license my entire adult life. Not having one just seems strange to me (still). Yet another thing to adjust to.
Slowly we’ve been getting items in the new house set up. Well, I’ve been getting items set up. The wife has been suffering from back spasms so she ‘directs.’ I still haven’t been able to get to the books, but it is kinda fun when I find a box of books among other piles of boxes. It’s like discovering treasure among the rubble. I’m sure I’ll get the joy of rediscovering old favorites as I unbox them and get them arranged on the book cases.
I’m getting familiar with the steets around the new town. I’m finding optimal routes around the area. For a while I had only one route to use because it was the only one I know. I’ve found one route that is much more efficient going to some of the places we frequent. (The wife has discovered a restaurant she likes and we’ve already been there four times since we got here.) It also gets us to her doctor’s office faster, which will be a good thing.
I’m going to have to get to know the grocery store. I liked my previous grocery store in Texas. I knew what was on all the aisles, or at least the things I usually buy. I could go in, hit the aisles I needed, grab my items, and be done. That will happen in time as I shop at the new place but it is annoying because I have to hunt for everything. Once I get my mental map in place I’ll get back to my grocery buying efficient self.
There’s a movie theatre just down the street from us. That’s good. I don’t get out to the movies as much as I like any more, but it is nice to have the option if I do want to see something.
There are some places I still need to track down. The Post Office, for when I get back to posting things on eBay, so I can mail the items out to the folks that buy them. The Library, because library. Bookstores, of which here aren’t any. There is an antique / flea market kind of place that has a stall that sells used books. Not optimal, but that’s just the type of place you occasionally find the odd rare treasure. Ice cream shop, because sometimes you just really need a good milkshake.
I think I’m always going to have the self-conception of being a Texan. I’m not sure if living in the new place will ever truly feel like ‘home.’ It is a small town so that’s not unlike being in Texas. It’s farther North, so the winters will be colder. Don’t think I’m going to like that. Maybe I can just hibernate from the beginning of November to the end f April.
We’ll just have to see how things go.
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