It’s been tough finding the time to blog, but I’m trying my best here. Even though it’s been 6-7 weeks since my last post, I didn’t miss my once-a-month minimum post. Since my last post, lots of stuff has happened post-move.
1) Internet, phone, and cable: Check (yes, people, after a month of waiting, we got it all set up. Plus we got new–and working–cell phone plans to boot).
2) Renters insurance: Check
3) Drivers licenses, auto insurance, and Delaware plates (it took two months to get it all done, but it is finally done. Plus, the Delaware license plate looks great on our car).
4) Started new jobs: Check
5) Enrolled ZZ at school, got his PT set up, etc: Check
6) Closed our our Milwaukee bank accounts and are fully set up with our Delaware bank: Check (It is very nice not having to juggle two bank accounts and figure out which money from what account goes toward which payment).
7) Yoga place, ameditation group, and a Buddhist reading group: Check
8) Bike fixed: Check (although I haven’t had a chance to ride it yet).
9) Explored parts of the area: Check (although we have so much more to explore)
10) Enjoying the mild fall weather: Check (No offense to you, Milwaukee, but you sucked in this regard)
11) Visit regularly with family: Check (I love living close to family again)
Based on my completed to-do list, it should be clear how happy I am to have moved here. It’s been great. Even the mildly difficult stuff (not having a Trader Joes nearby; having to order my Rishi Tea online, etc.) hasn’t been much of an issue. I have had numerous days where I have felt the joy surge through my body because of our move. I love being back on the East Coast. I love our house. I love that ZZ’s doing so well at his new school and in PT (more on that in another post). I love living close to family and that ZZ has extended family to visit and get to know. I love UD’s campus and I love our Newark Natural Co-op. And given how much I loved living in cities such as DC and Milwaukee, I love that we live so close to the “country.” One of my favorite drives is going one mile from our house up 896N to the Rite Aid. Not because Rite Aid is magical (I mean, it’s a Rite Aid), but because I get to drive up 896 to a peaceful and serene part of the city. We also recently discovered that we have a Ridley Creek State Park sort-of-place a mile from our house, complete with a wide cement running and biking trail, a creek, and lots of woods.
That said, it’s also been a hard move. I really didn’t expect the transition to be so tough, particularly given how “right” the move was for us. There’s been all the day-to-day glitches and headaches and stressed that I’ve mentioned in the this post and my last post. But it’s other stuff, too. We’ve all been sick a lot in varying ways (I’m on round two of a bronchitis/respiratory thing; Molly’s got crazy allergies, ZZ’s had some colds, Paul developed a hernia from the move); I’m trying to adjust not only to a new life and new job, but to working full time again post-mamahood. My teaching schedule is not ideal (I get lots of “I’m sorrys” from colleagues, and one colleague told me I was “brave” when I said what my schedule was). It’s been hell trying to find a doctor (for some reason, primary care physicians are in shortage here), which has made our various illness stuff more stressful and only reinforced my dislike for urgent care. I don’t have a social/support network here yet, although I see inklings of one forming. Basically, the fact that everything about my life changed all at once and I’m having to learn how to do life over again and reinvent the wheel, so to speak, is hard. I’m getting through it, but it’s still hard. At least I know the”macro” of our new life here is good. We just have to get the “micro” stuff settled down and sorted out. And maybe find time for a vacation. Because I really could use some time relaxing on a beach or on a cruise or something. For now, though, I’ll just appreciate our drives out into the country to see fall leaves.
