On 2007...and 2008

[mlerules]

'Twas a big great year. Biggest & bestest bit: relocating to the PacNW, FINALLY. It's home and I like it here. A lot. Glancing back at my journal, I'm reminded that I found this place (and signed the rental agmt and put down my deposit) last January, even though I didn't move 'til March, so really, ALL of 2007 was spent prepping to get here, on getting settled, and on expanding my social networks, which I've apparently managed to do decently well in a relatively short period o' time.

Now what? My overarching life motto remains Curious But Not Committed, but tempered now w/a more proactive approach vis-a-vis where I'm headed. Yeah, this applies to a whole mess o' things/situations. Been focusing on spending time in the moment while balancing this w/a need to figure out which moments work best for me (and those I care about) so I can work on increasing their frequency and intensity.

Meanwhile, the balancing act continues 'tween spending time HERE (Portland) and establishing and deepening and strengthening and enriching local r-ships versus doing all that more Northward of here. Realizing there're limits to my resources (time/energy) so I must parcel 'em out more carefully...or rather, carve time out more thoughtfully.

Vis-a-vis SoCal, there'll (likely) be another visit in May, and perhaps after that in September ('pending on how the whole summer/driving across countries option(s) shape(s) up). Still wanna make it down to Arcata and thereabouts, ditto the Central Coast to visit the Lompoc gang, ditto more time in the Bay Area (when I'm not sick). And Vancouver. And Butchart Gardens. Um. There're other things I wanna do, too, and get involved in...it just won't all happen, at least not right away. So I must take/find/make time to figure out how/where to focus my energies/time/resources rather than just wandering hither and yon and to and fro willy-nilly. First come first served works for a while, but sooner or later I must make choices...not yet though...not fully...there'll always be an element of free-range...it's quite possibly a NEED.

For now though, FOOD's the most pressing need.

Comments

[ladyegreen.livejournal.com]

Great post. I'm so glad that your relocation is working out for you.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

:-)

[glitch25.livejournal.com]

Free-range MLE. What a delightful thought. :-)

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Well, there's also a plan afoot to have a spot on my LJ (home page/user info?) for the Where's MLE game, where my location appears on a map and shifts as I do...logistics remain to be worked out though. ;-)

[glitch25.livejournal.com]

Dunno.. The GPS backpack may intrude upon your activities. :-D

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'd rather have control over punching in the info...don't much like the idea of my whererabouts being tracked by Them.

[crboltz.livejournal.com]

I hope one of your trips to the LA area includes at least a stop over for a meal in Fresno! (Shiny Happy Company is always desired)...... And I'm glad your move worked out for you, my goals is to make my move work for me!

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Oh oh oh, I've been meaning to write, but x-mas and NY and life got in the way so I'm glad you reminded me. There's a Fresno trip in the works for February. It'll be in conjunction w/4-5 days in Yosemite for a fambily reunion 2/17-21/08, when I'll be flying in and outta Fresno and renting a car. What's your schedule like on either end of that?

[vismaya-viewer.livejournal.com]

Always interesting to look back and see where we've been; sometimes it's amazing how much can get stuffed into one year. I have happiness that you now call the Pac NW home, while hoping you have room on your balance beam and time to carve out to hang with me this year. Just putting my bid in early. ;o) *hugs*

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Duly noted - and 'twill be so! :-)

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

I try to get more birds with one net.

Parties such as NYEve work well for this, 'specially when they start early and small(ish), allowing for much visiting and hanging out and opportunities for small-group and one-on-one w/out too much driving to each place/person.

[evilgerbil.livejournal.com]

Your joyful relocation gives me a lot of hope. I'd love to hear how you started over again. I think you told me about having friends from college in the area but I can't remember.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Nope, I've got no friends from college up here. I've got fambily (and aunt 'n' uncle and a few cousins), but I've only seen 'em twice since I moved up. The bulk of my socializing began w/delerium3's friends (ulesegisa and his wife sidhefire) and exploded from that point. Also, my Dear Friend L, who you met when you were here, had lived here for about a decade yonks ago. She's been around a lot (both when I was looking to move up here for about a year before actually doing it), and helps provide reference points as well as being a good local person to do things with as she now owns a house just 10 blocks from mine.

[evilgerbil.livejournal.com]

I am rather afraid about moving my life to another place and starting completely over, but it is less stressful to me than the alternative, to live out the rest of my days in L.A. Which fills me with disquiet. I do not think I met this person... I met Al and his housemates and a bunch of Eugene hippie friends of Jeremy and Lyra's.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Perhaps not. I know she was over w/Al and J&L and I thought you were there, too, but my brain was illness-addled so it wouldn't surprise me were I wrong. ;-)

You do realize that moving and starting fresh - not over so much, as you've got your entire history behind/with you - isn't nearly as scary to some as winging off to South America for months on end...don't you?

Hoping whatever you choose to do helps you find more satisfaction w/life than extended periods of time in L.A. seem to fill you with.

[nascar24-48.livejournal.com]

Wow that was quite a year. I can truly say coming from this 3rd of the VBC that I have enjoyed getting to know you. You hold a special place in my heart for dear friends. I'm sure we will be seeing much more of you in 2008 and as alway's you have a place to rest your weary bones anytime that you need a driving break. *** HUGS***

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Ah, shucks...thx, dear. I'm so pleased to have met you folks and gotten to know you a bit better - and look fwd to more time/adventures together. *Hugs* backatcha. :-)