Personal 20 Feb 2007 12:18 pm
Things that are the same, things that are different
It’s been an interesting week, settling in. We got our stuff in the house under the wire, and the relocubes are sitting in the snow, waiting for them to be picked up. My laptop died, causing major angst (I’m using Ruth’s computer now.) I’m getting used to seeing the area from Ruth’s eyes (she says it’s like a theme park for alternative types - all the groovy people at the North Leverett Co-op, the guy selling the futon has pictures of his guru, and the guy selling the hot tub is a crystal healer.)
We’re unpacking sloooooowly - things still feel chaotic, and I can’t find anything yet. I ran into someone who said "I haven’t seen you in a long time! How are you?" He didn’t know I’d spent the last 18 months on the other side of the country.
A few things I’d taken for granted (like the big newstand in Northampton next to Table and Vine) are gone, some new things appeared (where did all of those McMansions in North Hadley come from?). It takes a lot longer to get places from Shutesbury (a trip to Northampton takes a good chunk of the day between getting there and getting back, rather than just being a quick trip.) And, I forgot how much time and energy it takes to set up a household, since it had been so long since I’d done it.
But, it’s nice to be home. And, once I feel like I have my bearings, and we’re more organized, it will be great to start socializing, reorienting to the valley, and having people over for dinner.