simplify

We had a lovely Thanksgiving - I hope you did too. We headed to the coast and had dinner with my dad. It was a beautiful sunny day, the food was delicious, and the quiet was just what we needed. Yesterday, the rain poured down. Jeff and I saw these toadstools while we were walking the dogs. Gunnar and I went back to take photos (he took them while I stayed warm in the car). It felt like a magical, rainy wonderland. The tide was so high that we couldn't even get to the beach on that walk, which was fine due to the toadstool discovery. We came home early due to the downpour. 

We found a lovely new home that is so close to everything we do and we move next month (not so good timing on my part). This house has been such a gift to us with its loveliness and ample space, but it's simply too far away from the center of our life. We knew it was a good place to re-enter Portland and start a new life here, but lately it has felt like too much. Too much space. Too much stuff. Too much time driving places. Our new home is much smaller, so there's a lot of stuff leaving the house. It's hard, but really good to ask the questions "do I need it? Do I love it? Will I use it?" even of the things that we've had for a long time and keep out of habit. I'm looking forward to a pared down household and a neighborhood that enables us to walk or bike to nearly everything. Sometimes I think that I'd love to live somewhere forever, but I don't know if that's in my nature. Maybe I need the opportunity to make that clean break, to purge what we don't need, and to reset our life a little bit. Besides, living within blocks of macarons and art supplies and chicken & waffles and the river will be beautiful. That new bike of mine will be getting a workout. And my car won't be. I'm grateful that we found what we need. 

I've been thinking a lot about how my time is spent - especially now while we're prepping for that move and there's so much to do. My work life (the paid by the hour kind, not the making kind) is entirely on the computer. I'm tapped out on the interwebs by the time I'm done each day. I still want this space, but I have to figure out how, when I want my non-work hours to be spent being and doing. I may finally cut those facebook, twitter, and pinterest cords and be all old school by just being here for my personal internet time. There are too many balls to keep in the air and I need to simplify. 

Tomorrow there is turkey soup. I need a plan for the rest of the week that does not include turkey. 

I hope your holiday weekend has been lovely. I hope you're rested and ready for the holiday season ahead. I hope I am too. Be well. 

Comments

[melissa]

sending hopes for the best to you. xo

[Lori]

congratulations on finding a great new space — glad to hear you had a great thanksgiving. xo

[laura]

can't wait to see the new home, i know your family is going to enjoy it!

(and you'll still text, right? i'll be ok if you still text.)

[Heather]

I sometimes wonder if I too can really settle long term. Too much wandering in my spirit trying to find home. Congrats on the move.

[Angelina]

I have wanted every house to be my last house I move to for several houses now. Circumstances seem to move me as much as my own changing needs. I have stopped telling myself that "This is it!" but I don't stop hoping that I'll settle into one place. I'm tired of starting over with new places.

I'm excited for this move of yours - being close to the center of your life is so important.

[sarah]

this sounds so good. congrats on finding the home that will work so well for you all.
find time for you this holiday season if you can. xo

[beki]

sounds exciting...and busy! I hope that you are able to find some calm during all of it. best wishes on everything :)

[allbuttonedup]

Chicken and waffles! Man. I love this town.

[Sarah Jackson]

Screen Door is down the street. So is Pix. Its a good thing Ive committed to walking/biking everywhere or Id be in serious trouble with regards to fitting in my clothes. 

[Annie]

You can totally ditch FB and Pinterest but you must stay on Twitter because otherwise I would miss you. So there's that.