Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Changes in Life!

Okay, I'll admit it...
I enjoy moving.

It really brings out the meaning in the saying:
Happiness is not a destination...
it's in the journey!

Moving definitely challenges the senses though.
With each move, 
(and there have been plenty!)
we've added
children
things
circumstances
a piano, etc.

Sometimes the challenge is worrisome:
I've never been able to figure out the best way to go about
getting a great dentist
 or eye doctor...
once we've been to them...we keep going.

Sometimes the challenge is adventurous:
I love checking out all of the new grocery stores.
It's fun to ask people what their favorite store is....
the trouble around here is that there are way too many stores
to really get a definitive answer to that.

Sometimes the challenge is a journey:
It is so fun to find the small places...
We all tend to keep an eye out for strange or interesting looking places.
Who knows?
Maybe we'll find a favorite restaurant,
or store...
Here in Greenville...
this is going to take
Y E A R S.

Sometimes the challenge involves the map!
One of the first things I do when we move is to get a good local map.
Going to the Chamber of Commerce helps.
The folks there are usually generous with their information 
and love to talk about their hometown!

The weirdest tip I got when we moved to Greenville?
You won't find a house for rent or for sale
in the paper.
You pick what neighborhood(s) you want to live
and go look there.
Most people don't want their homes listed in a publication.
Still scratching my head over that one.

Absolutely, the challenge involves getting lost!
I love getting lost.
In the South,
towns are not necessarily planned...
that's history for you!

Often tiny towns merged
and no one changed the names of the streets.
That's how you end up with four main streets!
Or a street with 3 or 4 different names or numbers!
Such as:  Highway 10 may also be Highway 4 and 34.
and... it may also have several names attached to it...
Of course, the locals pretty much use one name...
there is no rhyme or reason to which one they will use. 
It's the South!

It takes a bit of time to get your head wrapped around the fact that
a freeway may say it's going North...
but you are going West.
Ahem.
It's the South!

But it is fun to find the short cuts
and even the long cuts...
discovering that there IS a second Dairy Queen
and it's right down the road
from your new place.
Hmmmm.
* * dangerous * *

We've had to "bribe" ourselves with DQ
a few times 
during the move.
Tee Hee!

OH YES!
Sometimes,
I just wish I could go to the store to get something I need...
instead of traipsing to 3 to find what I'm looking for.
But then...I discover something else wonderful along the way
and it makes up for the extra work.

Moving asks you to do different things...
try new things...
meet new people...
go places when you aren't sure where you will end up...
rent a truck from a place that looks close
 (but in reality is 30 minutes away...
and you pass 6 other truck rental places!)
lift heavy furniture and take it up the stairs...
walk backwards with a dolly full of heavy boxes
down a scary truck ramp
in the rain...
and sometimes I'm tempted to think...
I've never done THIS before. 
Sad Face.
But then I remind myself that once I've done it ONCE...
It won't be new anymore.

If you haven't moved in awhile...
look around your house as if you are moving...
would you REALLY want to take that item 3,000 miles?

look around your hometown as if you just moved there...
what cool mom & pop place are you missing out on?

look around and see if there is something new you can try...
that perhaps you wouldn't normally do...
just try it once.

You may just find a new piece of yourself in the process.


Have a Happiness Day Today!

No comments: