I'm still alive

I haven't been eaten by a bear or a mountain lion. Everything is a-ok here. I've been too distracted by living life to report on it. Yep, I'm a bad person. This is the way to keep everyone (the two or three people reading this blog) updated on the goings on in my life.

Well, I'll tell you. There are a lot of things I like, but there are a few things I don't. No place is perfect. The first and most obvious thing is, I miss my friends from Illinois. We talk on the phone, but it isn't the same. I used to live 1/2 a mile from my best friends in the world, and now we live over 600 miles apart and maybe talk on the phone once a week. I miss them. I miss my other friends from the prairie, and my family too. I don't have any of that here. Now I won't be gone forever. Southern Belle and I will be going to Illinois for a visit in late January or early February. Still, it's a big change.

On the plus side, I found a game. That makes me happy, even if it is a 60 mile trip to get there. When you live in the mountains, you have to expect that. Fortunately the game is every other week. The cost in fuel would be prohibitive otherwise.

A few nights ago the sky was crystal clear and I went out to star gaze. No lights but what was coming from the house. I was able to easily block that by ducking behind some foliage (lots of wooded land around here). The view of the sky was breathtaking without all the light pollution. You just can't get that kind of view when you are in - or even near - a city.

That's the bonus of living here. The natural beauty. Having grown up in a small farming community, I don't have that need to have a city around me. I prefer the isolation of the countryside. Which gets back to my game being 60 miles away. Two sides of the same isolated coin.

Of course there is Southern Belle. She is so much a part of me now that I couldn't imagine being without her. For that reason alone this move was the smart move. I've no regrets. None. I may get homesick, but I will never be so homesick as to want to leave her. Georgia is home now, for all it's good points and bad. As long as I have Southern Belle, the good will always outweigh the bad.

One Month in Georgia

I've now been here one month. One month and one day technically, but who's counting?

People tell you to expect the shine to wear off once you are living together full time. So far the shine is still bright. We're both settled, the unpacking is done, the house is organized, and the dog has adopted me as her own. We've divided up the chores, and figured out how to share the single car between us. We are keeping our finances separate, but all the money is ours. We have a church we can call home, and Southern Belle even found an old co-worker who goes to the church.

I'm much more active here than I was back in Illinois. Part of that is out of necessity. The computer is upstairs, so I can't avoid climbing steps. That's a good thing, as stairs are good exercise. At least my knees are in good shape, even if my spine is not. Part of it is also by choice, as I am enjoying the increased mobility my weight loss is giving me. Ironically, I've had to start using my cane much more. I've found that using the cane relieves some of the stress on my back and allows me to do a bit more.

As far as adapting to life here in general, that's taking a bit of getting used to. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking. The mountains are beautiful. The kudzu is eerie. The people are friendly, but sometimes hard to understand. I'm sure they think the same about me, though. Finding a game has been the hardest task. The game community in North Georgia is mostly in the Atlanta area, and even there it's not that big. I'll find a game, it is my task and my destiny. But dang, I wish it was easier.

Time Gets Away From You

It has been a while since I posted something. I guess I've been too busy enjoying life to write about it.

There is a lot to do and get used to when settling in to a new place. Since I've never moved very far before from where I grew up, I didn't appreciate how much of an adjustment it would be moving to a totally new area.

Socially, I'm still trying to get things going. I've found a game store where they have table space to host games. That's the good news. The bad news is they don't have a consistent game group meeting every week. That is a problem, as I was hoping to make contacts at the store. I did meet one guy who seemed interested, but I haven't heard from him again. So far, anyway.

We've found a church we enjoy, and we've gone the past two Sundays. I'm very happy about that. It's important to me.

The unpacking is finished, and the stuff put away. Most of the reorganizing is done. At this point, the house is presentable. We've divided up the chores, with Southern Belle doing most of the cooking, but I will cook something on rare occasion. Usually breakfast, because that's what I'm best at.

Life is fine, and I'm incredibly happy here.

Easter Sunday

Southern Belle and I did something special on Easter. We took a road trip into North Carolina to see waterfalls and other natural beauty. We saw Talullah Falls, Dry Falls and Bridal Veil falls. Loads of walking and today I'm paying the price for that, but it was so worth the pain.

Talullah Falls wasn't that impressive as far as waterfalls go, but the park was beautiful just the same. Well worth the visit. The path through the park was paved with shredded tires, so it was very easy on the feet.

The park at Dry Falls was closed, but that didn't stop us and a bunch of other tourists. The barrier fences were trampled flat, so getting in was easy. At first Southern Belle didn't make the trek down, and I was a bit leery about it also, but I really really wanted to see those falls. I had caught a glimpse from the road and just knew I had to see them. Getting down was a bit of an adventure (it was obvious why the park was closed - it was in poor repair), but the falls were breathtaking.

Once I got to the falls, I regretted that Southern Belle didn't come down with me. A romantic moment missed! But when I looked up, I saw her at a landing regarding the falls and the slightly treacherous path down to them. I motioned her to come down, and she started out. Southern Belle later told me she hadn't seen me waving to her but had decided to continue on her own.

We kissed under the falls!

Bridal Veil falls was anticlimactic by comparison. It was nice. Not thrilling, but nice. The only cool thing about Bridal Veil falls is that you can drive behind the waterfall, but the lane to do so was closed. So it was a pretty "meh" experience.

It was a truly special Easter Sunday.

Settling In

It's now been a week and a half since my last post. I've been busy unpacking, sorting, and settling in. We haven't established a routine yet, mainly because of the upheaval in the house as we attempt to integrate my stuff into her stuff. Boxes, boxes, everywhere.

Still, we've gotten a lot accomplished. None of the rooms are finished, but already my presence is imprinted upon nearly every room. The bathroom has my toiletries and hair products (yes, I use product - sue me). The living room has some of my family pictures and my beloved chess set. The office is where my presence is most felt, with my computer, TV and entertainment center, globe, clock, bookshelves, books, and shelving units shoved into the closet which holds mainly my books, comic books, and general random stuff. Even the kitchen has my imprint on it because of a couple of kitchen appliances I brought (my microwave oven and toaster oven were newer than hers).

Stuff is important in a way. Not for being "stuff" in itself, but your stuff is a reflection of who you are. Having your stuff says "I'm here." Of course, it helps if your stuff has a place to be. Sitting around in unpacked boxes doesn't really cut it. The dining room is still a disaster area of boxes.

Also, I have met some of the locals. At Lowe's, we were helped by a friendly salesperson who directed us to a place where we could get what we needed for less cost. Of course, I was also struck by his appearance and how he talked. He was big and burly, with no neck. He talked with a slow heavy drawl. After we walked away to other parts of the store, I said to Southern Belle, "That was a good ol' boy." She said "Yep, that was a good ol' boy. You'll find a lot of people around here are friendly like that."

10 Hours of Sleep Later...

I feel so much better.

We got the truck unloaded yesterday. I did the near impossible and got that 16 foot truck maneuvered up to the porch and then got it out again.

The casualties: a front yard covered with tire tracks, two bent young trees, and a length of PVC pipe that marked a curve in the drive knocked down. The truck itself came through it all without a scratch. It was worth all the effort and collateral damage to be able to set the unloading ramp onto the porch! That saved SO much work.

Getting my monster of a TV and the entertainment center to hold it up the stairs to the second floor was quite a job. The TV is a 27" tube style. We had to roll it up the stairs, because it was too heavy to carry!

We got the entertainment center up the stairs successfully also, but with damage. Southern Belle says the damage is fixable, but it's a pain in the butt to have to do so.

The rest of my worldly belongings are stacked up waiting to be unpacked. The unpacking will happen slowly. We have to integrate my stuff into hers.

The Cylon head is banned from the living room, though. She made that very clear.

Today the order of the day is turning over the rental truck and going to the Social Security office. After that, we are going to go out to dinner. We may or may not start opening boxes, it depends on how we feel.

First Entry From Georgia

Here I am. What I've worked so long and hard for is finally a reality.

I'm not saying leaving Illinois was easy. I have very deep roots and friends I've known for 20+ years, plus loving and supportive family. That's no small thing to move away from. What I've learned, though, is that you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to reach your dreams. Southern Belle is the woman of my dreams. I'm with her at last and I know I am home.