I often think of picking up and moving. Truth is, I am not fond of New York and never have been. I came here with my mother twenty odd years ago under pressure from her family for her to get treatment for an untreatable cancer. Somehow, I've never managed to get out. I stay now because the people I care for are here and won't leave. I am not always so sure that that is a good idea, especially as I sit here on yet another cold, windy, misery of a day, desperately waiting for Spring to show up for real.
I think about where I might go. The far northwest of my childhood calls to me. The misty, quiet, depths of old forest; the mild, sunny summers and even the wet, rainy winters. Perhaps the rugged, tree lined cliffs of Oregon where the Sea Lions and Pelicans play. Maybe even the vast quiet of the high desert. A land of stark, subtle and shy beauty that feels wholly indifferent to human presence. Or perhaps I should go even farther afield.
I have to admit it, Bloglandia is not helping much, tempting me with visions of Spring and dogs already swimming in the streams. I think I would like to walk the hills of Devon and, who knows, maybe the Donkey Sanctuary could find a use for me. Can I bring a small herd and a dog with me?
If they did not suit, the wild hills and shores of Shetland are intriguing. I would love to walk a beach of jewel colored stones to visit the wild, wary seals. I can't sing worth a damn though. Probably better for everyone if I skip that part.
Ah well, I guess what I really need to do is make some phone calls to try to track down some more firewood. I've no more than a week's worth left and the wind is blowing in the latest arctic blast. If I have to deal with a frozen Spring with no heat, I really am going to run away from home.
I would love to move and work at DS. I have wondered what it would take to move my small herd and 3 dogs over there. COuld I live without the sunshine of SoCal (seasonal affective disorder). But that Oregon Washington Idea sounds tempting too! Di
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think the grass is greener then I realize ~ there's no place like home, there's no place like home,there's no place like home ~ hmm am I suppose to be wearing ruby slipper when I say that :)
ReplyDeleteWe actually love camping in New York up near Phonecia.
But yes we agree we are read to run somewhere warm to live if the artic blast doesn't blow away real soon.
Sounds like it is maybe time to sit down and write the pro and cons/loves and dislikes of your current life. If it's feasible to do and the desire is in your soul, you should try to make the change before autumn. Life is too short to cope with some of the things you have endured this winter. I moved from upstate NY over 40 years ago - - no regrets. Our youngest brother is the only one left in NY - - - lives on a mountain with his sweet companion. He is a diehard New Yorker and dearly loves the area - - - but even he is looking at moving for at least the winter next year. He's a writer and can live anywhere. He is even considering leaving there for good but I don't really thing he can do that yet.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wistful and pensive post after your long winter and firewood enough to last for only another week. A vacation would probably do wonders but know myself how hard it is to get away with the commitment we make to our animals, home and work. I am incredibly lucky to work as a volunteer helping to rescue and rehab marine mammals that strand along our portion of the California coast. Sea lions, harbor seals, elephant seals, fur seals and sea otters. They are amazing animals. Even after eleven years I have yet to sing a song to a seal although it sounds very poetic. Come visit the West Coast!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great, I would love to work with sea animals, they have always fascinated me.
Deleteit was/is a long hard winter here in the high desert of Central Oregon also...making long timers wanting to move also. you've had it rough so come spring and sunshine, maybe you'll feel differently. if not, loving Central Oregon, the high desert is great! come!
ReplyDeleteOregon is definitely on my wish list:)
DeleteWe have shared the same weather and it is the worst winter I can remember...but! I'm not movin'. There are too many other things I love about this area. A real die hard I guess.
ReplyDeleteYou do seem to be in a nice spot with a very involved community.
DeleteHarsh winters are tough. Too bad you and the 'kids' couldn't just transfer to a nicer climate for the winter?
ReplyDeleteI know I have thought about that when I retire and can't take winter anymore...or snowshoe.
Is back up heat too hard to get and too expensive?
Just curious.
We have a 20'X26' cottage, it takes 400 gallons of LP every year to heat. Because the house is small, it can feel cramped, but we like how efficient it makes us.
Move to southern WI!
:)
The heat thing is something I have been wrestling with. I had the pipes laid for in-floor heating when I built the place, but the furnace to run it costs about $7000 which seems crazy to me. I am looking at some other options, but they all have their problems. Mainly because the builder who put the shell up for me didn't account for it at the time and i didn't know enough to call him on when it happened.
DeleteI'd love to meet you and your critters, but I am not so sure that WI would be much of an improvement weather wise:)
You need to become a snowbird. Winter in AZ and summer up there. LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, I hear you and our winters aren't as brutal as yours. This was the worst though. I spent an awful lot of time in February with my nose pressed up against the online window of real estate ads in warmer regions. On the upside, I read that there is a good shot at an El Nino winter next year, meaning warmer than usual temps even for those of us far from the west coast. My fingers are tightly crossed.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't if be nice if it were as cozy and warm there as your animals look in the barn in your last post!! All the places you describe sound great. Hopefully, spring will be there soon and you can forget about this miserable winter.
ReplyDeleteLess hoof problems in the high desert: just saying'. Put a little sunshine on my blog for you.
ReplyDeleteI hear you! A friend called yesterday and commented that if we managed with the donkeys THIS winter we should be able to manage almost any other year ahead of us. Sure hope that is the case! In the meantime - keep dreaming about those southern landscapes. Someone needs to develop a resort in the south for people and their donkeys who want a warm vacation! There is a ranch down the road from us that is also a cottage resort. They've set it all up so people can bring their horses with them.
ReplyDeleteWell our place is for sale. Beautiful two acres, TURN KEY! and more than enough space for the donkeys to roam! PLUS Two shelters for them! Yes, UMATILLA OREGON is GOD'S Country! Only 4 hours away from the coast too! an hour away from the mountains, and 30 minutes away from a city, TriCities WA to be exact, and exactly 180 miles east of Portland OREGON! WE HAVE IT ALL! LOL
ReplyDeleteIt does sound tempting...:)
DeleteLove your blog, sympathize with the desire to leave a place you don't like. "Geographic escape!" But I live in Oregon (Washington state expat deeply regret move to Oregon 20 yrs ago).Some things to consider if moving back to the PNW. In Oregon and WA so much hay, grain and alfalfa being sold to Asian countries - feeding any equid has become prohibitive. Even at harvest it's over $100 per ton for grass hay. Orchard hay from eastern WA and Oregon, are running at $200-$300 per ton depending on whether you purchase in bulk or go get it yourself or from feed stores. In western Oregon currently pay feedstore prices over $200/ton for field hay and $300+ for orchard. Oregon alfalfa is being shipped to Calif due to the drought. In WA, alfalfa is going to Japan and far east. Anecdotes of Asian buyers purchasing entire crops directly from farmers and paying double full retail - my own alfalfa grower (Klamath basin, w- drought problems for the 9th year in a row) recounted these stories traded among alfalfa and orchard grass producers in southern Oregon, he also warehouses and deals "valley grass" hay grown in western Oregon, he has been approached by aggressive Asian buyers repeatedly - especially Japanese in the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami. Oregon's economy is the first to tank and last to crawl back to sustainability. Despite news reports, the real unemployment rates are in some counties 20+%. Few employers in Oregon outside the one major municipality actually pay a living wage. Another thing to consider is this: WA legalized recreational marijuana but w/o strong regulations. As a result what you see/smell is open use of pot on the streets, drivers smoking pot, and worst of all young drivers smoking pot while driving. My auto insurance agent said if Oregon follows suit with recreational legalization, car insurance rates will double because insurance companies are looking at what happened in Colorado and Washington - more impaired drivers causing more accidents. Both states have a shortage of good farriers but a lot of good albeit very high priced vets. What I've done is go to some of the horse forums and converse with folks local to a chosen area about the great and the ghastly features of places that seem interesting for a relocation project, especially those pesky budget concerns, and the availability of good, close-by vets and farriers, and compare the results with my budget. For me, Oregon is no longer "it" - sold my equestrian center, and moving to Boise. BTW there is a group of really terrific donkey folks in the PNW so if you do move to the area you'll have a lot of like-minded folks to visit and network with.
ReplyDeleteAlways plenty of space here in Devon :-) and lots of donkey chat too!
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