I started a new life. I moved 1856 miles away from a place that I basically called home for almost 50 years and moved to an area of the country where I know no one. I live in small town America, where the speed limit on most of the roads in town is 25 mph. And on the interstate you can drive for long periods of time and never come even close to getting run over by an 18-wheeler. So unlike IH-10 in my part of Texas. This little town of Blackfoot Idaho is known as the potato capital of the world, but also is home of the Eastern Idaho State Fair. It is located in what is known as the Snake River Valley. It is the perfect place to live.

Moving here 4 months ago, I rented a small little basement apartment site-unseen. It was unfortunate because we received more rain in the 1st month I was here than Idaho had seen in.....well, most folks said they had NEVER seen this much rain. I guess I brought it with me from Texas. The problem was, my little apartment flooded....twice in the 1st 3 weeks in Idaho. I left Texas and the infamous hurricane alley to come to the arrid desert of Idaho only to get flooded?? Something's wrong with that picture. So I moved. To an above-the-ground-townhouse. It hasn't flooded (but it hasn't really rained since I moved either.....go figure!).

So here I am, up here in Idaho. Don't know a soul. Started a new job. Had to find my way around the community. And slowly in the last few months, I have cultivated a network of people who I can call friends. I have joined some clubs, gotten out and gone to wine bars, and to church, joined a southeast Idaho Singles group. And have met some really great people. I stay active. Every weekend I am out doing something. I go exploring to the Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone either of which is only 2 hours away. I go hiking and camping. I joined a gym and try to exercise daily. I am looking forward to learning some of the winter sports because I do not plan to stay cooped up in my apartment for the whole winter waiting for the spring to come. I want to grab a hold to life....at whatever season it presents itself to me and fully embrace it.

Lots of my friends are amazed that I had the courage to give up my life down there in Texas and move this far away. But it was one of those things, scarey though it was, you just jump off and do with your whole heart. You have to have the right attitude. You have to realize that you can be yourself and meet people and they will take you in. Important advise I can offer to anyone who is planning on moving away on their on is be positive no matter what happens. Because the unexpected will happen, just go with the flow and have a plan B in place. Remember what Abe Lincoln said: "A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be." So just be happy, right where you are. Another tip is to get out there and meet people, as hard as that sounds just do it. You can go to more places than just bars or churches. There are lots of organizations looking for volunteers to help out and that is a great way to get blended into the community and make new contacts. Do not let yourself get depressed! Plan an outing on your day off. Go to a park, throw a frisbee, play with your dog outside, pack a picnic lunch and take a drive, or hike. You will meet people along your trail. I have had a great time visiting museums and hiking the trails around here. I don't spend much money doing it either. Just a little on gas, because I take my own snacks.

Moving on your own will give you some days of deep inward peace and loneliness. Sometimes it feels awful and almost unbearable to be up here without my kids. (My daughter, a senior in high school, chose to stay in Tx and live with her dad and graduate). She is moving here after graduation. My boys are in college. Anyway, this has been a time of self discovery and of learning about me. What I really want out of life and what I really want for my future. I know that there are some things that have been brought into a sharper focus since I have been here alone than if I would have stayed in Texas with everyone around me telling me what I should do, how I should feel, and which way I should go. I really am happy that I made the decision to make this move at this time in my life. It is good. Life is good.