Greetings Tribe!
Yes, it’s been quite a while since you have heard from us here on Rabbit Hole Randomness, but instead of apologizing (as that indicates that we have done something to feel bad about), we will THANK YOU for your patience and understanding.
Last you heard we were giving a shout-out to a little coffee shop in Middlebury, Vermont, Royal Oak Coffee. Why Vermont? (Those who know us well, know we don’t go that far from the farm).
Before our trip, we became aware that we were going to be moving our farm again! This alone caused a bit of craziness. We had chosen this as our final destination.
We were not prepared for this and became very singularly focused on the hurdles in front of us. Being forced to take steps we were not prepared for caused those hurdles to become what felt like mountains.
Our first order of business was to decide where we truly wanted to live. Having moved less than a year and a half prior and choosing to stay in the same state we had made our choice, so what now?
Do we stay in this state? (Hard NO)
If not where do we go so that we are not going from the pan into the fire?
How do we decide?
Our process was to make a list of all US states and a list of items (policies, state laws, etc.) that affect our lives and our chosen lifestyle. Then we went through our lists. If a state’s policies didn’t align with our values we marked it off the list. This process whittled down our list of states to three that we were comfortable with.
Those states were Vermont, New Hampshire, and Montana.
Having lived in Montana previously I knew what to expect of the people and places. Vermont and New Hampshire were a bit of a mystery in those regards.
A beautiful cousin (who doesn’t reside in but loves Vermont) offered us a chance to visit the state which should answer the question of why we went to Vermont (sort of a work-cation).
We checked it out! Talked to anyone and everyone. Drove every possible road we could. Looked at farms that were for sale and spoke with some very helpful folks at the USDA.
Vermont felt right!
Now our hurdles had a focus and for the next few months, we had been packing and preparing to make this huge move. The process while ominous and overwhelming has shown us what we truly want for ourselves, our family, and our community.
Hurdles are funny in that if you’re not looking forward and paying attention they can trip you up. Some are little “trips” that might slow things down for a bit but are more easy to recover from. Others, turn you all the way around and send you in a completely different direction.
We hit some of those hurdles over these last few months and have been spun onto a completely different course. We are still leaving this state as it has nothing for us when it comes to our quality of life.
We of course are sad to leave family, but when you can’t thrive and only barely survive because of the ridiculousness of the state you live in, it’s time to start over.
Vermont would be perfect but the distance became too big of a hurdle for us.
We had more options on our state list and have now been preparing for Montana. We both have family and friends there and to visit those we will be leaving from here, will be a much more attainable goal. (No planes, Just a nice drive).
Just like that our Mountain became Montana!
We still have items to check off our list before we can make the final Cal-exit but those are being marked off more consistently with fewer hurdles.
I am hoping to be able to get back to Rabbit Holing as soon as possible. The thoughts are there constantly: things I’ve learned, strange, unusual, fun, informative, just all the things that NEED to be shared.
It will happen, of this, I have no doubt, but I realize that my Lyme’s brain can’t always do everything I think it should. With this realization, I’m able to say “thank you” for your patience and understanding versus apologizing for something that I have no reason to feel bad about.
I live with Lyme’s and some days that in itself can make simple hurdles feel like Mt. Everest. Thirty-plus years into this and I’m finally learning how to work with this ailment instead of fighting with it.
This is in huge part due to my wonderful partner who reminds me to love myself.
I no longer feel bad or angry at myself for not keeping up with this or that, that I added to my plate when I hadn’t realized it was already full enough. I still work on not comparing myself with others as I read through blogs I follow from very consistent bloggers.
Comparisons happen. It’s a part of the human experience. Being able to get beyond this, is growth. We can only become better versions of ourselves when we accept who we are without comparison or judgment to others.
I’m working daily on not comparing my life to others, and not judging myself based on someone else’s rubric.
My New Year’s wish for all of us: is more self-awareness, Self-compassion, self-love, and self-understanding.
Until the next installment,
Namaste
M.O.M. (Mistress Of the Manor)