Tag Archives: Leaving CA

Do New Year’s Resolutions Work?

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This year, I’ve decided to not make New Year’s Resolutions. It’s not that they haven’t worked for me in the past, so long as I kept them small and not overwhelming. I view New Year’s Resolutions as a “don’t do this list” rather than “try something new.” Although that’s not totally accurate, it’s how I’m looking at it for 2021. Here’s the difference between resolutions and goals I found online:

Essentially, a resolution is something you will constantly be working toward, while a goal is specific and finite. Resolutions are made up of goals. While there is a difference between goals and resolutions, they are relevant and intertwined.


What’s the Difference Between Goals and Resolutions …

http://www.wingstosoaronline.com 
quail on patio

These entertaining guys hang outside my office.

I’ve decided that I’d rather make a list of goals, not resolutions. Mostly it’s learning new things, seeing new places. In my new home, I want to learn about the birds I’m seeing, the plants, the trails and mountains.

hiking trail Cave Creek AZ

One of our first hikes in AZ at Cave Creek Regional Park.

So, a few of my goals — besides getting my house unpacked and in order — are:

  1. Start birdwatching — I already put a bird feeder in the backyard.
  2. Learn about saguaro cactus and other species of native plants.
  3. Hike on a new trail each week.
  4. Experience more sunrises and sunsets.
  5. Explore areas like the Grand Canyon and Sedona.
  6. Take a photography class online.
  7. Sketch or paint some of my new scenery.
  8. Begin a new manuscript, in a genre new to me.
    sunset in AZ desert

    The sunset from our street.

    Do you have a list of New Year’s Resolutions or goals to share?

Getting down to the nitty gritty

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The first few days after moving were filled with the basics — finding all our kitchen things and getting the heart of our home established. After that, we moved onto the bedroom. I was overwhelmed with wardrobe boxes and bins of clothes. Why did I have so many clothes and why did I move it all from California to Arizona? How many swim t-shirts does one need? I’ve already sewn several quilts out of them for my kids. What to do now? I found a home for some and took a bunch of clothes to the local Kiwanis market.

cat on a closet shelf

Olive Bear found a safe space inside our closet.

Now that we’ve been in our house for 18 days, I’m down to the nitty gritty. Our guest room still has unopened boxes labeled “photos,” “stuff in frames” and “photo albums.” The plan is to scan in photos I want to keep and throw the rest out.

I’ve filled the dresser in the guest room with stuff I don’t know what to do with. There’s a drawer filled with cords from HMD1 to extension cords and cords of no known use. The same dresser drawer was filled with these cords in my son’s room in California. I think today is the day to make some decisions on cords I need and can use. Or, I can just throw the whole mess out and not waste my time.

The question is why did I move a mess of stuff I have no use for, but cannot part with? And why can’t I? Maybe today is the day.

saguaro cactus

Morning walk views of saguaro.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of stuff I don’t have a place for is much appreciated.

Moving onto excitement

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moonrise on mountain

The moonrise over our mountain. What a view.

The past month, I’ve been all over the place emotionally. I’ve been through shock, disbelief, sadness, regret and anxiety. But I woke up today and I’ve moved on. I’m feeling the anticipation of a new adventure. I haven’t moved since 1992 and I’m excited for a new experience.

I don’t know what happened to change my point of view. It may be that the escrows are going well and it looks like all will close this week on both ends of the move. So that takes a chunk out of the anxiety. We worked really hard the past two weeks, packing, throwing stuff out and making daily trips to Angel View — and the end is in sight.

I wish my daughter would come and help us move. But with the state in a new shut down until after Christmas, she viewed the flight home and driving one of our cars to Arizona as not “essential.” Of course, I viewed that differently. But I do understand. She doesn’t want to get us old folks sick. She doesn’t want to get her brother and significant other sick, either.

We were surprised by one of our dear Piranha Swim Team family friends who offered to help us out. They volunteered, we didn’t even have to ask. That makes me appreciate the life we’ve had here, the friendships that are so true and valuable.

We’ve been blessed and I am ready to move on, knowing those friendships will continue.

fountain with plants

Our yard all prettied up for the sale.

Down to my last week

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view of back yard through french doors

I’ll miss the view from where I write.

Next Friday we will be moving. This has all happened so fast that my head is spinning. Today, I feel mostly tired. Just tired and achy. I can’t wait to get to the other side. I feel like I’m scattered all over the place. An escrow here, an escrow there. Utilities here to cancel. Utilities to sign up. Oh, and packing, packing and more packing.

I got a text last night from a realtor reminding me that the sellers are shutting off all their utilities on Monday. I had signed up for new services online, rather than opting for the 35-minute waits by phone last week. But today, I needed to call gas, power, water and  trash and make sure we are good to go Monday, even though we’re arriving on Friday. I started second guessing myself, and that turned out to be a good thing. In fact, I learned that the electric company I signed up with online doesn’t provide service to our new house! Can you imagine packing and driving to your new state only to find you don’t have electricity and won’t have it for several days!

Yikes. I may have been on hold for a long amount of today, but I think it was worth it.

Another thing I’m having trouble with is saying good-bye to the people in my CA life. Yesterday was the last day I’ll see my friend who is also my housekeeper. We were swim moms together and her daughter was valedictorian of my daughter’s class. I got teary eyed saying goodbye to our handyman, too, and I’ve only known him for a few years. I think I’ll skip saying goodbye in person to my friends and neighbors.

wooden gates with ficus

Goodbye big old gates.