Thursday, March 3, 2011
My Confession: I Need More Than One Mountain
I have a confession to make. In two months I will be taking the ferry from Bellingham, WA, back to Ketchikan to spend five months in Alaska. I'll be quitting my job here in Oregon and going back to work in my coffee shop for the time being, saving up money and doing my Alaska stuff, and will come back in October. And, because I know you are thinking it, YES, Jonathan and I are doing quite well, thank you. ;o) It's because we are doing so well (and started out in a long distance relationship) that I know we'll be fine. Also, he's going to come visit! He likes Alaska, too.
I do love Oregon. I really do. But there is something that I am missing here that I am not getting. I need my space. I need my hiking, my diving, my kayaking, my adventures that involve "breadsticking" and dance parties at the First Shitty and smelling some really fresh, clean air. I need more whales in my life! And random deer and porpoise and wolf adventures! And seeing ravens and bald eagles All The Freaking Time. I have been in school again since I've lived here and I am definitely missing my sense of adventure lately. While Jonathan and I have had some really, really good adventures, it's time for something else, but only for a little bit! I do love and embrace my new land.
But I am really missing my old land, too. I need more than one mountain for awhile. I need many mountains. I need to not be able to see past the mountains. Who knows what I will do for work when I come back to Oregon? But my job here is not as fulfilling as I need and I am getting tired of sitting all the time. My life feels stagnant right now. I am really going to miss people, but I am really thankful I had the opportunity to work where I have and have been a part of some big state-wide important stuff.
There is a definite lack of skiffs in my life right now.
So get ready (well, in two months) to start seeing more pictures of hikes, boat adventures, fishing, kayaking, dance parties, and maybe even another Halloween in July party (boy, that was awesome!). Here's a few other Alaska-themed posts to whet your whistle until the real things happen again.
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I know the feeling about needing more than one mountain!
ReplyDeleteI was only supposed to be in Alaska for a few weeks to help my mom and siblings settle into their new place, but once I was here, I just had to stay!
I went back to Ohio to visit and noticed how plain it was. It was lacking the mountains!
I'm glad you're going to have your space and you're coming back to Alaska.
I'm excited to see all of your pictures!
Oh, that's funny! You're not the only person I've heard say they only came to Alaska for a little bit and then ended up staying. One of my good friends in Ketchikan is from Ohio and she loves visiting her family there, but always is very happy to be back home in KTN.
ReplyDeleteI'm sooooooo excited for the adventure that awaits. What will my job be when I come back down here? The point is to save up money in Ketchikan so that I come back down here to a job and we will have some savings and will also get a new car, as ours has been on the way out for awhile. Technically, I can stay in Ketchikan as long as I want to or need to work, but I do live in Portland now and I will want to return! Especially after working as much as I anticipate. So we'll see! This is going to be an exciting year.
wow! How exciting for you big changes. I'm working on something similar myself. You sound calm and happy and I can't wait to read about your upcoming adventures.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I've actually had this in the works since last August so I've had a LOT of time to think about it and get used to being away from Jonathan and home for five months.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for getting ready to do something similar! Change is good sometimes. I am thankful that Jonathan is so supportive of this and understands me.
HUGE hugs to you for taking the time to acknowledge what you need and then doing something about it. I too would LOVE to take a 5 month break in another place- you have given me some ideas. :)
ReplyDeleteWOO HOO for you, sister.
Thanks!! It's definitely not for everyone, being away from home for that long. Lots of positives and negatives! I'm going to be house-sitting at various friends' places for five months, so I really won't have a place of my own. But then that means all of my utilities and rent is free. Just lots to think about! I thrive on planning, so I have had things set up for awhile. So much to think about this year!
ReplyDeleteWow, you've made me want to go to Alaska! Haha. I'm not even super outdoorsy. I love lots of things about the outdoors, nature, the woods, etc, but when people talk about hiking (up a hill?) or anything that involves being cold, I lose interest, haha. I'm kind of a baby. But it sounds pretty great, and I love the photos!!
ReplyDeletexo.