I am here! Thank you so much for your kind support and interest in my life. I appreciate it very much!

This morning I write as I listen to the birds sing out side my window. I look out and see the masts of sailboats behind houses and trees. In the evening I watch the setting sun sparkle on the water. It’s very different from my previous view of palm trees and cactus. The sun seems softer here and the moisture in the air is already softening my skin. I don’t  have a constant need for hand cream.

It’s been a week of settling in to my new surroundings. I’m getting adjusted to my new living space, a quaintly furnished room in a house that was built in the 1800′s. I have a bed instead of a mattress on the floor. It is very comfortable and I’ve been sleeping better than I did during my last weeks in Arizona. Even though it is cooler here, I am enjoying the absence of unrelenting sun and heat. This is not to say that there is no sun here.  It is just different. And today I look out at a clear blue sky. It’s going to be a beautiful sunny spring day.

I walked a lot during the week. I believe I averaged at least three miles a day. I walked to the market and out on the dock. There are benches where you can sit at the end of the dock and gaze at sailboats in the bay. I walked to the library.  The local public library is a great resource. I have a game plan, a list of things to do for my job search. Next week I will work on that and also venture out on the bus.

I met my folks for dinner several times this week. I still can’t believe I’m so close! Yesterday I bought some delicious vegetarian fare from a local market and ate on a bench in the park with a view of the water. I feel at peace. I am sure there will be challenges ahead but I feel confident to meet them.

I realize this is a holiday weekend. Today is Good Friday, Sunday is Easter. This evening I will be joining my family for a Passover Seder for the first time in many years. I wish you all a wonderful weekend, if you celebrate a holiday or not.

I look forward to writing about my life here as it unfolds.

Thank you for reading!

I’m in the midst of a two week break. There will be one more pay check. This is my first week of not having to go to work. Yesterday I walked to the large supermarket with all my loose change in plastic bags in a small wheeled suitcase. I rolled it along the sidewalk to the coin machine. I saw people look at me from their cars. I guess I might have looked a bit strange. A commuter bus passed me. It felt wonderful to know that I did not have to be on it. I had the whole day in front of me. It was a beautiful one.

It took about ten minutes to process the coins. It came to $20. I headed back home, stopping at Goodwill to drop off the suitcase. I went inside. I was hesitant to buy jeans there but I needed some. The pair I was wearing had become very loose. When I pulled a belt tight enough to keep them on my waist they bunched up, not a good look! I was lucky to find a pair that looked like they were never worn in the exact size I needed. I went over to the handbags. I’ve been wanting a cross-body handbag that I could fit in my carry-on bag. Some of the bags were beat up but after a few minutes I found a dark navy handbag in good shape, It had a designer tag on it. I couldn’t believe it. It had a very long strap and was clearly a cross-body handbag. An announcement came over the loud speaker that it was senior day–25% off total purchase for those over 55. I felt like I hit the jack pot. The jeans and the bag were  $6.99 each. My total was $13.98. With the 25% discount it came to $10.49.

Then I went to a nearby market and got a small container of orange juice. It tasted wonderful. I stood outside the market, enjoying the mid-morning sun and thought about how lucky I was.

When I got home I tried on the jeans and they fit perfectly! I cleaned the gold accent on the handbag, restoring it’s shine. I couldn’t resist looking online to see what I might have spent for these items in a department store. Each item could have been $50 or more. I could have easily spent $100.

I checked my email  and saw a reply from an ad I had posted to sell a pair of hiking poles.  An hour later they were sold for $60 to a man who happily told me that hiking down the Grand Canyon was on his bucket list.

Yesterday’s total income was $80. I’m counting the change. Subtracting the Goodwill purchase and the orange juice my net was $68. This will be my grocery money. While I have savings to live on during the transition I’m trying not to use it during my remaining time in Arizona for anything other than rent and my final utility bill.

Wouldn’t it be great if life was always this easy!

Note: For those of you who have seen my recent “what’s left” video–the handbag is an additional item that I will be bringing with me.

It’s here! The month I will move. I always find it amazing how a thought can become a plan that actually takes shape. As of yesterday I have a place to live; a beautiful furnished room with a view of the water. It will be available April 1 which is perfect for me. The location is wonderful. I will be near my family, a bus line, a grocery store, and the water. It was in my imagination and now it is going to be a reality!

While I know life has many challenges, don’t give up on your dreams. If there is something good that you really want, go for it!

I am almost too keyed up to write but I wanted to post this short bulletin to give you, my faithful readers, an update for March.

Thank you for all of your support! I wish the best for all of you!

Still feeling a bit unsettled but better than yesterday. Yesterday I gave notice to my  employer. It felt surreal. It is most definitely what I wanted to do and the time to do it, but it was an intense experience nevertheless. People were surprised. A few hugged me with tears in their eyes. I felt my eyes fill with tears.

My appetite vanished and I couldn’t eat until today. I think it was the stress of holding in my secret for so long and then letting in out in an official way. Many of us have been through the experience of leaving a job. I have been several times in my life. But I underestimated the amount of emotion that would be involved this time.

After all I keep pretty much to myself and simply do my job. It reminded me that you never know who you are affecting by simply being yourself. It’s a powerful lesson. We all impact those around us, maybe even more than we know.

February is here!

How do I feel this month? I feel less impatient and more sentimental about life. As much as I look forward to moving on, I realize what I have in my job and the people I work with. Sure there are frustrations but they are good people and I enjoy working with them. I feel lucky to have had this experience.

In January I began to investigate places to live. It was still too far out to rent a place but it was interesting looking online and seeing what was available. I even made a call from a Craigslist ad and spoke to a very nice person who was renting a cute one bedroom apartment in a house. It had a small bedroom, a kitchen, bathroom, private entrance and even a small living room. All the floors had been redone. It was in a residential area near public transportation. The rent was at the top of my range but not outrageous. In fact it was a great deal–too good not to call. But it was not to be since I won’t be there until April 1. The woman I spoke with was very nice and said I sounded nice too. She asked for my number in case it was still available in April. But it doesn’t look like it, since she said her husband was showing it to ten people that day!

I will mostly likely rent a room, especially at the beginning. I am staying open minded.

I continue the job search. I realize in this current job market it is highly unlikely that I will have a new job lined up before I go–interviews would be great! I am saving all I can to live on for a few months. I did my taxes last weekend and I will be getting a refund! It’s going right into savings for the transition. Medical Insurance is always the big issue. I realize I will have to pay Cobra and it won’t be cheap!

Last month I considered joining a direct marketing company to earn extra income. I decided though that I have enough to do right now but will keep it in mind for after the move. I have been doing a lot of research for something I can do in addition to a regular job to help me become debt-free faster. It has to be totally above board and something I feel good about selling.

February and March will be all about continuing the search for a job and place to live. I also want to wrap things up here and leave on good terms with everyone. It will be an emotional time as I give notice and say good-bye. But in today’s world we can all stay connected online. I will tell people they can taunt me next winter and with weather related emails.

I will see you here again in March, or if there is something to report, perhaps in a few weeks. Thank you for reading!

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January 2012 is here! I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Thank you for all of your support during the past year. You have helped me a great deal as I let you know about my future plans with your insightful and kind comments and by sharing your own experiences. I appreciate all of you very much!

It is now three months until I go. How do I feel?

I feel happy. I want to go. But I also feel vulnerable. It’s as if I have two sides. One side is the calm minimalist that you have read about here and seen on my YouTube channel.

The other is a side that is scared and trying to grasp whatever comfort it can. This may come from the fact that I live on my own and don’t have a sounding board to deflect the fears. They run around in my head when I waiting for the bus and on the commute to work.

And they come out in what may seem to be silly wants and desires. I am not proud of some these obsessions but here they are. This is what happened last month.

• I hadn’t been in a hair salon since last Memorial Day. I didn’t think about my hair as I let it grow out. I wore it naturally curly and all was good. Last week I was seized with the desire to get my hair trimmed and shaped. I also wanted to do something to wake up my gray hair. I was terrified I would do something rash for a quick fix or high. I wanted my childhood brown hair back or at least that how I felt.
• I started to obsesses about my deep facial wrinkles. I pored over websites about facial wrinkle fillers.
• I wanted to go out and spend money.

• I went to get my hair trimmed. I am still growing it longer.
• I also got a demi-permanent shine treatment. I had every intention of getting the clear but I got a tint. The stylist used honey and chocolate colors. It sounds odd I know. It washes out in 6-8 shampoos. No roots or regrowth worries. The product used has no ammonia or peroxide. At first I was shocked and dismayed–a lot of my white hair was gone. What was I thinking? However after the shock wore off I had to admit that the richer golden color looked nice but I was glad it wasn’t permanent. This experience let me experience a fun temporary change without the harm, cost and maintenance of permanent hair color. It is also nice to have extremely shiny silky hair. I’ve washed my hair a few times and the white is already coming back. Here is a picture to show you in case you are curious. This was taken with my computer the day after I had it done. It was very early in the morning and it’s not the best picture. My eyes lids were puffy and I don’t have much makeup on. But it shows my hair.

• Would I ever do this again? Maybe…
• What about the wrinkles? Well even if I wanted to I couldn’t afford any expensive treatments. I also think there is nothing wrong with wrinkles unless they bother you. But I have found some very nice natural skin care products that I think are softening my wrinkles. At least it feels that way to me and for now I am happy with that.
• I didn’t go on a crazy shopping spree. I got a few treats with gift money.

Silver is just about back on New Year's Eve. Happy New Year!

So all is fine. The next three months will be about selling furniture, getting a job and finding a place to live. While getting a hair trim and tint along with some nice skin care products can help me feel good, securing income and a place to live are the real things that will help reduce my anxiety.

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It’s December and now four months until I return to the place where I started. It will be April and spring will be around the corner. The flowers will be coming and leaves will start forming on the trees. I will see Tullips, Iris, and Marigolds. I remember these flowers from my childhood. I loved the flowers. I haven’t seen this kind of spring for thirteen years. These are the thirteen years I’ve been in here in the Southwest. I am a much different person than when I arrived in Phoenix on New Year’s Day 1999.

I am changing everything so I have changed my website as well. I will write about what is on my mind each month as I get closer to moving. Now I feel like I am in a kind of limbo. I am trying to stay in the present but it is difficult to keep my mind from wondering into the future. It is difficult to feel grounded. I am letting go of almost all of my possessions. I did buy one thing during my birthday month. It was something for myself, for my appearance. And I bought a few cosmetic items. But now November is over and it’s back to staying on a strict budget. I only have four months to go and it will go fast.

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