End of the Year

December has been a happening month. We visited my aunt and uncle in the Santa Rosa area, visited a friend in the Chico area, and then hosted Jack's folks for the Christmas holiday. Now, with New Year's Eve on the horizon, we're possibly hosting some trail crew friends but will otherwise keep it pretty low-key. Jack has said no visitors in January, and I'm actually looking forward to having a bit of a social break. Although no visitors doesn't mean no traveling, and some of that may happen.

These last few days it has been beautiful and sunny, but there's snow predicted in the forecast for early next week. If it happens, we'll have been lucky enough to be in Crescent City for a rare event. Depending on who you talk to, it sounds like the last time there was snow on the beach was around a decade ago. Figures that this winter would be so cold the year I decide to buy a bunch of winter garden plants. ::sigh:: At least I mulched, and so far only a couple things have wilted.

I can't help but get extra retrospective right now since we recently had the life-changing job offer from Stanislaus National Forest and that means we will be moving come April. We drive around town and view everything as if it could be the last time - elk in the meadow by our house, sunsets over the ocean, roads with very little traffic. Yet I'm also starting to get excited dreaming about what may come. What will my new job be like, what kind of home will we live in next, what new trails will I be able to hike? I think I am most excited about the relative closeness of my former life in the Eastern Sierra. I am already planning a meet-up with one of my many friends for a hike, and I'm sure I will make it over to Bodie at least once or twice over the course of the summer.

Things are about to get very busy for me. Now that I have a student position, the goal is to finish my degree as quickly as possible so that I can hopefully get converted to permanent and then be able to start moving on with my career. That means that instead of doing one course at a time, I will now be taking two. Not too big a deal during the winter, but come summer that will certainly require me to be extra focused with my time. At least for the brief two months that is the summer semester.

In some ways I regret shaking things up so badly - when I applied for this position I really didn't think I would get it. On the other hand, I feel a wave of relief because getting this position has helped to rid myself of that horrible stuck feeling that I've had this year. As hard as it is to move after being in a place for 2 1/2 years, I really think that this should be a good thing for us overall.

Alright, I'd better get to bed - I've been trying to get to bed on time and workout plenty (and in a variety of ways - gym, yoga, swimming, walking, skating, depending on the weather), plus reading and other free-timey things while I'm on break between semesters. In mid-January things are going to pick up for me again and then it will be school and moving and transitioning to a new job... hopefully it all goes well! But for now, it's good night.

Until next time!