Monday night at the WellSprings

Before I moved here I heard about the natural mineral hot springs spa in Ashland. I grew up going to Lava Hot Springs, ID. My father loved to sit in the hot pools and soak. The difference here is that swimsuits are optional after dark. Fortunately they have a women's only night each Monday from 6 p.m. to midnight. I really enjoy soaking in the natural mineral pools but I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the experience with nude men yet. So for starters, I went to the WellSprings on a Monday night shortly after I moved here. The weather had been cool and rainy and my muscles and back were tired from all of the unpacking. I decided a hot soak would feel good and not to worry about the swimsuits optional part but rather go with the flow of how I was feeling once I arrived. I took a swimsuit with me but didn't end up using it. Swimming nude in public was actually quite freeing. I think a lot of us have body image issues and there is no better way to get over yourself than to walk out naked to a pool area with other naked women of all ages, shapes and sizes. Wasn't it the bible story of Adam and Eve that said they were naked but unaware until Eve partook of the fruit and discovered their nakedness? Then they hurried and made clothing from animal skins to cover themselves. She didn't even think nudity was wrong when she had an innocent, childlike view of things. Something to think about if you believe in bible stories.
Of course I can’t take pictures of the pools while I’m there tonight so these are from their website at http://www.jacksonwellsprings.com/

This weekend

So there you have it - I have lived here almost 2 full months now and things are getting better and better. Here are a few photos from this weekend:

This is beautiful Applegate Lake - up the road from Sanctuary One

Just a family of wild turkeys in my yard!

Montana playing in the river next to the dog park in Ashland

Old cemetery

Jacksonville has so much history from the historic main street to the historic homes that are now bed and breakfast inns, it is all very charming. One part of Jacksonville that I really enjoy walking around is the old cemetery. It has a spirit and a charm of its own!

Sanctuary One

I have been looking for a cause to become involved and volunteer with for a couple of years but didn't find the right fit until now. After the 4th of July I came across a Jacksonville newsletter that mentioned the Sanctuary One. I'd never heard of it and was instantly intrigued by the concept of a 'care farm'. I contacted them right away and schedule a time to tour the farm and sign up to volunteer. There is a special feeling on this land - truly, it feels so peaceful. It was just what I'd been looking for. I encourage you to check out their website and follow them on Facebook. Just hearing the stories about the animals and how they came to be at the Sanctuary can be heartbreaking but I try to focus on the good that comes to them once they arrive there. It is obvious they also feel the peace that is present here. Check it out. I feel so good after spending the day here on Saturdays.
http://www.sanctuaryone.org/


This was my greeter and welcoming committe when I arrived there yesterday:

July

Once the first of July came around I felt like I'd made it through the toughest part of the move. The work of unpacking and the time to get to know my way around (which I'll still be doing for a while) was behind me. I was feeling less anxiety and more familiar with my surroundings every day. I was expecting that there would be an adjustment period and I know for me it wasn't too difficult but I did experience a lot of anxiety those first few weeks. The stress of moving and the feelings of loneliness all added to those anxious feelings that come from being in completely new surroundings. Sometimes I had to laugh at myself when I really thought about what I'd done- moving to a new place, by myself, where I didn't know even one person. But I’m glad I’m here. I really do feel at home here in this area. There is something about the location that feels like I belong here. When my head gets in the way of that and I start over thinking things I just take a walk or go on a hike and get back to the basics. For me, being in nature is the best way to feel grounded and calm myself.
By the first of July, I’d met a couple of my neighbors. One neighbor who lives down the street, Kelly, I met at a Britt performance one night (Melssa Etheridge). Kelly invited me over the next evening to join her and her husband and some friends for cocktails. I have met several people since then, but Kelly is still one of my favorite. She is one of the sweetest people I think I’ve ever met.
Here are some photos from the 4^th of July celebration in Ashland, OR at Lithia park:

They had a great band playing patriotic music

These are real people - they look like statues until they moved and changed positions.

Feeling a little lonely

I kept busy unpacking, shopping for a new car and getting situated the first week or two. I must say how quiet things were at my house at first (they still are but now I'm used to it). I intentionally didn't sign up for any cable service so not turning on the television in the evening was definitely part of the adjustment to quiet. I knew I was in a bad habit of watching mindless shows in the evening and I seriously had withdrawals from this at first. I have a TV and I put a DVD in the evening when I felt really freaked out by the quiet. Eventually I signed up for Netflix so I could be entertained for $7.99 a month which is a lot less than cable or satellite service. I have read so many good books since I've been here - thanks to not having cable. It has been good for me. I have gotten used to a different routine in the evening now and seldom watch a movie. I may not even keep Netflix.
Something I noticed the first night I slept here was how dark and how quiet it was outside. I was used to hearing trains or some traffic but where I live now - there is no noise unless I hear an occasional animal (usually deer) going through the ground cover next to the house at night. Hearing all of the animal sounds, which are subtle, still and quiet, was also something I wasn't used to.  That kept Montana up at night for awhile until she got used to it.
Being in a new place my senses seem to be heightened and at the same time can be overwhelmed with all of the new information I’m taking in (like figuring out how to get where I need to go). Luckily, one of the pleasant sounds that I often hear in the evening now that summer is well underway is the live music from the Britt festival. If you don’t know what the Britt festival is, this description is from their website “Celebrating its 50th season, Britt Festivals, a non-profit organization, is the Pacific Northwest's premier outdoor summer performing arts festival. Located in the historic 1850s gold rush town of Jacksonville, Oregon , Britt presents dozens of summer concerts, featuring world-class artists in classical music, jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, world, pop and country music. Britt's performance venue is a naturally formed amphitheater set among majestic ponderosa pines and native madrones on the beautiful hillside estate of 19th century photographer Peter Britt.”  http://www.brittfest.org/aboutbritt
The amphitheater is just two streets from me and I have enjoyed walking over in the evening to listen to the live music. This has also really helped me feel less alone. Sometimes I just need to be around people even if I don’t know them. Sometimes I walk down to the main street where people and tourists are moving thru the quaint shops just to feel a part of ‘the people’.
My first visitor to come and visit me here was my good friend Candace. I had only been here three weeks when she arrived and I was so happy to see a familiar face and have her stay with me for a few days. I was anxious to drive to the coast and see the ocean and also go through the Redwood forest so with Candace here it was a perfect time to make that day trip. The entire time she was here it was rainy and cool but the day we drove to the coast it stopped raining for the most part. The entire 2 hour drive there was green and beautiful. We went thru the Jedediah Smith state park and that was absolutely breathtaking! If you’re ever in this area I would definitely plan a day trip to visit there. Here are some pictures of our outing:

Candace and Montana

Me and Montana

Me standing in Stout grove

Candace and giant Redwood

Brookings, Oregon beach

First things first

The day after we arrived my 3 sons unloaded the truck, put beds together and organized furniture. Once the heavy lifting was done, we dropped off the moving truck and I took them out to dinner at Bella's in Jacksonville. We were all famished and it felt good to rest and refuel.  I enjoyed sitting there watching them interact and joke with one another. It was good to be together and knowing they were leaving in the morning, I wanted to soak up every moment with them. After dinner they helped to set up my office and connect electronic equipment to the internet. We sat around on the couches, relaxed and feeling satisfied of all that had been accompished in a good day's work. The next morning was Sunday and even though they wanted to get on the road early, they lingered with me after breakfast and visited for a bit. They must have sensed my apprehension about them leaving - perhaps they were a bit apprehensive about leaving me too. It finally came time to say goodbye and I couldn't hold my tears back. I have the best sons in the entire world and I was going to miss not being able to see them as often. I know- it was my choice to move - I just wish all of my children would move here too! To keep myself busy instead of curled up on the couch crying, I went to work unpacking boxes and getting things organized. I love the location of my house here and the setting that surrounds it. Here is a picture of my back patio - I enjoy sitting out here in the morning to drink my coffee. It smells so good outside - fresh air, just like when you're in the mountains.

My companion

I have to admit that moving to a place where I didn't know anyone, didn't know my way around and was at least 12 hours away from my closest family and friends was a little frightening. I explained to a couple of my children that it was kind of like the feeling I had when I went sky diving for the first time - I had butterflies in my stomach because of my excitement and anticipation of doing something I really wanted to do but at the same time my brain kicked in and said, "why are you doing this, are you crazy?" But it was one of the most exhilarating rides of my life when I went up in that plane and jumped out! This is a similar jump or maybe more of a leap of faith. This is Montana, my loyal companion on this journey.

Officially an Oregon resident

My three sons were very generous to help me move from Utah to Oregon. It was fun to make the journey to Oregon with them!

Right on schedule

While visiting in April, I found a house to rent in a charming little town called Jacksonville. The move was scheduled for June 1, 2012. We loaded up the truck and headed north! Here is a photo of my awesome moving crew

First time actually visiting southern Oregon

This last year I spent a lot of time researching locations, towns, cities, climates, housing markets and Google maps for southern Oregon. My goal was to move the summer of 2012. Things seemed to fall into place just like clockwork. Months before the move my current job changed and it became easier for me to telecommute – meaning I could work from anywhere. I put my house on the market in February in hopes that I could move by the first of summer and the house sold within 2 months with the closing scheduled for June. In April,  I scheduled my first trip to southern Oregon! If you're thinking - wait - I thought she said she'd always wanted to live there?! You are right - I've wanted to move to southern Oregon for years without actually going to visit there. This sounds strange to most people but I found that it was very common. A lot of people I've met moved here because they felt drawn here for some reason - many of them hadn't ever been here before either. These are pictures of my first views of beautiful southern Oregon back in April.