Settling In

The leaves are changing, the smell of wood smoke is in the air and pumpkins are lining the store front;  I've always loved this time of year.  We've lived at the coast for over 4 months now, I've completed 4 weeks at my new job and Melody is almost halfway through her first term at a new school.  Almost everyday the sight of the ocean causes me to think "wow, I actually live here".  This morning we woke up and decided to go fishing and crabbing, drove 20 minutes to the spot where the bay meets the ocean and planted our lines.  I wandered the beach, scouring for glass floats and discovering driftwood art and abandoned bonfires to warm my feet.  We didn't catch anything, the weather was a little foggy and damp so we packed up and went home, all before 11:30 am.  I love being this close to adventure.

I think living here has been successful for all of us.  Despite not particularly wanting the job I applied for it suits my needs more than I expected.  I get to travel to different worksites and events for outreach, help people who have been struggling to make ends meets, and do public presentations.  I've even been on the radio and in the newspaper.  Prince Eric also has been able to grow professionally and is making connections through the chamber of commerce, taking leadership classes through the community college and is now the new head softball coach of one of the high schools.  Melody is even settling in nicely in our new community.  She chose a small charter school, 220 kids in grades K-12, and she doesn't hate it.  She's not skipping off to school happily every morning, but the absence of hating it says a lot for her.  She's made a few friends and just got her driver's license this week.  Ursula drives the route to see the ocean waves and occasionally wanders up to the casino to play penny slots.  We live closer to my brother and Prince Eric's mother and sister and have seen them more since we've moved than we have over the last couple of years.  Even Flounder has become a beach dog and loves to frolic in the sand in our protected cove.  Maybe we've found our place, where we're supposed to be.

There's also a new project we have cooking, we'll let you know as it unfolds ;)