So we are a week away from being on the road….and lots of thoughts to process. This is different from many of the other moves (22 since we’ve been married – and we’re not even military!). Social media didn’t exist 21 years ago when we left Vermont, so it wasn’t easy to keep track of people. That has changed, and I’m glad of it. Now I can stay in touch with teachers, students, family friends – keep up-to-date with people I may not see again. Plus it’s the longest either of us have lived in any one place (state, that is….). Twenty-one years here and we’ve seen much of the southwest we didn’t the first time around. Still a few places we missed Canyon de Chelly, Acoma Pueblo – have to save something for another trip!

Yes, winter will be hard, but at least this time neither of us has to go out for work. We can hibernate throughout the winter months – but we must buy a natural light lamp to mimic daylight to help with SAD. And there’s nothing to say we can’t hop Amtrak and head west – or south, for that matter – people to visit along the Atlantic coast.

We did have a bit of a good-bye celebration last weekend – teacher friends, students, our second family – lots of laughter and very few tears. The world is so much closer together.

Raquel and her teachers…..

The Utterback crew……

“Little brother” George – the most gentle man….

Always leave the hilarity to my sarcasm twin Michelle….

Strawberry daiquiris….. blurry then and blurry now…..