Making way for the new

This weekend, I'm working on making room for the "new" but it's not without it's intrapersonal challenges (meaning "within myself").

Today's first challenge - I'm still shedding my old Seattle tendencies.

It's amazingly sunny and warm outside today. The pool (off my back porch) is alive with a bunch of kids swimming and playing. It's awesome. I'm inside with all (both) the windows open, enjoying the sun and the sounds. No TV or radio. Just the sounds of people enjoying themselves. It feels a lot like vacation (or what I imagine vacation would feel like). My old Seattle tendency is to run out and enjoy it because it never lasts long enjoy. In Seattle the sun is so rare and tomorrow could very likely be grey, cold and rainy AGAIN.  Rather than give into this urge to run out and exhaust myself trying to soak it up quickly, I'm reminding myself that I actually live here.

Yes, I have to tell myself that all the time...."I actually live here." I don't seem to believe it quite yet. It's like Costco or the airlines are going to call me any minute and ask me where the hell I am. I'm late for work or a flight or something and need to get my ass "home" to Seattle right away. That's when the self-therapy starts... but "I actually live HERE."

Honestly, I need to give myself a break. My sister went home last Saturday. Yes, it's only been 7 days (... 7 blurry days) that I've been here on my own. The days she spent here were like vacation so I can't count those and honestly I can't count Sat - Tues cause it wasn't reality either. So... it's been 3 days of real life in S. CA. Guess I can give myself a break for it still feeling weird after only 3 days.

Anyway... so rather than feel guilty that I'm not out playing in all the sunshine today, I'm reminding myself that it's only April. Summer is coming and I have a lot to adjust to and organize around here before I get distracted by all the frivolity going on in the area.

For context - The Newport Beach Film Festival starts this weekend, I was invited to go out boating this afternoon (passed), I have a surprise birthday party to attend tonight (going) and tomorrow night I'm having dinner with some new acquaintances (ok...I like dinner).

Did I mention I've been here about a week, been at my job 3 days and really don't know anyone who lives here, except casually? Apparently nobody has to worry about me being lonely living here. Wow!!

So, I'm hunkering down and dealing with the remaining distractions from my past life. Or, more accurately, clearing out those things I thought I needed or wasn't ready to deal with until now. Mind you, it's not physical stuff. I cleared most of that out over the last 12 months as I've downsized and moved repeatedly. It's digital stuff or mental stuff. It's ideas and organizations that continue to pull on my mental energy but don't really serve the direction that I'm taking my life.

And it's pervasive...
And it's insidious...
And it's got to go...

So here's the plan so far:

Step 1 - Ridding myself of all the online "junk mail" that I don't need. (Mental freedom!!)
Step 2 - Finally dealing with the last lingering chore I have to take care of to be a California resident - my drivers license and register my car. Ugh. (Appointment for Thursday. Check!)
Step 3 - Review all this life stuff that keeps piling up in my mailbox (medical (old & new), 401(k) rollovers, etc.) Lots of little things with timelines that I can't put off too long or it just becomes an even bigger issue. I just have to open the envelopes and deal. Maybe I'll treat myself to a box of wine and just get down to it next to the pool?

Because I'm basically an overgrown 12 year old, I can't handle more than 3 things at a time. Never have been able to. (Yes, 3 is a magic number for all my fellow Schoolhouse Rock fans.) So I'll just start there and knock one off the list before I add any more.

You know everything I ever learned was from television so as my friends Rudolph, Hermie and Yukon Cornelius sang, "Just put one foot in front of the other" and I'll get there eventually.

Luckiest Girl in the World

After my first day on the job, all I can say is ... this is going to be so much fun. Great people working towards a common goal based on a very inspiring vision. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so. 

They put together a very inspiring video about we are. (We... makes me giggle a little.) 

Here's a link. Enjoy. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOw49owb5zE&feature=youtu.be

First day of school

Tomorrow is my first day of school... at least that's what it should feel like.

Actually, while tomorrow is my official first day, I've already spent many hours in the new office getting acclimated to the new environment and acquainted with the new team. A great group of people all focused on the same goal - to change the world one small purchase at a time.

My little team has a big responsibility and we're hitting the ground running. Several tours and trips planned, new items to create and new relationships to develop. It's all very exciting and there is a lot to do but we're all up for the task and looking forward to having a good time while we do it.

This all seems so vague for the night before my first day but with about 12 hours already logged in at the office, I think it's just time for bed.

Much more to come. Promise.
S.

Dear Bobbie,  

As always, you are full of good ideas and you're latest, that I should start blogging again, is yet another good one in a long standing run.  Here goes...

An interstitial chapter is one that connects two unrelated chapters. It doesn't relate to either chapter on it's own and the two chapters don't relate directly to each other either but the interstitial chapter holds them together. Think of it as a link between two things that really stand alone but need to be next to each other. They use this term in the medical field as well to describe connective tissue between organs. It doesn't really make either organ function and the heart doesn't directly relate to the function of the stomach but the interstitial tissue keeps them in their relative positions. Whew... Bobbie, are you sure you want me to start doing this again? Maybe I'm just out of practice. 

So, my brief moment of unemployment comes to end on Wednesday and I'll be heading into "Book 2". That's what it feels like. A whole new book of me. A whole new opportunity to decide who I'm going to become next. New geography, new job, new co-workers, new industry, new...new... new. Really, the only thing that remains the same are the few boxes of things I brought with me and my Jeep. Honestly, the only thing that feels constant and predictable right now is my Jeep. It's all good but uncomfortable. Just what I need right now. 

On Wednesday, I'll officially start Book 2 and keep my blog updated with my adventures and discoveries.      There is so much to discover in So Cal and that's just the sites and geography. I'm really looking forward to the self-discovery that I'm expecting to encounter over the next several days, weeks, months, etc. It's feels a lot like going off to college. Everything is possible and I only have to bring with me those things, traits, etc. that I want to. The second they don't work anymore, I can jettison them for new experiences, ideas, etc. It's all so exciting. 

Stay tuned for Chapter 1 later this week. 

S.