The hint of spring gently nudges me to begin preparing for days on the lake. The snowmelt is filling the lake once again and I long to be on the water each day I drive the bridge over the tributary. The hills are emerald. The water calm, alluring.
Moving to the foothills was a bold decision. It means I maintain both my mountain cabin and my foothill home, not an easy task for a single gal.
The cabin taught me independence. I care for the one-half acre on my own.
But, my foothill home is teaching me something more. I'm learning how rewarding solitary activities can be, especially when they are new activities for me, like kayaking. Or getting to know my neighbors as I walk my American Bulldog.
Independence, though scary, though often unsettling, has been so good for me and I can't wait to see what it brings me this spring.
What will it bring you?
10
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Taking care of my property is what I do with my time. Gardening in the summer and preserving what I grow. Making country wines from my berries and cooking from scratch fills the hours and I get to enjoy the results and learn from the mistakes - Ha! Buying a fixer-upper is a never ending project - unless you have the budget to hire everything done. So you don't get to do somethings you can't afford - like travel ...etc and instead you try to make a life you don't need to escape from...
FrostyJim
Level 8
Feb 5, 2020
2
So well said, I really enjoyed reading this. I’ve been by myself for a little over a year now and am still adjusting. I’m disabled, so I don’t work. Just me and my doggie chugging along. I don’t know what I would do without him.
NorCalFreethinker
Level 6
Feb 5, 2020
3
Thank you for your comment. Forging an independent life is challenging. The one word you use that jumps out for me is chugging. I do that many days. I'm glad you have the company of your dog. Be sure to reach out if you need to chat.
@ElusiveMoby thank you, you are so sweet!
@NorCalFreethinker Always know you are welcome to reach out. I'll look for you too.
Jealousy for your poetic sharing of how you live. ..lonelier than you ....I have only indoor play with my 2 cats and cottonwoods along a prairie creek NO SUCH THING AS MOUNTAINS or foothills in Iowa
Larry68Feminist
Level 7
Feb 5, 2020
1
Cottonwoods and a creek. That sounds lovely.
@ElusiveMoby thank you for the positive expectation but the creek is a big sewer and the cottonwoods survive there because pollution and poison killed most the cottonwoods in natural areas in my lifetime.... Iowa was over 80% prairie 180 years ago and ten years ago less than 1% since then we have fought poison farm city technology and doubled restored prairie but is still under 1%....it was too fucking easy to bulldoze trees pave over prairie drain wetlands and plow black soils once ten feet thick now just a few inches thick due to our hard fought restrictions upon idiot farmers and suburbs sprawling every fucking mile ....IOWA IS NOT GREEN and it takes radical Atheists to fight xian farms and fake religious cities
Hopefully mote and better gigs as we have a new agent.
Sticks48
Level 9
Feb 5, 2020
1
More?
I was just seeing if you were paying attention. Congratulations! You passed! 
@Sticks48 I thought maybe you were going to build a mote. How cool is that!
@ElusiveMoby A mote would definitely be cool!
How long have you been single? Sounds like it is a new state of being.
Barnie2years
Level 8
Feb 5, 2020
1
I've been single about two years. I'm still growing into the role. It's getting easier and easier however, especially as I take responsibility for my own happiness.
Thank you for reading my post, by the way.
@ElusiveMoby I’ve been single for around twelve or thirteen (you know you’ve adopted when you can’t remember 
). Pretty much dateless for at least five (not counting a trip the the theater last night with a friend met on here). I have adjusted so well, I’m not sure how easy it would be to lose my independence and need for every decision to be a compromise or every thought critiqued. I know the early years were both trying (lonely nights, lack of conversations, no sex) but you adjust to these issues as you go along. Having my dog these past four years helps with everything but the sex! And there are always someone or some organization to seek out when you need advise or a helping hand, even if you need to pay for the services.
Best of luck in your voyage of life!
@Barnie2years What a wonderful, heartfelt reply! Thank you. I wish you all the best.
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