Year's end

Category: Musings 4 Comments December 30, 2005

The end of the year approaches at breakneck speed. Anyway you look at it, 2005 moved quickly. The year that began in the aftermath of the Pacific tsunami and saw the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the divisive war in Iraq ends with more questions than answers, more anxiety than hope, and more trepidation than determination.

For Amy and I, the year brought changes in attitude along with changes in latitude (with apologies to Jimmy Buffett) – our first year completely away from the hustle and bustle of Washington.

The year began with questions. Could we adapt to the lifestyle here in Floyd County after so many years in a faster pace? Would I miss the adrenaline rush that came with my career? How on earth would we find the things we needed to buy outside of mall-rich Northern Virginia? Would we miss our sports cars and other trappings of a lifestyle based on conspicuous consumption. Could Amy find a reasonable substitute for late-night Chinese delivery?

The answers came easier than expected. Yes, we adapted quite well thank you. I no longer keep a suitcase packed so I can hop on a plane at a moment’s notice. The need for an adrenaline fix is gone. I get all the thrills I need trying to avoid rolling the lawn tractor on the steep slope that masquerades as our front yard..

What we can’t buy locally can be ordered online and delivered the next day (if needed) by FedEx and UPS. Flannel shirts, jeans and work boots replaced the uniform of the city and most of those come from the local thrift shop at a fraction of the over-inflated prices we paid back in the urban jungle.

Life, for the most part, is good. It would be perfect if we just had a Chinese place that delivered.