The Six Month Report

Six months ago, I posted a top-ten list about the various things that worried me in our new surroundings.  Moving our family across the country in the middle of winter to a small, conservative town was a big gamble.  I told myself in that post that I would check up in six months, knowing that by that time everything would be just fine.  Guess What…I’m right again!  (I love it when I’m right).  So here is a list of the worries, and corresponding non-worries of six months ago and today:

10.  My son is way behind in math and will have to repeat 3rd grade.

While my son still struggles with the memorization of his basic facts, he improved tremendously on his testing.  He gained 12 points from his first test in January to his end-of-year assessment.  He even won the BUG award! (Bringing Up Grades).  Needless to say, he is going into 4th grade.

9. I will not get a job that will be intellectually and socially adequate.

I have THREE jobs!  None of which pay much, but all of which are in my wheelhouse. I’m an approved adjunct for the college in the next town (but I don’t have a class yet).  I am working at the Museum here for the summer as an educator. And, if you read my earlier post, you know that I just got another job. I am the new drama coach at the high school.

8. There is nobody here that I can relate to and so I will have no friends.

I still struggle with this a little bit, but I do have friends.  My friend from college, Megan likes to point out that I have “Dos friends,” but I have a lot of people that I talk to, especially now that I work at the Museum.  I know people at the grocery store and the library now, and I have gone out for two girls nights.  It’s coming.

7. We can’t afford a car and desperately need a different one.

This is Diego.  Isn’t he sa-weet? Everyone in Wyoming has a white SUV and/or a Diesel Truck.

6. We have nowhere to live as of February 1st.

We are renting a very nice place in the country. There are mountains in view at every angle.  Cows are in our back yard, horses are next door and deer frequently eat my flowers!

5.  We can’t afford to do anything fun (skiing, ww rafting, etc) because we are paying rent and a mortgage on one income.

Our house in Cleveland is rented!  We have our annual pass to Yellowstone and have been there twice so far. Check out our pics from our last trip here. There is plenty to do, especially in the summer.  Also, we have hosted many guests. We are very very busy!

4. Something is seriously wrong with my knee and so far swimming laps and popping Advil like it’s tic-tacs is not working.

Knee is better, but not yet 100%.  I have been swimming 1 mile, 3 days a week. The goal is 21 miles over the course of the summer (Distance of the English Channel).  I’m at 12 miles at this point. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to run a 5 K again, but the swimming is making my arms look amazing!

3. I miss my parents.

Still miss them, but talk to mom a lot. What did grandparents do before Google-chat?  It really is the best technological invention ever.  Will be heading “home” in August, and will try to convince them to come out again for T-giving or Christmas.

2. Our house in Cleveland won’t sell.

See #5.

1. I will regret this major decision that we made.

So far, there are no regrets.  When we weigh the things that we like about this place with the things we don’t, as well as the things we miss from Cleveland and those we don’t, it is pretty even.  We’ll see what a few more months will do.

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