Things are changing around here

Let me point out a few of the changes to our normally peaceful neighborhood.

1. For the past few weeks, I’ve been awakened to the sound of a helicopter going overhead most every weekday.
2. Our newest neighbors fenced in their property with barbed wire fence. Yikes!
3. Our other new neighbors moved into a 5^th wheel on their property. (This is actually pretty cool.) My hubby has met the guy and I think we are going to have some good friends here.
4. The people who own the forty acres directly west of us had a drilling company taking core samples on their property.
5. The people who are directly north of us are building a road that I’m sure is big enough to land a 747 on.

I knew deep down this might happen, someday, it’s progress. I just figured there weren’t enough brave, (or crazy) people out there to do what we are doing…Living off the grid. Well, mostly off the grid. My son-in-law tells me I would have to give up my cell phone and internet to accomplish that. I lived for nine months without the internet and all that did was cost me an arm and a leg in gas money to have to run to the library every time I needed to work. Not worth it!

I’m slowly adjusting to the changes…

The helicopter is temporary; they are fixing power lines up on the mountain.

The newest neighbors haven’t made plans to move out here, so it’s still relatively quiet, except when he comes out to shoot his guns. But that’s okay, they seem nice too and are very friendly.

I’m going to like the new neighbors building on the hill, I can feel it.

The road building is done, and it doesn’t affect us, except now we have better access to our property on the other side of the ravine.

Change is inevitable I guess. I was remembering the first days and weeks we were here. I was feeling sorry for myself, sitting in a hot little camper with no electricity, no water, and barely any food (the fridge wasn’t working).

I dug out my old journal and Bible and sat on the bed and wrote. The quiet was overwhelming. The only sound was the wind blowing through the parched grasses. I had two dogs and a cat staring at me like I’d lost my mind, and at that point I thought the same thing. What had we done?

Once we got our new camper it was a little better, but still hard. The first shower I took in here was freezing cold. We hadn’t figured out how to light the hot water heater yet. Dave was over in the other camper with the dogs when he heard me scream from the shock of the icy water. He came over and asked what happened. When I told him, he laughed and went back to the other camper. I finished my shower, then when I tried to open the shower door, it was stuck. It wasn’t as much stuck as I couldn’t figure out how to open it. I stood there shivering wondering if I should try to get Dave back over here or figure it out myself. I tried everything I could think of…

Before I could start laughing or crying, Dave showed up to check on me. He told me how the door worked, and I was good to go. The next day I figured out the hot water heater.

We stayed in the old camper because we didn’t have bedding and any place for the animals yet. That night I laid awake listening to the coyotes sing. I thought I could see them in the moonlight, but now I know they were not in plain sight.

Since all the activity has been happening around here, we haven’t heard the coyotes for weeks. I miss them. I’m hoping they are whelping or just re-grouping and will come back soon.

Yes, things are changing, but I’m adjusting. Some things are good. We’ve had so many different birds here. Bluebirds, Hummingbirds, House finches, Quail. Even the rabbits are not as shy. I’ve always wanted to live close to nature and now I am.

I thank God for those first hard days. I’m thankful that now our lives seem so easy in comparison, but most of all I thank him for the beauty of being able to live here in the quiet beautiful place I call home.

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12