It's a long long way from there to here!

(Note: The application dates on these posts are not accurate; my dates are. Putting them in this order was the only way I could make them go from first to last. If you haven't seen the rest of this go to http://offtowhidbey.blogspot.com/; when you get to the bottom click on "older posts" which are actually newer posts......dd)

THERE

to HERE

Wednesday night, July 28th.

Well, we did it; actually Dave did most of the getting rid of above stuff with help from a really nice young man. Those of you on the Monterey Peninsula who need hauling/yard work, moving, odd jobs done, call Benjamin Usi, 831-2366-5691. He was in construction, until the economy took a dive; hard-working and reliable. Tell him the people with the incredible mess in their back yard recommended him.

I flew out Monday—left Pacific Grove on the airport shuttle at 6:30 am, flew from San Jose Airport to Seattle/Tacoma airport, took the airport shuttle to Clinton at the very South end of Whidbey, caught the Island Transit (which is free; well, paid for by a 1/2 cent sales tax charged to everyone buying anything on the island; it's a dream!) and arrived at the motel around 2 or so. Monday seems like ages ago. I've been too tired to write anything until today, Wednesday. Staying at the Langley Motel Monday and Tuesday nights. Dave and friend Bill—life saver for me because he drove all the way up with Dave—arrived about 1:00 PM today, Wednesday and we're all staying at the motel tonight. I said to Dave last night the motel feels like a transition station from the PG cottages to the new house. Our room is an old somewhat dilapidated cottage; walls are thin; Wi-Fi is HORRIBLE—they shouldn't even advertise they have it—and the whole place is cobbled together with extensions cords. Feels REAL familiar!

Grace the boat made it without a scratch or incident (I think because I wasn't there!). She's as beautiful as when they left, and, I think must be happy knowing there's so much water out there in the sound to sail around in.

We did our final "walk through" of the house today

with the fellow who does everything around our little community (someone told me not to call him a handyman). Tom our realtor greeted us with this basket full of cheese, crackers, wine and flowers.

Bill the non-handyman, Bill our friend, and Dave talked about twisted pair wires, plumbing, wall thickness, the garage of course, and I stood and stared at our beautiful tile work and new appliances.

All of this still feels like a dream. Our next door neighbor Diane (yes, Diane!) said to me, "bet you've never moved anywhere that people were so happy to see you." It's true, so far everyone has been more than welcoming despite our being California transplants. I walked from "our house" to downtown this afternoon on this, our country road

and everyone in passing cars waved, everyone.

Tuesday when I was in Freeland—our big city to the north—I bought some things at the large grocery store and left my little purse with my whole life in it, passport!, money, driver's license, cell phone, everything, but didn't realize it until I was on the shuttle riding back down to Langley about to call Dave. I looked in my big bag, and it was gone. I said to the driver "can I get off here; I left my small purse in the grocery store with my life in it." He turned left and drove BACK to the store! He didn't wait for me, of course, but that he actually turned the corner and circled back around again blew me away; that's how people are here—country living/hospitality I guess. I think they train the shuttle drivers to actually be helpful unlike most city bus drivers who, in my experience, resent everyone and hope you won't get on their bus. I rode the bus in Berkeley all the time, and remember few incidences of politeness or greeting. One thing that's got to make a difference of course is shuttle drivers here don't have to fool with money, with people who can't pay don't have the right change, etc. VERY different experience, and of course, appeals to my collective instincts ;+}.

Thursday, July 29th

We got our keys today, and now the house really IS ours; we own it or about half of it.

The POD should be in Seattle by now. Not sure when we'll have it delivered. Four VERY large boxes of "stuff" (primarily my clothes……large coats, heavy things, e.g.) will be delivered today. We will buy a blow up mattress and sleep on the floor until the POD comes (neighbor Diane ended up loaning us one of the nicest blow up mattresses I've ever slept on; we'll have one for you all when you get here!). Dave wants to see if he can get the garage/basement walls waterproofed before we do anything. We'll see.

Our friend Bill left this morning………taking Amtrak to Salinas; he doesn't like to fly. I got up early and drove him to the ferry, where he crossed the sound then caught a commuter train straight to Amtrak. Nice…….When (not if!) any of you fly up to visit. Don't rent a car. Take the Langley airport shuttle straight to the island. $54 ROUND TRIP, and you have priority all the way; otherwise you have the hassle of traffic, ferry lines, all of it. Transportation for the public really does exist here.

Sunday, August 1

We begin our first full month as Washington residents! We've been shopping shopping shopping since last Thursday. Brooms, and towels, and dish clothes, and garden equipment, and on and on. Wanted to get this little update out because tomorrow, Monday, is POD arrival day; then the work starts again in reverse order except now we don't have a deadline.........sigh. Our dear neighbors (she writes children's books; he's a retired zoology prof. from U Dub as the locals call it—University of Washington) invited us for a terrific veggie dinner Friday night. We went to the farmer's market yesterday, and did more shopping. Even more shopping in store today. We gave a LOT away so are buying a lot new. Grace sits on our mantel overlooking everything. I never understood keeping anyone's ashes at home, but it's comforting somehow to know she's there. One day we'll take her to San Diego and put her in the ocean with my dad which is what she wanted, but for now she gets to oversee everything. (I'm finding myself channeling— "be careful not to get fingerprints on the refrigerator".............geez.)

Dave, as usual, is finding flaws and fixing them all. I, on the other hand, am still overwhelmed by the fact that we have, what I consider a HUGE house (1,500 sq. ft). Lord knows how in the world I'm going to find things I lose all the time in such a big space. I HAVE to get organized. More after POD contents settle in (no more POD photos, I promise!)..........hope all is well in your world.

xoxo from Di & Dave

Below are photos of sculptures here and there around the town in peoples' yards. Evidently there's a retired artist who spends 1/2 his year in Santa Fe, and half in Langley sculpting, then asks folks if they'd like one. They're beautiful and coming upon them on a walk is a sweet surprise.