We Moved to a Small Town. I Didn’t Know How Much I Needed It.
We’ve just entered the “ber” months. I have to say I think this is my favorite time of year. The only part I hate is knowing the birds will soon start migrating and the colder weather will keep us all inside. There’s a large group of turkey vultures that live in the field by our home. They’ve become one of my favorites to get to know. They’re sort of the ultimate alchemizers ~ taking what is dead and turning it into nourishment. And their spiritual symbolism around transformation and renewal has felt almost ridiculously on the nose for me.
The funny thing is, a few years ago none of this was on my radar. I was a suburban momma who thrived on being close to conveniences. Give me Target, Starbucks and all the salons. My routine was based around going to the gym, the store, getting my nails done, my eyelashes done, spray tans, hair extensions and any new anti-aging treatment. I had pots by my front door and garage that I paid to have changed out seasonally… feeling I could never make them look good enough myself. And my idea of being outside was living on my screened porch or if I was really feeling outdoorsy, a walk to the park.
We actually started vacationing in this area about a decade ago. What drew us each time was the pace and nature. Being from the Midwest yet never having been to Michigan, we had no clue the beaches here were as good as anywhere we’d been. But more than that we felt…free. I remember driving up each time, we’d pass the Pure Michigan sign and go, ahhhh. It felt like stepping into a simpler, slower lifestyle. Not a care in the world for how I looked. Just bare feet on the beach, toes in the sand.
Buying a lake house here was like a gateway to the move. Once we had our own place to come to, it made going back to the suburbs that much harder. Something here had our souls telling us this was where we were meant to be. Then, we became empty nesters. Which is a trip of its own. So we went wild, sold our house and rented an apartment to keep when visiting back “home”… then turned our lake house into our permanent residence.
In the transition, I knew we were moving toward a quieter, slower, more casual way of life. What I didn’t know was what that actually would become. The lake house was great for vacationing, but suddenly being a local we realized, tourists are loud and kinda annoying to have so close. And we moved to the woods with a few acres. That’s when the biggest shift occurred.
Our daily walks introduced us to those turkey vultures whom I lovingly refer to as The Girls. We have two hawks that are mates and call to one another from the trees. I could go on and tell you about the rat snake I named Reginald then later Regina thinking she’d had babies, but I’ll not bore you with all our critters. Then there are the trees, I’ve never been so attached to the ones we have here. That can’t happen when life is moving at the pace I’ve always known.
It didn’t happen fast. In fact, it took time to unwind from the lifestyle I’d known. At first I tried to recreate it here. Big mistake. I tried to find nail salons and realized that’s gonna be 45 minutes each way. I looked for Target, Costco and Trader Joe’s. An hour away, in different directions. A facial and injections would be a 30-minute drive. Maybe the inconvenience was the point.
That’s when my soul reminded me why this place called us here. Waking up and taking coffee outside to greet the day. Breathing fresh air, saying good morning to the cardinal couple who love to hang by the feeder. Feeling the wind and grounding my feet onto the earth while my favorite hummingbird drinks from my hosta flowers. My shopping includes buying eggs and yogurt from Ed at one farm, meat from Jake at another, and fish from the sweetest woman who also happens to make the BEST white chocolate toffee cookies. Instead of sitting in salons I prefer sitting outside.
I still run my errands, care how I look and live a normal life. But my attention isn’t in those things. It’s in the moments.
Because now I have space to notice.
I’m wildly grateful for my years in the suburbs. They helped me raise my kids and create an amazing life. It’s just that that life is over for me. That’s the alchemy. Maybe that’s what The Girls taught me. Nothing is wasted. One season becomes nourishment for the next.
Seasons have always come and gone. I’ve just finally learned how to be here for them.
