Christmas and New Year’s are over; it’s time to get back to normal. But what if you don’t have a normal anymore?
That’s me these days. We’ve been in the new house in the new city in the new state for over three months now. It’s winter in the high desert. And, uncharacteristically, it’s been cold as New England (usually is) and kind of…wet. Today it can’t decide. I hear the rain pouring down onto my flat Pueblo-ish roof and, out the window, see snow flaking down too. It’s not a pretty sight. Forget seeing the mountains; they’re a distant memory having been shrouded in clouds the past few days. Bring back the sun!
But back to the point: The honeymoon’s over. It’s time to integrate into community, to stop comparing and contrasting New Mexico to what we left, and to find the new normal. With no family here, I need a new “posse” bad. That’s going to take joining various groups here. To that effect, I’ve already got the the Adobe Wool Arts Guild and a church. It’s a good start if you ask me. These groups have networked me to the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council, the Old Pueblo Rug Hookers down in Tucson (I’m off to their hook-in later this month), Albuquerque’s BioPark, and a couple of church committees, including, hopefully, a new food pantry to work at. Registering with the SouthWest Writers is on my list for later today.
Still, it’s not enough. Plus, I’m feeling rather cooped up in the house. Oh, and the bills aren’t going to pay themselves. Sure, Tom’s retired, but I’m only 51, too young for that sh%$!!! Its time to find some meaningful work. Or at least something that’ll pay for the groceries (and that pool we intend to build this spring!). So, it’s hi-ho, hi-ho, off on a job search I go. Unfortunately, Albuquerque’s got some unemployment issues. Not sure what I’ll find, but at least it’ll let me meet more people.
I was spoiled by my last job, running the food pantry back in Massachusetts. I loved the job, its flexibility, and especially the people. But, like I said, I’m looking for the NEW normal. Although I recently re-did my resume, I haven’t looked for a job in years. Guess it’ll be another adventure.
Anyone else jumping back into the workforce? Have any tips to share? Contacts here in Albuquerque? I’ve got an eclectic background, and I can use all the help I can get.
Years ago when we were moving to Asia, Peter’s company did a bunch of testing on us (to see if we could deal with living Overseas!) and gave us a day with a trainer. He tried to help us understand the challenges we would be facing living so far away form home in a different country. The most interesting fact was, that after about 6 months, you get depressed for a bit. We found it to be true. We’d move and forget about it and one day I’d be complaining to Peter or being moody and he’d look at the calendar and say “It’s about 6 months”. When you’ve lived somewhere as long as you did, the same thing may apply. Or moved to such a different area. I talked with an Expat in Singapore and she said that when she moved from NE to Texas a few years previously, she’d felt like she was in a different country! Sounds like you’re moving in the right direction. I want to get going with some teaching this year – quilting or fiber artsy things. I don’t think it will be in Greenville though… Not impressed with the quilt stores here. I’d like to get some gigs at the library too. If you don’t mind teaching for free (or a very low “donation”) that is a lot of fun!
You may have hit the nail on the head, Deb. We’ve been out here for over 5 months now. And the weather isn’t helping anything. Damn el Nino. It’s usually sunny here, but we’ve been in a cloudy/wet/snowy pattern for a couple of weeks. I can’t even get down to the forest near the river (the Bosque) with the dog; too muddy.Tom’s feeling it too. I’ll pass on the 6-month info.
I’ve thought about teaching in a library or one of the art centers. I’ll have to look into it more. Perhaps they would pay for the materials. From what I can tell there are lots of quilters here. In fact, one of their guilds does a demo the Tuesday after we do each month at the BioPark.
How’s your winter weather?
It’s gotten cold again, for which I am glad, but I’m sure you read about the 30″ of rain I mentioned on my blog. So lots of gloomy weather here as well.
The six month thing is odd for sure, but if you are feeling out of sorts for no good reason, then that may be the reason.
I never negotiated with the libraries and since I have SO much fabric, it wasn’t a big deal. There was a rug hooking class offered in a new art center here and I am very curious to know whether it filled. It was a Monday- Friday class for 4 hours each day, which seems very odd and too much!
Twenty hours of rug hooking for a newbie? Yes, sounds strange.
Now what kind of wonderfulness is this??? I thought you gave up your blog. I see I have some reading to do. 🙂
I suspect it’s the 6 months and that we’re all suffering from it. And feeding off one another. I just know that I need people out here. It’s time.
Off to read some of your blog again. 🙂
I guess I assumed you still had me on Feedly or something. Yes, I woke up another morning and thought how I missed blogging and that perhaps I should not feel I HAD to do it so often!
I was subscribed to you in some fashion. But the move, a new computer, a change from Laura@thepolishedparagraph to Laura@highonhooking, all these things caused havoc with some of my subscriptions. NO WORRIES! I’ve got a new subscription now. Write away! I’m enjoying it. (And I share them on my facebook page.)