Yurt Escape

It is 4:45 PM, East Coast time. My exodus draws near. At present, I am so entirely happy having a moment's reprieve in KC's yurt. Outside it is grey, 40' and lightly sleeting. Inside it is toasty warm, the lighting glows in amber hues. Actually, as I am typing this, I am experiencing a most peculiar dizzying sensation brought on by the roundness of this dwelling. KC tried to explain this to me once before, but until you've been in a yurt, there's nothing to link this information to. It's round, the room simply continues round and round. One's eye does not meet a corner and then begin again. It's interesting.

Ahh, but I digress. My day of exodus looms near. Monday, March the 2nd I will begin my drive across America. I am ready. Today I successfully gave four remaining boxes of "stuff" to the Twice is Nice store and shipped seven boxes of clothing and bedding to California. Just yesterday I was successful in renting a post office box at a UPS store in Santa Monica, so that I may have an address to forward my mail and ship those items which would not fit in my car. Small coup. I have also packed my car! All of my most cherished possessions fit. Amazing. Oh! And, thankfully, finally, I sold the very last piece of my furniture this very day! My armoire was the last piece. $75 and SOLD! What a relief.

My cottage in Santa Monica, that I have been visualizing for well over a year, has not yet materialized. So I do not know where I will be staying once I arrive in CA next week. But I am completely confident that there will be a place for me. I believe, I believe, I believe.

For today, I'm hanging out with my friend KC in her yurt, and feeling quite at peace.

Perched for Flight

It has been two weeks and two days since I returned from my exploratory trip to California. My intention in taking that trip was two fold: 1- to escape the cold of Virginia/have a vacation, 2- to see how I felt out there... to try "California on" post divorce. During my entire week's visit, I walked a foot off the ground, so happy was I to be there. Without a doubt, I received my answer and immediately began dreaming how I could move to Santa Monica. Immediately.

There were so many considerations! How would I get out of my apartment lease six months early? What would I do about my leased vehicle, already at it's allotted mileage, thus about to start costing me more money to pay for the overage. How much does it cost to move across the country? And then the REALLY big questions: How does one move across the continent, find employment, and a place to live? On my return flight to Virginia, I formulated and committed my action plan in writing and have since worked the plan, reviewed the plan, revised the plan, and worked the plan. And it is happening!

Tonight I sit in my nearly vacant apartment, astounded. The last large piece of furniture, my bed, was purchased and taken away today. For the first time, with the exodus of my beloved bed, my "nest," I feel a wee frightened and vulnerable. This is it. No turning back now. I must continue to move forward.

In two weeks time, I have sub-let my apartment, sold all of my furniture and possessions (save a few dear keepsakes and scrapbooks), cut my wardrobe in half, given notice to my clients, and purchased a new car to drive across the continent! Oh! And I did successfully secure a position in Santa Monica! I say thank you.

I'd Like to Thank the Academy......

It's Valentine's Day. For months I have been vacillating about what to do about my vehicle, Genevieve. She is a leased vehicle in which I've been allotted 48,000 miles to drive her over the course of three years. At Genevieve's due date, which is September, 2009, I have the option of turning her in or purchasing her. With all of that said, I've been in a conundrum about what to do now that I've decided to drive across America, and her current mileage is at 47,000. For each mile that I go over, I will have to pay for those miles, unless I opt to purchase her. Hmmmm. She is a great car, she's driven across America twice and has served me well. But, for awhile now I've had this vision of myself driving a white BMW x3- the White Knight- with license plates that say, "BLISFUL".

I must admit that I am feeling quite bold and empowered lately with all the life changing decisions I'm making. Hence, buoyed by my courage, I decided to go to the BMW dealership to discuss my options (buy Genevieve, buy a new vehicle, lease a new vehicle, negotiate BMW taking over the last six months of lease payments???) and test drive a new BMW X3. Going to a automobile dealership to negotiate a new car by myself is another major breakthrough in my life. I've never negotiated a car purchase for myself as I've always been accompanied by a man- first my father, then boyfriends, and finally my former husband. I knew the angels were on my side when I was led to my salesperson, Dharma. I kid you not! His name is Dharma.

Well, to make what could be a long story short... there was one- just one!- White BMW X3 on the lot. It was a 2006, same year as Genevieve, but had only 15,000 miles on it! Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! Even though I knew this was my White Knight waiting for me, I waited three days to finish negotiating the deal. This saved me an additional $2,000 because they really wanted to sell a vehicle. And the dealership did agree to take over all remaining lease payments. The best part of this transaction occurred, ironically, whilst I was signing my loan papers. "You know, we normally don't see a credit score like this for someone your age," their financial officer said to me. My eyebrows raised in confusion., "Why? What is my credit score? I've always had good credit." He went on, "Well, normally only much older people have a credit score of 823." 823?! 823!!!! In that moment, I felt like I had won the Academy Award! Yahooooo!!!!!!!

Life is About to Get Really Exciting... Here I GO! Leap of Faith

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back...
the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it,
boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

~Goethe

My Friends,

I am moving. After a year of contemplation and healing, I have decided to start over -DO OVER!!- and move to Santa Monica, California. In order to do this, I must first free myself. That's where you come in...

I am selling everything I own... my brand new queen sized bed, sofas, dining room set, fabulous upholstered reading chair, armiore, dressers, desk, hutch, rugs, lamps, art, books, cds, pots and pans, dishes, EVERYTHING. I need your help- come buy something!! Take a piece of Melanie :) And spread the word... I am also intending to sub-lease my apartment for the next five months.

Next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, February 21 & 22,
I will have an open house sale from 10-5.

Pleassse come by and buy something. And please come by to "bid me adieu." I will be setting sail the first week of March.

Filled with zest,
M