Full Speed Ahead
June appeared on the horizon before we knew it. And flew by so quickly, I can’t even believe it. Memorial Day weekend we decided it was time to get the boat and camper out for the first trip of the season. We had reserved a campground in Seward but had made no plans beyond that. We packed the boat and camper with food and gear, loaded up the fishing tackle and set off. We figured we would see what the weather was doing, check in with what we felt like each day, and then make a decision. Sometimes the best trips are the impromptu, spontaneous ones. And that’s just what we got.
We had a terrific, and totally relaxing time! The calm seas both inside and outside of Resurrection allowed us to explore some areas we’d not yet visited. We cruised a bay chocked full of ice at Aialik Glacier, picnicked in a stunning little cove, watched seals playing and the bald eagles fishing, and lazed around the campfire on the beach at night. Camping on the beach in Alaska affords you not only the sounds of waves lulling you to sleep, but also gives you stunning mountain views as well. No matter where you camp along the shore: it is simply breathtaking!
Play time ended all too quickly and we returned home to tie up loose ends. Once home, I was overcome by a sense of sadness and anxiety. I love my little piece of Palmer on Lazy Mountain. The reality of what we’ve decided to do is both thrilling and terrifying. In some ways, I feel as though I’m about to leave my life. I know that sounds ridiculous, but this property has been my home for over 30 years now. This community, this land - it’s part of me now. I know it will be here every time I return - which I hope will be often, and I will also bring all of who I’ve become these last many years with me into my new lifestyle.
So after a day of feeling melancholy, I launched into gear, full throttle. The next few weeks were a bit of a whirlwind; finish building concrete apron in front of the garage, haul and stack a cord of firewood, clean up the construction debris around the outside of the barn, stain the posts in the shed. And those are just the outside chores! Also switching all the bills to auto-pay, confirm that all the mail is being managed, research and purchase travel medical insurance, sort and filter clothes, shoes and gear needed on the boat. Oh, and did I mention our son is getting married in eight weeks? So yes, there a few other things to think about and plan as well.
Perhaps surprisingly, we ARE checking things off our lists. Yes, we are daily adding new ones, the lists are still long, but I do think we’re gaining on it.
