Amy in the Garden

23 DAYS.

We are moving. Check out the definitions in the Words From Others box. That lengthy list is just for the intransitive verbs only, and I suspect after August 27, 2013, I will be adding even more definitions.

This is the start of a series of posts about our move, that I hope will quickly switch over to posts about my new gardens, our new business, and a new life for our family — in Maine.

Each of these posts will address definition 1-4c, but today’s will also address 1-2. (I can promise you, none of my posts will ever address definition 8.)

We love New York. We love it so much that both my husband and I chose to start our lives here as young single professionals, drawn to the energy, passion, creativity, and 24/7 drive of this state. Its natural beauty speaks to us. But the taxes do not, and the business opportunities have shifted. Our youngest is now in college. This is the right time for us to make a major life move.

There is so much to share. But more on that later. More on the daunting business of choosing what items to move and what items to leave behind, later. (Look at the Photo of the Day. That is the result of one Bulk Trash Day. After Christmas and Halloween, our favorite day of the year.) More on the reactions of the kids, later. More on the impact of leaving neighbors, leaving my beloved garden, leaving our friends and (closer) proximity to family, later.

For today, I thought I’d give you a snapshot of where we are and where we will be in 23 days.

New York is located in the Northeast region of the U.S. It is the 7th most densely populated state, and was inhabited by various tribes of Algonquin and Iroquoian speaking Native Americans. Its first European settlers were Dutch.

Facts that I find more lively: Its nickname is The Empire State, and its motto is Excelsior….Ever upward.

Maine is described as being in the New England region of the Northeast region of the U.S. (I like that qualifier. I have always associated “New England” with cool temperatures, seafood, and vacation. All very good things.) It is the 41st most populous state, and was inhabited by Algonquian speaking tribes. Its first European settlers were French.

Maine’s nickname is The Pinetree State, and its motto is Dirigo….I direct.

My husband and I are sad to leave our state of Empires (building, business, striving) and the relentless push that is in the very air to move ever upward. But we are also content to leave this state, this condition, of our lives behind. We turn our faces to the fresh cool pine trees of Maine, and its call to direct, to guide, to lead.

We direct our lives to the north. 23 days to go.