Ok, so maybe that’s a little premature, since the bankruptcy won’t be official until February or so, bur… Yes, I’m here! At the cabin, that is. I just got the new land-line installed today and finally got my computer connected via dial-up (Eww). It’s not great, but it’s a connection at least.
I got here last Thursday in the wee hours. The bankruptcy meeting went without a hitch last Wednesday and all that was left was:
- The fairwell dinner;
- Repacking my car;
- The Drive up.
I knew rain and possibly snow was expected in the mountains on Thursday and Friday so I was getting nervous. Shortly before dinner on Wednesday I checked the forecasts again on the internet and saw that the chance of rain was 100% in Grants Pass by 4 a.m. Thursday. I decided to drive up that night. Somehow, after dinner, I managed to pack two loads worth of stuff into my car. At about 8:30 p.m. I took off and drove North.
The drive was fine almost all the way, with some heavy fog just before Weed and again just before Yreka, but the only tense moment was when I reached Grants Pass and took the 199 exit. My timing was perfect. Right as I noticed the “Deer Crossing” sign, I also noticed a small family of deer crossing the exit. I slammed on my brakes and that gave them just enough time to get across.
I hardly slept at all that first night and I can hardly remember what I did the first day. I know I spent Thursday and Friday pretty much holed up in the cabin while I waited for the rains to stop. It has been cold up here, and wet. And I was aching and tired from several weeks of packing, unpacking, work at my Mom’s house, more packing, and so on. On Saturday I finally got out. Thank goodness my car seems to have very little trouble making it up the muddy dirt driveway.
I went down to Medford to get the new wood stove and/or water heater that the owner (Susan) had found for a low price at Lowe’s. Turned out they didn’t have the wood stove, but I got the water heater, and managed (barely) to cram it into the back of my Honda CRX and drive it back home. I also got a ladder and a hand truck. I am very glad I got the latter (not the ladder), because moving that water heater down to the utility closet under the house without the hand truck would have been impossible.
Sunday I hung out and did some unpacking and organizing. Today I did more of the same while I waited for the phone guy to show up. Each day I get a bit more civilized.
Friday night I made the bed upstairs and slept there (without a sleeping bag) for the first time. I already have electricity, a fridge, heat, and running water. Tonight was my second sponge bath. Tomorrow I plan to get most of the plumbing done to hook up the water heater, although I still need supplies to install the 220V outlet to plug it in. It may take me 2-3 days to complete the repairs. After that I will work on the rest of the electrical system.
Truth to tell, I don’t really feel “free” yet. There is a lot to do here, and I still feel a strong impetus to find work right away (even though I didn’t see much I could apply for in the local paper). It is going to take a while to settle in, and a lot longer to really relax and “feel” where I’m at. Hell, I haven’t even gone walking around outside much yet (haven’t found my hiking boots in all the boxes yet). It will take some time to adjust and everything still feels unsettled (almost all my stuff is still in boxes). This is a great place with tons of potential for me, but I have to be patient with my own progress. I am not going to realize all my crazy dreams overnight. Everything will take time… typically 3-4 times as much as I tend to estimate. 
Anyway, this is just my first entry from the woods. Still part of my move, still unpacking. Please bear with me and send me comments. It helps encourage me to keep writing. And I feel that writing about this experience could be a vital part of helping me understand the changes I am going through.
Thanks to everyone that helped get me here. Right now it is a bit dark, cold, and scary… but the future is almost always like that, neh?
With hope, from the woods of South-WestOregon, your friend,
-David
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