The most important life change was actually that in July I quit my job. It just wasn't working out for me; I was pretty miserable. I spent part of July, August, and September unemployed, and thinking really hard about options and also relaxing. To jump to the end of the story, I am currently employed two days a week as a nanny to year-old twins who are wonderful. I love working as a nanny. I do need to figure out another part-time job, but for the first time in two years, I don't dread my morning commute, so this feels like the right thing for me at the moment.
I took a road trip to New Mexico with my sister, which was wonderful. We took two and a half days to drive to New Mexico together, including stops in Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, and Wind Cave National Park - which I'd never heard of before. In the photo below, we were pulled over to view the land, and she was checking the grille for the bird we thought we might have hit. There was no bird in the grille of trusty Elvira (my Subaru), so all was well!
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Our final destination was Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, where my sister and I joined my parents on their camping trip. We took several hikes, but also took in some hot springs, and the Tesuque Flea Market (also known as the Santa Fe Flea Market). It was a great almost-family vacation (we were shy my brother, who was working.) On my last full day, we had an amazing storm system roll through, and you can see some of the drama of the lighting in the photo below. We watched the storm roll in over the mesas, and thought it would miss us, but that night, it just poured and poured. The storm was right over us, with thunder and lightening and wind. It was super cozy in my tent, listening to the rain pound down. It was a great end to the trip!
Of course, I still had the drive home, which I actually did solo. I love solo road trips almost as much as I love road trips with a buddy or two. I took a circuitous route home, hitting the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park in South Dakota. I opted not to visit Badlands a second time because it was late at night, the campground was full, and I needed to press onward. But I did visit Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota, and drive back to the cities via back roads.
The trip was exactly what I needed. I got to spend time with my family, but also by myself. Plus, visiting the Ranch was really important to me. I've been going there since I was a babe-in-arms, and have missed it as I've moved away from family vacations. This trip reminded me that I am certainly capable of heading out there myself! (Oh, and for all of you who are wondering about this, yes, I did bring my knitting, and yes, I did knit - with mohair! - in New Mexico in July).
(look for a part 2 on this coming up soon!)
(look for a part 2 on this coming up soon!)
