THE BIG LEAP!

Though it's taken a bit longer than I originally thought, I did sell my house in Pittsburgh in the fall of 2009 as part of my dream/vision/intention to find my place to live by the sea. Which sea? I don't know. Which country? I don't know. Fortunately as an artist, I seem to have developed an ability to live with the unknown. After all, we don't really know what is going to happen tomorrow. We just think we do, because we become so used to our routines that we think they will automatically continue.

Those of you who receive my newsletter know that I de-accessed everything except my art work, a few photography books, handmade dishes and favorite artifacts, now scooched into a 7' x 10' storage unit in Pittsburgh. I packed the remaining clothes, important papers, and miscellaneous paraphernalia I believed I might need into my van and headed to Indiana. Once there, familial concerns took over after my father's death, and we helped mom move into assisted living, then I coordinated the emptying of the family home and prepared it for sale.

So, two houses emptied, and Mom settled, I began my journey, returning to see dear friends and tie up loose ends in Pittsburgh, then up to Deer Isle, Maine. Once there, invigorated and inspired by views of the sea and contact with new and old friends, I began writing again. When the chill of Fall approached, I drove back to Indiana and then on to Houston for Christmas with my son.


Though I have been officially "homeless," and an artistic nomad for over a year, I have been ensconced with friends or family for most of the time, but now it's time for a leap into the unknown. Wanting to find a quiet place to write and also discover a new place to live, I first proposed driving into Mexico. This plan was denounced as unwise by all who heard it. Plan B was to fly to San Miguel on the recommendation of friends. When I heard how cold it was there in January, I switched to Plan C and booked a ticket to Puerto Vallarta. Now I was back to downsizing as I took a pile of clothes to Good Will, and packed one suitcase and a rolling computer bag for the trip. (OK, I didn't get rid of everything. The van and its contents remain in Houston.) Here's what it looked like in Houston as I was packing up. First the chaos!

So check in soon to hear what happened after I landed in Puerto Vallarta!