Millions of peaches, AKA moving to GA
Late April 2025
After months of uncertainty about when we would be moving onto the boat, right up until two weeks before we moved, we had been existing in this semi-settled state in Rhode Island. I was there for about six months, three of which Kevin was away looking at boats, doing deliveries, or doing work on/moving Blue Turtle. So it wasn’t until late April that I finally got to see her in person, after two days of driving, towing a UHaul trailer (thanks, Kevin!)
It’s a strange thing to go from one temporary place to another temporary place, in terms of paring back to the essentials that are needed for now, for later, or just for the boat. So as I scurried to pack, I had one stack of boxes that was for storage (Winter clothes! The really big cookware! My stand mixer!), one for Georgia (Dog stuff! Summer clothing! Computer and camera stuff!), and one for the boat (…Boat stuff!) I used Facebook to get rid of things that we culled relentlessly, and met a couple of nice people that way. I sold my Subaru, which caused some mixed feelings. All the while we were doing taxes, and I was applying for licensure in additional states, and working on my ever-growing practice. The day before we moved I worked nonstop from 9 AM - 6 PM seeing patients.
Goodbye winter hats and coats and foggy walks on the beach! Goodbye storage units and stick shifts and delicious Duxbury oysters!
And as we were driving down, it was interesting to note, along with the changing landscape, a sense of calm and rightness settling into me. I’ve lived in New England for 25 years and consider it my home, but by no means did my body ever adapt, and I felt my heart rate slow as the temperatures climbed and the landscape grew greener. Welcome back to the land of iced tea and people taking their time to talk. I suspect, for me, it feels both like we’ve made a giant step forwards to the new life we are trying to build, with a slower, more intentional pace as it is the relief of warm weather and the packing part of the move being done.
Two days of driving? Not a hair out of place.
Copper was a dream during the drive, never complaining, not making a peep. She loved the hotel that we stayed at in Virginia, and was adored by many as she took her trips through the lobby. We weren’t sure how she’d do, and had a little trepidation, but she accepted all the change without so much as a shudder.
Now we’ve been in Georgia for a little under two weeks, in a comfortable AirBnB and have lined up our next steps. We are going for long walks every day, and explored St. Simon’s Island and Jekyll Island with our new folding bikes on the weekend.
They’re no mountain bikes, but are a really fun ride!
Both of us are agog at the massive live oak trees, some easily the size of a VW bug at the base, and the beautiful and varied architecture in downtown historic Brunswick. I love seeing mountainous lantana and magnolia trees in bloom, and the bright green lizards that dart by, and the omnipresent smell of jasmine and honeysuckle. My Merlin bird identifier now has a whole new chapter as I record unfamiliar bird song, and Kevin is learning how to say “Hey y’all” instead of “Hi guys.” (It’s taken a little coaching.) We’re back in the land of cheese grits and Bluebell ice cream* and I’m excited to see what the farmer’s market has in store for me this weekend…peach season is coming but the tomatoes are already delicious!
*A side story for those who are interested: Bluebell holds a special place in my heart as I wrote a story at 6 yrs old about a princess seeking flowers for her wedding bouquet and all the woodland creatures bringing her Bluebell ice cream instead, which ended up being “just fine”. I sent the story to the Bluebell corporate headquarters in Texas, and they wrote back thanking me and inviting me to tour their factory. I was so full of pride at my first public recognition of my writing. Bluebell will always be my favorite ice cream.