Getting my kicks
Well, we did it. 1800 miles and a 10-day (slow) road trip from Post Falls, Idaho via route 66 to Bella Vista, N. W. Arkansas. Not just your standard road trip. Nope. This was a relocation/move sort of road trip.
After 15 years living in Post Falls (Nr. Spokane), we decided to up sticks. When we told people, it was a collective "huh?....why?" and that's a hard one to answer. But I'll try. Firstly, my wife, although growing up in Alaska, has an aversion to cold weather. (Oh, the irony). So the harsh winters here were getting her down. I, being a vigilant and dutiful partner, wanted to fix that. Also, I like challenges. I like change. My whole life has been about major changes every decade or so. Emigrating here to the USA being one. Moving from California being another. Then Idaho, and now N W. Arkansas.
So why N. W. Arkansas? Well, we did a lot of scouting places out, visiting them and checking them out. Oregon, Washington, N. Carolina, South of France...all lovely places, but for one reason or another, we just couldn't get it to work. But then we thought we'd give it one last roll of the dice. So we flew over to suss out Bella Vista near Bentonville, in Arkansas. This was based on nothing more than a conversation we had with two strangers while vacationing in Central America earlier this year. They said a lot of good things about the area. We researched it (thank you, YouTube) and it was such a wonderful hidden gem. You know the type of place. A secret that's just about ready to spring out of the box, and then everyone will jump on over there. Gorgeous scenery, very reasonable housing prices, nice people, clean and safe city, huge supporter of the arts, countless miles of bike trails, 7 lakes- I could go on, but you get it.
So we did it. We moved. The hardest part was saying goodbye. I LOVE my friends and collectors in Idaho. It was such an emotional wrench leaving. I was not prepared for the outpouring of love. This will have to be another blog; it's too much for this one. But I need you all to know that I am still doing what I do. My art is still all available online with free shipping in the USA. I am still working on my next book, and if you have signed up for my email list, then I will let you know via that (or this website) when I do something noteworthy. You can sign up at the foot of the home page. Just scroll down.
After 15 years living in Post Falls (Nr. Spokane), we decided to up sticks. When we told people, it was a collective "huh?....why?" and that's a hard one to answer. But I'll try. Firstly, my wife, although growing up in Alaska, has an aversion to cold weather. (Oh, the irony). So the harsh winters here were getting her down. I, being a vigilant and dutiful partner, wanted to fix that. Also, I like challenges. I like change. My whole life has been about major changes every decade or so. Emigrating here to the USA being one. Moving from California being another. Then Idaho, and now N W. Arkansas.
So why N. W. Arkansas? Well, we did a lot of scouting places out, visiting them and checking them out. Oregon, Washington, N. Carolina, South of France...all lovely places, but for one reason or another, we just couldn't get it to work. But then we thought we'd give it one last roll of the dice. So we flew over to suss out Bella Vista near Bentonville, in Arkansas. This was based on nothing more than a conversation we had with two strangers while vacationing in Central America earlier this year. They said a lot of good things about the area. We researched it (thank you, YouTube) and it was such a wonderful hidden gem. You know the type of place. A secret that's just about ready to spring out of the box, and then everyone will jump on over there. Gorgeous scenery, very reasonable housing prices, nice people, clean and safe city, huge supporter of the arts, countless miles of bike trails, 7 lakes- I could go on, but you get it.
So we did it. We moved. The hardest part was saying goodbye. I LOVE my friends and collectors in Idaho. It was such an emotional wrench leaving. I was not prepared for the outpouring of love. This will have to be another blog; it's too much for this one. But I need you all to know that I am still doing what I do. My art is still all available online with free shipping in the USA. I am still working on my next book, and if you have signed up for my email list, then I will let you know via that (or this website) when I do something noteworthy. You can sign up at the foot of the home page. Just scroll down.
xxxxx