I told you I was moving to Boston last time I posted. Well, I made it!

Photo: Elizabeth West

Thank you to everyone who donated to my GoFundMe. This would have been immensely more difficult without your assistance and would have taken much, much longer. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

But it had to be done. My life in Missouri had narrowed to a pinpoint of unsatisfying attempts at improvement, to absolutely no effect. I was born there, grew up there, and have friends and family there, but a change became necessary. When I found a job with a mostly remote team, a path opened up, and I took it.

I drove 1200 miles alone to my new place. It was the absolute worst and I will never do that again.

Photo: Elizabeth West

Oliver was a trouper. He gave me no trouble. He required a bit more gas than usual due to the amount of crap I loaded him down with. I don’t actually need him to get around, but it’s nice to have him when I need to go shopping. There’s a Walmart in Walpole, which does require driving. My building has free off-street parking so he’s safe from random swerves. I’m grateful to have him. It only takes two-and-a-half hours to drive across Massachusetts, and New England is so compact that I can visit other states. New York City is only four hours away by train!

If anything happens to my baby boy, or if I can no longer drive, I can still get to work. Public transit —  even the T, with all its faults! — is one reason I chose Boston. It takes me an hour to get to work this way, but I’ve read three whole books on the bus and the subway already.

Speaking of driving, if you visit and think you’ll just rent a car and zip around town, DON’T. The streets may or may not be paved-over cow paths, as the story goes, but you will lose your mind trying to get around. I can’t go anywhere without the GPS, I can’t come back the way I came, and there is not one straight road anywhere. In fact, it reminds me a lot of London, which isn’t so bad when you think about it. Also, there is NOWHERE TO PARK. Just come as you are and take the T — it’s easy.

Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash

Leaving Mom carried some angst. We lost my dad last year and her health is not good, but the possibility exists that she may decide not to stay where she is, and I’m sure she’s glad to have her space to herself again. (I have two other siblings within driving distance so don’t come at me.)

Despite the crazy streets and the fact that everything is expensive as shit, I like it here. I have a library card, a CharlieCard, and friendly neighbors. It’s been two months now and I’m finally almost entirely unpacked.

One reason it’s taken so long is that I had almost no furniture – I went from a 728-square foot house with a garage and a massive yard to not knowing where I’d end up, and I purged not only almost all my furniture but half my books as well. I still have some decluttering to do, but my living room no longer looks like the inside of the storage unit – hooray!

Photo: Elizabeth West

I finally have an actual sofa again — the bottom pops up into a bed. This will be Writing Central since my little desk in the kitchen is reserved for Job. Separation is key on remote work days, especially in a 450-square foot space.

Several years of unemployment and stress from that, the pandemic, and losing my dad and several friends hasn’t been great for my creativity. Doing something new is a good way to reboot your brain, as is a change of scenery. I haven’t actually been anywhere yet beyond my office and my neighborhood, but there is loads of time for that, since I’m not planning on going anywhere. This is it; I’m a Masshole now. The fact that it worked out so fast tells me it was supposed to happen. Why that is remains to be seen.

And now that my space is sorted, Book 3 of the Tuner Trilogy has recommenced. My head is back in Ilarrya, and we shall see what adventures befall Hannah, Chris, Josh, and the rest of the motley fish-out-of-water crew who went through the Martinsburg portal. Brinn, of course, was going home.

For now, nest ssem gehlent, mid ravdagen, und nesan achit thal prek ag in!*

*Translation: Until we meet, my friends, and don’t be a dick!