My Next Great Adventure

I've had 2 of my friends refer to my move to Montana as "My Next Great Adventure". I really hope this is true, and it doesn't turn out to be "My Second Greatest Mistake of All Times" (the first greatest mistake being the purchase of the studio condo in Destin -- I'll probably own that till I die because it isn't worth enough to sell).

I have loved Montana since the first trip I made to the great "West" about 12 or 13 years ago on vacation to a "working ranch". I wanted to do the "city slicker" thing -- but of course, I already knew how to ride a horse. From that time on, I've been drawn to the west. When I am there, it's like I'm home. And now I really own a home. OMG!!!

The realization of owning TWO HOMES is slowly making it's way into my consciousness. Probably because both house payments are due at the end of this month. The advantage is -- if I do realize I've made a terrible mistake, at least I have a very cute log home and a beautiful 11 acres to which I can return. I've also made the decision that if this would happen, I'm selling the Montana house FULLY FURNISHED, because I am just not packing it all up again. And I do love to shop.....

As you can tell, I'm starting to wonder why I am doing this. I wake up each morning with this "dread" feeling -- I'm leaving a home/property that I really love, moving away from my friends, and actually hauling my horse with me to Montana (now that is brave). If it were July in Georgia with 90 degree temperatures and 90% humidity -- there would be no question that I made the absolutely best decision to move to an area of the country that has NO humidity. But it's so beautiful in Georgia right now.

But as the title of this little article says, it is my "next great adventure". I've always thought of myself as a conservative person who doesn't like risk, but my friend Vicki told me that I am one of the riskiest people she knows -- with my worst mistake (buying the Destin condo), buying property in Montana (which was one of my best successes), buying "penny stocks" like Sciclone (which I bought for $2, it went to $60, and when I wasn't watching, it dropped like a rock into a deep hole -- although I did sell it for $8 so I made some money), jumping horses over cross country obstacles, and moving many times all by myself. None of that seemed risky at the time, but I'm feeling the risk in this move -- and at this point, not the adventure.

I have several good friends in Montana, and once I get past this move (horse and belongings), I believe the adventure will kick in. I'll really love opening my eyes every morning and looking at the Swan Mountains. I'll love going for morning hikes along the "Wild Mile" of the Swan River. I'll love driving over the "Road to the Sun" to hike up Logan's Point to Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park. And I know I will really love working in Glacier National Park and becoming a woman who drives the 1936 Red Bus Tours in Glacier (the drivers are known as "Jammers"). I know I will love seeing a real Grizzly Bear in the park, enjoying Huckleberry everything......etc.

And I will also love having all of my friends come to visit and enjoy all of the beauty that is Montana with me.





Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park















Grinnell Point in the Many Glacier Area of Glacier National Park -- absolutely the most beautiful area of the park