Week One

It's hard to believe that it was a week ago that I loaded up my Budget Rental SUV and brought myself and my stuff to Pacific City. So much has already happened and I feel like I need to catch up with myself.

I have a job, a Food Handler's Card, a Library Card, a Bus Pass, and will go to get my Drivers License when I have an actual day off (maybe Tuesday? Wednesday?). I jumped into work with both feet during a very busy time, just as three staff members quit from what was already a small working crew. In addition to cleaning rooms in the mornings, I have been helping out with dishwashing in the evenings. The rest of my time is spent walking around town to familiarize myself with all that PC has to offer!

The discovery of the day yesterday was Twist Wine and The Ribcage BBQ. Both are owned by a couple named Chenin and Sean Carlton and both are delicious.

I also bought a life jacket and a tiny hex wrench (to install the fins on my board.. I lost the one that came with it when I left Portland) and I did find time to finally put my new SUP on the river and paddle around for a bit. It's smaller than the boards I am used to (which will be a plus when I develop the confidence to try surfing with it), but I love it and it is easy for me to carry and move around. Considering the fact that I haven't been on a board all summer, I did very well. Most important... I didn't fall in. :o)

My next challenge is to find my space in the kitchen and obtain the items I need to prepare and cook my food at home. Right now it's a little tricky because in addition to the other two housemates that live there, my landlord is also staying there and uses the kitchen as his work space. I'll also get some pans so that I can fix quick and easy meals as I dash in and out of the house between jobs and adventures.

Also, as much as I love the social energy of spending my mornings at Stimulus Cafe, I can do without the daily mocha and can save money by just fixing coffee at home. As for the free wifi, I have discovered that I can be my own Personal HotSpot via my iPhone (keeping a careful eye on usage amounts!) for catching up with my laptop (still my preferred way to browse and such) when at the house and can wander over to the library or to work for free wifi at any time.

Mostly, I have to remind myself that I just made a ginormous change in my world and that I've only been here a week. Less than a week, really. It's OK that I'm still figuring things out.

I've got time. Plenty of time.