We have begun to “settle in”. Unpacking is done and we have been very pleased with the way the new home is laid out in terms of space. While we don’t have a basement, attic or shed, the good news is that it provides so much less opportunity to crap things up. We need to be mindful of using the space we do have. As an aside, my incredibly helpful son, while here helping out at the very beginning, bought and assembled a full shelving unit for the garage where we have put the holiday decorations and a load of various rubbermaids that serve as necessary storage, all labelled, all arranged so there is that. The interior of the house has so much closet space that we have two totally empty guest closets. The pantry in the kitchen is less than 1/2 used, the cabinet space in the kitchen plentiful, well organized and well positioned. I’m not fond of the electric conduction cooktop but we decided that we’d wait a year and see if we adjust to it before we decide to go with a gas cooktop. I do like the double ovens that can be totally controlled from the app on the phone.

That leads me to the title after a rambling introduction…since we are now mostly unburdened with moving in, we have begun to tool around some out of necessity (DMV, Taxes, groceries, etc) some for fun (restaurants et al). One of the great revelations is how far from “home” everything seems to be, yet how it is not a burden. We are more miles from everywhere, rather than from nowhere. Most of the places we have gone or need to go are between 5 and 11 miles from the house. Some, on Hilton Head and Port Royal, as many as 15 or 20. Yet, the amazing part is, these “trips” are not bothersome at all. There is no CT “traffic” where simply going one exit on the parkway to dinner could take upwards of 20 minutes and be annoying. Yes there are cars and trucks on the road, but it always moves, occasional lights, and stop signs but no annoying rubber banding, mind numbing loaded traffic. I suspect that, given what I’ve read and heard, there will be times during “tourist season” [apparently mostly very late spring through Labor Day] where Hilton Head can, at times, be a bit “testy”. However, there are a few things working in our favor there as well. First, being, as we are, fully retired, we don’t have to operate and go during the “prime” times that vacationers are coming and going. Second, and more importantly, even then I suspect that what those not familiar with the NY-CT area think is terrible will be at worst a minor annoyance.

Each time we embark on a chore or an outing, I am pleased to enjoy the beautiful trees and the view as we find our destinations [still, mostly, courtesy of GPS but learning more each time]

So this closing seems apropos today:

“Miles from nowhere
I guess I’ll take my time
Oh yeah, to reach there”