I arrived in T or C last Friday. Universe took one last swipe at me when it closed the north entries to I-25 the minute I had finished lunch & gassed up for that final 75 mile trek. Workers were putting up the orange barrels as I turned onto the ramp. No – this cannot be happening!

The Google GPS and OnStar outclassed themselves directing me from one entry to another, only to find barriers in process at each. Now what? Oh yeah, I seem to remember a two-lane county road somewhere, but I could not recall the route number or where to pick it up from Las Cruces – I’ve been gone over four years from this area.

A vague memory told me it was off 70 West. Except trying to get there caused an insistent chorus of “when possible, make a u-turn.” as the GPS redirected me to I-25.

I was tired & thinking about going fully Cranky. I was thinking about one more night spent in a motel cuz I could not get out of Las Cruces. OnStar was critical in holding the wheel with me to find the road. But it took three calls & three advisors, the only the third taking the time to hold the wheel with me to actually DIRECT me. And the drive thru lovely greening pecan groves was indeed one to remember remove me from the speedway & set me on a more leisurely path.

On arrival, I spent four days unpacking the boxes, stashing items in the apartment which was so spacious in the photos but where the reality was a room I could lie down on the floor of & reach the other wall with my arms raised over my head.

When every box was flattened for recycle, I realized with a sinking heart one was missing: the box holding my critical Important Papers folder – the one with my social security card, my birth certificate, my refrigerator magnets & possibly the other six pairs of undies that could not fit into the suitcase.

I begged Heaven for help. I am rooming with a wayside shrime of St Anthony here in my friend’s house – he’s a top-line contact in situations like this, being the Patron Saint of Lost Things. I talked it over with him & found the lost box under the desk in the living room as I’d sent it on two weeks ahead of departure.

(Oddly enough I brought along wet wipes for use in strange bathrooms & the thought bubbled up that my butt-wipes were safely in hand while my birth certificate had taken a powder.)

I was strangely disturbed at becoming an “undocumented” citizen. I was thinking of the hassle of red tape about to be undergone to replace these items. In the room where I’m staying until the apartment is readied is a wayside shrine with St. Anthony over on the bureau. What else to do? I prayed & was reminded me I had sent two boxes to this same house & they were in the living room under the desk. And, yes, my papers were the first file under the flaps.

Then I realized the point of these teasers from Universe was I am letting go of of being “official.” I was being asked to let go of who I had been in New Jersey, in Delaware, in Maryland, in Florida. Being here is a chance to actually & finally retire! I walked forward in faith & it paid off beautifullly.

This might be called retirement, folks. No schedules, few commitments. I gambed I’d be able to supplement what I have asking for a job at an old workplace & got the job. I’m working some 12-20 hours a week after a lifetime of 40-50 hour weeks!

I’m happy. I’m writing. I’m making friends with the kids next door. I’m walking. I’m settled in, especially now that I have a second storage shelf in the kitchen. The bank is open, the addresses are changed all over, the Amazon stuff is arriving…

This is Right!

Thanks to All That Is!!

My time is officially my own now. I walk to work, to the Mexican market on the corner, to the coffee house & more. I am no longer a drone in the worker-bee hive, but able to afford a life including time, scenery, to re-acqaint myself with friends & eat green chile with everything. This may seem a set of unusual life goals, but they’re mine to cherish & trust in. My Best Life cozies up & takes my hand.

There is much left to do & I’ll get to it, I promise. But now it includes time taking care of myself & serving others in small ways & with a lot of humor. I have a lot to look forward to & savor each day. How fortunate!

I am faring well. I haven’t had makeup on in two weeks & my face shows more relaxed in the mirror. My little place has filled nicely with what I chose to bring along & is bright, cheerful & breezy.