lolmac: (OMG)
Beth (the 'Mac' is silent) ([personal profile] lolmac) wrote2010-09-25 12:00 pm

Now it can be told

A few of the people on my flist already know this, but it will be news to most: and possibly very good news to some.

Two months from now, after Thanksgiving here in the US, I will be leaving Seattle and moving to Florida to be with my partner. We met online in 2001 and have been together, in a long-distance relationship, since 2002. It’s a huge step for me (for both of us), and a very scary one, since I’m leaving my job and will have to find a new one in a poor job market. But we have waited long enough. I turn 50 in a month, and, well, life’s too short.

We've been planning and discussing this for some time; this Monday, I gave official notice at work.  Yes, I gave them two month's notice, not two weeks.  Given that much time, they may actually hire my replacement in time for me to train her.  They might even start to figure out just what they're losing, but that won't be my concern any more.

For me, it's face forward now, although there will be some backwards glances too.

I deeply love the Pacific Northwest – it’s my home, and always will be. But home is also where the heart is, and that’s wherever she is, and that’s where I need to be.

Our long-term plan is to move back to ‘Ecotopia’ after retirement. For me, this is an exile of sorts, and part of a pattern in my life. I was born in the Northwest, and this will be the third time I’ve had to leave it. Each time, I’ve returned; I plan to return this time too.

I’m going to be starting an additional journal, a personal one (wow, what a novel idea!), which will be a place for information about the move, and the trip – I’ll be packing up the books and antiques for shipment by freight carrier, and my partner and I will drive my car across the country. I’m really looking forward to the trip, and the adventure! And who knows, I might continue to maintain the second journal even afterwards, rather than interrupting teh LOLs for personal notices and writerly ponderations.

The new journal will, at least at first, be moderated-access-only and friends-locked, because it will contain information on exactly where we are and what we’re doing while we’re on the road. For two women traveling on their own, this isn’t something I want available to the public. So if you want to be in on it, please let me know, and I’ll happily send you an invitation.

And the ‘very good news’ I mentioned? Well, for the next several years, I’ll actually be living on the East Coast.  This is somewhat mind-boggling to me, daughter of the West that I am. On the other hand, it does mean that I might be able to visit some of the lovely people I’ve met online who happen to live on that end of the continent.  More adventures!

'Beth
September 2010

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/idlewild_/ 2010-09-25 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Sincere congratulations. Long distance is pretty much torture. I did much longer for far shorter and there is nothing like the part where you don't have to leave at the end of a week/month/couple of months, you get to stay because you live with your love. Nothing feels like that! Totally worth moving to the humid SE. Also we have this awesome time zone where those crazy west coast people have to get up early to make it to teleconferences while we can slumber abed. Ha, ha, ha. East Coast represent!

It is a big move, but what better reason? I'd love to read about your cross-country adventures. Travel is just made for writers. Please count me in for additional journal reading.

[identity profile] sharp2799.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Mazel Tov! As someone in the Northeast, welcome!
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[identity profile] technoshaman.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
definitely count me in! A well-written travelogue is one of my favorite forms of non-fic. And if it's you that's writing, "well-written" can be assumed... :)

[identity profile] magnavox-23.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
Congratulations! I bet you can't wait to start the next chapter of your life in Florida, how awesome! The trip with your partner sounds like it will be pretty amazing, I'd love to read about it. :D

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sid: (Blue rose)

[personal profile] sid 2010-09-25 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
I am awesomely happy for the two of you and wish you all the best! :-)

And I'd love to hear all about it, so sign me up for Journal #2!
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[identity profile] thothmes.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
Oh congratulations, and all praise to your sense of adventure! You are right, life is too short, and it's those that journey beside us that make it sweet. I've lived all my life in the Northeast (except for a year abroad and four years in Ann Arbor, Michigan), but all the people I've known who came from the Northwest have viewed their time away from it as exile too. I went out to my Maid of Honor's wedding in coastal Oregon, and I could definitely see the attraction. I wish you both much joy!

Speaking of adventures, I'd be honored if I could come along on the journal-ride, simply because one of the joys of the internet is vicarious travel for those of us who are more tied down, and it is still better if the reactions are those of someone one knows instead of a complete stranger.

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[identity profile] perkyandproud.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
Holy moly! That is a huge thing! I am so happy for you, though!!

Will your partner be at Orycon? Would love to meet the person who has captured your heart :-)

I guess I'll have to give you an extra special long hug next time I see you, since you are *cue dramatic music* abandoning us for the East Coast for a while! :-)

Since I generally see you once a year and all the time on LJ, I cannot say that I'll particularly miss you though ;-) *giggle*

Have fun on the drive and don't forget to write!!!!

*hugs you lots and lots*
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[identity profile] catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
I'm only here for the lolz (quite literally! *g*) but just wanted to say, well done, you! I don't blame you for not wanting to leave Seattle: I've been there several times, and love the Pacific NW, possibly because it reminds me so much of home (Scotland). But I applaud you for grabbing the chance and I'd like to wish you all the luck and happiness in the world :-)

[identity profile] lothithil.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
Hooray!!

Absolutely yes, I want to keep up with you as you make your journey. You know I'll be with you every inch of the way :)

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[identity profile] dieastra.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 08:26 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! Congratulations! I had no idea how long distance that relationship really was! I thought only two states further (which would still be far away, given how big your states are). But from the upper left to the down right, that is quite a move.

I wish you all the happiness of the world and I also would love to read your travel log. How many weeks is it supposed to take?

[identity profile] pitry.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 09:00 am (UTC)(link)
Congrats! I really hope this works out :)

[identity profile] lullai.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
Gongratulations! I'm very happy for you! I'm interested to read your new journal too! <3

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/traycer_/ 2010-09-25 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! Congratulations on your new life!! :) You have a lot of work ahead of you for the next couple of months, but oh my gosh, how exciting!!

I'd love to be along for the ride through your other journal, if you'd have me. It will bring back old times for me as I've done my own share of moving back and forth across the country. I suffered from a bad case of wanderlust. Hee! I've lived in Seattle, Denver (where my daughter was born), Phoenix, Long Beach, CA and my home state of Michigan throughout my lifetime, and am seriously considering moving back to Colorado for my own retirement years. The latter may or may not happen as like you, I keep coming back here to my home state. lol But yeah, I love traveling and reading about the journeys others take. Can I hitch a ride?

I really am so happy for you, Beth! Congratulations again!

[identity profile] dieastra.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 12:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Traycer, I'm always happy to see adopted German words like wanderlust in the English language! Much better than waldsterben or blitzkrieg, anyway...

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[identity profile] rdamel.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Observe the icon--presumably you are near a beach in Florida? Who knows, you might stumble onto Mac!

Sincere good wishes and I hope all will go smoothly for you both.

Melissa M.

[identity profile] primsong.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so pleased you are going from 'do I or don't I do this' to 'heck, yes!' and plunging on into the surf, so to speak. It is very freeing to get off the fence and on the way through a transitional time. I don't envy you the Florida thing - I'm a native Oregonian m'self and like you, every time I've had to move away I've literally felt 'in exile' from paradise until I could finally return - but then, that's what adventuring is all about. We'll keep the lights and rain on in the PacNW for you in the meantime. ;-)

I would love to follow you on this adventure, if I may.

[identity profile] mortuus.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations! Though I'm farther north on the East Coast, welcome :-).

I'd love to read your new journal, if you're okay with it.

Safe journeys!
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[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, congratulations and good luck, that's awesome! The best of luck with the move and job-hunting and... well, the whole new chapter thing. *g*

I'd love to read about your cross-country journey - I've always wanted to drive across America, and doing it vicariously will be almost as good. ;)

[identity profile] thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Good for you, taking steps (big ones!) toward your future. I'm thrilled for ya!
I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio -- if you're ever in my neck of the woods (Ohio) make sure to let me know.

And I'd LOVE to read about your trip and assorted adventures!

[identity profile] bull-demon.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Florida, huh? Hmm. You want to live in a state that looks like a...ahem. Sorry. I could have suggested Maine for both of you ladies -- the springs are muddy, the summers are hot, and the winters are a bitch, but fall is sort of nice :)

Congratulations, good luck, and safe travels. And early welcome to the Eastern Time Zone :)

[identity profile] kirsty841.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh how exciting! Big changes are always scary, but this sounds like the good kind of scary. :) That's a heck of a long time to be in a long-distance relationship, and that's a heck of a long distance! Congratulations on making it!

And you get an awesome road trip to boot! :D Can I be added to that journal please? I'd love to hear all about it. :)

Good luck! :D

[identity profile] jackwabbit.livejournal.com 2010-09-25 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Beth-

I am on the road now and working with limited wi-fi and keyboard, but I wanted to say that I'm super excited for you.

This sounds like the beginning of a wonderful adventure, and I can't wait to share it with you, if you'll let me.

Hugs to you both, and I'll chat more later.

Love,
wabbit

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SQUEEEEEE!

[identity profile] katxander.livejournal.com 2010-09-26 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I am SOOOOO happy for you both!!
Dang...I'm so glad to see it (I was wishing, hoping that that's what your news was), that I'm in absolute tears. You'll do fine in FL, I'm sure. I think it's a great decision!! Let the adventures begin!

Patrick and I send huge, HUGE hugs of congratulations, and yes, would love to be on the list.

<3 Pat & Pat

[identity profile] clockwork-sky.livejournal.com 2010-09-27 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
I've been pretty much silent for months (possibly since before I changed from being lycannoir?) but I do keep up reading your macros as much as I can and I just wanted to pop by and say congratulations!

I'm an Eastern-US person, and I can't imagine the West as a home, so I empathize with the scary bit of all this but I hope that it's great for you!

How Wonderful!

[identity profile] silverywillows.livejournal.com 2010-09-27 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Hello Beth,

How absolutely wonderful for you both! I am so very happy for you both and wish you well. It will indeed be quite a difference from Seattle to Florida. You will have to Email me and let me know the name of the city. Husband and I have several relatives in Florida and do get down there from time to time.

Our favorite town is Gainsville, Florida. Though there are a number of others close seconds.

Please extend my congrats to your partner also, it is so very exciting. I wish we lived closer to help you with packing and moving! Keep us in your thoughts!

{{{{{{Leafy Branchy Huggers!}}}}}}
Willows

[identity profile] karinejoe.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Good luck with the move! =) It would be interesting to read about the jouney, because America is one of the places I'd love to visit one day (closest has been Canada).

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