Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
- Bob Dylan
Our last VRBO/FlipKey renter leaves today. We have had 3 great years of rentals and we have met some wonderful people, offering them a chance to stay in a beautiful mountain retreat. With our house for sale we transition to uncertainty. Russ' Parkinson's Disease has tossed us about, grappling with needs, choices, medications, direction, emotions and options. There have been times when it was not 'pretty'. Russ with PD and me as caregiver; we don't always see the same path. That isn't wrong, but a given; 2 people, 2 ways of looking at the world. Meshing those varied outlooks so we don't "sink like a stone" has taken some trial and error.
The results? Our house in on the market and we use that sometimes unattainable skill of 'patience' and wait. In the meantime? A wonderful opportunity has presented itself. Friends from Durango have friends 'thinking' they might like to move to Durango, but want to 'try it out'. We did just that 14 years ago. Pattie and Rod, formally from Alaska, will move into our guest house for the winter (or as long as they want to stay and/or as long as we own the house). They will help Russ when he needs it, help us shovel & plow and generally be someone on site if Russ needs something. A win-win as they say… They have lived in Texas briefly and realize they are mountain people. They are excited to get back to National Forest, biking and hiking. Both couples are going on faith that this is right for all of us. I am sad we are in this situation, but thrilled at this opportunity to make new friends.