Melissa Ann Goodwin

Melissa Ann Goodwin

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Home

It was just two years ago that we landed here in Florida after our year on the road in our RV. Once we decided to settle down, I was fortunate to be able to return to teaching yoga at a beautiful studio right away and it's become a nurturing and supportive yoga home for me. I've made such wonderful friends here - kindred spirits whose sincere kindness and acceptance are beyond anything I've ever experienced.

Over these two years, I've also written and published two books - Return to Canterbury, the sequel to The Christmas Village, and Tips for New RVers: Catchin' the Dream, which Dick and I worked on together. It was a fun way to relive and remember our year on the road and also to share what we hope are helpful tips for others considering such an adventure. It seems like my writing juices, which went on hold while we were on the road, were ready to get flowing again because I kinda can't even believe I wrote two books in two years!

We've been renting a condo, and for a while that was nice because it felt very easy and unencumbered - something we had grown to appreciate during our RVing year. But after a while, it seemed almost TOO easy - and a little boring! We started to miss the little projects you have with a home, and the ability to have our own space and piece of earth. So we started house hunting. We looked at a LOT of houses, but ended up deciding to go with new construction. We found a sweet little development where we are now having a new home built on a small lake. It's a mixed neighborhood - meaning not just older folks but families too. We like that. It seemed to take a while for the builder to get started, but now the house is actually looking like a house so that is exciting.

2014 has been a really good year in a lot of ways. We've reconnected with dear old friends - friends we laugh with like no others and on whom we know we can count, no matter what. Friends who are like family to us now. We've been able to see family much more often too. And, a family member who had been estranged reached out and asked to reconnect early this year and that has been a wonderful, unexpected turn of events.

So it kind of feels as though some things that were broken - or at least a little mangled - have mended. I guess if you wait long enough, most things do just come around on their own, right? What doesn't serve you will leave of its own accord, and what is right for you will come, or will return. You just have to know which is which; keep your heart open but also know when it is okay to let go.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Bright and Beautiful New Year filled with love, laughter, true friendship and joy.

Here are a few pictures of the house:








8 comments:

  1. A wonderful Christmas and year to come for you and Dick.
    I hope your new house sustains and nurtures both of your creativity and souls.

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    1. Thank you my friend. I am liking the idea of being a little more grounded again. Especially because this is a place where I don't feel disconnected from friends and family as I have in other places. I'ts a good base for now :)

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  2. Anonymous12/21/2014

    How exciting. Looks like the progress on the house is going well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks Suzanne - I think we'll be at a standstill now through the holidays, but then I think it will move fast! Hoping for mid-Feb. move date.

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  3. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished house!

    Have a lovely Christmas, Melissa :-)

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    1. Thanks Annalisa - wishing you a wonderful Christmas too. Look forward to reading more of your books!!

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  4. Sounds like you have had a great year and I hope it continues in 2015. I hope it is good year for everyone! I loved your ocean poem!

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    1. Hi Bookie, it didn't always seem like a good year but in retrospect it has been! Wishing you a wonderful 2015. Thank you so much regarding the poem - Ocean Point is my special place.

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