What a difference a year makes!

We arrived in Silver City November 9, 2008. Steph and Skee brought us dinner that first night to our empty house, along with a card table to serve it on and folding chairs to sit upon.

One thing that hasn’t changed? Our friendship with them; we had dinner together Monday, November 9, 2009! They didn’t remember that it was an anniversary, but I did. And we’ll spend our second Thanksgiving here with the family.

But what a difference a year makes.

• Perhaps the biggest change is that we are now property owners, having closed in September on our 5 acre piece with a wonderful southern exposure with a view, and beautiful copper colored rock that will find its way into the house design in a living-room banco (bench) and fireplace.
• And a house design about which we’re getting very excited. Both for the design itself, and the new roots that the house and the land reflect.
• New friends made in a friendly town that largely welcomes newcomers. How quickly we have found community here, both socially and spiritually.
• We are now ‘wavers’ instead of ‘wavees.’ We wave at almost everyone on wheels or on foot whom we pass in our neighborhood. And why not! Waving is part of what has made me feel welcome here; I’ve learned the one-finger wave (no, not that finger!), the two-finger wave and the full-hand wave. While I may be more discerning out on the roads, waves still pass with regularity between passing cars and trucks.
• We are not only taking classes at the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning, affiliated with Western New Mexico University, for the second semester, but I’m giving a class. Dynamic Presentations. Not as sexy as the history of gold mining in Pinos Altos or as powerful as the history of the strike against the copper mines in the 50s which inspired the only movie, Salt of the Earth, to be banned by the US Government. Not as artsy-craftsy as beading, painting, sculpture or fabric art classes. But it’s what I can do, and it gives me the feeling of giving back.
• Habits and routines and regulars: things that we do, places that we go, people that we see and treats that we buy every week. Coffee at Javalina’s; Diane’s Bakery for fresh breads; Adobe Springs for dinner on Friday where she knows the wine I drink; Masa or Mas for pork and chicken tamales; favorite hiking at Gomez Peak, Ft Bayard wildlife reserve, Cherry Creek Road; Wally Lawder and the Artful Coyotes or Rhythm Mystics at Isaacs for a Saturday evening’s dancing.
• Local color: Oklahoma!; Gough Park hosting of July 4th and the Blues Festival; the Mimbres Art Council’s hosting of national and international performances at reasonable prices; the local parades – July 4, Christmas Lights and the one I missed this year, the Day of the Dead parade! The Chicken Art Auction (all the art was chicken-themed) and the Art Walk Weekend. And don’t forget the Wild Wild West Rodeo.
• Investing in the community: in addition to WILL, we are involved with Habitat for Humanity where Nick is on the Board and on the committee for the next building project. He’s also working on the Mayor’s Committee for Sustainable Development, a green-oriented committee responsible for winning a grant from the feds that will help “green up” private homes and public buildings by funding energy efficient upgrades.
  

At least once a week, I find myself driving down the main street of the old town, and saying, as I look at the lights-cars-facades-people, “I LOVE this place!” So I threw a party last Saturday to celebrate our first year here and my 60th birthday. A fun evening to celebrate a great first year, here. I do think we’ll stay.