Hello from Florida. We're still in the throes of moving, but at least I'm reading again. After a month of not being able to concentrate on anything, I have an ebook in progress on my kindle and an audiobook in progress on my phone. More about those below, but first an update on the move...
We spent much of August and September organizing our possessions, paring down to a bare minimum (furniture, books, clothes, and various other "treasures" accumulated over thirty years) and packing. It was difficult, to say the least, but also strangely liberating.
Last Monday the movers arrived. They collected our remaining belongings, loaded them into huge containers, and if all goes as planned, the containers will land at a storage facility in Naples soon.
The BIG news is that we also found a house here on Sanibel! We're on track to close on the new place later this month. In the meantime, we're living in what has been our winter home for the past five or six years and I finally have a little time to read again... at least until renovations (on the new house) begin!
Current reading//
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
My daughter and sister both recommended this "sister story" as a quick, summer read... and since I missed summer reading this year, that's exactly what I want. At the 25% mark, I don't think they've steered me wrong.
Listening to//
by Lori Gottlieb, narrated by Brittany Pressley
My daily beach walks have resumed... and I love spending that time with an audiobook. My current listen provides a behind the scenes look at a therapist's world. Four hours in and this book is a winner!
Finally, a question...
After eleven years, it may be time to change the name of this blog. Lakeside Musing no longer applies... would a simple switch to Gulfside Musing be confusing? Would you still "recognize" me?
I'm looking forward to visiting blogs and catching up with everyone this week.
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
What about Beachside Musing, especially given your beach walks?
ReplyDeleteMelissa - Great suggestion! Thanks.
DeleteYou've been super busy. So glad to hear all is going well with the move and best of luck as you close on your new home! How exciting! Your audiobook sounds like a good one. Looking forward to your review.
ReplyDeleteIliana - Neither of my libraries had the audio version, so I had to use an audible credit. Definitely worth it!
DeleteWow, things have progressed quickly for you! It's all so exciting. I think Gulfside Musings is perfect!
ReplyDeleteKathy - We NEVER expected things to move this fast! I'm still trying to adjust to it all.
DeleteMoving is so difficult. I haven’t moved in almost thirty-five years, and I can’t imagine doing so. Though, I admit, it might be oddly compelling, too....
ReplyDeleteI loved reading Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. I felt like I learned a lot about how therapists help others. It was helpful for me.
Leslie changed the name of her blog slightly from Prairie Horizons to Coastal Horizons when she moved from the central part of the US to Oregon. I think a blog name change is okay, if you are okay with it.
Have a great week!
Deb - I'm loving Maybe You Should Talk to Someone... such a good audio production! I know Les changed her blog name, but I think the url stayed the same. I'll check with her when the time comes. Thanks for reminding me:)
DeleteYes, the url remained the same. Still the original lesleysbooknook.blogspot.com. I'm fairly sure I haven't lost any followers with both name changes, although I do miss hearing from the bloggers who are no longer posting. :(
DeleteWe would always recognize you! It must be bittersweet, but I'm happy that your plans are all going so well!
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Definitely bittersweet, but it feels like the right thing to do. We have significant renovations ahead, so reading will become difficult again once that gets started. Hope all is well with you - will you be reading the new Cathleen Schine novel?
DeleteI bought it right away...which probably means it will be a while before I read it. :P But I am looking forward to it!
DeleteAudrey - I know what you mean... the surest way for me NOT to read a book right away is to actually buy it! ;-) My daughter won a goodreads giveaway for The Grammarians and really liked it. I'll borrow her copy soon.
DeleteI moved and downsized from a house to a flat two and a half years ago. I hope the last move ever! I am still trying to sort out stuff and give away to children. Since they live overseas, it has been tough sorting, boxing and keeping to take on visits every time I go. I look like the proverbial bag lady!
ReplyDeleteMystica - I hope this will be our last move, too! It must have been so much harder for you with children overseas... it seems I always have bags and boxes in my car!
DeleteAs a fellow Gulf coast resident, I love Gulfside Musings!
ReplyDeleteI have only moved in town for the last 27 years, which was stressful enough! I'm so glad things went well, and congratulations on finding a house. It's also good to hear that things are settling down enough for you to read and listen again.
Lisa - Hooray for the Gulf coast! Our last move (in 1993) was only 2 miles down the road, so this is uncharted territory for us. We have the closing scheduled and an appointment with a contractor later this week... scary, but exciting!
DeleteI love the name change . . . I'm looking forward to the new focus of your seasonal header photos! Yay for new house.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Seasonal changes don't seem quite as pronounced here, but I'm excited to take new header and profile photos!
DeleteI'm glad moving is going well and that you've found a house. I think Gulfside Musings is a great name.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. I'll probably go with Gulfside Musing :)
DeleteJoAnn, congratulations to you and your husband on almost closing on your new home. As for the name change, go for it. Like Carol, I think Gulfside Musings is a great name too.
ReplyDeleteBryan - We're another step closer today... closing date it set! It's all so exciting, but scary, too.
DeleteGulfside Musings sounds great. So happy things seems to be progressing nicely on the home front and house front.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane. We never expected things to move so quickly!
DeleteVicki - Glad you approve of the new name! The storage facility is in Naples, but we will be north of there in Sanibel. So exciting!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn,
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you're in Florida, and most of all that you've found a house on Sanibel that suits you! How wonderful! I "read" Maybe You Should Talk to Someone on Audible, and liked it a lot. Take it easy while you can!
Judith - We love the location, layout, and size of the house... mostly cosmetic renovations ahead, plus a new roof. It will be an interesting winter!
DeleteI hope the move finishes up well and that the closing goes smoothly!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela... both closings are scheduled now. Fingers crossed it all goes as planned!
DeleteJoAnn! So good to see you posting and I think a name change (and the one you suggested is perfect). Yes, Les did change her blog name, but her url has stayed the same. I think you could do that pretty easily and if they don't match - so what? Moving is indeed hard physically and emotionally, but I think I told you before that I'm the 'queen' of letting go of stuff. I'm such a minimalist and was one even before it was a 'thing to strive for'. We've moved a number of times and will likely do so again upon retirement.
ReplyDeleteI loved Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. Listened to it earlier in the summer when we were in NM and it was a great companion for my walks there. I bet that even with renovations of the 'new to you' place, you'll still have some reading time. Good luck with all of it!
Kay - I've never been a collector or hoarder, but it was still pretty amazing to go through everything we've accumulated.... the books especially. I'm down to one tbr box (won't mention the number of ebooks!) and just favorites to keep on the shelf. It was very freeing to let so much go. We're going to work hard not to accumulate much in the new house.
DeleteI'm loving Maybe You Should Talk to Someone... the narrator suits the book perfectly! So happy to be walking and listening on the beach again :)
Buying, selling and moving houses does not lend itself to reading. I have had that experience too. Sounds like you are through at least some of it. I enjoyed Mrs Everything. I did not like The Silent Patient at all, but most of my reading group did. Glad to have you back in the world of blogging!
ReplyDeleteJudy - I'm hoping the worst is behind us. Closings seem to be on auto-pilot now and we won't be trying to live in the new house during renovations. We'll see.
DeleteThe Silent Patient kept me turning the pages and I did enjoy it, but didn't love it like my sisters did. A month later, it's pretty much forgotten.
First off I am so glad you found a home so quickly!! And yes, Beachside Musing sounds like a great new name to me!
ReplyDeleteTi - We looked at the house twice in May, but couldn't really do anything since we hadn't even listed our house in NY. We were surprised to see it still on the market... figured it must be a sign ;-)
DeleteGreat to see a post from you & here that the prep & planning of moving is going well - wonderful news that you've found a new home also!
ReplyDeleteDaily beach walks sound lovely - my ideal way of keeping active each day. I would perhaps get a bit too distracted by the surroundings to keep up with an audio book though. Haha. I bet it feels great to be back to reading though.
I don't think the name change would be confusing.
Jade - Thank you! Being close to the beach was my #1 criteria in the house hunt - I don't really sit on the beach much, but walking there is the best!!
DeleteSo pleased to hear the moving is going well and that you are reading again :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica... so glad to be reading again :)
DeleteI really like the name Gulfside Musings and I'm glad you're back! Yay. Congrats on finding a place on Sanibel to call your home. Are you near where you've been in the past? It must be amazing to be back doing your morning walks on the beach. Lucky you! Hope things start to calm down for you.
ReplyDeleteSusan - Thanks. We'll just be a few miles down the road from our current place... and that will make the renovation SO much easier. The last time we were trying to do everything at a distance. We took a much-needed day off today, so we'll be ready to gat back at it tomorrow.
DeleteI remember how liberating it felt to go through ALL our possessions, packing and moving only those items that we absolutely needed or loved. After over two years, we have only missed a handful of items.
ReplyDeleteHave you come up with a new name for your blog? Mine has gone through several changes and I don't think (I hope!) it was too confusing for my followers. If I remember correctly, I went from Lesley's Book Nook to Prairie Horizons to Coastal Horizons.
Les - We're waiting to see how long it will be before we miss something... and wondering what that something will be!
DeleteFor the name change, I'll probably just change lakeside to gulfside. The url stays the same I think... did that cause any problems for you? It's also time to change my "about" page again and will need a new photo for that as well as the header. Once that's done I'll make it official. It would be good if I can do it before NF November starts.
No, I didn't have any problems with changing the name of my blog. Yes, the url stays the same. It was pretty straightforward. I clicked on Settings and selected Basic. From there I could edit the name. The blog address remains the same.
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