Why West Virginia: A Reinvented Life

**Reposted from original article on Medium here: https://jamielynnmorgan.com**

So, our hero left off last time...just kidding, or am I?! In all seriousness, I meant what I said in my previous post. Why West Virginia? Why not! Like anywhere else you go in this world, there are issues. The question you have to ask yourself is, are the issues you are walking into better or worse than where you are coming from?

For me, the problems in West Virginia are ones I have experienced in the few places I have lived, and frankly, my dears pale to the one BIG reason this place appealed to me: KINDNESS and RESPECT.

I thought I might have imagined it when we visited. But, from the moment we rolled into town, sweaty and very tired of being in our vehicles, it was still there. People apologized for being in my path at the grocery store; the most significant thing was that they even noticed they were. Stopping to let you cross the street at unmarked intersections, stopping to let you out during high traffic times when you are trying to turn from a parking lot, and being enthusiastic about seeing you even though they have no idea who you are.

Now not everyone is Mary Poppins and Sunshine, but I have a sneaky suspicion they may be transplants from somewhere else (the no accent is what gives them and myself away), or they are having a crappy day. But, when the feel-good interactions outnumber the bad, you are on to something.

There is also something about going from a place where almost everyone knows your name to a place where literally only two people know who you are. I find myself not worrying so much if someone will see me out in the front yard with Ollie (if you are joining us for the first time, he is our ten-year-old Chihuahua Jack Russell mix fur baby), with bedhead hair and my Star Wars communicator emblem pajama pants.

I do admit that I still can't get myself to go out to shop, eat, or play without at least some makeup and bedhead tucked under a ball cap, and I will NEVER be "out" in my pajama pants, but I am seeing the appeal of not having to be put together. My beautiful husband said he prefers seeing me without all my makeup and looking a bit grubby. So there is that.

My dress pants have moved further back on the clothing rack, and my new daily uniform has become blue jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. The one thing I won't give up is my sparkle and array of jackets and blazers. I don't always have to look like I am out camping, LOL! There is a benefit to the new look, though; we have a lot of cleaning and repairs to do, and it works better to be in jeans and T's. I mean, how many file folder holders does an eye doctor need to be screwed to the walls?! (An eye doctor once owned the commercial building we purchased in downtown Princeton on Mercer Street).

We are finally settling into our "new" daily routines now that the oldest and the youngest are set up (mostly) over at the Church Street house with their two cats. We have everything except a few things, like a desk for me, a BBQ, and a few other things at the Hill Street house for Tom, Thomas, and me, and the work has begun to clean up and turn the Mercer Street building into what its next life will be. The kids have finally figured out their new jobs are helping to fix, repair, and remodel so we can get some income coming in, and we are taking some time to explore our new home.

Tom's birthday was on Thursday, and we celebrated with cake and ice cream with all the kids. I found a camouflage cake, which seemed appropriate. There is a running joke between Tom and me that he will get me to start wearing camo, to which I keep telling him no way unless it is full of sequins.

We spent the last couple of nights outside watching the lightning bugs put on a show in the backyard, and last night, we went to see "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" at the local theater here in Bluefield, the Granada. I can't remember when our entire family could see a movie together for less than $100, but it happened yesterday. Next time we go, I will make everyone walk to the theater since it is only a mile and a half from where we live. Who doesn't like exercise and entertainment rolled into one!

There is so much more to explore, but we also have to get some work done, so updates about the area will be mixed in with progress reports on our projects.

Our next big personal project is getting all our licenses, IDs, and vehicles switched from Idaho to West Virginia. Doing that will help make us all feel like this isn't simply an extended vacation; we are home. But, for now, we are going to enjoy the long weekend.

*Links to the places (some mentioned here, some not): Follow my Instagram to see more.

Jimmies Restaurant?—?Princeton, WV

Wild Roots Coffee?—?Princeton, WV

The Blue Spoon?—?Bluefield, WV

Robin’s Nest Furniture and Finds?—?Bluefield, WV

Charlie’s Used Furniture?—?Bluefield, WV

The Granada Theater & The Raleigh Street Cinemas?—?Bluefield, WV

The Railyard?—?Bluefield, WV

Sophisticated Hound Brewing?—?Princeton, WV

Blue Mountain Rustic?—?Bluefield, WV