Some 37 years ago (or so), my brother asked me what it was like living in rural New Hampshire. I summed up my existence by saying that if I wanted to buy a sweater, I could. If I wanted a long-sleeve navy v-neck, I probably have to order it from a catalog. Fast forward to today - some things are slow to change. (I do have to say, however, the Internet changes everything.)
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been to three hardware stores, one car dealer, and talked to a locksmith (who didn't follow-up on and return my call), and I am still without a spare key for my daughter's car. The good news is that there is a dealer who can help me; the bad, the dealer's an hour away - Road Trip!
Every so often, some need surfaces that reminds me I am still in rural NH, which isn't a bad thing - there are just trade-offs. Within ten miles, there is a Walmart and good sized supermarket. I take refuse weekly to the Transfer Station, which is fairly close. I have high-speed Internet and cable TV with 59 channels (of which I can actually get 57). Of those 57, there are perhaps 12 I like and actually watch.When I lived in and around Boston, I could eat out 24-hours a day. Here, the sidewalks are pulled in early.
On the plus side, I have been literally two feet away from various Presidential candidates. It is said if you haven't been, it's by choice. The good days are the best anywhere. The winters can be trying, but it's part of the package. We had one winter when day and night for three weeks, the temperature never went above zero. One winter we hit about 45 degrees below zero, and there have been winters with nothing more than a dusting of confectioners sugar snow. One Mother's Day, we had two feet of snow - it was gone the next day.
Many people are also among the best. In time of need, they can't do enough. I am lucky to be here.
There's much more, but I'm saving that for the book I'm working on.
