Discovery of my new town of Greenbelt

So far I’m really happy with the residence where I live and the Maryland community I chose to relocate to from Wyoming. I chose it only based upon the knowledge of a brief few memories of having been stationed in the area at Fort Meade, Maryland, in years past. And I found my roommate and her townhouse via that very popular Craigslist. True, I have to leave my house at about 6 a.m. each morning and I don’t get home until over an hour after I leave work in the District; but it’s worth it.

The funny thing is that where I live is the ONLY ad on Craiglist that I contacted. I completely felt my intuition tell me that that was the place for me, and the rest went smoothly. Once I spoke to the gal I moved in with in person, she said she had felt the same way, just very trusting of me from the start. So I think someone from above had a hand in that, even though I don’t speak much of any kind of god in my life. I guess I do believe there is a guiding force out there. Did I not have some amount of faith, I wouldn’t have driven 3/4 of the way across the country to meet strangers with whom I’d be working and living. But, also, due to my time in the military, I am much more familiar with doing this than the average person.

But I like it. I’ve so far discovered a local theater that shows independent films, which is the Old Greenbelt Theatre. Directly across from that is the “www.newdealcafe.com” where I went for the first time today to blog and had a delicious berry blast muffin. I think it was homemade. I had a steaming French vanilla latte along with that and enjoyed the free wifi access as I blogged. The environment was no different from the down-home feeling I always had in Casper, and the staff was very friendly. I found out it is a cooperative cafe. Apparently that’s a big thing around here. I’d never heard of it before. There is a small grocery store near this cafe that is a co-op as well. I’m not really sure what the benefits are, except that for a small fee you are a part owner of a place and that gives you a bit more leverage in the business and helps you invest in your community.

I know I’ll come here again. It’s a great place to blog on the weekends. I’d be stoked if I could find a local writer’s group. I wanted to check out the local library too, but I did not make it there today. Apparently, I’m more of a small town girl than I realized, because here I am, near all of these places and potential events in the area of the nation’s Capitol, and I’m seeking out small local venues because they are more at my comfort level. Of course, a lot has changed since now with me nearing my mid-30’s and the me that always wanted to party when she was stationed near here before. It would have been a blast then, but I’m not on the market anymore and not a huge barhopper, which leaves much fewer choices for me.

It’s also very rewarding for me to be able to concentrate on my career, my friends and what makes me happy at this stage of my life. Life used to seem geared so much toward finding a date, drinking, dancing, and nothing else. Now it has a much more meaningful quality to it. I find myself seeking out activities that enliven, educate and revive my mind, body and soul. So the 30’s are not all as bad as they are cut out to be.

True, sometimes I feel a bit left out not knowing anyone here, like last night when I went to Chevy’s to eat Tex-Mex. But I wanted a nice meal, didn’t want to go home yet, and the evening was still young. So I didn’t care that I sat all alone eating my salmon fajitas with mango salsa and that great big wonderful strawberry-banana margarita. There is no law that says a woman must be accompanied to have a good time. True, I’d rather have my boyfriend or one of my good girlfriends here from Casper to join me. But I did okay, and it even became brunch this morning when I realized my roomie had cleaned out the fridge to take in for repair, and I either had to eat my leftovers or throw them out. Life here is good so far. Nothing big to complain about and much more to be thankful for than anything. I have my health, already a better sense of my surroundings, and in time I’m sure I’ll make friends I can hang out with on the weekends; but, for now, I am free to learn a lot about myself without distraction and take time to explore the area in which I now live.