I'm really tired of moving. In the nine years since I met my husband, we've moved from Arizona to California to Colorado to Wisconsin back to Colorado, and now we're moving to Oregon. These state-to-state moves take a ton of time, energy and money. And it's getting even harder, since we have two small children (and a third on the way). So, we're expecting this to be the last one, at least for many years.
My husband is a software developer, and the moves have almost all been work-related (except the last one from WI to CO-- that was to be closer to family). He's been hired to handle HR and financial software for Lane County, based in Eugene... which is surprising, given that Oregon's unemployment rate is pretty high, and this is a taxpayer-funded job. But it's the right kind of work for him, and we like the Northwest, and it's a liberal college town, not too big or too small, with enough rain that I (hopefully) won't have to water the garden anymore. We figure it will be a good place to put down some roots.
I have to finish packing in time to load the moving truck on Friday, but once that's done, the real work begins. I can handle getting my four-year-old settled in a new preschool. Learning my way around town, finding the best places for groceries and other essentials, unpacking in our rental condo. The hardest part is the less-tangible stuff-- making friends and beginning to feel like part of a community.
I have a few places to start-- stay-at-home parents' groups on meetup.com, a book club posted at the library, membership at the children's museum, maybe joining a CSA, community theater or choir, etc. But I wanted to solicit input from Eugene-area kossacks too, with the hope that some of you can point me in the right direction.
What to do, where to go? Is there a local Daily Kos group that sometimes meets in person? It would be so nice to make some friends, have a dinner party or two, and feel somewhat settled in time to join in the neighborhood Christmas caroling. This might not be the most appropriate diary, but I know this online community is capable of being very caring, so I hope you don't mind me writing something completely self-centered today and asking for a little help!