Settled into Maine life
Hello blogosphere, it’s been long months of transition and
adventures. I’ve landed in Camden,
Maine and have started an entirely new adventure - a life of consistency. My trip to Southeast Asia made it clear that
I was missing community, consistency, and meaningful work. I set the intention during my last week in
Thailand to make the move to Camden, Maine by summer 2012. I could not anticipate then what the path to
Maine would look like and how the months of transition would take their toll on
my physical, mental, and emotional health.
First know that I am now settled, employed, experiencing nature, writing
daily, surrounded by new friends, and happier then any other time in recent memory. I am reaffirmed daily that this is exactly
where I’m suppose to be.
The planes from Bangkok sent me back to my aunt’s house in
St. Petersburg Florida. Again Gail and
Pam offered me the solid confidence boosting support I needed and appreciate so
much from them. After a week of recovery
I took a trip to South Florida for some yacht interviews, and as fate and
connections happen spent 2 weeks freelancing on the boat I left before my Asia
trip. It was good to have some
consistent work and cash in hand, but the job made it clear that I no longer
wanted to work on yachts and I needed to continue to make every effort towards
Maine.
But first my heart led me to Antigua for a week seeking out
a summer love, but time and distance made it all go sour and I left slightly
heart broken and at odds. Bumped, but
not broken I regrouped in St. Pete, shopped for a new smart wardrobe with Gail,
and took a plane to Boston for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Associates
annual conference. A few days of
intense learning, networking, and a fair amount of doubt ended on a bus to
Camden. I spent three beautifully
healing weeks of self-discovery and networking at Meg’s house. Her space and hospitality are an incredible
gift given freely exactly when I need them.
By the end of my trip I was prepared to commit to an apartment and life
in Maine beginning June 1st.
I flew to Tampa on March 25 for a quick regroup before a mad
rush around Ft. Lauderdale for interviews and errands that resulted in no job
and a lot of brain damaging traffic. In
retrospect I can be so thankful that could be my last FLL shuffle. On the 31st I flew to Abaco and
spent a week with my Dad on Casique for his 65th Birthday. It was a hard week as the demons of
unemployment and the unknown sank in and the ghosts of the harbor and the loss
of Casamar rumbled in my mind. The
Universe provided me once again. My crew
agent set me up with a job on Abaco freelancing aboard a 90 ft motor yacht for three weeks. Dad drove me to the boat and I feel into
three weeks of solid work and scheming towards Maine.
I set up three more weeks of work with the boat with three
weeks off in between. This meant flying
to Florida, buying a car, and driving the 2500 miles to Maine by myself. With research help from Dad I bought a
reliable 2005 Subaru Forester to make the trek to Maine and keep me safe in my
first snowy driving season this winter.
The drive was truly refreshing with lots of time to think and
contemplate what comes next. I was
ready to do another week of full force networking and seeking out work in
Maine. I flew back to the Bahamas just
before my birthday without a job.
Luckily I lined up enough yacht work to float me for a few months so I
had some ammunition to battle all the doubt.
The second trip on Triple Net was finished in a flash. I continued to scheme and job search. Again I was reaffirmed with the power of
Craigslist. I found, interviewed, and
was offered the perfectly matched position in Camden, Maine from my stateroom
in the Bahamas. I’m not sure how any one
found a job before the Internet era.
I flew back to Camden, Maine and started work as a program
manager for Worden Associates, INC a week later. I’m using my writing, research,
communication, and organization skills everyday. There is a lot of room to grow in this
strategic planning and communication firm.
It feels like a total gift that I connected with my boss, who put in 25
years in D.C. before moving her family and business to Camden. I’m completing meaningful work and got to
skip the stress and expense of entry-level life in a major city. Again, thank you universe and the power of
intention.
Today is my 1-month anniversary of living in Camden. I find myself literally saying out load, “I
am so happy” almost daily. In every
direction there is a new beautiful place to discover or rediscover in a
different light. I have a new love
interest in my life who treats me daily to his open heart, thoughtfulness, and
care. I am meeting new and interesting
young people carving out a life for themselves on this coast in so many
different ways. I am in love with Maine
and can fell that life of simplicity, love, and meaningful experience I envisioned
while traveling becoming reality.
Here are two links to my facebook photo albums in transition
and in Maine:
Smiles,
Amanda Mar
Camden,
Me
