One Step Forward...

Is it true that you have to go back to move forward?  It looks like that's the case for us.  We are back in NEPA (that's northeastern Pennsylvania for all you Mainers out there), where Keith and I both grew up.  We will be here for a month, living with  my mother-in-law, until we can move into our rental in Portland.  And yes, in case you haven't heard, we FINALLY have a rental for September and October!  Better still, take a look at this:

They've started clearing our land!  Progress!

Which brings me back to the question at hand...do you need to regress in order to have progress?  We have not spent more than a week at a stretch on PA soil since leaving here for our seaside home nearly 12 years ago.  A few times a year we load up the van and make the eight hour trek to our homeland where we are welcomed as the prodigal family, and where we proceed to do not much besides eat pizza and drink beer for a week in the pleasurable company of our relatives. 

But this time it's different.  We are here for a month.  Today I signed up for an advantage card at Price Chopper; next week we're going to get a library card.  We are residents again, albeit temporary ones.  I love my adopted home state of Maine and plan to never leave it permanently, but there is something sweet and right about being back in our true, first home during this period of uncertainty and transition.  Somehow, it completes the circle.