Five Minutes

When we were in the house hunting stages, we set a rule that we weren't to be more than a half hour from town - where I work, where the stores are, where Chipotle is (priorities). When we saw this house online, and we saw it was 35 minutes away from all these things, we both took a second to think it through. We drew the line at 30 minutes for a reason, because if 35 minutes is okay, then what's stopping us from 40 or 45 minutes? What if we regret it once we live there for a year or two? What if the commute becomes a dealbreaker and we didn't even know it? I started to picture Cousin Vinny questioning me on the stand. Are you sure about that five minutes!? 

Photo courtesy of American Rhetoric

Clearly, we ignored all those concerns because here we are. While we've only been living here for a few months, not a few years, I can say with all certainty that I don't begrudge this commute at all, and I'm so grateful for that extra five minutes, every day, because of what it's given us. That extra five minutes gave us a deck that will host family gatherings and quiet dinners for two, total privacy, perfect views of sunrises, deer and turkey sightings, frogs climbing on our windows to say hello (well, to eat bugs, but in my head they say hello), a kitchen with a view of our friends and family as they pull in our driveway for visits, and walls that will house all our memories for many years to come. I'm so grateful for that five minutes. 

My commute to work every day isn't always sunshine and happiness. Sometimes, I get stuck behind a farming tractor going 30 in a 55 zone that doesn't want to let me pass and I drop a few profanities (True Life: Country Living). Sometimes I have to stop on the main road to let the truck carrying the town dirt out for his delivery. Sometimes, I'm late to work because of these things, even though I always leave early to account for all these occurrences. And sometimes these things happen when I just need to get to Home Depot because we need some random tool or gadget for a house project. and it takes twice as long to get there. But when it happens, I think of our deck, our dining room, our stupid vinyl-paneled walls that we can't wait to take down, our fireplace, the front door that always sticks and everything else that's ours. And I calm down, turn on the stereo, crack a smile, enjoy the scenery and start to sing to my favorite songs.

Hey lady, you got the love I need,

Maybe more than enough.

Oh darlin', darlin' darlin'... walk a while with me.

You've got so much ...

Best Zeppelin song ever.