2017 was an eye-opening year — my second in a row after a long stretch of complacency.
Some of you know the first part of this story. Bear with me here.
In April 2016, I moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, with high hopes for a fresh start. I had lived most of my adult life in Arizona and worked for most of my career with the same company. In fact, with nothing but excellent job reviews, I was secure in the belief that I would eventually retire from that company — until the day they laid me off.
I decided to take the opportunity to make a life change. With an empty nest and nothing holding me back, I launched a full-scale worldwide job search, secure in the belief that my decades of experience would draw interest from all over.
Wrong again.
Three months later, with my severance pay nearly depleted, I received my one and only offer: a position on the copy desk at Bismarck’s daily newspaper. I was attracted to the small-town atmosphere, the many walking trails — and the fact that I wouldn’t have to file for bankruptcy after all. I took it.
Eight hundred miles from everyone and everything I had ever known, I settled into a mind-numbing drone job. Still, I looked for the silver lining: I made a few friends and went out of my way to explore my newly adopted hometown and state, experiencing all there was to see and do.
It was gorgeous, even awe-inspiring. I observed the Milky Way from a campsite at Theodore Roosevelt National Park; slept in a yurt and hiked along the U.S.-Canada border at Lake Metigoshe State Park; spotted my first porcupine at Cross Ranch State Park.
I could stay here, I thought. This is heaven.
Ha! Wrong again.
Starting in December, bitter winds regularly dropped temperatures 30, 40 degrees below zero — even into the life-threatening minus-60s a couple of times. Several feet of snow dumped by two blizzards remained stubbornly on the ground for months. I just wanted to stay in bed under my down comforter with cocoa and cats all day, every day. I was so done with North Dakota.
And then, near the end of that disheartening winter, came an unexpected job offer from the Washington Coast. It was a position where I could spread my creative wings, I’d be just a couple of hours from family and there’d be lots of rain, but almost no snow. I took it.
In the 10 months since then, I’ve had all kinds of adventures up and down the coast. I’ve hiked, fished and beachcombed. I’ve touched history, enjoyed fantastic food and built up the courage to show some of my photos in a local gallery.
I’ve also witnessed deep, unwavering commitment to service in this small but strong community. The dedication of so many others pulled me in, too. I’m doing a fair amount of volunteer work now, through the Boy Scouts and other organizations. (Despite being voluntold for much of it, I’m enjoying every minute!)
Through work, Scouting and other avenues, I’ve made a few close friends and met numerous people who collectively have shown me more warmth and kindness than I’ve ever known as an adult. And I’ve embraced a job that allows me to do all the things I love while pushing the envelope into areas I’d never considered before — with plenty of positive reinforcement from the people around me.
Several wrongs have finally made a right. As I enter 2018, I know I’m home. And I can’t wait to see what this new year brings.
Kat Bryant is lifestyle editor of The Daily World. She really, really believes she’s right this time. Reach her at kbryant@thedailyworld.com or on Facebook at Kat Bryant-DailyWorld.
