Moving on UP
We are moving UP both literally and figuratively. I have been offered, and have accepted a position as a Community Health Educator in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. For those not familiar with Michigan, we refer to the Upper Peninsula as the U.P., and those who live there as Yoopers. As a person who has lived most of my life in the mitten portion of the state (the Lower Peninsula), I have always been referred to as a Troll (one who lives under the bridge – the Mackinac Bridge which connects the two peninsulas). Even though I am from Michigan, the UP (on the shores of Lake Superior) experiences winter at a level I have never experienced. My poor husband – from South Carolina – is in for some major shock.
As I reported in today’s Friday Flyer, the unemployment numbers across the country and specifically in Michigan are continuing to rise. Finding a job in my field in the state of Michigan, paying a decent salary was quite unexpected, and we are grateful. The hardest part for me is I will now be away from Hannah all day long, five days a week. Since she was born almost 8 years ago, I have been away from her only a matter of hours, so in that respect I am very sad. I will especially miss being her teacher.
For now, we must find a place to rent (this is a very rural area), which is complicated because of Nell and Sophie, but I can’t imagine not having them with us. August will be two years since we rescued Nell, and she and Sophie are very attached to each other. We need a house to rent, preferably in the small town where I’ll be working that will allow the dogs as well. I am hoping to find something in town because last year they had over 300 inches of snow, and I don’t want to be driving 30 miles after work in a blizzard on dark abandoned roads trying to get home.
I haven’t given a start date yet, because that will depend on our ability to locate housing. A lot of changes for all of us ahead. We are thankful to God for His provision, and hope He makes the rest of this path clear as well. It is about a 10 hour drive from here, and will be longer traveling with one kid, two dogs, plus a uhaul full of stuff which will be pulling my husband’s car behind it. Not to mention the really big bridge we have to drive over (I am terrified of driving over this bridge, but since my husband will be driving the uhaul, I will have to be driving the Saturn).
Thank you for praying for our family. I ask that you continue to pray as we seek a house to rent and that all would fall into place and the move go as smoothly as possible.
OneMom
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Congrats – a Yooper! Very Brave. Better hurry though, it’s almost August – it’s going to start snowing soon. Good luck.
I have some left over sleds from our troll days.
Vince – don’t tell my husband such things! Sleds? Yes, I’m certain you won’t get much use out of them down in the Bayou!
Hot dog, Kerry!!!!! It’s going to work out for your family, just wait and see. Congratulations on the new job and good luck on finding a good place to live.
Thanks Larry.
Congratulations! A 10 hour drive? And all in one state?! Are you sure you’re not in Texas?
I guess that is possible – wow, there’s probably only seven or eight states that could happen in.
Jamison – ’tis true. California, Texas, Michigan. Am I missing any?
You can drive for 10 hours or more and stay in the same state in the following states: Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington.
I’m such a geography geek… I just spent fifteen minutes doodling with Google Maps to figure that out!!
I’ll accept Florida, but OK, CO, MT, NV, OR, WA puzzle me.
Oklahoma: Kenton (in the Panhandle, at the base of Black Mesa, the highest point in the state) to Tom (incidentally very near the lowest point in the state) is about an 11-hour, 45-minute drive.
Colorado: Walsh to Dinosaur is a little over 10 hours.
Montana: Yaak to Alazda is a minimum of 14 hours.
Nevada: Denio Junction to Laughlin is just under 13 hours.
Oregon: Hammond to Basque is 10 1/2 hours.
Washington: Mukkaw Bay to Rogersburg is 11 1/2 hours.
Assuming Google is accurate in their estimated drive times, that is.
Thanks for the very detailed geography lesson Jamison! I would assume that several of those are increased in travel time because of mountains?
I would assume so; 814 miles through Montana is supposed to take an hour longer than 814 miles from Nebraska to Houston, TX, which would be mainly plains.
(by the way, the distances in #9 are all NW corner to SE corner, with the exception of Nevada, which is North to South, and Colorado, which is SE-NW.)
You know Jamison, you really should think about being a school teacher (I think I’ve told you that before).
Congratulations! God is so good!
I am glad that you got a job, but I understand your sadness at not being with Hannah. I will be in prayer about your house.
Congratulations. Great news! I hope both you and Hannah have a smooth transition.
It did snow down here this winter – got 2 inches. We propped the sleds up on a crawfish mound. But it is just not the same.
I do miss the tobaggans at the Midland City Forest.
First of all — Congratulations, Kerry!
What about Alaska? Surely there’s ten hours’ worth of road there?
I’ve driven in Boston before … you could spend ten hours and not make it across town! As for New Hampshire (I think Dominique will back me up on this), the only way to spend 10 hours on the road here and not leave the state would be to get caught on a traffic circle.
Wickle – good point about Alaska. How did I (and Jamison) miss that one?
Boston won’t count … you have to be making forward motion. I’ve been in NH and I could see how you could end up in a traffic circle and never get out.
I guess I did forget to include Alaska in that list… although, other than the highway to Barrow, there may not be any other section where you could drive for 10 hours, since they have to use bush planes to get to most areas.
Hello, just checking in here after being away a few days.
I am so glad about your job!!
As a former Alaskan: a. the Upper Peninsula reminds me a lot of some places in Alaska, and b. yes, you can certainly drive for a VERY long time and still be in the State (in both Alaska and Michigan!)
Adding my prayers to many others that all the details will fall into place, for you and your beloved pets
thank you Susan. I’m not sure how beloved I’ll be once the pets see just how much snow Lake Superior can produce. Being short dogs, it doesn’t take much snow for them to need a plow!
Congratulations! I see in your next post that your husband will be Hannah’s main teacher now. I’m glad that you will be able to continue to give her an individualized education. I’ll be praying for your transition and for your first winter when it comes!
Thanks Karen. Yes, he will be teacher, but I will still be superintendent, principal, chairman of the school board, and requiring daily parent/teacher conferences.
Quite the vocabulary lesson…thanks! Now if I ever need to pose as a Michigander (or whatever you all are called!) I might survive just a wee bit longer without being caught…
On a less silly note, congrats…what a blessing! I look forward to hearing more about your moving adventure…and all that snow!
Oh, and I read through the discussion on long drives within a state. Quite entertaining! Add NC to the list of 10-hour in-state drives, though…it’ll take you 11 hours to get from Buxton (at the point of the Outer Banks) to Murphy.
Ronnica – I prefer Michigander. It’s about an even split with some preferring Michigander and other Michiganian. At least I will no longer be a “troll”.
Well, I am truly behind on my OneMom reading. With all of the hoopla of getting Buttermilk to HOP I let my reading slide. OH Kerry! I am happy you found a job and thank God for the internet so we can keep connected.
I wish you and your family the very best. This will be an adventure we will all go on.
How is the internet up there?
We love you, Cat, Chaps and Emma
Hi Cat – I knew you’d get over here after wrapping up the Buttermilk transport (Buttermilk is a basset hound, for those wondering what we’re talking about. HOP is “House of Puddles” which is a wonderful place in Maryland where unwanted senior basset hounds go to live and be loved).
Regarding the UP, as long as I find us a place in town, we will be able to have a cable connection for the internet. The big problem right now is finding a place to live.
I’ve just got to tell you one thing: God is good to all of us. I’m grateful to the Lord for seeing his hand move on your behalf.
beutiful on chrismas eve with all the lights
Congrats Onemom on the Lord blessing you with a job in the U.P. As I was reading your comment I thought maybe that’s what I need to do. Not worry so much about when I am going to find work and let it be a surprise! I keep waiting daily for my phone to ring. Where in the lower U.P. are you from? I am currently in Minnesota, and can’t wait to move back to lower MI. I resided in the tri-city area, so I have been known as the troll as well. I was in the Bay County area. Good luck on your move, and I will be thinking of you and your family. I am also petrified of the Big Mac to cross over it. I let someone else get me over it while I am stay slid down in my seat!! But it is beautiful!
Hi Katy – I spent most of my life in the “middle of the mitten”. We’ve been here in the UP now for almost a year. I like the bridge – as long as I’m standing on shore and just enjoying the view. Many blessings to you … let me know when you get the phone call offering you a job.