Marina Goes Country

It’s been a very long time since I posted in this blog and so much has happened during that time. It was my belief that when you move to a foreign country, having a blog is a must; a way to entertain your friends and family back home. So once I moved back to the states, I didn’t think a blog was needed anymore. Who would possibly want to read about my life in Sacramento when most of my friends and family are in Sacramento? Then one day, I started reading a blog written by the brilliant Michelle Lema about her tales of life in LA and the random things that happen and I started to miss writing a lot. So, I decided to get off my high horse, dust off this old blog and start writing again. After all, writing has always been a type of therapy for me; a way to get out what is going on in my head and in my everyday life. Some people would call that a journal, which is technically true. My journal is just out in the open for everyone to read.

I suppose I should start with a brief overview on what the hell happened to me in the last year and a half since my last post. So here goes: I came back to the states to celebrate my 30^th birthday with every intention of moving back to Croatia and continue on that adventure. Suddenly, I was bogged down by the fact that I was about to be 30, unwed and my eggs were dying. Actually, I didn’t really care that I wasn’t married or that my eggs were dying, but I did start feeling like maybe I should get a real job and grow the fuck up. So, I got a corporate job, found a cute apartment, rekindled old friendships and continued to drink and have fun, but in a much more respectable and adult way. Then suddenly, I met a man at work, fell madly in love, decided to buy a house with him, and continued my streak of crazy by moving in with said man in less than a year of dating. BAM!

And so it is here that I begin the next adventure of my life and where my blog begins once again. Let me preface this by saying, I had no intention of falling in love ever again, let alone, moving in with someone so quickly after we started dating. We met at work and it started innocently enough. He’d come by my cube and flirt with me and I’d wear dresses that showed off my figure with perfect makeup on at all times. I will admit that I had a big crush on him for a while, but the words of one of my dearest friends kept echoing in my ear, “Don’t mess around with people you work with! It could end very badly!” Oops. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t listen…Although, my mouth almost ruined the whole thing before it ever began. The first time I ever went out with him, I couldn’t shut up! I literally just kept talking and talking and talking…it’s an affliction that I have when I’m nervous. He later told me, that I had talked so much that he didn’t think he’d ever ask me out again! Thank goodness he decided to give it another go and I immediately calmed down and played it cool. Since then, we’ve been inseparable.

When we started talking about moving in together, he had already been working on buying a house for some time and I had asked where he wanted to live. He said the only place that he’s interested in looking is Garden Valley, which is where he is from. For those who are unfamiliar with Garden Valley…It’s a very small town in the middle of the forest just outside of Placerville, CA. I tried to talk him into buying a house in Sacramento, but quickly realized that either I had to be ok with living in the forest, or we probably weren’t going to make it. So, I warmed up to the idea of moving up towards him and we ended up buying a beautiful house in the country on about five acres of land. It’s absolutely the best decision I ever made. Not only is the house beautiful, but everything around it is so serene. I absolutely love it up there and have even got use to the 45 minute drive to work every day. However, there are a few things that I’m still working on getting use to:

 Hey! I know you:

I’m still getting used to the fact that everyone knows everyone in this town. It’s a little interesting when we go over to events and parties and people start talking about the past and in the span of a half hour I’ve just heard about five girls that my boyfriend dated at one point or another in his life. Wait, you mean there was someone else besides me???? I prefer to think I’m the only one he’s ever loved, but living in a small town makes it absolutely impossible to believe. I must accept the idea that I am not the first girl he has ever dated.

Hope you Don’t Mind, I let myself in:

I’m also trying to get used to the fact that people like to just show up at our house without calling first…Ok, I’m not sure I will ever get used to that…The first week we moved into the house, someone showed up at midnight. Needless to say, it scared the shit out of me and I was not a happy camper.

 Guns:

Everyone has a gun or five…that’s new to me. It’s not that I’m against guns, I was just never raised around guns, or shooting or hunting….It’s different and it’s a little weird. We live in a forest and so having a gun for protection is almost a necessity….and I’m not talking about people…I’m talking about bears and lions and rattle snakes…and what the hell have I gotten myself into!! Actually, in the six months I’ve lived there, I’ve never seen anything that would make me run for the hills. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t stopped me from taking an early evening run outside. I recently bought a small treadmill and my boyfriend asked me why I just don’t go for a run outside. My exact response: “Because I don’t want to get eaten by a Mountain Lion.” Perhaps I’m a bit overdramatic, but still, I’m from the suburbs of Sacramento…there are no mountain lions there!

 

The Rubicon:
So apparently “wheeling” is the must do thing of the summer. Princess doesn’t get it. People build these massive trucks and lifted jeeps and drive over rocks. Why is this fun? In all fairness, I haven’t tried it yet, so maybe I shouldn’t be so judgmental. Then again, I’m the girl who traveled to Europe every summer with my family. We drink wine and eat cheese. Actually, we are not that prissy…I just don’t get the whole driving over rocks thing. I’m sure I will go. Look for that blog post!

 

There are random things here and there that are a little different than what I’m used to, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s a world that I chose because of who I fell in love with and he is very much that type of person. He likes his bud light, classic trucks, and wheeling through the Rubicon. He’s an easy going type of guy and I wouldn’t change him for the world. I absolutely love him for exactly who he is. And what’s better is he loves me; the Croatian princess from Sacramento who drinks wine, and likes fine dining and dresses. I’m the girl who hates bugs, and doesn’t want to run outside out of fear of being eaten by a Mountain Lion. He knows this about me and loves me all the same. On top of that he has introduced me to some amazing people who are his best friends and it’s made the move a lot easier for me. Six months in and I’m doing pretty damn good….

Anyway, I’d like to try to rekindle this old blog, so stay tuned for more…