Today marks the one year anniversary of my closing on the purchase of “Moose Lodge,” named after my last dog who died in 2020. When I originally toured the house, it seemed fitting to name the place after her. I miss her every day and I know this would have been heaven to her. What a year it’s been!

I felt like I was stagnating in Kirkland and I needed a major change of scenery. That kicked off my four month search for Moose Lodge and I knew that someday I’d find it.

I came here because I was seeking an environment where I could focus on my best work. While I once preferred big city life, as I thought more about my personal productivity, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have uninterrupted concentration time if I moved away from the city and all of the constant distractions.

The Midwest is often overlooked as the perfect spot to work and think. I too was conditioned to believe that somehow Seattle had it all, yet it sure didn’t. It’s one of those experiences where you have to live it to fully appreciate the sharp contrast. Some think they would go crazy being here without everything spinning around them. Yet, I sat in my car in traffic many times wondering what I’d be thinking about if I wasn’t so preoccupied by every little disruption just getting from one point to another. What if I recaptured all that wasted time?

In a big city, you never completely get away from the noise, or the lights at night, and the unwanted encounters, and rarely do you have chance to experience wildlife just going about their day. Head over to the critter page on this site for a small example. Here, hours of uninterrupted thought gets me to think more deeply about cause and effect and the ever-changing world around me.

At least here I’m grounded in something and it’s a solid reference point from which to view what’s happening. I get to concentrate or real solutions for clients and I’m far more accessible.

I’m grateful for this experience and I never ever have one day that is like all the others. That is one of the most delightful parts of being here.

I’m celebrating this past year as one of my best and I’m deeply appreciative of the life I have here at Moose Lodge. Cheers to a great 2023!