Texas Cabin to Brooklyn

Planning my move from my little Texas Cabin home in Kerrville, TX to two new homes in Brooklyn, NY. and Albany, NH.

Here’s what the route looks like at the moment.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

I plan to spend 2 nights in Santa Fe, with camping at Black Canyon Campground – Santa Fe National Forest. Many years ago, a group of family members took a drive to Santa Fe from Albuquerque, along with my Haskell cousins. We were celebrating a remembrance of my Uncle Don Haskell. I recall being impressed with the town, this will be a chance to revisit.

Boulder, Colorado

Home for Dan & Rebecca Boozan, as well as Lee & Lyn Beaupre.

Dan & Rebecca’s mom, Jennifer Beckwith, died far too young. I think Dan & Rebecca, twins, were 3 when she succumbed to cancer, pretty sure they turned 41 recently. Jennifer and I met when she took a job with IBM after graduating from UVM. We were part of a department formed mostly of new hires – I was an exception, 10 years. Our task was to take over a chip manufacturing software system from a group in Manassas, Va, where their plant was closing. Over the next 6 months I traveled back and forth weekends to Essex Junction, Vt where I lived with my former wife and a very young Jennifer & Hilary. Most nights in Manassas JB – as I called her to differentiate with my Jennifer, who became “JL” – and I spent time together.

Although at times I wished JB and I were romantically involved, that never came to be. What did come was far better, we became the closest friends either of us had ever found. Here’s something I wrote many years ago on Valentine’s Day, JB, The Night We Danced.

I won’t get to see Rebecca this trip, she’ll be off in Switzerland, running through the Alps. I plan to visit with Dan.

Lee & Lyn were also very special friends from back in my earliest days at IBM in Essex Jct, Vt. They had 2 boys, both a little younger than JL. JL’s middlr name is “Lyn”. I’ll write more about both after a visit.

Chicago, Illinois

Visit with my niece, Sarah McHone Franklin, husband, Jayson, and their large and wonderful family. Wander to places in Chicago mentioned by my friend J. D. Walton. JD was from my hometown, Port Henry. He died a year or so ago, far too young.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Explore Bronzeville, Milwaukee, a neighborhood with a rich African American culture. Also, I’ll visit Amaranth Bakery, owned and run by David Boucher and Stephanie Shipley. Years ago, I met David and Stephanie when they were looking to purchase a property in Westport, NY. They bought a place I had listed, called “The Plank House”. We became friends and I visited Amaranth many years ago on a side trip from Chicago. Very possibly the best bakery in the world!

Toronto, Canada

Possible visits with Aleyda & family, as well as Marty Webb Thorn, a college heart throb.

Montreal, Canada

My 2nd favorite city in North America. Among many other things, possibly attend the International Black Film Festival. Here’s on film, I’ll plan to see either live or streamed, One Pint at a Time, a documentary feature about the history of black beer brewers. A good list is Things to do in Montreal – September. I’ll do a best of the Montreal bagel tour, bringing a significant number of the “best” to my new homes.

36 Wildwood Rd, Albany, New Hampshire

My new “official” 2nd residence, owned by daughter Jennifer.

3500 Snyder Ave, Brooklyn, NY

My new “official” residence, owned by daughter Hilary.

Planning my Move

In planning my move I’m anticipating rarely, if ever, making the drive again between the northeast and either Texas or Arizona, my two homes the past several years. As such, I want to take my time, visit friends, family and places along the way. I want it to be a memorable adventure.

I also plan to update and document this trip, look for posts here, on Facebook and Twitter.