I moved to the woods.
Probably the biggest life move I have made since I moved to Oklahoma City in 2010, I’ve left OKC to live at Sequoyah State Park.
At the beginning of September, I got a text from my friend Angelina with a job posting for the Sales Coordinator position at The Lodge at Sequoyah State Park — and the salary seemed low, but I said.. I’ll apply. I had been ready for something new, there just wasn’t any room for upward growth at my job at the time, AND it seemed like the posting was written for me, describing everything I had been doing for the last three years, but in a state park. Basically, my dream posting with the added bonus that Angelina was going to let me move into her tiny guest bedroom / office.
I was thrilled to possibly get to work for the State, and specifically, The Department of Tourism & Recreation, but the hiring process seemed to take forever! So I quietly waited…
While I waited, I waffled back and forth on the job. Whether I would be able to take a cut in salary, whether I could handle living two and a half hours from all my comfort people, whether I should pursue an executive assistant position in the Senate instead. At the end of September, I hosted Cousin Campout at Robbers Cave State Park, and I thought — I would love to help get other families together in our state parks… and Angelina got an otter at the Nature Center, which I considered a huge bonus. An otter would definitely increase the likelihood that my family would visit me.
After a month of waiting, I got an interview. And, it was for a day that I was already off work and going to be in Tulsa for my cousin Levi’s wedding, so that was perfect. Through my interview I was still hesitant, but I had the Lodge Manager show me the event rooms before I left — and I immediately knew that I wanted the job. I got to meet with the Agency Director the next morning and talk about the position and our parks, and that was it. If I got the job offer, I was going to take it.
Life stopped and sped past all at once after that. My grandma Jeanette began her final days here on earth, an ice storm held time still for a moment, and I had 10 days at the farm saying my long goodbye to the woman who I thought I wouldn’t be able to bear being without — all before I also had to figure out how to say goodbye to my life in Oklahoma City.
Nothing feels real in 2020, but I’m here at Sequoyah State Park nonetheless, living in the woods, working at the lodge, going on daily walks or hikes around the park, moving on from city life. It feels nice, and it feels emotional, and I am happy. Somedays I don’t know what I am doing, but I know I am supposed to be here.
