Isolation or Solitude? Our First Year

It was this time, exactly one year ago, that we made the choice to move out of the (literal) rat race from the outskirts (suburbs) of town and go fully rural on property that would allow us to do what we want, how we want and when we want.

We moved in January just as we experienced a flood that totaled my husband's car. It started snowing on Christmas, we got quite a bit, and it was white out for a week and, then it warmed up quickly and started raining. With all that melting, the runoff, coming off the Cascades, came right down the rivers, and where did we live? Yep. Right on the banks of the Cowlitz River.

We had just hauled our first load of stuff up here that morning and that night, we went through this.

This view is one that I will never tire of seeing each morning.

 
In April, we got a good 6-8 inches of snow in a late freak snowstorm. I've never seen it snow in April before. Not here anyway.

After the snow melted, spring hit. It was a glorious sight to behold.

With the coming of spring, this herd of elk migrated up through our front yard.

Summer. Beautiful summer!

Now, we full-swing into fall and the leaves are changing colors, and it looks like a painting. Of course, the camera cannot adequately show what I'm looking at, and I don't know how to edit photos.

So, the question is this: Is this called isolation or is it called solitude?

I don't mind not seeing people every single day. I don't mind not seeing an approaching car every day. I don't miss hearing other people on a daily basis.


I'll go with solitude, and it's sheer and utter bliss.