Making plans.

I am a plan maker. I like to have the order of things, the sequence of events, more or less mentally lined up before I get started. I like to think through the tasks of the day before I get out of bed. I like to know when the onions are going to get chopped and the water put to boil before I step in the kitchen. You could say I like to know what to expect.

Part of coming to Iowa this summer was a lesson to myself in being more comfortable with the unknown ways in which life continues to unfold. Sure, we knew we were coming to work on a farm for the summer, but what next? This internship only lasts until October, and what then? This was probably the most common question we heard (and continue to hear) from friends and family as we shared news of our move, and the most difficult question for me to (not) answer. Shrug the shoulders. I don't know. We'll see. Cross that bridge when we come to it, I guess.

We're not exactly ready to literally cross the bridge, but we are approaching the half way point of our time here. It is time to start having conversations about what we want to do and where we want to go from here. And (I can't decide if this is surprising or not) we are pretty much in agreement - the plan should be to find another internship. One more year on another farm with different systems and different markets. If we do another CSA farm we'll likely try to get on somewhere bigger, to get a feel for what a larger operation looks and feels like. We're tossing around the idea of trying to get on with some kind of livestock operation. If you know us even moderately well (or taken one look in the fridge), you know the deep relationship we have with dairy products. Maybe we should learn about cows. It would probably save us a lot of money in the long run.

So, that's where I am in the long term planning process. Now if we could only pin down an area of the country to shoot for. Much as I'm loving our time here, I don't think Iowa is forever. East Coast? Back to the Left Coast? Southern Indiana?? So many more decisions yet to make. Plus, even if we line up something that starts in March, that leaves a little over 4 months to fill this winter. Deep breath. Good thing I have some practice at not having every little piece and parcel planned out. Even if it doesn't always seem like it, a little mystery is good to have around.