happiness is...

...there are many corny bookmarks and bumpers out there. and many generally horrible ones, as well. but today i had a moment when i was thinking something to the effect of "happiness is..."

happiness is having lots of people who care about you gathered around.

In this time as I am preparing to move, I am orchestrating getting together with many different sets of friends, and beginning to say goodbye. And though it is kind of stressful, trying to take care of things (and extensively procrastinate) and see everyone, it is making me very happy.

As the weather is cooling, and leaves fall, and we are baking and steeping spicy things, having friends gather inside to appreciate spending time together... it's lovely. It's lovely and flattering and a warm feeling to have people you love come together to remind you they love you too. It's making me sentimental, all of the "you'll be missed" comments I'm getting. Because I've been thinking about how much I'll miss everyone, too, and reciprocation is nice.

Traveler though I may be/ aspire to be, I have avoided moving out of Seattle for many years now because I value the place, and my loved ones here, too much. I finally felt I was in the right spot to leave them for a while; but I think we generally take for granted our support systems. There is nothing that makes me happier than spending time with people I enjoy in a relaxed, intimate setting. Give me a few drinks, good music, and a good conversation with friends over any organized activity any day.

I've been in Seattle eight years now, and have amassed a huge web of people, I'm realizing. I almost feel like a socialite as I'm attempting to organize meeting up before I go in two weeks. I have quite a few spheres of friends, between hometown and university and work and former coworkers and neighbors, etc... and they are truly all important to me. It's such a blessing, really, to have so many people who have been there, in fun and even not-fun times, and still want to be there.

What's keeping me from losing it, in saying all these goodbyes, is the concept that I'll be back. I'll be back a couple of times a year to visit, and conceptually to live again in a few years. Also helpful is that I have a network already where I'm headed of people I'm close to. And I like to live life with fond memories floating about, in black and white as though filmed with a filter for a drama, with a soundtrack of my favorite eclectic music.

The moving is exciting every time I think about it, but the moving on makes me somewhat melancholy. I hope that everyone knows how much I value them, and that I welcome them to visit or come back into my life anytime, anywhere, whether you've been my friend for ten years or ten weeks.

And maybe I'll see you at Christmas. :)