I can a hear a woodpecker tapping away at something in the distance. The turbulent winds of yesterday evening have calmed to a sunny breeze. The landlady’s Corgis are happily yapping downstairs. Rosa, the youngest of the two Cardigan Corgis, just came up to say goodmorning.

#GoodMorning.

This would have made sense back in Saskatchewan. A week of brutally hot weather, followed the week after by balmy days and chilly, windy evenings. The weather in the Yakima Valley is always changing. The wide open spaces provide little moderation for the weather patterns that sweep in from the east and south.

Just about to hit the hay. Listening to the restless wind outside. The first night I’ve got to sleep in the old farm house without the fan. Wonder what the wind will blow in tomorrow.

The lesson I’ve had to learn recently is not to over-think everything. My new decision making strategy is to pull in as many facts as I can in a reasonable time, do some analysis (again over a reasonable time), and execute. Part of the analysis phase is a upside/downside risk assessment. Not always highly scientific, but always close enough for horseshoes.

Executing has always been the problem for me. Paralysis by analysis is a disease I have succumbed to on many occasions, but now as I mature (oddly enough) I’m better able to get the analysis done in a reasonable amount of time, a really get moving!

My decision to work in Yakima is a case in point. A year ago, even, I would not have considered such a move, even though I was in much worse straits as far as my career goes, as when I accepted the job at Farm Workers. I don’t think I’ve become any more decisive, or any better at decision making. I think though that perhaps with maturity comes wisdom or at least a modicum of discernment.

Now that I’m here, I can’t imagine why I didn’t consider it earlier. I think it may have something to do with Rumsfeld’s “don’t know what you don’t know” predicament. If I wouldn’t have been bored enough or desperate enough to climb in the truck and come out for the interview in May, I might still be on the bench, or even worse, doing the airplanes and airports routine again as an outside consultant.

This is definitely much better. Three hours out and three hours back, and my travel is done for the week. I now have a lovely little cottage to stay in while I’m at work–a true home away from home. And probably most importantly there is the fact that work is challenging and meaningful.

So, what do you think? Did I truly make the right choice, or have I made myself believe that driving to an from YVFWC every week, at my own expense. Time will tell I guess, but I’m having fun, getting really really good at my job and still living in the northwest.