Judy Grillo
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A Big Maybe

4/18/2019

4 Comments

 
It's been nearly three weeks of life at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Greenville, South Carolina. I'm doing an Airbnb with two busy 20-something roommates in a really charming neighborhood, just south of downtown. I've committed to a month here, as I experiment with what life-in-one-place feels like, in a location I'm considering as a "holding spot." 

My current neighborhood is Pleasant Valley (honestly), which means cycling from home to the Swamp Rabbit Trail has re-trained my legs in the past few weeks. I will now be able to use my calves to hammer in my tent stakes next month. That said, I've ridden the Trail nearly a dozen times, and while it's grand to be off-road for 30 miles, on the weekends it's filled with dogs, baby carriages and tourists, so it's a slow, cautious ride. I'm now avoiding Saturdays altogether! 

This is my third visit in two years, but there's no telling what the city will become by 2021. Greenville still feels like a small town with a population of 70,000, but it's the fourth fastest growing city in the country, with a metro area of nearly a million people. The name still fits though, as there is plenty of green space! Greenville actually reminds me of a small Portland, Oregon, including the weather that keeps it green! The weather here is definitely on my radar. 

​Besides working, devouring books, and binge-watching Netflix, I've had a few intellectual pursuits from a poetry reading to a presentation on Jackie Kennedy Onassis that has changed my perspective on this soft-spoken, fashion icon. And, while I haven't ventured the 60 miles to the Appalachian Trail, I have enjoyed some local walks. Otherwise, I'm catching up on life duties, and penciling in 2019 visits and travel plans.   

People are courteous here and still say "hello," yet I haven't met one single person to hang out with in three weeks. My bike "Meet-up" has been rained out for two weeks, but my fingers are crossed for this Sunday. It's interesting to me that I can meet more people in the woods than in a city of thousands. Of course, I'm not really living here, and I'm not ready to be sitting in one place scheduling the day.  

There's a half-dozen more items on my Greenville list, so more to come before I roll back into my tent on May 1st!  
4 Comments
Eileen
4/22/2019 11:38:38 am

Judy: Greenville is a community I had always wanted to see but always passed through. Charming photos, there is just something about places in SC that feel very welcoming. Paul still laments leaving. Glad still on your radar.

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Judy
4/23/2019 10:17:08 am

Eileen: Yes, Greenville is doing a beautiful job of sustaining the Main Street in character; lots of green space; still polite people. That said, it's popular and growing! j.

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Barb
4/23/2019 01:30:13 am

Lovely photos. And if SC, love Greenville. U of SC Greenville adds a lot. But J, Western NY is calling your name. Just saying.

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Judy
4/23/2019 10:10:54 am

Barb: No U of SC -- Furman Univ is private; gorgeous campus and north of downtown so the students don't take over the city! It's best warm up in NY state soon ~ 80s here this week. j.

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