Tacoma to Yosemite...

Hey folks. Trying to be happy here. As the title suggests, I'm a life long Tacoma, Washington resident and was very much in love with being such, and am very suddenly and unexpectedly a resident of Madera County, California. I'm just a few miles from Yosemite. I feel like I am on another planet. I have a proclivity for the "depression" bits and am trying very hard to stay above it. Any suggestions? Anything at all? I'm isolated and without friends or family and am perhaps in a bit of shock.

I've got some site specific questions, but I think I'll post them in the "awkward site" area as this site definitely falls into that category. I've never seen so much granite in all my days. It's mind blowing...

So, if there are any friends nearby, I'm definitely in great need of a like mind and some local knowledge.

Love and Respect
Faeryn

Faeryn,

I can empathize with being in a new place. I grew up in Southern California and moved to Idaho. What a shock. Winters are rough, the scenery is nothing like my home, the people are different, the food, the attitudes, the… you name it.
Sending my best thoughts and hopes for you as a kindred spirit in another place.

“very suddenly and unexpectedly” must be doubly the shock for you, I cannot imagine the turmoil you’re experiencing.
My move was my choice.

“Keep your head up” is trite. It sounds more like you’re asking “how would I do that” - and I applaud you for seeking local connections. That is a strong and healthy attitude, one I could have used earlier on.
Specifically - I find “seeking the good in every day” i.e.: actively looking for the positives, including at times, journaling those things which made me happy or which were in some way “good” helped me turn the corner and appreciate my path.
Remark not upon what’s different, but what is positive, what things made you smile, anything that helped you or that you can think of which adds value or joy. “The sunset had a rainbow of colors” “I heard 4 different bird calls” “the granite was composed of rock I’d never seen, and that rock had not, for thousands of years until this now, seen the surface of the earth and as it decomposes it will never again be the same rock - change is mysterious”


Talking locally, you’re in a place I greatly enjoyed visiting. Yosemite with its tourists might be too much, but Mariposa is a neat place. I have friends in Tollhouse. Devil’s Postpile is gorgeous, iconic, and brings fond memories for me from my childhood.

My aunt lives in Twain Harte. If you like skiing - Bear Valley (on highway 4) has an awesome resort and several runs.
If you like Backpacking in the summer, and want to avoid the crowds, the Emigrant Wilderness is close and is my second favorite place on earth. (If you PM me, I’ll even share my most favorite place on earth - another summer backpacking pleasure in your area).

There’s satisfaction and contentment to be found wherever you are, despite all those things which, today, appear as shortcomings. My sincere hopes you can find yours much sooner rather than later.

Thanks for reaching out Faeryn. All I can offer is a virtual hug and sympathy. I looked up Yosemite and it is certainly spectacular, but that doesn't make it a comfortable place to be. It always takes a while to find your feet in a new neighbourhood, and if the move is unplanned there are all sorts of other things to deal with too. Give yourself time and it will get better !

Hey, tricky moment for a life-changing reset, but I hope there's some element of choice/intent/intuition that brought you to it!

Amazing setting to land in, but it's pretty big, rugged, semi-wild country and will take time to orient. Especially with regards to community, unfortunately, I don't think there area  lot of strong centers and gathering points, outside of what people do for employment (usually either tourist/hospitality related, or federal agencies).

I wonder if you would like to share what you would hope to offer to the new surroundings, in terms of like work, skill, knowledge, creative knack, hobby, activity/experience...might be a good way to solicit reciprocal connections.

Even if it's not your habit or preferred approach, I strongly recommend making a practice of exploring the adjacent outdoors as well as reading up on the deep human and natural history of the area - it's an extraordinary, world heritage landscape and worth getting intimate with! If you're near the south entrance, go meet some giant sequoias and stroll up to Chilnualna Pots as soon as it warms enough for a brisk dip

Take some time with it, lots to feel and process but remind yourself to keep moving and interacting in small ways until you are in the swing of it. And post some snapshots here as you go!