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April Getting/Staying Clean/Sober Thread v. The Snow is Melting!

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Oddly enough I love the snow. But spring symbolizes regrowth and a new start?
 
I love that green-ness, from all the trees that have lost the leaves and then grow them again... and the flowers!!!! Oh man I'm missing Hartford right now. Long walks in the snow are also soooooo much fun, especially with pretty girls and a good dog. Fond memories. I guess I kinda miss Boston a little too.
 
Thanks, POkemama, for the good wishes. I'll remember that!

Funny to me, each of us guessing where other folks live. I have my guesses, but they're probably wrong, and that's ok with me, too.

Some mental porn: if I could choose anywhere to live... assuming my wife and dog would come with me and that we'd be OK financially, where would it be? Hmm? I might choose Bishop, CA. Middle of nowhere. But I can't think of anywhere where I've been happier. Eastern ridge of the Sierra Nevadas. A "quick" hike into the most profound wilderness I've ever been in.
 
Bishop, CA, hahaha haven't though about that place in ages! =D I'd rather live in Julian though, love their apple pie/cider/everything. What about Needles? If you like middle of nowhere, Needles is certainly middle of nowhere (and for the middle of nowhere it is really easy to get to, though it takes forever, and quite famous).

I'd so love to live in Portland. Gotta make that dream a reality, hopefully starting kinda this week. My list reads as follows: Portland, San Francisco, Boston, Hartford, D.C., and after that I'd have to think. Maybe NYC, but I doubt it. I want to live there about as much as I want to live in LA (love hate relationships). Ooooooh I know! Living in Caan would be fracking amazing :D
 
Yeah, with Bishop, it's mostly a fondness for the things that are very close by...e.g.

Evolution-Valley-9-11-113-sm.jpg


man, last time I was in Needles, CA, it was 130 degrees.

portland is undeniably wonderful. i hope you get up there quickly, @toothpastedog.
 
OH BOY OH BOY that looks sooooooooooooooo cool =D

thanks M, that totally made my morning. Reminded me of this base camp that I used when I climbed this glacier with my dad in the high sierras when I was a teen. fond fond memories. Lets see if I can't find some more big sur pics for all of us from last year spring :) sad I'll miss the big sur retreat this spring, but looking forward to their high sierra mindfulness backpacking retreat at the end of the summer this year! It's gonna be so much better than the big sur one, because I'll actually be with people my age as opposed to just old dinosaurs :p (it was still an amazing adventure though, priceless in fact)
 
yeah, the high sierra is as close as i get to believing in anything magic. one of the nice things about getting off dope completely will/would be the chance to spend more time up there. i hate bucket lists... but i guess i have one, and item #1 is hiking the John Muir Trail.

send the pics if you find them!
 
Oh fuck yeah! That is what I did, the full John Muir Trail. Took a while, but was soooooooooo rewarding. It's a PITA considering they have a lottery system for who gets to go, but you could probably bribe someone (I bet that's what my da did LOL). Stuff like that truly make me feel like and see how sobriety is exactly what I want (and need). So motivational! Awesome, awesome awesome awesome :) <3

You old fart :p we'll have to go backpacking some day. That would rock!
 
CH: That sounds so nice... hiking in a state park.... I am guessing CA, but I could be way off track. Between the exercise and the beauty of nature, I am thinking your mood was quite positive.

yes, it was a southern California park. :D

I may post pictures in a minute :)

Yeah, with Bishop, it's mostly a fondness for the things that are very close by...e.g.

Evolution-Valley-9-11-113-sm.jpg


man, last time I was in Needles, CA, it was 130 degrees.

portland is undeniably wonderful. i hope you get up there quickly, @toothpastedog.

I passed through Needles on my way out here when I moved to LA years ago. I didn't know there were such beautiful sights there :D
 
^^
CH, that shot is at Muir pass up in the Sierras, above the little town of Bishop, CA. i think that's at around 12,000' elevation... a long way from needles!

one of my favorite things about the high sierras are the little structures that people have built here and there over the years. the hut in that picture i posted has been there way long than i've been around. they're scattered here and there at the high passes on on some peaks.
 
^^
CH, that shot is at Muir pass up in the Sierras, above the little town of Bishop, CA. i think that's at around 12,000' elevation... a long way from needles!

one of my favorite things about the high sierras are the little structures that people have built here and there over the years. the hut in that picture i posted has been there way long than i've been around. they're scattered here and there at the high passes on on some peaks.

I figured as much. :)

Thank you for sharing your picture :D
 
CH: So I guessed correctly... you did hike in California!! You know I did a road trip throughout the West last year, and visited several CA state parks... some which had recommendations from posters here on BL. I am planning another trip to CA in mid May... this time, though, it will be more restful. This year, also, my length of vacation will be 8 days, as opposed to the 17 days I needed to handle all that driving last year. I will be more touristy this year, visiting some spots and restaurants that have caught my eye.

Last August my road trip included driving north from Colorado into Wyoming, stopping at my friend's wedding, then heading out to Oregon. I camped all the way down the coast (by the way, I made all camping reservations in late February/early March... so important to the hassle free trip I experienced!) from Oregon, to California, with the southernmost camping site at Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu. My drive home was gorgeous... through CA into Reno to stay with some favorite cousins; Utah and back home to CO. The mountains of CA into Nevada were beautiful... of a different type of beauty than the mountains of Colo... but a trip of a lifetime.

To be honest, if I had not been prescribed opiates for my back injuries and my degenerative diseases, I could not have made the road trip a reality. Also, sleeping on a very firm air mattress in my tent gave the exact right support my back needed after those long days of driving. I felt the fresh ocean air also had a restorative quality about it and lessened my pain. I am so blessed to have the time, money and the medication needed to have the opportunity to begin to cross some destinations off of my bucket list.
 
That is truly inspirational P0kemama :) I am so gonna take a road trip where we sleep under the stars. Such a great idea! I want to do PCH like now! Shit sounds amazing!!!! Thank you.
 
After some excellent discussions with folks on BL, I cut my suboxone use to 8mg on Sunday instead of my usual 16. Gonna see what happens if I stick with 8mg/day through the week. This is only my 5th week on the stuff, so I can't imagine my body is too used to 16mg yet. We'll see.
 
If you notice a big difference, either give it a few weeks or go up to 12mg, then go back down in a month. Hopefully you'll be fine on 8mg :)
 
Today marks one month (31 days) without heroin for me. First time that's happened in years.

Dates are arbitrary, but I'll take what I can get. Thanks, all, for helping me get here.
 
Awesome, Jane. Day 7 seven is in the thick of it... so glad you're feeling strong!
 
sim: Congrats on 31 days heroin free... you worked so hard to achieve this goal...you are amazing!! I have a question: when I get clean from opiates, the depression (PAWS) kicks my butt, for like months. Would it be worth using a maintenance type drug in order to treat the depression, or is it not worth it since I would be coming off of pills, not heroin? And, which maintenance drug is the best for depression and some chronic pain relief: suboxone, subutex, or one of the other names I see mentioned here and there on BL? CH and toothpaste: any thoughts that you can share, since you have experience being on maintenance?
Toothpaste: How is the Portland job search going? Will you live with your girl?? Portland is such a cool place... one of my favorite cities. Once you get settled, you should have a BL get together at one of the many chill coffee shops there.
Jane: Congrats on day 7!!
 
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