Today, January 2nd, 2018, is the 45th Anniversary of the day I moved here to Massachusetts from CT. I moved here to start working as a Federal Government Contract Price Analyst at Hanscom Air Force Base (called Hanscom Field at that time). I took the Federal Service Entrance Examination after I received my MBA Degree, which is how I qualified for the career position at Hanscom Field.
I had just $100.00 to my name, and the only place I could find to move into was the Lowell YMCA, where I rented a small room for $11.00 a week.
After living there for two weeks I moved into a furnished apartment in Acton. The rent was $160.00 per month, furnished, and it had a swimming pool….a tennis court….and many single people who enjoyed getting together for parties. I was very fortunate to have found that place, and to have that great job at Hansom. The older I get the more I realize how lucky I was….first, to have been chosen for that career position at Hanscom AFB…and second, to have purchased this home here in Chelmsford a few years later, in 1977.
This is a photo of me painting in that “Viking Village” Apartment in Acton. At that time, I wanted to paint in an impressionistic style, like van Gogh, with patterned brush strokes, as you can see in this photograph. It seems to be in my nature, to paint with evenly patterned brush strokes (sometimes, I still paint that way). I still have that tree painting (shown in the background), which is hanging in my garage today. I gave this horse painting to my brother, as he had a horse by the name of Gray Dixie. I often enjoy looking at those early, primitive and expressive paintings, as they are all emotion and freedom, without following the normal rules of art (which often tend to “tame” us into conformity…..which I don’t like very much….I don’t like following “rules”).
I lived in that apartment in Acton for four and a half years….until I moved into my current home here in Chelmsford, in July of 1977. That was also one of the best decisions I have ever made….to buy this home in Chelmsford.
It has been a memorable 45 years for me, with plenty of ups and downs, as it is with everyone. I never regret though, moving here to MA 45 years ago. I can’t think of a better place to live in this country, than Chelmsford, MA….and I couldn’t find a better neighborhood anywhere.
I have much to be thankful for, as I start a New Year. (I’m one of those “strange, artsy types” of people who write in his journal every morning, printing out, by hand, some of the things I’m thankful for…. That helps me appreciate all the things that I have (health, felines, friends, etc), that are easy to overlook if I didn’t focus on them every morning, by writing them down.)
I hope you all have a wonderful & healthy 2018 as well.