It struck me when I told my friend I needed to clean my swale and go to wood chipping day: I was happily not a city person anymore.

I had vacationed in the Poconos since I was a kid, but living here for the past eight years is a delightful adjustment.

No more “around the corner.” My whole vernacular changed.

Did it perc? How would I know? I didn’t even understand the question.

Septic systems, drain fields, perc tests and turkey mounds. Have water on hand should the electric go out. I learned to budget for septic tank cleaning, snowplowing, firewood and chimney cleaning.

When I was told that my bladder needed replacement, well, I know that I may go often, but how did the plumber know?

Millage, why can’t people pronounce “mileage”?

In the city, the local news is all about traffic. Here, segment after segment, is about the weather. The traffic is always correct, the weather report, not so much, due to the peaks and valleys. I can leave my snow-covered house and drive 3 miles and see no snow at all.

My body has adjusted as well. At 31 degrees I take my winter coat off.

I didn’t realize that I lived on the top of a mountain until I called a contractor who told me he “wasn’t coming up the mountain today.”

When I first saw the birch trees covered in ice leaning over my driveway it looked beautiful, but I worried how I was going to get into my driveway, not knowing that they bounce back just as easily.

We didn’t have fairgrounds in the city with livestock, tractor pulls or demolition derbies. My first demolition derby got me hooked! I eagerly cheered from the crowd’s enthusiasm.

As a true rock and roller, I initially was frustrated that the only radio station I could get was country music. It took some time and hard core listening, but I truly enjoy many country music artists. This is not the country music from my youth.

I’ve definitely learned patience, as there’s really no reason to rush.

A point of pride for transplants is the number of years they’ve been “up here,” and everyone knows the number of years, just like they know their age.

Families that have been here for generations also easily tally the years.

My favorite part of living in the mountains is the scenery and wildlife. Although the first time I saw wild turkeys sitting on the railing of my deck I was terrified. We were eye to eye and I had no idea they were even around. I’ve seen bears, foxes, deer, coyotes, fisher cats (an animal I didn’t know existed), bobcats, bald eagles and the rabbits and toads that live on my property. Fall leaves are an amazing, yet brief, sight.

It has always been my dream to live in the Poconos, and I’m thankful for the people and natural beauty that continue to make this an ongoing learning and living experience.