A sequel to Fleeing Baltimore is underway: Arriving in Idaho: Building my cabins at the edge of the wilderness, a memoir of cabin building and a personal case study of internal migration to a red state sanctuary from blue-city mayhem.
This transformative journey lays the foundation for a new life by building cabins at the edge of the Idaho wilderness. This bold endeavor marks the beginning of a story filled with resilience and self-discovery.
Belliveau ponders whether the stark contrasts between her past and Idaho’s wild landscapes draw her westward. This introspective question sets the stage for an exploration of opposing forces shaping her destiny.
The journey to Idaho unfolds as an almost surreal cross-country drive, with the roads empty due to the Covid-19 lockdowns, and disorienting moments when visibility drops to zero, heightening the stakes of her westward trek.The pivotal moment of arrival brings a mix of relief and anticipation. Belliveau steps onto Idaho soil, ready to embrace the new chapter awaiting her.
The Maryland transplant finds echoes of Appalachia’s rugged hills in Idaho’s terrain. Warmth and support greet Jeannette through her host family. Their hospitality eases her transition, offering a first taste of Idahoan community. Embracing a nomadic beginning, Belliveau settles into a travel trailer; adaptability is essential to build a life from scratch. The search for a true home intensifies as Beliveau explores Idaho. This quest becomes both a physical and emotional journey toward belonging.
Descending from Kooskia into Kamiah for her first winter, Belliveau experiences a shift in perspective. Physical and emotional adjustments follow. The natural curves of the Bitterroot range, and an earlier trip to Irelan encountering the Gallarus Oratory, inspire an idea to build arched cabins. Inspired by YouTube videos, like so many other builders of alternative homes, the video channel, and in particular the Base Camp WNC channel run by Eric Bellin, become a guidestar. These resources become key tools in her construction process, as well as her father’s dragooning of her to do drywall work at age 8 for an addition to the family home.
Hands-on effort takes center stage as Belliveau constructs her cabins. Backbreaking labor, including having to move a ton and a half of porcelain tile on her own, and determination to shape her rural-near-wilderness home.
Navigating the challenges of integration, Belliveau works to find her place in a new community. Belliveau reflects on her identity through an unexpected political lens. This personal exploration of belonging adds depth to her Idaho experience. With a playful tone, she offers a guide to the local dialect and customs, and the quirks of Idahoan life.
Blending history with personal narrative, Jeannette weaves Idaho’s past with her present. Small details prove critical as Jeannette learns their outsized impact. This reflection underscores the importance of every step in her relocation. Belliveau also analyzes pivotal errors in judgement the Idaho Four, student victims in Idaho.
A malfunctioning door — and a related relationship — become mended, as Belliveau eases into the community. Her bucket list trip on the wild Salmon River reconnects her with the world of the intellect when she and a friend join a cosmopolitan group. She reward herself with a pampered trip that revealsthe rugged beauty of her new state.