diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3051ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# This file marks the directory as a Python package
+# It allows Python to properly import modules from this directory
diff --git a/gurt/__init__.py b/gurt/__init__.py
index 2a841da..1a99e3f 100644
--- a/gurt/__init__.py
+++ b/gurt/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,8 @@
 # This file makes the 'gurt' directory a Python package.
+# It allows Python to properly import modules from this directory
+
+# Export the setup function for discord.py extension loading
+from .cog import setup
+
+# This makes "from gurt import setup" work
+__all__ = ['setup']
diff --git a/gurt/cog.py b/gurt/cog.py
index b1efce9..935a6a4 100644
--- a/gurt/cog.py
+++ b/gurt/cog.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from .config import (
     EVOLUTION_UPDATE_INTERVAL, RESPONSE_SCHEMA, TOOLS # Import necessary configs
 )
 # Import functions/classes from other modules
-from ..gurt_memory import MemoryManager # Go up one level
+from .memory import MemoryManager # Import from local memory.py
 from .background import background_processing_task
 from .commands import setup_commands # Import the setup helper
 from .listeners import on_ready_listener, on_message_listener, on_reaction_add_listener, on_reaction_remove_listener # Import listener functions
diff --git a/gurt/memory.py b/gurt/memory.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a0c2d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gurt/memory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Import the MemoryManager from the parent directory
+# Use a direct import path that doesn't rely on package structure
+import os
+import importlib.util
+
+# Get the absolute path to gurt_memory.py
+parent_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+gurt_memory_path = os.path.join(parent_dir, 'gurt_memory.py')
+
+# Load the module dynamically
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('gurt_memory', gurt_memory_path)
+gurt_memory = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+spec.loader.exec_module(gurt_memory)
+
+# Import the MemoryManager class from the loaded module
+MemoryManager = gurt_memory.MemoryManager
+
+# Re-export the MemoryManager class
+__all__ = ['MemoryManager']
diff --git a/gurt/prompt.py b/gurt/prompt.py
index 5fe9aff..4db0793 100644
--- a/gurt/prompt.py
+++ b/gurt/prompt.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from .config import (
     BASELINE_PERSONALITY, MOOD_OPTIONS, CHANNEL_TOPIC_CACHE_TTL,
     INTEREST_MAX_FOR_PROMPT, INTEREST_MIN_LEVEL_FOR_PROMPT
 )
-from ..gurt_memory import MemoryManager # Go up one level to import MemoryManager
+from .memory import MemoryManager # Import from local memory.py
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .cog import GurtCog # Import GurtCog for type hinting only
diff --git a/gurt/tools.py b/gurt/tools.py
index cbba051..74a1ce2 100644
--- a/gurt/tools.py
+++ b/gurt/tools.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import docker
 import docker.aio
 
 # Relative imports from within the gurt package and parent
-from ..gurt_memory import MemoryManager # Go up one level
+from .memory import MemoryManager # Import from local memory.py
 from .config import (
     TAVILY_API_KEY, PISTON_API_URL, PISTON_API_KEY, SAFETY_CHECK_MODEL,
     DOCKER_EXEC_IMAGE, DOCKER_COMMAND_TIMEOUT, DOCKER_CPU_LIMIT, DOCKER_MEM_LIMIT,