It's been a month since our last entry - whoops! We plan to update every two weeks at the moment until we start to get more exciting things going again. However, we have just got back from a great trip to the UK and Italy over the Christmas holidays, and spent last night doing our yearly ritual to welcome in the New Year. And we're loving our new home. How easy travel was this time.
Our UK time was relaxed and quiet, uneventful apart from lots of crazy weather. We were very fortunate to miss the travel disruptions in and out of the UK with the snow and ice. We had three nights in Italy, and made the most of our time - two nights in Florence and one in Pisa. Highlights included seeing Michelangelo's David in the flesh (stone)(in a near empty gallery), visiting the Uffizi gallery to see some truly famous works of art (such as Botecelli's Birth of Venus), walks around fabulous squares and buildings (in the snow!), and some truly memorable and wonderful food - wonderful Chiantis, tender and delicous pastas and hot chocolates that you could stand a spoon up in! We also got to climb up to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and explore the Field of Miracles - full of marble buidings from the 11th century on. We managed to travel around fairly succefully on Italian trains and buses despite severe disruptions with strikes, broken ticket machines, long lines of passengers and snow cancellations. Good (if cold) times. Hopefully some photos to follow soon.
Now we're back in the USA and preparing for this next year, and all we hope for. In the next few months, we anticipate a trip to California and a visit stateside from Andy's mum and dad, while Evan finishes up his degree by the summer and we stockpile some cash. It's also getting time to organize ourselves for one of our bigger plans this year - which looks like we'll be spending a chunk of time in Vietnam. And travel this year ..... China looms!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
.......
"What are you waiting for?" (Lope De Vega
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Now things start to take off
We are still really really happy to have moved and to have so much more freedom to do the things we want to do. We especially appreciated being here last week with the significant snow and ice and wind - no more power/well/pipe/snowed in worries anymore - made winter fun!
Thanksgiving came and went ... we spent our day eating simply, walking in the snow and making a joint piece of art for our bedroom wall of the path for the next year.
Of course, it's not long now until our Europe trip, so we're getting ready for that. But now the moving dust has settled, we have been developing the plans for 2011 more. Returning to our earlier plan, we are continuing with the ideas and goals we have developed, but we decided to switch them around - partly because it looks like Evan should be finished with his degree a little earlier and so overseas (out of the USA) options are easier. So instead of Hawaii first, we are looking into pursuing the English language teaching path first, and to take some time out next year to live and study in Hanoi, Vietnam, while we learn and become certified as English language teachers. And we'll add in a bit of backpacking around China while we're there. It is best to get the English language teacher's certificate with a Bachelors degree, and so that should be well timed with Evan's degree completion. And of course, this will serve us well to travel more, volunteer more, and eventually when we set up our charity project, to offer the language classes we want to.
And lastly, current book on the reading list (and a gift to Andy from Evan on our anniversary (#8!)) - "Thrive by Dan Buettner" ('secrets from the World's happiest people').
.....
"There is no teacher who can teach anything new. He can just help us remember the things we always knew"(Enigma)
Thanksgiving came and went ... we spent our day eating simply, walking in the snow and making a joint piece of art for our bedroom wall of the path for the next year.
Of course, it's not long now until our Europe trip, so we're getting ready for that. But now the moving dust has settled, we have been developing the plans for 2011 more. Returning to our earlier plan, we are continuing with the ideas and goals we have developed, but we decided to switch them around - partly because it looks like Evan should be finished with his degree a little earlier and so overseas (out of the USA) options are easier. So instead of Hawaii first, we are looking into pursuing the English language teaching path first, and to take some time out next year to live and study in Hanoi, Vietnam, while we learn and become certified as English language teachers. And we'll add in a bit of backpacking around China while we're there. It is best to get the English language teacher's certificate with a Bachelors degree, and so that should be well timed with Evan's degree completion. And of course, this will serve us well to travel more, volunteer more, and eventually when we set up our charity project, to offer the language classes we want to.
And lastly, current book on the reading list (and a gift to Andy from Evan on our anniversary (#8!)) - "Thrive by Dan Buettner" ('secrets from the World's happiest people').
.....
"There is no teacher who can teach anything new. He can just help us remember the things we always knew"(Enigma)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Winter is Quickly Approaching
Well, Winter is fast approaching, but we are not getting ready to hibernate. Life in the condo is brilliant! It's afforded us the ability to spend more time on the things that matter to us, and it will enable us to do a lot more adventuring.
With this in mind, we are looking at the various options we'll have once Evan finishes his degree. The graduation application has been submitted and approved for this Summer being his final term. There are a lot of possibilities, and, in the mean time, we'll be taking some shorter trips to tide us over.
The first of these is back to the U.K. for Christmas. Christmas is not a holiday either of us relish in, but it means a lot to our U.K. family, so we are off next month. Andy has been homesick, and the tickets were surprisingly low for the time of year; this way we can bring some joy to our family in England while also alleviating the homesickness. Being us, however, the U.K. isn't particularly adventurous, so we'll be taking a jaunt to Florence, Italy while we're away! Bought Rick Steve's Guide to Florence and are very impressed with it.... getting excited to put it to good use.
Work is ticking right along for both of us. The spa has been a little slow for Ev, but this means people were anxious to pick up shifts, and the holiday is already covered. Andy is in demand as usual, and his boss was very gracious in her support of his need to go home for the holidays.
Let's see... Ikea trip was a success for the most part, and we settle in more each day. It took us until last week to get some of our art up, but we finally did, and that made it much more our home. Although we'd kind of grown used to the simplicity of bare walls. Next stage is finishing with knick-knack display and clearing out the garage of the stuff we moved over but decided we don't want/need. Then we'll set up part of the garage for an art studio for Andy. The coolest part of our latest house projects is that they are one-time deals. At our old place, it was an unending list which grew ever longer, but in the condo environment, the list gets shorter and shorter. We even feel a bit lost sometimes with the free time we now have.
Enough for now, and we'll post again in a couple weeks. Love to all!
"What are you waiting for?" - Lope de Vega
With this in mind, we are looking at the various options we'll have once Evan finishes his degree. The graduation application has been submitted and approved for this Summer being his final term. There are a lot of possibilities, and, in the mean time, we'll be taking some shorter trips to tide us over.
The first of these is back to the U.K. for Christmas. Christmas is not a holiday either of us relish in, but it means a lot to our U.K. family, so we are off next month. Andy has been homesick, and the tickets were surprisingly low for the time of year; this way we can bring some joy to our family in England while also alleviating the homesickness. Being us, however, the U.K. isn't particularly adventurous, so we'll be taking a jaunt to Florence, Italy while we're away! Bought Rick Steve's Guide to Florence and are very impressed with it.... getting excited to put it to good use.
Work is ticking right along for both of us. The spa has been a little slow for Ev, but this means people were anxious to pick up shifts, and the holiday is already covered. Andy is in demand as usual, and his boss was very gracious in her support of his need to go home for the holidays.
Let's see... Ikea trip was a success for the most part, and we settle in more each day. It took us until last week to get some of our art up, but we finally did, and that made it much more our home. Although we'd kind of grown used to the simplicity of bare walls. Next stage is finishing with knick-knack display and clearing out the garage of the stuff we moved over but decided we don't want/need. Then we'll set up part of the garage for an art studio for Andy. The coolest part of our latest house projects is that they are one-time deals. At our old place, it was an unending list which grew ever longer, but in the condo environment, the list gets shorter and shorter. We even feel a bit lost sometimes with the free time we now have.
Enough for now, and we'll post again in a couple weeks. Love to all!
"What are you waiting for?" - Lope de Vega
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween update
Spent an interesting Halloween watching the now annual Thriller zombie dance in downtown Bellingham - quite fun - the videos are on You Tube for those interested. Also went to Hellingham - an improv murder mystery show at the Upfront Theater (the one owned by Ryan Stikles from Whose Line is it Anyway?). Apart from that we have been busy getting settled in, unpacking, changing addresses, working out our new routines and getting ready to enjoy the increased flexibility that will now be ours with the move to the condo.
We are totally loving the condo and living here - so nice. Very happy. Have a neightbor from Canvey Island, Essex (where Andy's grandparents used to live). Big Ikea trip for tomorrow (discount coupon inhand!). Looking at our travel options while Evan continues with his degree - only three more semesters left ... Looking towards our plans prevously laid out but slightly delayed due to the move .... Lots to get going now ....
That's all for now!
We are totally loving the condo and living here - so nice. Very happy. Have a neightbor from Canvey Island, Essex (where Andy's grandparents used to live). Big Ikea trip for tomorrow (discount coupon inhand!). Looking at our travel options while Evan continues with his degree - only three more semesters left ... Looking towards our plans prevously laid out but slightly delayed due to the move .... Lots to get going now ....
That's all for now!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Goodbye and Hello
We have finally moved! After the last entry there had been more delays and we were letting go and wondering if we were ever actually going to move. We had heard stories of deals falling through up to the day before. So, 8:00 am Monday morning we took Colorado for her morning walk and thought about if we would move soon; by 9:00 am the move was on and it was happening the next day!!! So in short we have spent the last three days in a crazy hectic blur of activity!! And we have moved.
Our last day at the house was on Tuesday, and we did our very best to leave the house clean and welcoming. We performed a closing ritual and said goodbye to all the memories and energies there, and although sad it was fairly easy in the end to close the door and walk away. Andy spent one more moment in the hammock in the orchard under the prayer flags; a walk around the garden - such a mixed blessing! and we were gone (except Andy had to go back quitely a 6:00 am the next day to pick up the Native American axe head left by the moving van...).
The first night in the new place was an exhausted blur (Frances had dog-sat Colorado and made dinner for us); yesterday we got to set up the basic furniture and the internet and phone, and last night we had the skylights open in bed and could see the full moon shining down at us! A real surprise! Neighbors have been friendly and we have already established a routine of a short detour on Colorado's morning walk via the local coffee shop a few minutes away! Bit more our style.
We are enjoying the fire place, the big window (we still have a Mount Baker view), the balcony, the ice maker, the skylights, the garage, the fast internet connection and the stair lift...!!! That's right - we have a stair lift on the interior (garage entrance) stairs - quite fun - we'll never have to wlak up stairs again (though you have to have plenty of time to ride it- plan on an extra 20 minutes to get out of the house) - visitors will now be entertained with our own carnival ride.....
Time to unpack some more.....
.......
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" (Semisonic)
Our last day at the house was on Tuesday, and we did our very best to leave the house clean and welcoming. We performed a closing ritual and said goodbye to all the memories and energies there, and although sad it was fairly easy in the end to close the door and walk away. Andy spent one more moment in the hammock in the orchard under the prayer flags; a walk around the garden - such a mixed blessing! and we were gone (except Andy had to go back quitely a 6:00 am the next day to pick up the Native American axe head left by the moving van...).
The first night in the new place was an exhausted blur (Frances had dog-sat Colorado and made dinner for us); yesterday we got to set up the basic furniture and the internet and phone, and last night we had the skylights open in bed and could see the full moon shining down at us! A real surprise! Neighbors have been friendly and we have already established a routine of a short detour on Colorado's morning walk via the local coffee shop a few minutes away! Bit more our style.
We are enjoying the fire place, the big window (we still have a Mount Baker view), the balcony, the ice maker, the skylights, the garage, the fast internet connection and the stair lift...!!! That's right - we have a stair lift on the interior (garage entrance) stairs - quite fun - we'll never have to wlak up stairs again (though you have to have plenty of time to ride it- plan on an extra 20 minutes to get out of the house) - visitors will now be entertained with our own carnival ride.....
Time to unpack some more.....
.......
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" (Semisonic)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Surrender
We are practicing surrendering to the process. Sometimes situations evolve to a point where we can best take power by recognizing we are not the ultimate authority on the matter.
This has been our theme during this moving process. Our closing date was again delayed because banks and FHA needed more tests and paperwork, and since we have done everything on our end, we have just been waiting and recognizing that everything unfolds as it should. It looks like we will close on Tuesday, and we hope we will. If we don't, though, that's ok too. We have a home, and that is more than many can say, so we are grateful.
In addition to waiting, we have been enjoying our time living out of boxes by eating out more and spending a lot of time doing new things. Since cooking is a challenge with most things packed, we have endulged in meals out more often. We have also spent every day off looking for new things to do like visitng Larrabee State Park. When we first moved here, we went to Larrabee but didn't want to pay to get in, but a few years ago, the courts decided that people shouldn't have to pay twice for park admission; since its funded by taxes, no more admission fees. Gorgeous new beach to have a Trader Joes picnic on... Lovely!
We are using this time to focus on transition. Specifically, we are contemplating the tarot cards for the hanged man and death- these two represent the stages we are in well. It is a time to grieve what we are saying goodbye to and to prepare for a new way of being. We kept that in mind and tried to hold an attitude of somber contemplation while completing the final walk through of what we hope will be our new condo last night.
Our dear friend, Frances, has been a great help by having us over frequently in the last week or two for a meal and good movie or tv show. We really enjoy this respite.
Our next blog may or may not be from our new condo; time and the will of the gods shall tell!!!
"Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state" -Gandhi
This has been our theme during this moving process. Our closing date was again delayed because banks and FHA needed more tests and paperwork, and since we have done everything on our end, we have just been waiting and recognizing that everything unfolds as it should. It looks like we will close on Tuesday, and we hope we will. If we don't, though, that's ok too. We have a home, and that is more than many can say, so we are grateful.
In addition to waiting, we have been enjoying our time living out of boxes by eating out more and spending a lot of time doing new things. Since cooking is a challenge with most things packed, we have endulged in meals out more often. We have also spent every day off looking for new things to do like visitng Larrabee State Park. When we first moved here, we went to Larrabee but didn't want to pay to get in, but a few years ago, the courts decided that people shouldn't have to pay twice for park admission; since its funded by taxes, no more admission fees. Gorgeous new beach to have a Trader Joes picnic on... Lovely!
We are using this time to focus on transition. Specifically, we are contemplating the tarot cards for the hanged man and death- these two represent the stages we are in well. It is a time to grieve what we are saying goodbye to and to prepare for a new way of being. We kept that in mind and tried to hold an attitude of somber contemplation while completing the final walk through of what we hope will be our new condo last night.
Our dear friend, Frances, has been a great help by having us over frequently in the last week or two for a meal and good movie or tv show. We really enjoy this respite.
Our next blog may or may not be from our new condo; time and the will of the gods shall tell!!!
"Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state" -Gandhi
Monday, October 4, 2010
Meeting a real life nomad (and other news)
Things have been pretty busy these last couple of weeks. We were meant to close on the house sale and purchase last week - this was delayed (with more paperwork) until this week - and at present we are waiting to here if we will close this Friday. Things got held up with our buyer delaying water quality tests and additional paperwork. That's all taken care of now, so we are waiing on the banks.
In the meantime, we have been packed and ready to move for a week or so, so we are living out of some boxes and just getting on with it. We have been donating many items and preparing to simplify some more so that our lives will be a lot easier when we move. While we will miss the house, we are looking forward to the ease of travelling and leaving the condo. With this in mind, we have started planning some trips and events...
We have decided to delay a little some of the plans - Evan is going to work on finishing his degree by the summer and it has become more important to Andy to be able to spend some more time in the UK before we hit Hawaii. We are looking at a few shorter trips over the next few months, with a view to getting moved and settled before we attempt some of our bigger ideas. More as these plans develop.
One of the highlights of the last couple of weeks was meeting Rita Golden Gelman - a self-professed nomad. Rita left a very comfortable life in LA to roam the world, living on a few thousand dollars a year, and travelling whereever she felt like, living with local people and learning customs and languages as she goes. She's been a nomad for approx. 25 years. Her book (Tales of a Female Nomad) is terrific. She came to talk about her new book at our local indie bookstore, where we got to listen to some more of her travel adventures, as well as meeting her, shaking hands and having her sign our copy of her book - quite inspiring considering she is in her late 60's (or older) - and still going strong.
we know it's time to get out there again when people start to ask where we are going next - so first off is a trip to Mexico City in the next month or so - currently in the planning process. We would also love to finally get to experience the Northern Lights - another trip in the planning stage.
More news in a couple of weeks - hopefully from our new home. Despite the slight delay, we are feeling very fortunate to have sold our house in the curent market.
.....
"I looked around and thought: There has to be more than one way to do life. There is." (Rita Golden Gelman)
In the meantime, we have been packed and ready to move for a week or so, so we are living out of some boxes and just getting on with it. We have been donating many items and preparing to simplify some more so that our lives will be a lot easier when we move. While we will miss the house, we are looking forward to the ease of travelling and leaving the condo. With this in mind, we have started planning some trips and events...
We have decided to delay a little some of the plans - Evan is going to work on finishing his degree by the summer and it has become more important to Andy to be able to spend some more time in the UK before we hit Hawaii. We are looking at a few shorter trips over the next few months, with a view to getting moved and settled before we attempt some of our bigger ideas. More as these plans develop.
One of the highlights of the last couple of weeks was meeting Rita Golden Gelman - a self-professed nomad. Rita left a very comfortable life in LA to roam the world, living on a few thousand dollars a year, and travelling whereever she felt like, living with local people and learning customs and languages as she goes. She's been a nomad for approx. 25 years. Her book (Tales of a Female Nomad) is terrific. She came to talk about her new book at our local indie bookstore, where we got to listen to some more of her travel adventures, as well as meeting her, shaking hands and having her sign our copy of her book - quite inspiring considering she is in her late 60's (or older) - and still going strong.
we know it's time to get out there again when people start to ask where we are going next - so first off is a trip to Mexico City in the next month or so - currently in the planning process. We would also love to finally get to experience the Northern Lights - another trip in the planning stage.
More news in a couple of weeks - hopefully from our new home. Despite the slight delay, we are feeling very fortunate to have sold our house in the curent market.
.....
"I looked around and thought: There has to be more than one way to do life. There is." (Rita Golden Gelman)
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