Over on http://nativerave.blogspot.com/, I gave a recap of week one from a business perspective. Here I will discuss it from a personal perspective...mine only. Over on http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/ will be a hybrid...a little overlapping but new content as well.
With that bit of housekeeping out of the way, let's go...getting out of Corpus Christi seemed impossible. Painting Sage's room and the office took much more time and money than necessary. Finishing the trailer took longer, partly because we had to modify it to suit our specific needs as we went along. Moving from our house into the camper, trailer and storage, selling items the donating others, proved to be a lesson in logistics. A lesson I will not soon forget...which led to a recent status update on facebook that went something like "Dear Friends and Family: Please do not ever give me or anyone in my household another gift. Thank you." Our departure date was pushed back a week, which caused a serious time crunch in our work schedule...and in our checking account. Ouch.
Even the day we left there were severe thunderstorms all around us. We were determined to leave, though, and paddled our way across town. Once we made it to the north side of town, we saw nothing but blue skies with a few pretty fluffy clouds. We took our time as we drove toward Austin. None of our gear hadreally been tested yet, so we pulled over a few times to check locks and hitches, tie-downs and latches. Solid. That night, we stayed with friends in the Austin area. Sage had an overnight playdate and we were able to unwind with our generous friends. (Thanks, Cat and Mike. And thanks to Gretchen for the food. It was incredible!)
The next day we drove to Plano and hooked up in my Dad's driveway. The neighbors probably LOVED seeing our camper and adventure trailer strewn across his three-car driveway. But nobody complained, at least not to us, and we stayed three nights so we could be there early to help him with his garage sale. The sale went well, but you could not help but feel a bit of sadness watching shards of my Dad's memories being carried away by strangers...at a fraction of what they are worth. I was never prouder of my Dad as I was that weekend. Despite the upheaval in his life, he maintained his dignity, even joking with garage sale-regulars as they haggled over a dollar or two. Petty, really. As I watched him, I realized that everything will be just fine for him. The past few years have been tremendously difficult for him: he has endured a divorce, a layoff, the death of his older brother for whom he was the caretaker in his final months, a foreclosure and now being forced to liquidate his possessions, some things he created himself, to raise capital so he can start over again. I'm not betraying his privacy by writing about here. He has been very open about his situation on facebook and with everyone who attended his garage sales. I only mention these details to illustrate how many of life's most stressful events he has suffered in just a few short years. Yet, he still wakes up every morning and makes an effort to find some joy. He maintains a sense of humor...and inspires everyone who knows his story. Maybe today's the day, Dad. Maybe today everything will turn out right. It's your turn to be happy. I love you and am honored to be your daughter.
During the sale on Saturday I received a call from a good friend that one of our high school classmates and his wife were killed in a motorcycle accident early that morning. They leave behind two young daughters and tight-knit family. Rest in peace, Ernie & Elisa Santos.
Sunday morning we "checked out" of Dad's driveway and drove to the campground where we are staying now. On the way, I checked my phone. I had a message from one of David's relatives in West Texas. I returned the call and received another sad message. One of the little ones was killed in a freak accident; she was 4. I had only met her a few times but I sobbed a long time thinking about her short life. Actually, I'm crying again as I write this. Today is her funeral. We are not going because the experience would be too disturbing for Sage. And for us, too. But today we remember that little angel...bless you, Froggy.
This is not quite the adventure I had planned. However, the tragedies have been offset by some very happy moments. Sage rode in the BOB Stroller while I pushed her and jogged. Sheesh, she weighs a lot more than the last time I ran with her. We played on the playground here in the park, then swam in the lake. Daddy took her for a ride yesterday in the bicycle trailer. Folsom has been a model doggie. Our new home-and-office-on-wheels is working out great; we already have ideas for making things more efficient. Naptime and bedtime play out more easily than ever--yessss! I've spent quality time with family and friends this first week and am looking forward to more. Business is thriving! And that's always a great thing...
Overall, I'm grateful for the opportunity to try out this mobile lifestyle. Let's see what we'll do in week 2...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Raw on the road
Preparing raw meals while traveling is easy. Cooking heats the camper too much, so nobody complains when I suggest a bowl of grapes or several bananas for breakfast. We are not 100% raw, which means our dinners sometimes consist of tuna, fresh-squeezed lime juice, cubed avocado and sea salt. The crackers we eat are also not raw but at least so far, we have not cooked any meals this first week of our mobile lifestyle. The challenge is in finding quality fresh produce that everyone (ahem, Sage) will eat. I have discovered that the best and healthiest options are found in the more affluent neighborhoods. Lower-quality foodstuffs are abundant in the poorer communities. And I don't mean necessarily lower-priced foods. It seems that the prices are pretty much the same across the socioeconomic spectrum of communities in DFW, but the quality and quantity is definitely better on the higher end of the income scale. I really have to dig around the produce sections where we are staying now.
But I'm able to blend smoothies! Pics to follow...here they are...
But I'm able to blend smoothies! Pics to follow...here they are...
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| Outdoor food prep table/workstation...complete with dinner bell, pantry, TV mount. Oh, and a gas can. |
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| Side view of outdoor kitchen/workstation |
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Counting Down
We had to push back our departure date by about 4 days because, despite months of planning and preparations, there is still so much to do. When we announced this adventure we had a different camper -- perhaps you remember The Driftah? That camper did not work out, in the end, but we were very fortunate to find El Valor and a small utility trailer. This move is unquestionably the most difficult of our lifetime.
It isn't because we merely have more STUFF -- we do, but that's not the issue. Usually when people move they move room-by-room boxing up their belongings, scrawling something descriptive like "kitchen" on the outside. Everything is in neat little box-towers, and then they slide a dolly under each tower before tilting and rolling it away to be loaded in neat little towers in the back of a truck or moving van. Maybe that's just a fantasy, because no move I've ever made has gone that neatly, that smoothly. First, things that have nothing to do with one another always end up in the same box or bin. No neat little descriptor exists. My boxes have things like "wires, cycling shorts and tax shit." (I wish I were kidding but one of our bins actually has something to that effect written on it. Argh.) My little towers always crumble and something always gets broken. Even the stuff that's professional-quality packed.
The reason this move is more difficult than the others is that nearly every item must be analyzed before it gets "organized" (and I use that term loosely.) Some things are easy: sell the weight bench. I'm not storing another weight bench and set of weights for an undetermined period of time. Done that. Why do we even own this useless piece of equipment? With all the other things going on in our life, we never make time for lifting weights...except in winter when business is slow. So we sold the weights and gave away the weight bench. Done. Most things we had to really think about. Could we use this in the camper or on the trailer? Or should we store it for later? Maybe just sell it or donate it if nobody wants to buy it. This has been a tedious process, to say the very very least.
The other issue is, we didn't really know what we might need. A test-camp (as opposed to test-drive) would answer some of our questions, but not all. We did not know exactly what we would need or could reuse until the trailer was finished. For all you folks with homes WITHOUT wheels (ha), making these decisions would be like moving into a house that's not even built yet. Now that our vehicle configuration is set, and we know how much room we have, we have finally been able to sort our belongings. Final preparations are underway, even as I write this. In fact, David just came inside and asked that I help him outside. One sec, I told him...
Everything that was to be sold, is sold. Tonight we will finish organizing all the debris littering our front yard (tools, extension cords, screws and nails, I think I tripped over a bicycle pump a while ago, too...) Everything that was/is to be stored will be THERE tomorrow. Only two or three truckloads left to move; all but a few items is packed and stacked by the front door. Ready. With oddball labels, yes. The last day will be spent painting the office and Sage's room white, cleaning up the backyard, replacing three sets of blinds, and mopping. We are cleaning as we go so most everything looks great, but I'm leaving the mopping until the very end. Toddler. Terrier. The Husband. 'Nuff said?
Sunday morning, our new life begins. I have mentioned this before, but I want to remind you that after our journey gets underway I will be documenting our experiences at http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/. This blog will return to its original intent: to follow me on my personal journey as mother, wife, writer, etc. Special emphasis will be on living, working and traveling green with my family. Lastly, and also a repeat of a previous post, our business blog will discuss plants and sustainable landscape practices, showcase our projects, announce speaking engagements, and present the impacts of our journey on our business. That blog may be found at http://nativerave.blogspot.com/.
As always, I humbly thank you for reading about my family and our journey toward simplifying our life. If you like what you read, please recommend these 'spots to others. Grateful for you.
It isn't because we merely have more STUFF -- we do, but that's not the issue. Usually when people move they move room-by-room boxing up their belongings, scrawling something descriptive like "kitchen" on the outside. Everything is in neat little box-towers, and then they slide a dolly under each tower before tilting and rolling it away to be loaded in neat little towers in the back of a truck or moving van. Maybe that's just a fantasy, because no move I've ever made has gone that neatly, that smoothly. First, things that have nothing to do with one another always end up in the same box or bin. No neat little descriptor exists. My boxes have things like "wires, cycling shorts and tax shit." (I wish I were kidding but one of our bins actually has something to that effect written on it. Argh.) My little towers always crumble and something always gets broken. Even the stuff that's professional-quality packed.
The reason this move is more difficult than the others is that nearly every item must be analyzed before it gets "organized" (and I use that term loosely.) Some things are easy: sell the weight bench. I'm not storing another weight bench and set of weights for an undetermined period of time. Done that. Why do we even own this useless piece of equipment? With all the other things going on in our life, we never make time for lifting weights...except in winter when business is slow. So we sold the weights and gave away the weight bench. Done. Most things we had to really think about. Could we use this in the camper or on the trailer? Or should we store it for later? Maybe just sell it or donate it if nobody wants to buy it. This has been a tedious process, to say the very very least.
The other issue is, we didn't really know what we might need. A test-camp (as opposed to test-drive) would answer some of our questions, but not all. We did not know exactly what we would need or could reuse until the trailer was finished. For all you folks with homes WITHOUT wheels (ha), making these decisions would be like moving into a house that's not even built yet. Now that our vehicle configuration is set, and we know how much room we have, we have finally been able to sort our belongings. Final preparations are underway, even as I write this. In fact, David just came inside and asked that I help him outside. One sec, I told him...
Everything that was to be sold, is sold. Tonight we will finish organizing all the debris littering our front yard (tools, extension cords, screws and nails, I think I tripped over a bicycle pump a while ago, too...) Everything that was/is to be stored will be THERE tomorrow. Only two or three truckloads left to move; all but a few items is packed and stacked by the front door. Ready. With oddball labels, yes. The last day will be spent painting the office and Sage's room white, cleaning up the backyard, replacing three sets of blinds, and mopping. We are cleaning as we go so most everything looks great, but I'm leaving the mopping until the very end. Toddler. Terrier. The Husband. 'Nuff said?
Sunday morning, our new life begins. I have mentioned this before, but I want to remind you that after our journey gets underway I will be documenting our experiences at http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/. This blog will return to its original intent: to follow me on my personal journey as mother, wife, writer, etc. Special emphasis will be on living, working and traveling green with my family. Lastly, and also a repeat of a previous post, our business blog will discuss plants and sustainable landscape practices, showcase our projects, announce speaking engagements, and present the impacts of our journey on our business. That blog may be found at http://nativerave.blogspot.com/.
As always, I humbly thank you for reading about my family and our journey toward simplifying our life. If you like what you read, please recommend these 'spots to others. Grateful for you.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Departure date pushed back
We have some last-minute preparations for our journey and will need a few more days. Next post will be from the road! Please share this blog and our others with everyone you know. Grateful for you.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A Certain Age
Yesterday I ran a few errands during Sage's naptime. Nothing unusual. I had been painting all day in direct, full-sun. H.O.T. My Jimmy Buffett Party 2006 tour tee and grey-but-originally-black yoga shorts were splattered with white paint. So were my legs...and arms...and eyebrows, I think? My bra was inadvertently left hanging on the handle of my closet door. I had not bathed or brushed my teeth...let alone washed my hair. Yes, supermodels and Playmates everywhere would have withered in the presence of my awesomeness...or my "fragrance"?
Only one block from home, and relatively certain my little girl would be waking up soon, I quickly pulled over to pick up some adult beverages for the weekend. Yes, paint-splattered, and all. As I entered Stripes, two young women walked in behind me. They headed for the same spot in the store, and were very polite when I excused myself as I reached in front of them for my beverage of choice. There is a sign over every register that reads, in blaring letters: "ID required on all tobacco and alcohol transactions." A young guy (probably in his 20s) was getting a lecture from his older colleague about checking EVERYONE's ID. Period. The colleague -- a woman in her late-40s -- looked down at the counter at my beverage, then up at my smiling but white-flecked face. "What's your birthday?" she asked. Not, "May I see your ID, please?" The bikini babes bounced up to the young man's register. Suddenly, there were several older men waiting in line, too. And everyone was staring at the young women in bathing suits.
I thanked the cashier, smiled at the young women -- they were really nice girls -- and went on my way. A guy walking out in front of me nearly crashed into the door because he was looking back at the girls. He opened the door and for a brief moment I thought he was going to hold it for me. He let it sail! Nearly smacked me in the face! But I was already mid-sentence, saying "Thank you" for holding the door. My voice took him by surprise, I think, because he glared back at me as if I had disturbed his concentration. How dare I?
I guess I have become that woman who has reached "a certain age." That age when nobody needs to see your identification and men no longer hold the door for you. That age when you are completely invisible when bikini babes are present. One might think I am bothered by this. I'm not. I was laughing so hard about what had happened that I called my mom. Maybe I was laughing a bit at myself, too, for not recognizing sooner that I am THAT age now. Those girls are easily half my age, and while I must confess I milked life of all it had to offer when I was their age, I don't want to BE their age again. I'm happy with me just the way I am. Paint-splattered and 40 ain't so bad.
Only one block from home, and relatively certain my little girl would be waking up soon, I quickly pulled over to pick up some adult beverages for the weekend. Yes, paint-splattered, and all. As I entered Stripes, two young women walked in behind me. They headed for the same spot in the store, and were very polite when I excused myself as I reached in front of them for my beverage of choice. There is a sign over every register that reads, in blaring letters: "ID required on all tobacco and alcohol transactions." A young guy (probably in his 20s) was getting a lecture from his older colleague about checking EVERYONE's ID. Period. The colleague -- a woman in her late-40s -- looked down at the counter at my beverage, then up at my smiling but white-flecked face. "What's your birthday?" she asked. Not, "May I see your ID, please?" The bikini babes bounced up to the young man's register. Suddenly, there were several older men waiting in line, too. And everyone was staring at the young women in bathing suits.
I thanked the cashier, smiled at the young women -- they were really nice girls -- and went on my way. A guy walking out in front of me nearly crashed into the door because he was looking back at the girls. He opened the door and for a brief moment I thought he was going to hold it for me. He let it sail! Nearly smacked me in the face! But I was already mid-sentence, saying "Thank you" for holding the door. My voice took him by surprise, I think, because he glared back at me as if I had disturbed his concentration. How dare I?
I guess I have become that woman who has reached "a certain age." That age when nobody needs to see your identification and men no longer hold the door for you. That age when you are completely invisible when bikini babes are present. One might think I am bothered by this. I'm not. I was laughing so hard about what had happened that I called my mom. Maybe I was laughing a bit at myself, too, for not recognizing sooner that I am THAT age now. Those girls are easily half my age, and while I must confess I milked life of all it had to offer when I was their age, I don't want to BE their age again. I'm happy with me just the way I am. Paint-splattered and 40 ain't so bad.
10 days
On the twelfth day of moving my true love gave to me...paint and set of brushes.
On the eleventh day of moving my true love gave to me...more paint and more brushes.
What will he give me today, on the 10th day of moving? You guessed it: more paint and more brushes...The truth is, the painting is nearly finished. Yes! One more coat on one side of the trailer and some touching up, then finish the first coat on El Valor. Paint dries rapidly on aluminum siding -- especially in this baking heat -- so we can immediately start the second coat as soon as we finish the first. After all the painting is done, we will outfit the trailer with some neat features. Think, outdoor kitchen.
Simultaneous with the customization will be the move-in to the camper as well as the trailer. Clothing, bed linens and towels will be in El Valor, while toys and books will be in the trailer. It's difficult to plan the configuration in detail without having all our gear ready. In a couple of days, all will be decided. When we know exactly what we need/want/are capable of taking, we can also decide what will be sold, or stored, or donated. The house will be empty for the first time since July 4th 2008.
Although we are cleaning as we clear things out, we still need to deep clean and make a few minor repairs. Two sets of blinds need to be replaced (thanks, Folsom!!!!) and two screens need new mesh (and thanks again, Folsom!!!!) Holes in walls need to be filled and two rooms need to be painted white again. The backyard will take two days alone. Sage's playset must be dismantled and hauled off the property. Because we did not use all of the decking, there is also leftover lumber that must be removed. Remnants of my raised bed garden must be deconstructed and taken away. Finally, the plastic under the rocks in a couple of small places must be replaced (and one more thanks to Folsom!!!!) Wait -- one last thanks to Folsom: we have some poop to clean up! Thanks, buddy!
Ha ha, I'm just kidding, Folsom. We love you more than you will ever know!
There is so much to do that we have not prepared for our moving sale scheduled for today. One Saturday left until the transition is complete; we will postpone it one more week. By next Sunday, everything that's going with us should be in El Valor or the trailer. Everything that we are keeping but can't take should be neatly stacked in storage. The rest should be sold or donated. The house should be clean, repaired and ready for the next tenants, whomever they might be. And then we can begin our journey, wherever it might take us.
Words alone can not fully convey my serenity and gratitude. This is the life I am meant to live, the path I must follow, to be the best Me I can be. Each day I give thanks that I have been paired with a partner (in life, in business, in adventure) who supports and shares my need for an authentic life. I love you, David. Bless you.
On the eleventh day of moving my true love gave to me...more paint and more brushes.
What will he give me today, on the 10th day of moving? You guessed it: more paint and more brushes...The truth is, the painting is nearly finished. Yes! One more coat on one side of the trailer and some touching up, then finish the first coat on El Valor. Paint dries rapidly on aluminum siding -- especially in this baking heat -- so we can immediately start the second coat as soon as we finish the first. After all the painting is done, we will outfit the trailer with some neat features. Think, outdoor kitchen.
Simultaneous with the customization will be the move-in to the camper as well as the trailer. Clothing, bed linens and towels will be in El Valor, while toys and books will be in the trailer. It's difficult to plan the configuration in detail without having all our gear ready. In a couple of days, all will be decided. When we know exactly what we need/want/are capable of taking, we can also decide what will be sold, or stored, or donated. The house will be empty for the first time since July 4th 2008.
Although we are cleaning as we clear things out, we still need to deep clean and make a few minor repairs. Two sets of blinds need to be replaced (thanks, Folsom!!!!) and two screens need new mesh (and thanks again, Folsom!!!!) Holes in walls need to be filled and two rooms need to be painted white again. The backyard will take two days alone. Sage's playset must be dismantled and hauled off the property. Because we did not use all of the decking, there is also leftover lumber that must be removed. Remnants of my raised bed garden must be deconstructed and taken away. Finally, the plastic under the rocks in a couple of small places must be replaced (and one more thanks to Folsom!!!!) Wait -- one last thanks to Folsom: we have some poop to clean up! Thanks, buddy!
Ha ha, I'm just kidding, Folsom. We love you more than you will ever know!
There is so much to do that we have not prepared for our moving sale scheduled for today. One Saturday left until the transition is complete; we will postpone it one more week. By next Sunday, everything that's going with us should be in El Valor or the trailer. Everything that we are keeping but can't take should be neatly stacked in storage. The rest should be sold or donated. The house should be clean, repaired and ready for the next tenants, whomever they might be. And then we can begin our journey, wherever it might take us.
Words alone can not fully convey my serenity and gratitude. This is the life I am meant to live, the path I must follow, to be the best Me I can be. Each day I give thanks that I have been paired with a partner (in life, in business, in adventure) who supports and shares my need for an authentic life. I love you, David. Bless you.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sometimes, a little sorting out just makes sense
I've been writing about the preparations for our adventure here. This blog was supposed to follow my personal journey as a writer, mother, wife...etc. To help to keep things orderly, I've set up a separate blog to follow our family's and business' collective journey. Here's a list of our blogs and their themes:
http://nativerave.blogspot.com/ -- our biz blog. Services, speaking engagements, articles about plants and natural processes, etc. Watch the evolution toward a mobile and sustainable business!
http://christyilfrey.blogspot.com/ -- my personal blog, "christy's writerlust". Experiences as a mobile mommy, wife, writer, Green Queen, entrepreneur.
and the newest...
http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/ --- our adventure blog. Sometimes will overlap with nativerave, sometimes with writerlust. Will also include Sage's perspective and some travel-related topics that do not seem to fit neatly in the other two blogs.
Please subscribe to the other two! So much is changing, and the adventure is really getting exciting. I want to share my enthusiasm with as many people as possible!!!!
http://nativerave.blogspot.com/ -- our biz blog. Services, speaking engagements, articles about plants and natural processes, etc. Watch the evolution toward a mobile and sustainable business!
http://christyilfrey.blogspot.com/ -- my personal blog, "christy's writerlust". Experiences as a mobile mommy, wife, writer, Green Queen, entrepreneur.
and the newest...
http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/ --- our adventure blog. Sometimes will overlap with nativerave, sometimes with writerlust. Will also include Sage's perspective and some travel-related topics that do not seem to fit neatly in the other two blogs.
Please subscribe to the other two! So much is changing, and the adventure is really getting exciting. I want to share my enthusiasm with as many people as possible!!!!
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