July 15 2015

The Day Before…

It’s the day before we head to Mexico to spend the next year living there.

It’s getting late but we’re re-packing again and really hating airline weight limits. Try to pack your entire life into the luggage allotment of one checked and one carry on piece and suddenly you realize Continue reading

July 13 2015

Our Pre-Mexico Vacation Update

Branson

It’s been a bumpy ride here in the Ozarks, literally and figuratively. I no longer have the stomach for the curvy roller coaster roads and neither do my Iowa children-thank goodness for Bonine (like Dramamine but it doesn’t knock you out.) Here’s an update on what we’ve been up to: Continue reading

July 7 2015

Flying High in Arkansas

Hey ya’ll! We are in Arkansas visiting my parents and my dad’s side of the family before we move to Mexico (only 9 days!)

When describing my relatives in Arkansas I often tell people this: “You know the guys who step out of the woods wearing overalls and carrying a shotgun and say “Whatchu doin’ here boy?” That is my family.” Continue reading

July 5 2015

What We Learned By Leaving

leaving

I thought that when we moved out of our house the hard part was over, but it didn’t get any easier. I spent our last two weeks in Iowa Continue reading

June 23 2015

It’s My Birthday! 40 Before 40

40 before 40

My original goal was for us to live by the ocean before I turned 40. At first the plan was to stay in the U.S., but things progressed and, well, next month we’re moving to the island of Cozumel, Mexico. I’d say that goal is met and I need some new ones! Continue reading

June 18 2015

Moving is Messy

Moving is messy

Change is hard. Moving is messy. New beginnings are scary.

We’ve moved out of our house and into my in-laws’ basement, a process that was anything but smooth. Continue reading

June 2 2015

45 Days to Mexico-Moving Out

Planning Cozumel

45 days until Mexico.

June’s last day of second grade was today, and Rory’s last day of kindergarten was last Friday. The last day of school is always a transition, a step up to the next level, but this year is especially poignant as we don’t know when their next year of school might be, if ever.

With school finished we can focus more on the house and the move, and there is a lot to do, especially since our house closes in 2 weeks. Continue reading

May 22 2015

Garage Sale: It All Goes

I think it must feel lovely for a snake to shed its’ skin, scale by itchy uncomfortable scale, as it remakes itself over and over. I felt a little like that snake today.

We have been selling our things this weekend at a garage sale that will be repeated until we leave our house with only suitcases. In less than a month we’ll move out of our house, keeping only what we can carry to Mexico with us. It sounds really drastic, doesn’t it? A radical purge of our lives that will leave us temporarily homeless and almost without possessions. Continue reading

May 15 2015

Boston Strong

Boston

While I was in Boston this March I wandered around getting to know the city on foot, often not knowing where I was. On a chilly day I wandered down to the water after a tour of the Boston Tea Party Museum and walked along the inlet, coming to what seemed to be part of the harbor. I took pictures of the boats tied side by side in rows just beyond the high rises, and marveled at the contrasts of historic past and the modern future that is evident everywhere in Boston. Continue reading

May 14 2015

Teaching the Cat to Fly

travel cat carrier

Part of moving to Mexico means giving up things we have here: our house, our furniture, our wonderful non-stick pans, our large paintings, most of our books (too heavy) and most of our day-to-day items including clothes and toys. I’m ok with that, and the kids have adjusted to the idea. It’s not taking the pets that has been the most difficult for me.

Continue reading