Spring is on the way
Another couple of months since my last blog and it’s because, quite honestly, nothing too exciting has been happening to us. We wouldn’t give up our year on the road for anything but boy, we had NO IDEA how much our life would NOT be what we expected upon return. I don’t believe we could have possibly come home to worse economic conditions. Jim is still working at Schwans and still likes the work but the 60-65hr weeks are just killing him. I am still at Dosha and still job hunting for an office, Mon-Fri. job. Right now we seem to barely see eachother between my retail hours and his long hours so it really sucks.
The weekend between Christmas & New Years we moved Ken & Wendy out of this house and us into it. One word of advice…never, and I mean never, move 2 households in 3 days. Yikes! But, we mostly did it. At this point Ken & Wendy’s new house is not yet liveable so they’re still using the guest room and the office but things are moving right along. Ken left Friday for his 1yr deployment to Afghanistan (sad:( ) and Wen should be truly moved out of the camper and into the new house by the end of April. I know she’ll just be on the lot behind us but it is going to be strange not all living together after almost 8 months of being together.
Jim’s birthday is coming up this weekend and I’m treating him to a 1 1/2 hr massage at Dosha and we’re having a party that night. Certainly different than last year when we were cruising the Nile but will be fun anyway! We’re still dying to get away again. We are certainly going to make Jamaica work next year for our 20th anniversary. Silly enough, “Cocktail” was the first movie we saw together and we swore we’d get to Jamaica. Well, 21 years, 43 countries and 5 continents later.. we still haven’t made it! But, for our 20th we are definiately going to finally get to that gorgeous island.
I am starting to plan part of our next extended adventure already. We’re going to start in Mexico, work our way by bus down through Central America, and the circle South America. We’re planning on 3-4 years from now and because we won’t be selling a house this time we’ll have to work sometimes as we go but that’s fine..it will be great to actually be part of a community every so often and we can afford to be away longer that way.
So really, that is it. We’re all moved into the house and, while it’s cool to have all of our “stuff” with us again I have found it doesn’t mean as much to me as it used to. We do have a lot of really great things we’ve collected from all around the world and it makes for an interestingly eccentric decorating style!
Fingers crossed Jim & I get new jobs soon so we can see eachother more and we’ll just keep doing our thing for now while dreaming of travels past and future! God bless you all and happy trails!
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Delighted to find a new post! Darrell and I so enjoyed following in your travels–knew you’d get back to the computer afterChristmas one of these days.
We’ll keep you both in our thoughts as you look for something that is a better fit job-wise. You’re right–who would have guessed that the world economy would have tanked so badly in such a short time? Sheesh.
Darrell and I semi-retired last January; since then our retirement portfolio has performed so poorly that I am back to work again–PT for an agency as a home health nurse. The work is grueling and sometimes thankless, I’m putting too many miles on my car, but the paycheck gets the groceries bought… I’m hoping for no more than a temporary setback–a year or two at most, before we all can get back to doing our “regular” thing. ;D
We’ll keep Ken in our hearts as he heads to Afghanistan, and Wendy too, for having her mate too many miles away.
I shared your site with Aunt Judy and Norm–they were interested in enjoying all the beautriful photos in your travel blog.
Happy Birthday, Jim! Take care, and keep Mexico in your sights.
hi Pennie & Darrell. Good to hear from you and good luck to you as well. We knew coming home would be difficult for the culture shock but I thought I’d go back to my job, etc. Who knew! But hey, we’re doing well and it’s not bad for any of us to re-learn how to live on less. Believe me, we are still so much better off than most people we met over the previous year!
Hope to see you guys again soon. Take care!
So glad to hear from you both again! We loved following your journey rtw and glad to hear what you are up to these days. Yes, who coulda or woulda thought the economy could ever get to where it is today. We came back fro our travels in July 08 and I just started a job two weeks ago….to say we were just a little shocked would not be honest!!
Glad to hear that you are going to continue your journey and we look forward to hearing all about it!
Have a great b-day…..Jim
Keep posting!
Hi Lynn, Yep, I’m sure you were as shocked as we were.. If only we’d known we would have spent $$ differently and stayed away longer but hey..what can ya do!
Glad you’re working again..now time to start planning another trip!
Hi guys, i have kept track of your travles and think that your travles sound so great. I have travled around Europe some and have been to mexico. I will say a little prayer for your return back on the road soon. Aunt Joanne