Homeless by choice

Being homeless by choice is a weird state. We lived in the same place for the last 15 years and always during that time felt like we would live there till retirement or longer. We built the house from our own drawings and spent years working on it as a family. Then we decided we were ready to give it all up for another dearm.

We wondered how long it would take to feel displaced. How long would it take to feel like we just want our own space, our own stuff, our own house. We were not sure how long it might take to feel sad about what we gave up, if we would feel disconnected.

Turns out, not so much. I like not being tied to a particular place and being open to the possibilities it gives us. I am very much o.k. with packing up all our personal belongings and planting them somewhere else. We have been asked so often lately what we are doing next or when we will build our house and we very easily reply, ”we don’t know yet, we have no definite plans.”

We have learned to call the place we are in the moment “home”. We have embraced the closeness we have found in being together. We have learned that home is where we are.

It’s funny how one might think that they could never sell their biggest possession, pack their belongings and live in the moment. I never would have thought it was so possible or so much fun…

The journey is our goal…..

We want to see the world and know it more deeply, connect deeper with ourselves as individuals, as a family and with others and experience freedom, bliss and peace in new and profound ways with time to bask in it and breathe it all in and serve the Lord with every step.

No matter how far or how often we travel, we follow a thin line, leaving much of the world unseen, most people unmet, and many foods untasted.

We each travel along a small line. It isn’t even that important where your line goes, just what you make of it.

balance

What do I want out of life….

I want to live a life of balance. I watch the people around me and others that we meet and see how many aspects of their lives are out of balance. They seem to always be adjusting this way and that trying to find a place of happiness. I think that we are right now and for the last while been on a journey to find family, personal, social, work and spiritual balance in our life.

I am realizing that a change is one area will impact the other areas of my life. It even creates some excitement for life as I embrace and seek balance. It is a constant process of adjustment through reflection and planning.

There are many questions. Such as, am I enjoying my time here on earth, how can I discover my purpose, can I live by my values with pride and how can I make better choices. These are all things I need to think about.

Without taking time to reflect on if my life is in balance it is easy to think everything is fine. I think it is worth a bit of time and prayer.

contentment

I read this story today and thought it was so true...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

“Not very long,” answered the Mexican.

“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life.”

The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.”

“And after that?” asked the Mexican.

“With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.”

“How long would that take?” asked the Mexican.

“Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American.

“And after that?”

“Afterwards? Well my friend, that’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” asked the Mexican.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.”

by M. Nolan

Moved in....

We have had an amazingly busy month again. I think we will have some time now to settle as we are in our new house ( house sitting) till April. We are still using someone elses' "stuff" but we are settled. The problem with being settled and having time to think is that I still think about travel and where we could go next. I try with all my might to think of the things I need to do right now, like taxes, cleaning, making supper.....you know the regular things. But my thoughts always go to what is next, where should we go, who will we meet next.


I am reading the Shack by WM Paul Young for the second time. I like this book and ever since I read it have wanted to read it again. It puts such a different perspective on our journeys in life and how we experience God through them and how we heal in different ways. I read a quote yesterday that I liked.

Growth means change and
change involves risk, stepping
from the known to the unknown.
-Author Unknown

Everyone's unknown looks so different and everyone's change is not the same. One person's risk may look completely opposite of another's.

I love how we are all so similar and yet so different.

Home again!

We arrived home on December 23rd at 2am, just in time to do a little last minute prep. for Christmas. We all having been feeling a little out of the holiday mood so far, mostly because of the lack of extended family time, snow, school programs and Christmas parties that we missed while we were gone. But it felt great to be back in time for the Christmas eve program at church and that helped throw us back into it.

We moved back in with Don & Ang over the holidays and will be moving back to town in early Jan. to stay at the home of some friends as they take time in Arizona for the winter months. It will be great to have a home base again for the winter. As we settle in we will start to plan our new home and what travel plans might be in store for us in late winter/early Spring.

We feel so blessed to have such great friends and family that have supported our crazy life. I have had to explain way less in the last while about the choices we have made this last year. I think it helps that our key "people" understand what the plan is and why. It feels good to know there are at least some people who "get it" and can be our voice when others say we are nuts.

Yes, i know we are nuts, but in a good way.....(-:

Family time

We had a great day hanging out, driving around Northern Arizona, doing some rock collecting and eating home cooked food in our kitchen.

We had to do an 11/2 hr. time share spiel this morning to "pay" for our free stay in the condo. It was fairly pain free. We do NOT now own a time share but DO love our free stay in the wonderful Highlands Resort. The kids did a couple of games of mini golf as we were schmoozed and quickly led out the back door after our not saying yes to the timeshare. Hee hee

After a nice lunch at our condo we went to meet a lady from Cottonwood who collects rocks from all over the U.S. She had some great directions and info for us and we took off in the great rock search. Rock hounding in the mountains is a bit different than in Souris. First there is lots of driving up and down mountains. Trying to find dry creek beds and cuts in the banks of the road. We ended up having a great day and found some amazing rocks. Dean will have fun cutting and polishing them when we get home.

This evening we had another great home cooked meal and headed for the pool and hot tub. There was another family there while we were there. The kids had a great time playing tag and learning to "surf". What fun it is to meet another great family to spend a few hours with,trading stories and of coarse Miranda now has another best friend. They traded e-mails and hopefully can keep in contact.