What if we all quit taking more than we really need?
I saw the movie "The Book of Eli" with Denzel Washington this year. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it. Without giving spoilers, I will say that the movie is set in a post-apocalyptic future. In one scene, someone asks Denzel Washington, "What was it like before?" His response (not verbatim) is, "Before? Well, people had more than they needed. They threw away things that people would kill for now."
Is that not the perfect description of how we, at least in developed countries, live? We take more than we need and throw away things that others literally die without. So many of us, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum, can see that our behavior is not good for the earth. Whether or not we believe in Global Warming, whether or not we believe Global Warming is man made, we know that our actions at present are unsustainable. We know that at some point in the future our trajectory will lead to certain doom.
Take a look around your house, just what you can see from where you sit. How much do you see that you rarely (if ever) use? Why do you have it? I mean sure, maybe you use x item every Christmas or y item every time there's snow in July. Wouldn't it be more sustainable to just borrow x and y when you need them? I mean, how revolutionary would it be to borrow/rent Holiday decorations rather than buying them, paying for the storage containers to hold them year round, then on top of that, paying for extra square footage in your dwelling to store those?
Look at all the gadgets and dishes in your kitchen. Do you use all of them on a daily (or even weekly or monthly) basis? Why do you have them? Have you ever used them? Could you live without them? Is it possible to keep only what you use regularly and borrow from someone else on the other occasions? Take stock of all of the goods in your house. How much lingers in every room, every closet, every nook and cranny that you don't use?
Now don't misinterpret me. I am not in any way suggesting that any of us live without what we truly need (food, clothes, shelter), nor am I even suggesting that we live without what we want. My family each owns their own laptop. We don't need them, but to get along in today's society, it is extremely handy for us each to have one. What would be wasteful of us is to replace them any more frequently than when they are no longer serviceable. Do you remember the days when people drove cars until they could no longer be driven?
Even in clothing we each have more than we need. I had a small child visiting in my home today. During a conversation about people conquering people since the dawn of man, she asked why people could do that when, "It's so mean!" I said, "Because people tend to feel like they never have enough. They conquer other groups in order to take more." This led us down a path of, "How much does a person really need?" Another child suggested that all we really need is two sets of clothes: one set to wear while we wash the other set.
She made an excellent point. Even my minimalist family has eight sets of clothes each: One for each day of the week and one to wear on wash day. I'm comfortable with the amount of clothes my family presently has and don't see the need to step it down another level. But what else could we reduce?
The biggest question here is, "What would the world look like if, right now, everyone decided to stop taking more than they need?"
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
On the road again...
Woohoo! The Dharma family has hit the road...
We left on March 8th and headed for Sarasota, Florida. It took us a couple days to get to Florida and we apparently brought the Texas rain storms with us. Some where around Tallahassee we discovered that one of our vents has a leaky seal, but that's okay, it only leaks in if we're not level. We'll get it replaced soon, but we're parked for now somewhere level, so we're not worried at the moment.
We came pretty directly to Sarasota to visit with an awesome unschooling family who lives in the area. We're waiting to visit Disney World until after Spring Break, so sometime the second week of April or so.
If you're somewhere in the U.S. and would like a visit from us sometime over the next year, drop us a line and let us know! After Florida, we'll be headed to North Carolina, and other points North.
We left on March 8th and headed for Sarasota, Florida. It took us a couple days to get to Florida and we apparently brought the Texas rain storms with us. Some where around Tallahassee we discovered that one of our vents has a leaky seal, but that's okay, it only leaks in if we're not level. We'll get it replaced soon, but we're parked for now somewhere level, so we're not worried at the moment.
We came pretty directly to Sarasota to visit with an awesome unschooling family who lives in the area. We're waiting to visit Disney World until after Spring Break, so sometime the second week of April or so.
If you're somewhere in the U.S. and would like a visit from us sometime over the next year, drop us a line and let us know! After Florida, we'll be headed to North Carolina, and other points North.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Where in the world is the Dharma Family?!
So often from people we have known for some time we hear, "Gosh, I thought you guys would have been halfway across the country by now." Well, we have been halfway across the country, several times over the last few years. In 2007, we went to TN, MI, PA, MA, NH, DC, and back home again. In 2008, we expanded a similar trip and visited OK, MN, MI, PA, NH, VT, NY, NC, and back home again. In 2009, we drove the other direction and went to NM, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WY, UT, CO, OK, and back home again (only home was in San Antonio, TX instead of Austin, TX).
Where has 2010 taken us? So far, it's taken us to CA, NV, AZ, NM, and home came with us after CA where we picked up an even better RV than we had in January. So where is home now? Home is in Austin, TX of all places! We know, you'd think with an RV in our possession we'd be halfway across the country by now. Nope. That's okay, we're taking time to spend with loved ones here in TX, so many friends we made over the 5 years we lived in Austin, it's hard to say goodbye.
March will have us moving house (literally, this time) and you can check back here to find out where in the world the Dharma Family has gone...
Where has 2010 taken us? So far, it's taken us to CA, NV, AZ, NM, and home came with us after CA where we picked up an even better RV than we had in January. So where is home now? Home is in Austin, TX of all places! We know, you'd think with an RV in our possession we'd be halfway across the country by now. Nope. That's okay, we're taking time to spend with loved ones here in TX, so many friends we made over the 5 years we lived in Austin, it's hard to say goodbye.
March will have us moving house (literally, this time) and you can check back here to find out where in the world the Dharma Family has gone...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
From dream to reality...
For those who aren't aware, for as long as I can remember I've wanted to travel the world. I recall a specific conversation with my brother when I was 12 (my brother was 17 and going off to college soon) that went something like this:
B-"So Andrea, where do you think you want to go to college?"
Me-"I'm only 12! I'm too young to think about that."
B-"Actually 12 is the age you should start thinking about it, I wish I had started planning before I got to high school, it would have made it so much easier."
Me-"Well, I don't know, I don't think I want to go straight to college after high school. I don't really like school that much and I'd like some time off so I don't burnout, you see that all the time, you know."
B-"That's silly, what will you do instead, work at McDonald's?"
Me-"No, I'll travel around the world, go see all the places I've never been."
B-"And with what money? Mom's not rich you know. Only rich kids get to do stuff like that."
Me-"Well I won't need much money, I'll just buy an RV and travel around the U.S. and then take it to Europe and travel there and Asia, then to Australia, then fly to Hawaii and see it, then maybe I'll go to college."
B-"You can't take an RV to Europe, you have to fly and it's too expensive to ship cars."
Me-"Well then, I'll sell my RV before I leave the U.S. and buy a new one in Europe. I probably won't need one for Australia, I'll just go to Sydney and look around by car."
B-"You still haven't told me where you're going to get the thousands of dollars it'll take to do all that."
Me-"I'll work while I travel, each place I go, I'll stay for a little while, long enough to really explore the area and then move on."
B-"Hmph, that's not practical, you're just dreaming."
And so I was. And I kept dreaming this dream for a long time, when I got married, I included my husband and then the kids. And for a long time I didn't think it was practical or possible. Then I started hearing about people doing it and I met a family who were just settling down in Austin, TX after having traveled for 5 years. They called themselves the Barenaked Family.
Not only did this family inspire me to live my dream, but they inspired me to cherish my children. Not to say I didn't cherish my children before, but it was an entirely different experience to look at my children and not see them as an inconvenience or people who needed to be controlled, but as individuals with their own dreams, hopes, desires, and fears.
From there, the rest was downhill. I started seeking out information and methods for self-improvement that would be in line with my values. I participated in some courses from Landmark Education that enabled me to truly let go of the past and live in the present.
Through that, I find myself with RV in hand; definite, solid plans for income to make the RV livable and then a rough idea of how to make a go of it. While you may think that "rough idea" means we're not ready, quite the opposite...I like rough ideas. I am ever-changing and adaptable. Fortunately my husband and children trust me enough to know that whatever happens, whatever I choose, their needs and wishes will be respected.
We plan to hit the road in the new year, January, to be precise.
B-"So Andrea, where do you think you want to go to college?"
Me-"I'm only 12! I'm too young to think about that."
B-"Actually 12 is the age you should start thinking about it, I wish I had started planning before I got to high school, it would have made it so much easier."
Me-"Well, I don't know, I don't think I want to go straight to college after high school. I don't really like school that much and I'd like some time off so I don't burnout, you see that all the time, you know."
B-"That's silly, what will you do instead, work at McDonald's?"
Me-"No, I'll travel around the world, go see all the places I've never been."
B-"And with what money? Mom's not rich you know. Only rich kids get to do stuff like that."
Me-"Well I won't need much money, I'll just buy an RV and travel around the U.S. and then take it to Europe and travel there and Asia, then to Australia, then fly to Hawaii and see it, then maybe I'll go to college."
B-"You can't take an RV to Europe, you have to fly and it's too expensive to ship cars."
Me-"Well then, I'll sell my RV before I leave the U.S. and buy a new one in Europe. I probably won't need one for Australia, I'll just go to Sydney and look around by car."
B-"You still haven't told me where you're going to get the thousands of dollars it'll take to do all that."
Me-"I'll work while I travel, each place I go, I'll stay for a little while, long enough to really explore the area and then move on."
B-"Hmph, that's not practical, you're just dreaming."
And so I was. And I kept dreaming this dream for a long time, when I got married, I included my husband and then the kids. And for a long time I didn't think it was practical or possible. Then I started hearing about people doing it and I met a family who were just settling down in Austin, TX after having traveled for 5 years. They called themselves the Barenaked Family.
Not only did this family inspire me to live my dream, but they inspired me to cherish my children. Not to say I didn't cherish my children before, but it was an entirely different experience to look at my children and not see them as an inconvenience or people who needed to be controlled, but as individuals with their own dreams, hopes, desires, and fears.
From there, the rest was downhill. I started seeking out information and methods for self-improvement that would be in line with my values. I participated in some courses from Landmark Education that enabled me to truly let go of the past and live in the present.
Through that, I find myself with RV in hand; definite, solid plans for income to make the RV livable and then a rough idea of how to make a go of it. While you may think that "rough idea" means we're not ready, quite the opposite...I like rough ideas. I am ever-changing and adaptable. Fortunately my husband and children trust me enough to know that whatever happens, whatever I choose, their needs and wishes will be respected.
We plan to hit the road in the new year, January, to be precise.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
And so life goes on...
So as is obvious, we've just been so busy with living life, we haven't had time to blog.
Since the last blog in August, Aurora and Karma have turned 16 and 15 respectively. Aurora ended up staying with her boyfriend's family in PA for nearly 2 months (just 5 days shy of) and she had a great time but also discovered she doesn't like being away from her family for so long.
Shane has decided the military is best for him, but not the American one. On December 15, he's flying to France to join the French Foreign Legion. He's been staying with his grandma near Amarillo since September, so the rest of us will be driving up there to visit with him and drive him to Dallas for his flight. Keep him in your thoughts for a successful journey!
Oh yes, we scaled down into our smaller place, which promptly flooded and there was mold growing everywhere and the conditions were generally unsafe, so we moved in with Andrea's mom for the time being. Rather than getting another place, we're working to just get an RV and hit the road together.
Aurora and Karma put in a lot of applications at various establishments in the local mall, only Karma has so far gotten a job, though. She works for a cheese steak place and she loves her job.
Andrea is wrapping up her final semester at the local college and will start at University (online) in January. She has decided that pursuing a Bachelor's degree will increase her chances of finding work for pay after we head to Europe, so that's what she's doing. Also, she just loves to learn. :)
Caed is working on teaching himself programming and plans to buy himself a C++ programming book after Christmas. For those who aren't aware, instead of buying each other potentially useless presents for Christmas, we distribute family money to each individual who is then able to spend it in whichever manner pleases them the most. This keeps our consumerism down and helps to ensure that we're not acquiring unnecessary goods.
That's about it folks, we'll keep you posted!!
Since the last blog in August, Aurora and Karma have turned 16 and 15 respectively. Aurora ended up staying with her boyfriend's family in PA for nearly 2 months (just 5 days shy of) and she had a great time but also discovered she doesn't like being away from her family for so long.
Shane has decided the military is best for him, but not the American one. On December 15, he's flying to France to join the French Foreign Legion. He's been staying with his grandma near Amarillo since September, so the rest of us will be driving up there to visit with him and drive him to Dallas for his flight. Keep him in your thoughts for a successful journey!
Oh yes, we scaled down into our smaller place, which promptly flooded and there was mold growing everywhere and the conditions were generally unsafe, so we moved in with Andrea's mom for the time being. Rather than getting another place, we're working to just get an RV and hit the road together.
Aurora and Karma put in a lot of applications at various establishments in the local mall, only Karma has so far gotten a job, though. She works for a cheese steak place and she loves her job.
Andrea is wrapping up her final semester at the local college and will start at University (online) in January. She has decided that pursuing a Bachelor's degree will increase her chances of finding work for pay after we head to Europe, so that's what she's doing. Also, she just loves to learn. :)
Caed is working on teaching himself programming and plans to buy himself a C++ programming book after Christmas. For those who aren't aware, instead of buying each other potentially useless presents for Christmas, we distribute family money to each individual who is then able to spend it in whichever manner pleases them the most. This keeps our consumerism down and helps to ensure that we're not acquiring unnecessary goods.
That's about it folks, we'll keep you posted!!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
You know you're having fun when...
So we finally finished the post today regarding our vacation. If you notice that the posts got less descriptive, that's because we've been back for a month now, we originally started typing the day we got home. So for those of you near the end of the vacation, no we didn't have less fun with you, it's just been longer. We're not even sure we got some events on the correct days, but oh well, you've got the picture.
So you know we're having fun when we don't finish a post for over a month. We've just been living our lives as it works for us.
Andrea's been continuing college, got C's for the two classes she took while on vacation and A's for the two classes she finished last week. Sam's been keeping up the house in Andrea's extreme absence and distraction. Shane has found a good job, met a nice girl and is moving out tomorrow. Aurora has a "boyfriend" though they're not declared yet, but she is going up to Pennsylvania to see him next month. Karma continues her work, both at her art and in her housecleaning business. Caed is 13 today and is growing like a weed. He sits between Andrea and Aurora in height at the moment, we anticipate that he may someday be the tallest person in the house.
We'll be scaling down to a smaller house soon in preparation for even smaller living quarters. We're having a huge yard sale over Labor Day weekend, so if you live near Converse, Texas, come buy some of our stuff!!
So you know we're having fun when we don't finish a post for over a month. We've just been living our lives as it works for us.
Andrea's been continuing college, got C's for the two classes she took while on vacation and A's for the two classes she finished last week. Sam's been keeping up the house in Andrea's extreme absence and distraction. Shane has found a good job, met a nice girl and is moving out tomorrow. Aurora has a "boyfriend" though they're not declared yet, but she is going up to Pennsylvania to see him next month. Karma continues her work, both at her art and in her housecleaning business. Caed is 13 today and is growing like a weed. He sits between Andrea and Aurora in height at the moment, we anticipate that he may someday be the tallest person in the house.
We'll be scaling down to a smaller house soon in preparation for even smaller living quarters. We're having a huge yard sale over Labor Day weekend, so if you live near Converse, Texas, come buy some of our stuff!!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Back from Vacation!
To the best of our mutual recollections, we will give you a highlights rundown:
Day 1 Wednesday June 17th
As we were packing to leave, we got the call that informed us our beloved kitty of 8 years, Cyrano had passed away. Our departure was delayed by picking him up from where he was being cat sat and taking him to the vet for cremation.
We departed close to noon and arrived to Sam's mom's house around 10pm. We had some dinner, some conversation and went to sleep.
Day 2 Thursday
We slept in until about 10am and then spent most of the day visiting with Grandma. We departed Amarillo at about 6pm and drove to New Mexico. We found a state park in New Mexico and everyone went to swim in the lake.
Day 3 Friday June 19th
We spent most of Friday driving from New Mexico to Arizona. We stopped in Winslow, AZ at a Wal-Mart and went down to the corner to stand and see if we could see any girls in flat-bed Fords slowing down to take a look at us, ala the Eagles.
We arrived to a campground in Flagstaff after dark where we parked for the night to sleep.
Day 4 Saturday June 20th
After waking up in Flagstaff, we drove up to the Grand Canyon as Andrea was the only one who had ever been before. We spent most of the day at the Grand Canyon. In the evening, we drove down to Route 66 and went to a restaurant in Williams, AZ called the Pine Country Restaurant...it was tasty!!
From there, we drove up through the Hoover Dam, arriving well after nightfall. Despite the darkness, we recognized several scenes from the first Transformer movie. We arrived to the Valley of Fire State Park in NV just after 1 am.
Day 5 Sunday June 21st
The sun in the Valley of Fire woke us up at about 6 am. We tried fruitlessly to sleep until 7am when it was so boiling hot in the tent and the van that we just had to escape.
Since it was Father's Day, we decided to surprise Dad by taking him down to Vegas to gamble. Dropped the kids off at the mall with money and then had lunch. Dad revealed he didn't like gambling. Eh. We roamed around the MGM hotel instead.
Day 6 Monday June 22nd
Sun woke us up early again. Kids roamed around the rocks for a few hours and then we went down to Vegas to explore the strip some more. We rode the inclinators in the Pyramid hotel (snuck in!), and wandered about the town until we were exhausted.
Day 7 Tuesday June 23rd
We managed to sleep in until 6:30 am. Today, the kids goofed off for hours, Shane and Aurora made a bid to climb the highest peak in our campground. They didn't quite make it. Eventually, we checked out of the campgrounds and wandered down to Vegas to get the oil changed on the van. We were waiting until after dark to drive through Death Valley. Finally, we went down to Circus Circus so the kids could check out the casino with the amusement park. The girls rode a coaster, we were amused. :)
Day 8 Wednesday June 24th
We arrived at Malibu State Park in L.A. around 6 am. We slept in the van outside the gate until they opened at 8am. When the rangers got in, we checked in and found our campsite. We got set up and ran to the nearest little town to do laundry. When we got home, we found some "hippies" setting up camp next to us. We went over, introduced ourselves and went back to our own camp around 3 am, after the rangers broke up the party. :D
Day 9 Thursday June 25th
We went down to explore Wilshire Blvd, etc. We ended up getting pretty lost and drove Mulholland Freeway. We sang alot of Tom Petty.
Day 10 Friday June 26th
Caed went to his first day of the Forum and the rest of us hung around camp and then went to a Barnes & Noble so Andrea could take a test for her online classes. We picked up Caed and went for a dip in the ocean.
Day 11 Saturday June 27th
On our last night in Malibu, we spent the evening at camp, met some ladies from Venezuela and Karma gave them a tarot reading.
Day 12 Sunday June 28th
Caed finished up his Forum and then we headed up to Sacramento to see the kids' mother, Faith. Due to horrendous L.A. traffic, we didn't get up there until 1am.
Day 13 Monday June 29th
Spent the day hanging out with Faith and her boyfriend, Doug. Went to therapy with Faith, discussed the adoption, got everything settled.
Day 14 Tuesday June 30th
Just hung out with Faith and Doug at their place.
Day 15 Wednesday July 1st
Began a caravan with Doug and Faith and Doug's daughter, Kira to Oregon. We stopped alot and had 9 people to feed, so as a consequence, we didn't arrive to Faith's Dad's place until about 1 am.
Day 16 Thursday July 2nd
Got up and explored Gary's land on Larch Mountain, beautiful area! Shane, Karma, and Caed stayed on the mountain to hang out with family; Sam, Andrea, and Aurora went down to Tualatin to visit with Andrea's cousin, Gabby.
Day 17 Friday July 3rd
Sam, Andrea, and Aurora spent through lunch with Gabby and her family, then headed back up the mountain for the weekend. Went up and spent some time talking with Faith's family, good time camping.
Day 18 Saturday July 4th
Continued camping, Aurora went for an ATV ride with Shane, went to fast and was thrown off, only to get run over by the ATV. Trip to the ER! Fortunately, she was not broken, just deeply bruised, days of crutches ordered by doctor.
Went out to fireworks after ER (Aurora was piggybacking with Andrea for the most part), fireworks show was rather lame, all resolved to not attend again. On the walk back to the car, Andrea found a $20 in the road. :)
Day 19 Sunday July 5th
Doug and Faith needed to head home, so they bid goodbye early in the morning. We remained with her Dad, Gary, visiting. Andrea's Dad and step-mom came over and spent some time with the family. Good times.
Day 20 Monday July 6th
Headed down to Portland to stay with Faith's sister, Heidi and her family. Hung out in the basement and upstairs, visited lots.
Day 21 Tuesday July 7th
Went back to Tualatin to visit with Gabby again and see another of Andrea's cousins, Rachel and her two girls. Played at the park with them for a few hours before heading out to dinner at a Mongolian Grill. It was our first time at one, what an interesting experience! Decent food, too.
Day 22 Wednesday July 8th
Spent the entire day with Heidi and family. Stayed up wayy too late for driving home.
Day 23 Thursday July 9th
Woke up fairly early and hit the road for the long haul home. Decided to drive straight through with passengers napping for a turn at driving.
Day 24 Friday July 10th
The days were really all bleeding together for the last week or so, we just built up sleep deprivation over the course of the vacation. We drove home through eastern Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. We saw a really awesome thunder/lightning storm in Colorado after we passed Denver, it was like surround sound only with an entire storm, it had a huge eye!
Day 25 Saturday July 11th
Arrived to Sam's mom's house at about 6 am and decided to crash for awhile. Adults slept until about 1pm. Spent some time visiting while showering and then hit the road for the final leg home.
Day 26 Sunday July 12th
Arrived home about 3am. We were relieved to be home to sleep in our own beds! We remembered we didn't have a Cyrano to greet us at the door or sleep in bed with us. We still miss him.
Can't wait til we have an RV and can sleep comfortably while visiting! The Nevada sun will probably still wake us up wayy too early, but we bet we could sleep past 7am in an RV. :)
Day 1 Wednesday June 17th
As we were packing to leave, we got the call that informed us our beloved kitty of 8 years, Cyrano had passed away. Our departure was delayed by picking him up from where he was being cat sat and taking him to the vet for cremation.
We departed close to noon and arrived to Sam's mom's house around 10pm. We had some dinner, some conversation and went to sleep.
Day 2 Thursday
We slept in until about 10am and then spent most of the day visiting with Grandma. We departed Amarillo at about 6pm and drove to New Mexico. We found a state park in New Mexico and everyone went to swim in the lake.
Day 3 Friday June 19th
We spent most of Friday driving from New Mexico to Arizona. We stopped in Winslow, AZ at a Wal-Mart and went down to the corner to stand and see if we could see any girls in flat-bed Fords slowing down to take a look at us, ala the Eagles.
We arrived to a campground in Flagstaff after dark where we parked for the night to sleep.
Day 4 Saturday June 20th
After waking up in Flagstaff, we drove up to the Grand Canyon as Andrea was the only one who had ever been before. We spent most of the day at the Grand Canyon. In the evening, we drove down to Route 66 and went to a restaurant in Williams, AZ called the Pine Country Restaurant...it was tasty!!
From there, we drove up through the Hoover Dam, arriving well after nightfall. Despite the darkness, we recognized several scenes from the first Transformer movie. We arrived to the Valley of Fire State Park in NV just after 1 am.
Day 5 Sunday June 21st
The sun in the Valley of Fire woke us up at about 6 am. We tried fruitlessly to sleep until 7am when it was so boiling hot in the tent and the van that we just had to escape.
Since it was Father's Day, we decided to surprise Dad by taking him down to Vegas to gamble. Dropped the kids off at the mall with money and then had lunch. Dad revealed he didn't like gambling. Eh. We roamed around the MGM hotel instead.
Day 6 Monday June 22nd
Sun woke us up early again. Kids roamed around the rocks for a few hours and then we went down to Vegas to explore the strip some more. We rode the inclinators in the Pyramid hotel (snuck in!), and wandered about the town until we were exhausted.
Day 7 Tuesday June 23rd
We managed to sleep in until 6:30 am. Today, the kids goofed off for hours, Shane and Aurora made a bid to climb the highest peak in our campground. They didn't quite make it. Eventually, we checked out of the campgrounds and wandered down to Vegas to get the oil changed on the van. We were waiting until after dark to drive through Death Valley. Finally, we went down to Circus Circus so the kids could check out the casino with the amusement park. The girls rode a coaster, we were amused. :)
Day 8 Wednesday June 24th
We arrived at Malibu State Park in L.A. around 6 am. We slept in the van outside the gate until they opened at 8am. When the rangers got in, we checked in and found our campsite. We got set up and ran to the nearest little town to do laundry. When we got home, we found some "hippies" setting up camp next to us. We went over, introduced ourselves and went back to our own camp around 3 am, after the rangers broke up the party. :D
Day 9 Thursday June 25th
We went down to explore Wilshire Blvd, etc. We ended up getting pretty lost and drove Mulholland Freeway. We sang alot of Tom Petty.
Day 10 Friday June 26th
Caed went to his first day of the Forum and the rest of us hung around camp and then went to a Barnes & Noble so Andrea could take a test for her online classes. We picked up Caed and went for a dip in the ocean.
Day 11 Saturday June 27th
On our last night in Malibu, we spent the evening at camp, met some ladies from Venezuela and Karma gave them a tarot reading.
Day 12 Sunday June 28th
Caed finished up his Forum and then we headed up to Sacramento to see the kids' mother, Faith. Due to horrendous L.A. traffic, we didn't get up there until 1am.
Day 13 Monday June 29th
Spent the day hanging out with Faith and her boyfriend, Doug. Went to therapy with Faith, discussed the adoption, got everything settled.
Day 14 Tuesday June 30th
Just hung out with Faith and Doug at their place.
Day 15 Wednesday July 1st
Began a caravan with Doug and Faith and Doug's daughter, Kira to Oregon. We stopped alot and had 9 people to feed, so as a consequence, we didn't arrive to Faith's Dad's place until about 1 am.
Day 16 Thursday July 2nd
Got up and explored Gary's land on Larch Mountain, beautiful area! Shane, Karma, and Caed stayed on the mountain to hang out with family; Sam, Andrea, and Aurora went down to Tualatin to visit with Andrea's cousin, Gabby.
Day 17 Friday July 3rd
Sam, Andrea, and Aurora spent through lunch with Gabby and her family, then headed back up the mountain for the weekend. Went up and spent some time talking with Faith's family, good time camping.
Day 18 Saturday July 4th
Continued camping, Aurora went for an ATV ride with Shane, went to fast and was thrown off, only to get run over by the ATV. Trip to the ER! Fortunately, she was not broken, just deeply bruised, days of crutches ordered by doctor.
Went out to fireworks after ER (Aurora was piggybacking with Andrea for the most part), fireworks show was rather lame, all resolved to not attend again. On the walk back to the car, Andrea found a $20 in the road. :)
Day 19 Sunday July 5th
Doug and Faith needed to head home, so they bid goodbye early in the morning. We remained with her Dad, Gary, visiting. Andrea's Dad and step-mom came over and spent some time with the family. Good times.
Day 20 Monday July 6th
Headed down to Portland to stay with Faith's sister, Heidi and her family. Hung out in the basement and upstairs, visited lots.
Day 21 Tuesday July 7th
Went back to Tualatin to visit with Gabby again and see another of Andrea's cousins, Rachel and her two girls. Played at the park with them for a few hours before heading out to dinner at a Mongolian Grill. It was our first time at one, what an interesting experience! Decent food, too.
Day 22 Wednesday July 8th
Spent the entire day with Heidi and family. Stayed up wayy too late for driving home.
Day 23 Thursday July 9th
Woke up fairly early and hit the road for the long haul home. Decided to drive straight through with passengers napping for a turn at driving.
Day 24 Friday July 10th
The days were really all bleeding together for the last week or so, we just built up sleep deprivation over the course of the vacation. We drove home through eastern Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. We saw a really awesome thunder/lightning storm in Colorado after we passed Denver, it was like surround sound only with an entire storm, it had a huge eye!
Day 25 Saturday July 11th
Arrived to Sam's mom's house at about 6 am and decided to crash for awhile. Adults slept until about 1pm. Spent some time visiting while showering and then hit the road for the final leg home.
Day 26 Sunday July 12th
Arrived home about 3am. We were relieved to be home to sleep in our own beds! We remembered we didn't have a Cyrano to greet us at the door or sleep in bed with us. We still miss him.
Can't wait til we have an RV and can sleep comfortably while visiting! The Nevada sun will probably still wake us up wayy too early, but we bet we could sleep past 7am in an RV. :)
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