Empty House

We have just dropped our kids (2 and 4 legged) off at Nana's so we can finish up with the storing and cleaning.  We now have one completely empty bedroom, one mostly with storage, and one half empty all full of echoes instead of laughter.  It is becoming increasingly more real and exciting as the days pass.  The kids are a little more crazy than usual.  We think maybe because they don't really know what is happening.  Almost out until next year.  Weird to think that someone else will be responsible for our house and things for that long.  Can we make it a year with just a few personal items and clothes?

What We'll Miss... predictions

We are now exactly one month away from takeoff and the adventurous dream is becoming real.  Our house is becoming more bare by the day and while we are definitely very excited, we are becoming mindful of the things we might miss.  Of course the things we will miss the most are not things at all, they are people: our family, friends, and pets (they're people too).  However, there are some non-human things that we might miss as well.  Here are our predictions:

Lance - trout fishing, Rush River brewery, crisp autumn air, cross-country skiing, Wisonsin cheese (it's the best you know), our raspberry bushes, bowling, and A to Z pizza

Racheal - fall, snow (not the cold), maple syrup, cool weather, having our home, the public library in town, A to Z pizza, and picking berries

Anika - leaves in the fall so we can rake them up in piles then jump in them and go "Aaaah," and I like all the pretty colors, the flowers, sledding, sweet corn, and picking berries

We asked Henry and this is what he said:  "One more Papa, one more.  Thank you Papa." 

We will revisit this list after we have spent a few months on the big island and see how we did with our predictions!

Purging

Having moved into this house over 7 years ago we have been storing a lot of stuff.  Turns out both of us are pack rats and just can't seem to get rid of things because someday we may need it (this may be where the frugal factor comes in).  This has been a great help in that department.  We are finally throwing away things that are broken that we were going to fix, clothes that haven't fit us in years, memorabilia from our childhood, etc....  It makes us realize how much crap we have and why?  We say good riddance.  It is freeing!

quotes

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" -- Neale Donald Walsch
"Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry."
— Jack Kerouac

"Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving."
— Terry Pratchett

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
— Robert Frost

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving."
— Lao Tzu

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."
— Lao Tzu

Rented!

After many showings between friends, word of mouth, and finally posting on craigslist we got 'er done.  Ended up having someone sign the lease agreement at the end of May.  However, now we have a deadline.  Need to be packed and moved out by July 1st... and our flight doesn't leave until the 18th.  Should be interesting...