I Might Be Crazy, but It Keeps Me From Going Insane

Pictured above: Camping in Big Sur on the Big Sur River in NorCal along the Redwood forest.

Moving out of the Big D has been on my mind for a few years. Since I became a parent about 3 years ago I've been a tidge bit annoying with my web surfing for jobs and housing out West. I think it is a combo of wanting my kids to grow up in a more natural wonder type environment-not just mall play areas; coupled with my growing frustration with a routine-filled day.  Before kids, my day was NEVER routine. I just did random stuff all of the time during my days and weeks. Now, I have to sort of take care of the children which pretty much puts you on a schedule. I don't know why but they like to be fed regularly. They require like baths and transportation each day pretty much at the same time too. 

Anyway, my point is....well, I still live in the same place. I never moved. Now, life is pretty good here, so I can't really complain. I mean we have good jobs, live in a good neighborhood, have family to jump in and help in a bind, and good friends. So, it looks like there is no amazing relocation package in site.

To keep my mind busy I have conversations with it:

Ego: "Sell everything here and move to the Baja Peninsula. Teaching is a possibility and Scott can home school the kids. We'll sit on the beach every night and all learn to play guitar."

Me: I can travel to cool places for the kids to play in the summer, spring break, winter, etc. We have a sensible stable life here. Scott's right: We should stay put.

Ego: "Sell everything. Cash out the retirement. Move to coastal Central/Northern California. Buy a shack. Plant tomatoes. Teach school. Hike trails to waterfalls on the weekends. Take the girls to snowboard camp in the winter and surf camp in the summer."

Me: We've got good jobs here. Stay put. We have such a reasonably priced home here that we'd never be able to afford out West. The girls can ride their bikes on the sidewalk on the weekends. That was fun as a kid, right?

Ego: "Sell everything. Buy an RV and just drive around in it. Home school the kids. Sell stuff on the internet. Stop in towns for long enough to work a job for some $$ for gas for the next trip. It can happen."

Me: Just buy a small travel trailer and use it on vacations. Find the adventure in everyday living by drinking alcohol. Stay put.

AND IF I AM NOT MOVING AND I HAVE TO BE ROUTINE....

Then, I will obsess about a new plan of excitement:

1) lose weight

2) get a big tattoo on my shoulder/upper arm

3) wear a lot of spaghetti strapped tops

Pictured above: NOT ME. Yet.

You Just Never Know

Take a look at the picture above in my blog banner. Does that hippie family look like college material? Could one day the girl wearing the terry-cloth shorts, green swim suit and old school head phones will complete a graduate degree?

Now focus below on the banner in red here in this post. Yes, there is a university called Lamer University. And Yes, I just finished my master's degree tonight - online! It was quite a mara-sprint. And No, I am not going to fly to Beaumont, Texas to receive my diploma. I will however, check my mailbox for my online graduate degree. 

Here are just a few reasons I know there is a God and he loves me and appreciates a good joke:

1) I am the girl in the picture all grown up who graduated from Grand Canyon University, home of the mighty Antelopes. 

2) I topped off that awesome GCU action with some Lamar U! Seriously, I have to be in some sort of running for the most random combination of university diplomas.

Appropriately, I would like to thank Scott for watching the kid(s) on mostly Sundays over the last 18 months while I muddled through. And, I must also give a shout out to Robin who pushed and prodded and helped me every step of the way.

Finally, you might be wondering, "why would some chick who wants to live out the dream in an RV go to the trouble of getting an M.Ed. degree?" Well, sportsfans....It is so I can get a job anywhere I land. It is all about options!

Great Minds Think MINI and Airstream

Is this awesome or what? Click the title of this post to read/see more pictures. After I bought my jeep, MINI came out with the Clubman which would have been more practical for me and the kiddos. I have had some regrets about not getting one. But, the jeep is pretty cool, especially when I was able to use the four-wheel drive last week in the mountains and mud!

But, what do you think about this MINI and "mini" Airstream? Would you buy this combo? Shout out to Jalyn for this article. She knows my heart.

Arkansas. Don't Let the Name Fool You.

As spring break rolled around, I made arrangements for us to go to Beaver Lake up in Northwest Arkansas. When people would ask me what I was doing for spring break, I would say "camping."
They would say "where?"
I would say "Arkansas."
And, I would get silence or a random look.
Ok, so Arkansas doesn't evoke visions of a grand spring break blast. However, let me tell you doubters (that probably have not been to the Ozark Mountains or to Beaver Lake): It is pretty darn nice! I have already booked my return trip for this summer. My cousins that live up there have found a nice little piece of the American pie. We dabbled in some fishing and kayaking, but we mostly just made fires and cooked things on fires and drank beer next to the fires. How can that be wrong? I wish you had all been there. Too bad for you that the secret cabin will remain a secret here.