Arizona, New Mexico & Texas

Starting Point: May 22, Valley Center

End Point: May 24, Marshall, TX

Miles: 1,639

First, let me explain... finding time to be on the internet is SUPER HARD! I wish I had one of those cool cars that had wifi so I could do this on the road... unfortunately my whole life the last 24 hours has been: driving, eat, drive, eat, drive, walk a bit, be a passenger, drive, sleep, and again. My goal is officially to update every other day... more when I can, less when I can't!

My last night in San Diego was perfect. My dad, stepmom and my friend's family met up at the beach so I could let off my lantern... it was however too windy... so instead me and her kids played with it, at sunset. This was after I had a last beer at my favorite brewery (Arcana, you should try it!) and before I had a delicious lunch with my parents.

When all the hugs and smiles were finished, I scooted down to the airport to pickup my mom (who flew in from Idaho). The second she was in the car WE WERE OFF!

The goal was to make it to Yuma by 1am.... but we drove straight through to Litchfield Park... and finally got into bed at 4:30am....

Then we got up at... drum roll please!... 7:10am! Hahhahahah! We dropped off my precious little pup with some of my friends and again we went!

Took a short detour thorough Saguaro National Park and stopped at some really weird little gift shops... to end a shortish day driving in Las Cruces, NM. Where we finally got to sleep!! Like a darn decent amount!

 We stopped in Rambo's hometown of Bowie, AZ!! 

We woke up yesterday, pretty darn early, because we had a goal: to go visit with my little brother and his family in Fort Worth, TX... only a short 12 hour drive from where we were... weeeeeeee.... We basically drove straight there! With only a little stop at Guadalupe National Park. A very small, hike only park - very cool.

After a nice visit with my brother, my mom and I decided to drive just a little further. Otherwise today's drive would've been 14 hours... so we ended up in Marshall, TX. Which isn't much, but its perfectly located!

We'll see how far we get today: goal Charlotte, NC!

ROAD TRIP!

Stay: May 20-22, Valley Center, CA

It's almost time.

The car is gassed and oiled up, Milli is at the groomers getting her new "road-trip haircut" and I am sitting here on my dad's couch.... staring all all the crap that has to magically fit into the car... It's gonna be tight. Luckily, its only gonna be tight for the first 6 hours with all my stuff, my mom, her stuff, Milli and HER stuff and Chad's single suitcase. After our first stop, I have lists of stuff that will be dropped off at various points along the trip. By this time next week, the car will be comfortably full/empty.

The last two days have been an important part of this whole trip. Basically, I've done a whole lot of getting ready. This has been the "staging" portion. You know, I had to get the oil changed in the car, buy the new shoes I need, get Milli groomed, etc. Oh, and its also been my recovery period. I've done a lot of couch sitting, reading and cat petting (luckily my step-mom's cat has been here keeping my lap warm).

E.V. in attack position.

Tonight at 10:04pm is when the real fun will start! I pick up my mom from the airport and the road trip will begin!

Goodbye Washington....

Starting Point: May 20, Poulsbo, Washington

End Point: May 20, Valley Center, CA

Miles: 1065 miles by plane, 224 miles by car

Today was amazing. Mostly because of a big ole volcano in Washington, but also because I feel like this trip was the best idea ever.

My plans got all fuddled up this morning... so I thought the day had been ruined... but then, I went into my friends kitchen and smelled coffee. This cup of coffee (and my friend of course) ended up saving everything: It was decided I was gonna spend the day going to Mount Rainier National Park.

 Park entrance. One of the more unique ones.

I am so glad I did! It was the most beautiful day I could ever imagine. Just perfect. I could see her, in all her glory, a magnificent white volcano sticking out of the earth. I had the park just about all to myself. There was no traffic. No congestion at any of the sights. No one else out on the hiking trails. The perfect day.

I thought this was hilarious!

Then it was off to the imperfect airport and a less than ideal flight... but oh well... least that ended with a big ole hug from my dad - which couldn't have been any better.

It Takes A Village

Starting Point: May 16, San Diego

Today: May 19, Kitsap County, Washington

Miles: 1065 miles by plane

There is a point at which a person feels so loved, they cry. I've been lucky to experience this 4 times now in the weeks leading up to this grand adventure.

We've all heard the saying "It takes a village..." usually referring to the raising of a child... but I've recently realized that this saying generally applies to life. I am fortunate to be a part of two very solid, very amazing villages.

My village in San Diego was one that I came into both by luck of biology and then later luck of location. I happen to be from San Diego, so I have a lot of family and old, good friends there. The luck of location came in the form of moving to the dumpy apartment complex Chad and I have called home the last 2 years and finding jobs for some amazing local companies. In fact, the rest of our village found us.

Chad wasn't around for the move, so I found myself moving all of our things "by myself." The weight was totally on my shoulders. I even packed all the boxes so that I could lift them... but looking back... I most certainly didn't do ANYTHING by myself! Everyday, someone was there with me, not always physically moving items, but definitely supporting me, keeping me company and providing encouragement. For the first time in my life, goodbye parties were thrown just for me, and not just one - but three! I have honestly, never felt so much, non-obligatory love being directed towards me. 

That was until I flew to Washington, and visited my other village, the first leg of my epic journey. Where again, I felt so loved, I cried.

From the moment I stepped foot back into Kitsap County, I have found myself in a world of wonderful. All of my friends have come to see me! People from every side of my life when we lived here. We've gathered! We've laughed! We've eaten and drank! Visited amazing places. Just hung out and talked. Everything and anything. Its been SO MUCH FUN! All of the sudden I woke up this morning and thought "I JUST got here! How can I be leaving tomorrow already!?" I was even presented an award (from 2012 right after we moved away) that the community had given me for being part of this village, for helping out my favorite local trail system.

I can't believe how fortunate I am. Tomorrow it's going to be like leaving home all over again.

On the Road Again!

The one constant in my life: my husband and I move, a lot.

This is to be expected when being part of a military family. And luckily for me, I love it.

This move is one I am looking forward to. And not just because we are moving to a part of the country I've barely been too, but because of the journey I get to take to go there. Chad's new post is Camp Lejeune, North Carolina - about as far as we could go from our current post at MCRD and still be within the continental US.

Because of the distance, I've decided to milk this move for all its worth, and that includes taking a 2-month cross country road trip. To start this journey, I had to do something with all our stuff, which is where the POD comes in. Talk about a brilliant invention. A storage unit came to me, I filled it in my own time (with a BUNCH of help from some AMAZING people), then they came and picked it up. They're gonna store our POD, then move it, then store it again on the east coast, until we call them up and they'll drop it off in our driveway... I mean seriously... I don't think it could get any better than that.

Now that our stuff is stored and I am officially unemployed, my journey has begun. First stop: Kitsap County Washington.