7/27 Addendum

I was going to mention if anyone is reading this and they think this is what they would like to do there is one major thing.  You HAVE to be flexible, be willing to see beauty in anything.  We meet people all the time, like the ones that just pulled in beside us and had to leave because it just wasn't what they expected.  People don't like the site, they want everything to be perfect, there is to much noise and bla bla bla.  It is never perfect.  Sometimes its noisy, sometimes its a campground that is too manicured, some times it has lots of regulars that may or may not be long timers. Some time you have hook ups, sometimes you don't, sometimes you get power surges (which we have had), sometimes its a glorified parking lot, sometimes its all woods. Some times its close to stuff and sometimes its it the middle of nowhere.  Some times there are dog runs and they are great and large, sometime they are postage stamps, sometimes there's great walking areas, sometimes there aren't.  Sometimes you have great neighbors and sometimes they make you want to hit them.   It may be luxurious camping compared to the old days of a tent and bag on the ground but it is still camping.  You need to see beauty all around you and in everyone around you.  You need to be able to change plans and go to plan B if you need to. You need to be willing to go without something you want or need and you have to remember that your neighbor and/or their kids have a right to be there too.  You are not special and you do not have privilege.  I have learned to be optimistic most of the time, forgiving, more flexible, and willing to settle for less and be happy about it.  We both have and its good.  We are happy for the lessons this adventure has given us and what we have learned about ourselves and each other. We are thrilled for the things we have seen and done that we couldn't have afforded to do otherwise. We aren't ready to give it up yet but we will in time.

So anyone that wants this for a life style needs to really think twice.  Its not a decision you make lightly. But if you go into it with your eyes open its great.   And you definitely don't need to take a much a you think.  We cut things pretty close to the belt when we started out and have still culled out stuff along the way and after we got back here put some stuff in storage and are sure we still have to much. And you need to be friends.  Sometimes that is all that has saved some big issues is that we are above all friends.

7/27 Sun

Hard to believe I haven't been on here for a month.

Well July and the end of june were busy.  We did lots of work around Taylors house as payback for letting us stay there.  I helped donna clean out some areas, we did some outside work and then it kinda slowed down as Gherry started feeling better and didn't want us doing so much.  Still have some things there that we would like to get done but time will tell if it gets done or not.

Gherry had a relapse and ended up in the hospital for a few days which halted everything for all of us for a few days.  Each relapse he has sets him back and takes him longer to recover but he is stubborn so he will probably come back full force.

We finally got the RV back which i think i wrote about.  We ended up in Oak Harbor as there is no place on the south end to stay and we couldn't find a private place with our ad in drews list. We will be here at least thru the fair at the end of the month and then maybe get in at the fair grounds in Langley.  Its not a great place to camp but there is worse.

I see in looking back at the blog better that I did post on the 11 of jul, so really not much has happened since then.

I went to another dog show on Sat for just obedience.  Sallee did pretty good for her firt time in an obedience ring but she laid down on the long sit and blew it.   Iri on the other hand got the last two legs needed for her firt UKC obedience title. So she now has UCD to add to her name with her other titles.  She did pretty darn good and I was proud of her.  It was hotter than heck and inside a building so it was a long hard day.  Out here not every place has airconditioning.  Warm days are rare.

Speaking of the weather, we are having an unusually nice and warm summer out here. So we are really enjoying ourselves since we have become so addicted to sun and warm weather.

Oh I know what I haven't mentioned.  One day Annie and I went up to Bellingham to look at her college for next year.  She is so excited.  She bought me a Western Washington University Grandparent sticker for the window of my car.  We had a really fun day.  We had lunch, looked around, laughed and talked and it was wonderful.  Leroy knows Bellingham better so he plans on taking us up one day so he can show her around.
Can't believe our little girl is a college kid now.  Can't believe our son is a grown man with a life of his own.  How do these things happen?

I have started going to a boxing gym run by a professional boxer.  Female.  she is so great and such a good trainer.  There is a lot to boxing that isn't just punching a bag and all of that training goes to make up a fantastic workout.  I workout about two hours at a time, I sweat like I have never sweat in a workout and I am soaking wet when i am done.  We do everything, stretches, boxing drills, foot work, and I have learned to do full push ups(on my toes not knees) and sit ups and all sorts of drills.  I can already see it making changes in my body.  This is a sculpting workout as well as weight loss.  My walking has helped me lose weight plus 2 pants sizes but not I have something that will also help my upper body.  Plus there is lots of focus training and mind training, and confidence training.  I told her, she teaches a lot more than boxing, and she agreed.  Its been an amazing process.  I am on a break now for 2 weeks while she is on vacation but have my homework to do.  I hope I am around long enough to get enough basics from her so I can work on my own and in gyms along the way till I get back and under her tutelage.  She is Dakota "Solid" Stone.  Look her up.  She still fights professionally just not as often as she is settled here and her life has turned into training.  I think she trains Golden Gloves people too, and she loves working with kids.

So today is my catch up day.  I decided not to go to the dog show today and so I am hanging around the house.  Leroy went to a kite deal at greenbank.