A little over a year ago.....

I had finished up work, finished up preparing our house to rent, and finished packing our life into 4 suitcases. Said goodbye to friends (or as one likes to put it: It's NOT goodbye, it's see ya later! So true....)

The dogs and I spent 5 days in Portland with these people:

Love, love, love all of them.

So much anticipation. 
Surprisingly little stress.
So many really fun memories.
Convinced my favorite father in law to try kombucha. Watched him gag.
Lot's of P.F. Chang's action

Self portrait, Portland hotel, night before Maui

And then................................


there we were.

Is that Kmart?

He startled me at the airport, with his aviators and scraggly hair. I loved it. We picked Maddie and Lucy up and drove off into the afternoon rain. I remember the air felt thick and floral. Life was at once salty and green and so incredibly warm. I was pale and pasty and we needed an airbed to sleep on that night. Costco it was.

Dogs who fly.

I had all these big intentions for blogging regularly about life over here. I was all, I'm gonna blog every day and maybe write a book and blah, blah,.........yeah, and then we got here and the adjustment began and I didn't really have much to say.  Couldn't say.

I was busy learning what it was like to have family members in crisis and be 2500 miles away. Conclusion? It's a blessing and a curse. (Name that show?)

I was busy learning how to run upcountry roads.

I love hills.

Busy being bit by a centipede.

No picture. You are welcome.

Busy living in this ohana with no kitchen, plumbing, etc for a month.

We lived on tuna, pistachios, and rice krispy treats. And it was awesome.

A year ago I went through the roof, whining and carrrying on about cockroaches. Now....eh, not so much.

I learned how to live, and be happy, with very, very few material possessions. And then I bought some stuff.

In the past year I've learned that I can and will be happy, no matter where on this earth we live. The snowy Midwest would certainly be pushing things a little (and I have NO intentions of moving there) but I know now........I will be happy wherever we are.

I've learned how much I value family and friends. Intellectually, I knew I would miss them. Duh. But whoa, now I know how it feels to be homesick. To need my mom. To need a night out with a girlfriend. I can honestly say that my values have changed in this area. Moving to an island made me a hugger.

I now wear pink and hug people. Feel free to roll your eyes.

An introvert I am, but I love, love love my peeps. And I need you guys.

Sunset on the pali

A little over a year ago, our lives changed forever. It was an amazing first year.
The second year has been......rough so far. But still good. Always good.

No regrets. (Just hugs)