Finding Balance

I'm a natural doodler, list maker type with lot's of pieces of paper with every though that comes into my head, it would be funny if one day those thoughts float around as others try to piece it all together.  

 

A few days ago I drew up a chart with what I needed to focus on in my life. In no particular order:

 

Continuing our family ancestry. We have asked a lot of our family for photos, I've scanned in all my Nana's and Mum's albums and my husband's scanned all of his. We've been on ancestry since the beginning of the year and we both have family trees traced back to the 1700's. It's prompted many conversations with family, and I love the idea of raising our children with an annual Family History Evening so they can learn about their past ancestors.

 

 

My marriage is also important to me. I grew up with my Mum and sister since the age of eight, and spent summers since the age of fourteen visiting my dad with my sister. I came to live close by to my dad for college just before I turned nineteen. I think I turned out better than many children raised in two parent families. When I met my husband, I thought my family was nuts, but his family was just as nuts and there were just a lot more of them!

 

 

And when things don't always go to plan you can always say "I'm sorry".

 

 

My husband and I have been in our new home in the Carolina's for about four months now, and when we moved here we knew nobody. We're taking the time to cultivate new friendships in our neighborhood, at church and with people we work with. We're naturally introverted, so it takes time for us to open up. Another way to build with friendships is to invite them to participate in your traditions.

 

A lot of our traditions include travel. Sometimes we're questioned how we can afford to travel so much. Our first reason is we have no vices. Our second is that we live on percentages, and it's by no means perfect, but it's a balanced way for us to spend and save for our future. We divide it up into 40% household, 20% Roth IRA and savings, 10% Holidays and donations, 10% Vehicles, 10% Food and eating out and lastly 10% Guilt free spending money (5% each).

 

Savings also helps us to fix up our home. We bought a short sale, and although at one time it was loved on, it needed an update. We've been in the midst now for four months and I'm sure it will take at least another year. We looked at real estate to see if we'd want to move again in five to ten years, but our home is paid off and putting it towards a future garage guest suite with two additional bedrooms, a sunroom and a kitchen pop out will give us an extra thousand square feet and a reason to stay and raise our family here.

 

I also like to find balance to spend time working on what I love. I wish my life were a mixture of Susan Branch and Ina Garten. I look up to them for their homemaking wisdom. I also work as an interior designer preserving old properties and  on several personal projects like my project life binder, watercoloring and writing a memoir of sorts, maybe one day I'll be a mom, or have my own little shop, or teach more design classes or host tea parties for the elderly.

 

 

 

Last, but not least practicing happiness and health. With all my grandparents passed, and my dad passing away at only fifty-four I've realized life is short. I've come to terms with death, and even find peace in knowing that I will pass one day. If I'm blessed enough to live to a ripe old age, and to fulfill my wishes to have a large family, and to live by my motto...Live Gracefully. Laugh Joyfully. Love Gratefully, then I will be happy.

 

 

So, as I laugh along the way as I try find balance, I hope over time as we settle it will fall into place. Any if you are a master balancer, or always juggling, I'd love to hear what's important in you life.

Travel Across America for less than $600

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Lest you think we're millionaire's I'm about to tell you how we managed to travel across country for less than $600.

 

Whether you'd like to make it a vacation, or even a sabbatical driving across America is a lot easier than one would assume. It took us 5 days (with one day not driving but visiting with family).

 

Here are some tips and disciplines we learned as we drove across country from WA to TN:

 

1. Prepare

We drove in 'Bibi' my Escape, and we ensured she had a service about a week before we left on our trip. Also, as we move from state to state we've been diligent about getting our oil changed. It's also good to check tire pressure, liquids and the air filter often to ensure a happy car.

 

2. Cautious

We didn't drive on less than 3/4 of a tank...always refuel every few hours, in states like Wyoming and Nebraska gas stations are a greater distance.

 

3. Plan, but be Spontaneous

Ahead of time, we knew where our end location was. We looked on Google Maps to see what the town was like, and also had the address in our GPS a day or so before we left (just in case) but then we left the day to day up to spontaneity.

 

4. Pack like a pro

We traveled with everything we needed for the year. All our other household items went into storage, and we rented out our home, so we didn't have to worry about it being vacant. We packed our clothes into 4 long boxes (usually go under a bed) a food basket, and other toiletry and pet supplies. We didn't have a trailer, or roof carrier...we just squished together, along with our pets, and it's one of my most fun memories.

 

5. Family

We were fortunate to have family to stay with for two nights. We spent the night we arrived, a day with my hubby's family and one more night, so we could get on the road early the next day.

 

6. Budget

When traveling with pets, you tend to save money. Firstly, because you can't take long breaks, can't eat at fancy restaurants and you cant check into fancy hotels. We chose pet friendly hotels, which have side doors, as walking our pets in and out of a lobby, is not something we're used to. We'd park on the side, and try reserve ground floor, or 1st story rooms so we didn't have far to bring in our overnight valuables.

 

7. Drive Thru

We are not your typical fast food family. So this was quite funny, trying to figure our how to use the correct lane, direction, window etc. but it was cost effective and fast. We ordered coffee to stay awake along those 10 hour drives, iced water (free, yippee) and salads, or chicken wraps. Other times we'd park, use the restrooms (nicer than gas stations -just sayin'-) and order.

 

8. Love the one your with

After sitting in a car for days on end listening to the same songs on repeat, that you consider bringing out the Christmas sing along ones, there is a lot of time where you can turn off the music and talk. We talked for hours, and hours, and hours. Growing up in the 80's and 90's we knew a thing or two about car games also.

 

9. Diversions

One thing is for sure, life is not all one straight road. We learned a lot about the places along the way, we'd pick up free brochures at gas stations and read about the areas, and several times I investigated their real estate listings (nerd -I know). On our trip, we just so happened to see the sign for Metropolis, IL and so we took a diversion to the home of Superman. 

 

10. Unpack like a Pro also

Last but not least, when you arrive, get out your car and enjoy the first 5-10 minutes of the place you've arrived to. Take photos and be grateful you made it safely. Then unpack with a plan, of what's going where, and if you need to remember where you unpacked it from take a photo beforehand.

 

Congratulations, you've made it across country.

 

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In our case we traveled over 2,500 miles and it was the most fun filled, carefree, and spontaneous days ever.