Day 4 - Half Moon Bay

It’s mid morning, and Madee is playing with her toys and Ida is playing on the floor looking in the mirror, and I am on the laptop listening to the only 2 Jack Johnson songs in my iTunes.

The girls feel at home like this.

Madee has been having so much fun with the other little gypsy children, they all have their own dogs on leashes and she has Ono (much to Ono’s horror) and they run and play and scream in the yard next to the RV. Despite the fact that she is laughing and playing and having a bomb-ass time, she is also quite out of sorts, and I think it is because we haven’t been watching her morning TV, and in fact had not even seen any of her toys until yesterday, when I pulled them out on purpose, to remind her who she is.

Because as much as she likes all the new people and things to do, she is a toddler, and she needs a consistency that goes beyond nap and meal schedules. She needs familiar stuff. When she knows what to expect she feels smart, confident, and ready to take on the world. Without that familiar stuff, she feels small and lost and insecure.

And I guess that isn’t much different for adults.

So instead of going into The City today to shop with Brody, I stayed in the park today so the kids can rest and play and be with their familiar things.

It’s 9:15.
Madee is having quiet time in her crib, Ida just fell asleep, the dogs are snoring, and my coffee is cold, but it is still good coffee.

Oh, internet. You have no idea. I hate feeling such a lack of control over my environment. I keep getting out and talking to the other campers, listening to their stories and taking note of their advice and tips. The people we have been haning out with that have all the kids and dogs (including on old lab named Charlie and a long haired Chihuahua) live in Gardnerville, NV- about 35 minutes from our house in South Lake. Weird.

Things that Suck:

1. The jackknife couch bed I am sleeping on is basically a sheet over a steel plate. It is also about 4 feet wide.

2. Zeus.

3. The fridge is on the blink.

4. Ono stepped in dog poop and she still stinks a bit.

Things that Rule:

1. The sunset last night.

2. Waking up to the sun and having kids outside to play with.

3. Meeting all these people and learning about this lifestyle we have adopted.

4. Living a simpler life with my family.

A lot of these other campers make this look so easy. Of course we have met people who have been doing this a long time, so I am sure before I know it, we will be more savvy also. Right now, our camp looks pretty vanilla. But we are loud and colorful people, so we have that going for us.

This isn’t easy, especially for me. But I can see what life is going to be like and not in this “I have expectations” kind of way but in a “I find fleeting moments of serenity and coziness and firelight and as much as my husband and my kids drive me crazy, I love being with them like this” kind of way.

All day is full action packed adventure, which could very much be good for my spirit and my figure – and it already seems to be good for the bonding and team development for our family. You always gotta look on the bright side.

And now some pictures…

Halloween preview...she can't keep her fingers off those earrings!

Walking the dog..

Gypsy Girl
Uncle Cousin Brody
Lemos Farm
I love this shot.
Scenes from the RV

Awesome Restaurant in Half Moon Bay

Just making some phone calls...

The girls and I pack up today and when Dad gets off work, we are headed to Phoenix, AZ...but we will definately be back here, the view is worth the lack of hook ups...

If only I tweeted...

I think I will need to up my technology ante.

10 Facts about today

1. Madee and Brody and I found a dead seal on the beach.
2. We moved campsites to a much better view of Half Moon Bay and the campers at this park.
3. We haven't played with toys or watched TV for 3 days.
4. Need more space bags.
5. The color for the day was green.
6. Madee likes to walk Ono on her leash and talk to other dog owners with their dogs on leashes.
7. RV people are nice and helpful.
8. It's kind of like Burning Man without the music or the drugs or the nudity.
9. A quarter will buy you a pretty long shower.
10. I don't even know whose internet connection I am skanking.

This is so cool, and then it sucks, and then it is so cool again. We need an outdoor space set up. We need a porch area with lights and colors and personality. A place where Madee can glow in the evening fire and say hi to people as they walk by with their dogs on leashes.

I have so many things to share about RV people, but right now, I am just experiencing this culture shock as I settle in to this transient, unsettled society.

We are gypsies now. And we are not alone.

Oh, and apparently the other gypsies are packing heat!

Only going moderately crazy up in here...

I'm sure you are wondering how things are going, and I can tell you this:

It is getting better.
I don't have the time or patience in me right now to write much more, as we do not have any electric, there are a couple "issues" with the rig, and basically

I'M JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE AND KEEP EVERYBODY ELSE ALIVE

This is obviously the biggest challenge I have ever considered taking over and I think it is quite hilarious that I actually thought this would be like living in an apartment that moves around.

Because I realized the first night, when I had to take a hike to the bathroom and Madee had turned the outside stairs off and I fell out of the RV, that this is camping, folks. I agreed to camping for a YEAR.

Right now it is all about organizing and reorganizing so that we can all be a little more comfortable in here.

There is so much to say, but so little battery...

(If I sound calm, it is only because you are reading this and not hearing this!)

Miss Kitteh

I am still in shock. She's gone, she's moved on, she in the hands of another woman. An adventure woman. And as sad as I am to see her go, I enjoyed her thoroughly, loved her hard, and am excited for the adventures she has in store.


It's just I really thought I was going to use this to pull Madee's first tooth...

Selling Miss Kitteh means the largest task before leaving is done. We have odds and ends to tie up, people to say goodbye to, and laundry to wash and pack, cable to canceland then we go. First stop? Half Moon Bay - a great place for all things fall and pumpkin patchy and corn mazey. My camera is so excited for this...

T minus 2 days...just like that.

Move In Ready

So we have had her a few weeks now, and most of the big ideas have been implemented. We have a couple loose ends and details to tend to, and, quite honestly, I want to add things as we go, so we other than a couple small things, she is move in ready.

The living area before...


And now...

The fridge space back to the bedroom before...

My lovely new kitchen


The bedroom before...yuck!


Now the girls' room...
Cozy bed for Madee...

And fun playspace!


An old look at the old view from the back...

And now...
The loft.

The front door...



The bathroom...


Now we just have to pack the belongings and get going!

For the Streetlight People

Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in South Green Bay
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Don't stop believing, ya'll...


Today's mantra: Enjoy the Journey...

Quoting

"Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail"

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wondering

Hmmm. Coffee.

Do I take the coffee pot? Buy a percolator? Go to local coffee shops?
Coffee shops!
But I am still going to need some back up.

We are pretty BIG on coffee here...

Reading

"KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!"

Putting It All Together...

Madee loved Ikea. She thought the showrooms were her new playground, and tested every sofa and chair and bed and random thingy that may be along the walk.

She wore the shopping hat and played "shopping queen" and found many things that she would like in her new Big Girl/Little Room in the RV.

She was precious and mostly patient for 2 long car rides and a long hot, shopping trip.

My little trooper! (And hey, go Dad for being my Big Trooper!

Here's a sneak preview of Madee's Big Girl/Little Room in the RV. There are a few little details to finish, and I will unveil all of the after pictures.

This has to be my favorite room ever. It is even better than the orange one in the house. And because of the nature of the RV, it is tiny, so it is even more precious for her...like living in her own little dollhouse!

Ida loves it too! This room will eventually be for both of them, but right now we are just concerned with getting Madee comfortable in it. Ida sleeps wherever...she just knows how to get confy anywhere...
Things are actually coming together in our new little home, and as Charlie and I sat in her last night surveying our new surroundings, we decided we like it already.

The fall colors are changing here in Tahoe.

The road beckons.
EDD: October 26 - 30 - we haven't made a final decision on that yet. We do know that we will be in Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ the first couple weeks of November.

T minus 8-12 days, depending which way the wind blows...

How Cool Is It...

that Ikea has baby food at their cafeteria?
Way cool!
We love meatballs!

Where do I begin?

The hardest part is starting, or maybe putting into action - or is it believing?

I don't know.

I typically don't know where I am going until I get there. And yet here it is, sitting in my neighbor's driveway, waiting for me to make it home.

Charlie has done so much work on it already, painted her out, laid new, all weather flooring, replaced hardware, built structures - but no part is actually complete yet, so I just can't show you any after pictures.

But here she was on the first day.

Anyway, back to where I am with all of this.

Nowhere.

I just walk in, look around, and walk back out. I don't even know where to begin.

What clothing do I put into those tiny 2 cabinets?

What dishes or cooking stuff do I bring?

What toys and products, cleaning or hygenic, blankets, towels, food?

I seriously have no idea where to even start. I have picked out the paint and thought out structural issues, I have delegated the plan out to Charlie, and now he is looking at me, finished wiht what I asked of him, wondering what happens next.

And I don't know.

I don't know what furniture, decorations, or storage solutions to move back in. I don't know what goes where or how to even designate such a small amount of space.

Luckily there is an Ikea in Sac. And Charlie has some wild hair because he actually suggested we go today! I know the 95% of life's answers can be found there, and Madee is going to love the meatballs!

So maybe soon I will have a little more direction and focus for the tasks at hand.

Estimated Departure Day: October 26, 2009.

11 days and counting.

The journey hearkens...