Well well well. Here we are! We are officially living in California, after what feels like a lifetime of planning, prepping and dreaming. We arrived last Wednesday after waking up to pancakes in beautiful Ashland, OR and driving through beautiful northern California, then settled into our Airbnb place in Clayton, CA. I let no time go to waste, starting my new job immediately on Thursday morning. I think I'm going to love it :).

Since then, we've been exploring the beautiful area, in awe of the sunshine and warm weather, and working on finding a place to live. And I'm happy to say, I think we found it! Things are coming together, we're starting to settle in, and it feels so good. I'll be back soon with more pictures from Italia - in the meantime here's a little quote I'm loving.

Learn to like what doesn't cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.
Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different…different from you.
Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction doing your job as well as it can be done.
Learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of dogs.
Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house, and fixing things.
Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day.
Learn to keep your wants simple and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.

- Lowell C. Bennion 

Peace Out, Portland!

Well we're outta here! Funny how quickly life has been flipping all around lately. Less than 2 months ago we were fairly convinced we'd be moving permanently to Portland, OR, and here we are, leaving for California tomorrow. We are so excited to get some order back in our lives after a full 8 months of travel, adventure, and unemployment.

For example, here are some things I'm desperately craving:
  1) my own kitchen to cook yummy, healthy meals in
  2) a place to put all my things
  3) the sense of purpose that comes from having a job you enjoy
  4) a gym membership/exercise schedule
  5) I feel like I'm forgetting something...oh yeah, an income.

So I guess I've learned that the nomadic life is not for me, at least not permanently! But don't get me wrong. This hiatus from the "real world" has been amazing. Know what's especially fun? The time after you've accepted a wonderful position but before you've started working, when you can call off the job search and just enjoy being unemployed for a little bit! That's why our almost-two-weeks in Portland has been so lovely. We've relaxed, planned our move to CA, explored the city, checked out about a million happy hours, and enjoyed freedom.

Here are some shots from Portland.....

1. Line for Voodoo Doughnuts on a Saturday

2. North Waterfront Park

3. View of the Burnside Bridge

4. Food carts

5. the International Rose Test Garden 

6. Forest Park

7. Our little Airbnb apartment

8. Wine, beer & Settlers

If you guessed that these pictures aren't all from the past two weeks, then...you would be right. I'm a cheater. It's been miserably gray while we've been here and therefore, no fun to take pictures! I didn't want to present lovely Portland in that way. So instead, the outdoor shots are leftover from the last time we were here. But we did visit each of these places while we were here this time, too... so I'm not that big of a cheater.

Now time for some packing & sleep - we're heading south tomorrow, to be in Ashland, OR by night!


p.s. the Airbnb link is my referral link, so if you sign up I'll end up getting travel credit when you take a trip! Jim and I absolutely love it - we used it to book our apartments in Sardinia and Puglia, too. We've found many wonderful apartments and B&Bs, sometimes for less than $20/night, and we'll be using it to transition to CA, too. Fully recommended!

3,000 Miles to Portland :: According to iPhone Pictures

Helloooo from Portland, OR -- and Happy New Year! Steph, Jimmy & I made it to Portland last week after a successful, week long road trip across the states. The home made trailer remained in one piece, the weather behaved perfectly, and we had a blast in despite of insane amounts of driving. This road trip was completely different from our last one; a little colder and a little more in a hurry. But it was so beautiful. From Nebraska on we mostly stuck to "scenic byways", and I've never seen such beautiful wide expanses in my whole life.

I kept the "real" camera tucked away, but here is my collection of iPhone photos from the trip - blurriness, crazy filters and all - many of which you may have already seen on my Instagram.  I copied Taza's way of doing "life according to iPhone pics" - I think I'll do more of it!

Chicago Bean / sisters / Chicago style hot dog

Chicago skyline on the Bean / Grand Teton National Park

Nebraska hay bales for days / little scene from Omaha

the most exciting grocery store / thrifty business

amazing finds: coat hanger / happy platter / scary masks / delicious inner tubes of flavor

Omaha!! books / shops / eats / snow

open road / belly button / Jim's creation / wide spaces

horses smooching / jackelope ride / small town Wyoming / hi to the horsies

middle of nowhere / Jackson find

entering Jackson / antlers! / shops / no parking

The Lotus Cafe! India breakfast bowl / Bombay bowl / soup sips (Jimmy takes the plate)

cool sign / cool fence / lots of trains / cub sneak peek

Oregon coast with friends / games games games / welcome / sea stack

Cannon beach / winter sand frolic / silhouette 

And by the numbers:

• 12 states tackled
• 3,199 miles driven
• 7 crappy motels stayed in
• 280 gallons of gas sucked dry
• 38 rest stop/McDonald's bathroom/mini mart visits
• $913 put towards gas for the truck
• 1,789 coal train cars passed (guesstimate)
• 6 games of Settlers played
• 8 bags of uniquely flavored potato chips chomped
• 9 used clothing/vintage shops scoured
• 2 french toast & bacon ice cream cones licked
• 128 Disney/Glee songs sung 

It was a success! And now for the big announcement........Jimmy and I are officially moving to California! I just accepted a wonderful job down in the Bay Area, and I couldn't be more excited. We're not quite sure when we'll get down there, as we don't have a place to stay yet, but I'm sure we'll figure it out, as we always do :). We can't wait to explore a new area, meet people, learn things, and enjoy some sunshiny weather. I'm hoping to learn more details in the next couple of weeks, so we'll be in touch...

Mid-Road Trip Update / Christmas 2012

Happy 2013 everyone! We are currently in Jackson, WY and about to head through Idaho after a stop at the Lotus Cafe for a delicious lunch (we went yesterday for dinner and it was so good that we have to go back). Almost to our final destination! This road trip has been an amazing whirlwind. With lots, and LOTS of driving.

Top 3 (so far) from the trip:

• Omaha, Nebraska, is adorable! We stopped by the Old Market for some shopping and dinner, and I fell a little bit in love.
• Driving through Wyoming yesterday. It was beyond gorgeous. Snow! Mountains! Wildlife!
• New Years Eve in Jackson, WY! We celebrated with lots of wine, board games, and cheersing with the Jackson locals at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in downtown Jackson.

I'll have pics of that coming up, but for now just a quick recap of my Christmas season......because these pics give me the warm 'n' fuzzies.