The year 2012 has slithered in and we are enjoying the very first day of it in 76 degree sunshine. On Friday we had a farewell Bar-B-Q by the pools at the park here with Bonnie and Jesper (it was Caitlin's 22nd birthday!) and Gord and Phyllis. It was sad to say goodbye - perhaps more so for them than us as the weather at home is a tad more melancholy and normal people have to go back to school. Tim's brother Jim and his wife Sandra (and two of their gra...

We have been having a lovely time in the desert - with Jesper and Bonnie Amstrup (and Caitlyn and Steen) from Fort St. John who are visiting Palm Springs with Bonnie's cousin Phyllis and family (Gord, Jana, and Carson). It is wonderful to chat about things from home, reminisce, and make new memories together here.As is usual when we are with the Amstrup's, we eat well and laugh a lot.This year we have been introduced to some crazy games by Phyllis and will have e...

December 24, 2011Desert Hot Springs, California Five months on the road.Six months living with five people in less than 400 square feet.Amazingly, that space is more than adequate when the sun is shining and it's not minus thirty outside.Five months and the only destination within that last five months that wasn't hinged on meeting with friends or family, or a work assignment was Prince Rupert in the first week.I have never considered myself to be an extrovert b...

It is December 23rd, 2011 and in keeping with our budget we have procured no gifts for each other.It sounds a bit harsh when I write it on paper, but this entire year is a gift and we are lacking nothing. In fact, unemployed and homeless as we are, it is by far our richest year yet.The richness I believe comes in being and learning together. It's not easy living on top of each other in a confined space, moving constantly, packing up, setting up, on a budget, mea...

With my morning hair and a coffee in hand, I took a leisurely stroll through the desert park with my wonderful husband (who also had morning hair - but who could tell!).Had we been in synchronized apparel and walking a little yappy dog we would have looked like all the other senior citizens doing exactly the same thing except that it was probably their second lap around... We decided to go to Salton Sea - an accidentally man made sea 227 feet below sea leve...