How do you pick up one life and transport it to a new spot?  The short answer: you can’t.  After coming back from my trip to MN, it hit me…everything has changed.  It seems obvious that going back (I want to say “going home”) would make me a little homesick but I had no idea how hard it would really be.

When we left for our adventure, I was sad to leave but so excited for the future that it didn’t really hit me.  We gave up an entire life, something we had been building on for years.  We gave up a home and jobs.  I would like to think that we didn’t give up any friends but in reality I know there are only some we will be able to keep long term and long distance.  Family will always be there but now it is different.  We are starting from square one in a new town with new people and a new way of living.  And it’s hard.

Andy’s new job is going well.  He said he is really enjoying it and that he is happy to be working somewhere interesting.  As much as we love doing whatever we want all the time, it’s nice to feel like you’ve accomplished something during the day other than another really long hike.

I am still looking for work but have decided to take this rare opportunity to write as much as I can.  A woman I met asked me the other day, “what do you do?”  At first I told her that I was a Park Host until I realized that this didn’t really explain me at all.  It was just something I did but it didn’t mean anything.  After thinking about it, I realized that “what I do” is write.  It’s what I did through middle school, high school, college, and in my free time outside of work.  And now it’s what I am able to do whenever I want and about whatever inspires me.  This is what I’ve wished for, this chance, for as long as I can remember so I’m just going to run with it.

Though we miss our friends and family a lot, we are grateful to have this opportunity to figure out where our lives will take us next.  The “wanderlust” is always present and we are constantly planning the next leg of our journey (from Caribbean trips to driving the entire West Coast).  For now, we will continue to dream and enjoy the beauty that Southern California has to offer.  We will take each day as it comes and try to appreciate what we are being given instead of only looking to the future, to find a balance between living each day and dreaming about what’s next.  “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”  –Albus Dumbledore via J.K. Rowling

One fun addition has been expanding our photography experience.  We’ve been able to capture some pretty cool shots and have had them professionally printed so we can sell them.  Right now, we are just focusing on one size of matted photo but we hope to eventually expand to more of a variety, including framed pieces.  You can check out some of what we have so far on our Etsy site:   http://etsy.com/shop/WanderingDolphin