Susan says I skipped about four months, and I did. So I’ll try and fill you in.
After talking with the attorney (I’ll get into that story another time) it looked like everything here might get done early and we would be able to head out in four to six weeks (didn’t turn out that way). So we jumped in with both feet and got ready to go.
Morgon and I built a 10X20 mini barn at Greg and Patti’s place (thanks Greg and Patti) then we crammed in most of our stuff and sold off or gave away truckloads more. We had been living in that house for six and a half years and had accumulated a ton of furniture, toys and treasures. It took the five of us every day of our last month to get it all packed up and until we closed the door of the shed Susan said we’d never fit everything in there.
We had some consults with the school counselors concerning hardcore home school (thank you Shari!). The kids knocked off a couple of online classes quick because we knew that in the initial move a few months of studies would be lost in all the excitement, and I started the online classes I would be taking . This is part of the way we are paying for this, Canada will pay student loans and grants no matter where you go to do your studies. Thank you Canada!
The support we have been getting has been really surprising. I expected people to tell me that we were nuts. I mean, what the hell were we thinking! Instead friends and colleagues I really respect have been totally encouraging and have helped to keep us on track and our fears in check. The biggest shock was my Mother. I put off telling her for weeks. Thirty eight and still afraid of an ass chewing from my Mom. She was hesitant and quiet when I first told her but called me back the next day to tell me she thought it was an awesome idea and we should be packing. Not at all what I was expecting, but totally appreciated! Without all of these great people I think that we may have chickened out.
Two weeks at a time our flight date has been pushed back. Our initial four to six weeks is in the distant past and we are now closer to the original schedule. At this time our hope is to be flying out sometime in the first two weeks of December but we have learned by now to write our plans in pencil. After Dec 14^th the ticket prices jump way up so we’ll keep our fingers crossed. In the meantime things are going pretty good. Its not Mexico but all in all its been pretty cool living like gypsies.
I have done some research on Mexican work visas and we’ll get those once we’re in the country. We do not have unlimited funds (yeah I know, you’re really surprised) so if we decide to stay longer than the six months we have committed to we need to be able to make some money down there. Our plan is to burn up about three months finding where we would like to settle, then move ashore and charter the boat for occasional day sails and sunset cruises to keep us in cervezas and tamales. The three months will also allow us the time we need to get the boat ship shape and pretty. She needs work. She actually needs a hell of a lot of work. But right now it costs a mint just keeping her in a marina so if we can have her on the hook for a few months that’ll allow us a little extra money to put into her upkeep. That, a lot of elbow grease and a little luck will get her back to beautiful.
So much has happened over the last few months that I am sure I have forgotten lots but now that I have given out the address for this blog I will try and be a little more vigilant and keep all of you up to date.