After a month away I’m ready to write again. I did a lot of thinking about whether I wanted to return to the blog, and if I wanted to start up the Sunday morning post again if I did. It’s always been the most popular post each week, but had grown to the point that it took a lot of time to write. I had also grown very tired of taking pictures of our meals every evening. But, Sunday Morning will be back, with a few small changes, and Monday’s Staying Healthy post will be back as well. Otherwise, I’ve decided to write only when I feel like it and have something to say. That could mean several posts in a week, or maybe none other than the Sunday post, but I want to enjoy the process again and not have it become a chore.
So what did we do for the last month?
- I don’t really tan, but Brett and I got in a LOT of beach days, going at least two, sometimes three times a week up until the last week of February, when it became cool and windy again. The weather was glorious and we made the most of it. We spent around three to four hours at the beach each time – it was wonderful.
- We continued to hike at least four days each week at a minimum, mainly on the Maha’ulepu Trail in Poipu. We thought about going back up to the park one day, but looked at each other and said, “nope” and headed to the trail. Kukuiolono Park was a fantastic walking venue for us, but we realized that we were finally too bored with it to go back. The ocean views from the Maha’ulepu have yet to disappoint and we’ve gotten in a LOT of whale watching during our hikes. We’ve also spotted turtles and large manta rays off shore a few times, and once saw a ray in a fight with a shark!
- We’ve been doing a good job of cleaning out our pantry, and our shopping trips have become very minimal as well. We only have three more Not-So-Big shops left on the island before we depart and they will get smaller each time. I’ve only had a large frying pan and one saucepan to cook with and have done fine with just those two pieces. The condo we’ll be staying in before we depart only has a microwave, a toaster, and a coffee maker so our meals there will be very simple, and we’re starting to plan and put things away to take along for that stay.
- I had to have major dental work done in February when an old bridge (22 years old) collapsed and needed to be replaced. While I was waiting for the new bridge, one of the teeth holding a temporary bridge began causing a lot of pain after the temporary broke not once but twice. I was afraid I was going to need a root canal on top of everything else, but thankfully that wasn’t necessary. The new bridge was very expensive all on its own (thank goodness for dental insurance!). In spite of the cost, I feel fortunate to have had the replacement happen here instead of outside the country. We are really good to go medical-wise now. Brett got his new glasses, all our prescriptions have been refilled and emergency 90-day supplies ordered, and all OTC meds we’re taking along have been acquired.
- I closed my Etsy shop the second week of February. I had just one sale in the three weeks preceding, and decided this was as good a time as any to shut it down. The remaining hashioki (less than 50) will go out at our yard sale and anything left over after that will be donated to the thrift store. My Etsy venture was far more successful than anything I imagined and I accomplished more and made more than I imagined as well.
- Everything we’re keeping has been packed and the first 14 packages are on their way to Massachusetts. Postage has been expensive, but still far, far, far less than what we would have paid otherwise to have it all professionally shipped to the east coast. Most of our furniture has been sold or will be listed next week. The car will be listed for sale in early April, and we’ll have a yard sale for our remaining things the last full weekend in April.
- Our flight to Paris has now changed four times (!!) since we purchased tickets, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it get changed at least once more before we depart, especially with all that’s going on right now in Eastern Europe. We’re watching the situation carefully there and will decide sometime next month whether it’s safe for us to go to France or whether it’s time to activate Plan B.
We stayed busy these past weeks, got a lot done, but best of all I feel rested, relaxed and ready to get back to writing once again!
The Occasional Nomads 
Welcome back! I’ve been wondering how your preparations to leave have been going and if the situation in Eastern Europe has caused any changes in your plans. Glad to hear you’ve been having some amazing beach days and got your dental issues taken care of!
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I ready to be back. No changes yet to our plans, but we’ve put a Plan B in place just in case. We’re still leaving Kaua’i in May, and things are moving along as they should (so far) for that!
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Yay! I was so excited when I saw the notification that you posted again. Welcome back! Those beach days sound amazing. We are heading to Florida at the end of March and I can’t wait to see the ocean again. I’m impressed with how empty your pantry is looking. I’m sure some creative meals are in your future as you use up all the odds and ends. It sounds like things are moving along quite well to get ready for your move. I hope you are able to go to France. The situation in Eastern Europe is just heartbreaking.
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It was time. I thought I might wait another couple of weeks, but noticed that ideas for posts were starting to bubble in my mind so knew it was time.
Meals are still OK but we’re segueing into only buying what we need versus doing any stockpiling. My list for the next shop at Costco only has three items on it!
Agree that the situation in Ukraine is heartbreaking. It’s hard to know which way the winds are blowing though as Ukrainians are putting up a stiff (and I think, unexpected) resistance.
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So nice to see your blog this morning! I was just thinking about how much I miss your writing. 😊 And I’ve been thinking about you two in light of the mess in E. Europe. I hope you’re able to travel, but of course, safety first. It’s really unsettling to see what is going on in Ukraine.
Our kids that are living on their boat left a box of Patagonia for me to sell and it’s been an adventure. Some of it is vintage, which is almost always purchased to be resold in Japan, I find. The prices it commands over there are eye popping. But there are some things that just don’t move. Not sure how they decide, but I’ve been a tidy sum so far. They said I could keep the proceeds, but I don’t feel right doing that, so the split will be determined at some point…for now it sits in my bank account.
It’s FINALLY warm enough to walk here and the streets are bare. Woot! Longer days, sunshine off and on and tulips in all the stores. ❤️
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Oops. *made* a tidy sum.
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It’s good to be back! I missed my readers as well.
We’re letting everything go dirt cheap because it’s more important to us at this point to get things sold versus making a bit more money (although that’s always nice too). There are a couple of things that will be problematic to sell as they’re niche items, but we have a plan in place if they don’t because we won’t be giving them away.
We have been enjoying some exceptionally nice weather. I think we’ve already been to the beach more this year than all of 2021! Lots of hiking is getting done as well.
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Good to have you back! I’m curious about what you do at the beach. I love the ocean and the beach, but I’m a beach walker, not a sitter. Do you walk? Read? Watch the waves?…
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Hey Debbie! When we go to the beach we relax. I’m so tempted to go in the water (loved diving through the waves as a kid), but don’t like to go in alone and Brett won’t go in. So, mostly we read and watch the waves, as you say. There have been a LOT of whales out this year and we love watching for them.
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Just yesterday, when I saw your Instagram post, I thought how much I missed your blog. I was so excited to see it in my In Box this morning! I have plans to be in France the first two weeks of April, and am also watching the situation with Ukraine. We can always change our plans – last fall’s Greece trip came about after we found out most of SE Asia was still shut down. I love having the freedom, although I have been learning French for the past two months ha ha!!
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We have a solid Plan B in place in case things get worse, but for now we plan to be in France mid-May. I admit to being a bit nervous about it though.
Brett and I continue to struggle through French. Duolingo was OK for grammar, but we’re getting in some good listening practice now on Memrise. Speaking still eludes us.
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Really nice to see you back. Glad you’re going to reprise your staying healthy post. Our Paris flights have changed several times, too, so that now we’re staying an extra day in Strasbourg, which isn’t all that bad.
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I almost got rid of it – I was “this” close. It’s a fairly easy post to write but I was honestly sick of taking pictures of our food every evening. But, while I was off, those posts got the most looks and likes, so they were more popular than I imagined and will stay.
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I am so happy you had a good time at the beach and that you are writing again! So, so sad and scary about Eastern Europe.
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We have been loving our time at the beach – we’ve already been more this year than all of last year. We both said yesterday that we want to get in as many days as we can before we go because we don’t know when we’ll ever be able to sit on a beach again.
Sad and scary is right. We’re following the news closely, with lots of prayers and hopes for Ukraine.
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Glad you’re back. I was missing you’re Sunday posts. Seems the packing & downsizing is still going good. Karen
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The Sunday post will be back although in a more streamlined form. It was really getting long and difficult to write and either needed to be changed or gone. I went for change.
Things continue to move out, whether being sent for storage or sold. We’re living very minimally right now, soon to be even more minimal. And we love it!
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Nice to see you back to blogging! Hope your trip works out – we’re holding off booking a trip back to Europe even though we haven’t seen our families there for almost 4 years.
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For now we’re not changing our plans, but we have a Plan B in place just in case. We’ll see how things are going mid-April and make a decision then.
Four years is a very long time – my heart aches for you. It’s been two years this month since we’ve seen our son, DIL, and grandkids and we miss them so much. Japan has allowed travelers back for business reasons, but tourists are still not allowed in. Hopefully that will chang by the end of the year!
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Glad that you are back! I always enjoy reading your posts!!!
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Thanks! It was time to start writing again – ideas for posts were beginning to swirl around in my head. The rest was good for me though and I’m ready to get back at it.
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Welcome back! You’ve been missed, but glad you had a time of rest and refreshment. Looking forward to seeing how your travels all shape up.
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I really did have a love break – it was needed. We kept busy and got a lot done, but I honestly missed writing and the interaction the blog brings along with it. There will be a few changes, and maybe fewer posts, but I’m glad to be back.
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So glad you’re back. I hope everything works out for France. What is plan B if I’m not being too nosy?
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I’m glad to be back! How are you doing Vivian?
Post up soon about Plan B.
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