Well… I originally wrote this blog in April and
failed to post it… sometimes you just don’t have it in ya. I’ll re-work it so
it isn’t totally outdated but so much more to add.
It’s now JUNE! We officially signed papers in
March and committed AT LEAST a year to staying somewhere, although it will most
definitely be longer here in Vegas.
We are on the total outskirts in the
mountains and away from all the noise and commotion. We found ourselves a cute
little gated community in an area known as Lone Mountain- perfect, right? You
can walk out of our house and immediately go hiking, biking, etc. It’s perfect
and we are SO HAPPY!!!! It is literally perfect and the day we got home from
Mexico we found it- the timing was on point!
Oh yeah, we went to MEXICO! Let’s backtrack a
bit. It was amazing. A week in an all-inclusive resort: YES PLEASE. It was so
relaxing and we planned a few fun things to do [SCUBA diving of course and a
day full of ATV riding, zip lining, and swimming in cenotes.]
Spending the week in Playa del Carmen with my
parents and Adam was so wonderful. We came back refreshed and ready to rock and
roll. It also helps coming back to Vegas where the weather is about the same as
it is in Mexico- no snow and negative temps for this girl!
Back to the casa- we moved in March 1st
and are slowly getting everything situated. Since the two of us sold PRETTY
MUCH everything we had before we left on our trip, we were starting fresh. The
best part of starting fresh and decorating is definitely hanging up the awesome
things we got from our travels. It’s a constant reminder of the epic journey we
took and one we can re-live by walking around and seeing the masks, decorations
and photos.
I made an awesome Bristlecone Pine table and Memory Wall that is above part of our couch. I can sit and stare at this wall for hours. It’s brings me back to each and every memory and I LOVE IT.
We got a killer deal on some mountain bikes and have since been out multiple times a week. What a rush it is to be biking in the desert right in our backyard. Not to mention, an insane work out.
When you’re not falling. No photos needed of all the battle wounds... there are too many.
Relocating from NY to Nevada I thought was
going to be difficult. I was ready, but leaving your comfort zone is something
I know all too well at this point. I am pleased to say that the move and change
of lifestyle has put me at peace. I am completely content in this life we have
made and where we chose to settle down. The sun shines every day and my
sweaters are going to be tucked away for a long time. It’s funny what sunshine
and nice weather can do for your mood. Yes, I know coming from Buffalo and saying
I HATE the cold is pretty ridiculous, but I really do. I’m a warm weather
person all the way. I never got into snow sports and basically hibernated
during the winter. Now living in a place where flip-flops still make an
appearance in December is magical. I love it and I love our constant journey.
Having said all that- it’s hard being away
from pretty much everyone. There are a handful of people who I speak to daily
but it’s hard when everyone is living their own busy life. It’s nice to find
comfort that although we may be thousands of miles apart, we are still close at
heart.
My parents came to Vegas for my birthday and
we had the best time. Tons of good eating, sight seeing, massages, hiking and
adventure. I actually said to Adam, “my heart is so full”. Being able to show
my parents what we have created and our home was like no other experience. Even
after owning my home- this was just different.
We also had Tom and his friend Bri come stay
with us for a few days. We did some awesome off roading with Jon and took some
epic steel wool photography shots.
This past weekend I helped a friend of Adam’s
from the Marines surprise him. And WHAT a surprise! Him, Ruby & Baby Sean
showed up at our house and with Steve’s back turned toward the look out on the
door late Saturday night, Adam thought he needed to go for his gun. I had to
just yell OPEN THE DOOR which confused him even more. Lots of laughs, sushi,
and sight seeing were done this weekend and I loved every minute of it.
A friend of mine, Lindsey, living in Hong
Kong posted an article on Facebook that is such a good read.
The Science Of Why You Should Spend Your
Money On Experiences, Not Things [http://www.fastcoexist.com/3043858/world-changing-ideas/the-science-of-why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences-not-thing]
Here’s one part that I absolutely loved, and
if you have time, read the entire article.
"Our experiences are a bigger part
of ourselves than our material goods," says Gilovich. "You can really
like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is
connected to those things, but nonetheless they remain separate from you. In
contrast, your experiences really are part of you. We are the sum total of our
experiences."
We
are the sum of our experiences.
Maybe it’s my next tattoo. [Sorry, Mom]
Maybe it’s just something I remind myself of every day.
After I read that, I just sat and
started to thing how amazing and true it is. Our experiences are what make us. I
look back on traveling around with a backpack and remember the feeling of being
completely mobile. 100% ready to go at any time… what a feeling that is. There
was no: how are we going to move this stuff? Where are going to put it- store
it or sell it? Granted, that time will come again but what a relief it was to
literally have NOTHING.
Someday we’ll be back to only a
backpack traveling around WISHING we could just have a different change of
clothes or a fridge full of food so we didn’t have to fine something to eat.
And when that time comes, I’ll look back at this post and remember wishing I
was back there. It’s a compromise, but a compromise that’s worth it.
For now, we are settled in. We have
closets, our own bathrooms, and a place to call home. We celebrated our 2 year
anniversary in March and are thankful every day to have each other.
But the best feeling in the world?..
Adam walking through the door, looking me in the eyes and saying, “I love
coming home to you every day.”
Perfect.
Great photos! Loved the article :)
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