Mexico, Vegas, Our Home, Mountain Bike Exploring & Friend Visits!

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 I’ll re-work it so it isn’t totally outdated but so much more to add.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 1^st 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.

Farewell, Sherman. It’s time to get on our feet and hike it out.

Thanks for the memories, Sherman.

3 days after we arrived in New Zealand, we bought the campervan. We spent the next month exploring the land and seeing as much of the North Island that we could. We saw the Hot Water Beach in Coromandel, made our way to the black sand beaches and visited Cape Reinga- the northern most point of the country.


Coromandel, Hot Water Beach

The hot water beach was one of the coolest things I have seen. You can only go around low tide- 2 hours before and after are the best for the experience. Low tide was at 1pm and 1am and it FILLS with tourists at 1pm- so we decided to go late at night to check it out. You have to actually hire/rent a shovel to dig your own pool from the sand because the water in some areas is boiling hot. We headed out around 11:30pm with about 20 other people from all over the world and dug our pools and laid in the hot-tub like water until 2am. Laying out there with the sound of the water crashing in was unforgettable... and that's how we rung in Valentines day!

We woke up bright and early to head out on a Valentines Day Kayak tour which brought us around Cathedral Cove and around the coastline.

We drove all around and met some incredible people all while staying in Holiday Parks and free campsites for vehicles.

 

Piha, Black Sand Beach

Only problem was, we didn’t use our tent once. We had the luxury of sleeping in the van and storing our gear when we weren’t driving around. We were able to fill a cooler with food and cook on the stove inside on a nightly basis.

We outfitted ourselves with trekking gear, and didn’t use any of it. It was time to sell Sherman and get on our feet.

This was a success in just a few days. We showed less than a handful of people, and it was sold. We were back on our feet trying to figure out what our next steps were. We spent the first night in a hostel and started to plan. And let me just say- trying to find a hostel in the city the day you need it is near impossible.

Here’s my mini rant of the post: We landed the only thing that was left- 2 beds in a 10 bed room. It was by far the worst place we have stayed to date. It was absolutely disgusting, the room was like an armpit, cost us $60- and they charged $15 to rent a towel if you wanted to shower. Having said that- Adam used his bandana and I used the tiny hand towel I brought. RIPOFF.

We planned, and we were on our way. Booked a bus ticket to central north island and we were en route to the Tongariro Northern Circuit Trek.


Tongariro Northern Circuit Trek

Did I have any idea what I was signing up for? Not really. 4 days and 3 nights can’t be that hard, right? WRONG.

While this was one of the most amazing things I have done, it kicked my ass. But starting from the beginning…

Here in New Zealand- you can’t just pick any trek and hike it. For all of the 9 Great Walks and many of the longer hikes, you have to book yourself in mandatory huts/campsites along the way which have a certain number of availability. You have to pay for your campsite per person ahead of time [this trek was $14/pp/per night]. If you don’t pay ahead of time and just show up- the Warden charges you double per person- BOOK AHEAD OF TIME.  So while you think going out for longer hikes may save you money- you are still paying to sleep in your tent. And for us, $28 a night. As Adam knew from the Appalachian Trail- things are much different in the US. You can set up shop and camp when you are ready and on the AT there are towns along the way you can travel into. On this trek- you start with everything you will need for 4 days and you sleep in the designated areas. I’m sure a big reason for this is the safety and keeping a number on how many people are out there seeing that there are active volcanoes and what not.

We checked our gear and packed out our food, which we will be better at next time for sure. Oatmeal, Clif bars and noodles got really old after 4 days.

We stepped off on a rainy and windy morning but after that- the weather was incredible.


Day 1- Tongariro Northern Circuit Trek

We hiked through the desert, forest, around volcanoes and beautiful Emerald Lakes, up cliffs and along the ridgeline of a mountain- all while carrying a pack of 35lbs for me and around 45+lbs for Adam. 

Mount Ngauruhoe [Mt Doom, Lord of the Rings]

One of the Emerald Lakes

You may see people backpacking and hiking with packs, but until you have that pack on and you’re walking up hill in loose gravel feeling like you’re going backwards, you have NO IDEA. Many times I just stopped and looked at Adam and secretly wished he would just put me on his back and carry me up. My body has never felt the type of workout that hiking with a pack on for 4 days does. If you’re moving- that weight is on your back and it is HEAVY.

How I really felt about the uphill.

I personally give props to all of those Warrior Hikers that went through that for month’s straight- GOOD ON YOU GUYS!! You truly are amazing and I was WHOOPED after 4 days. I finished with a smile, and a mild sprained ankle.

Video from the final mile! I was starving.


The Finish!!

 

The Finish!!

After completing the Circuit, we stayed in National Park Village for the next 3 days relaxing a bit- for my ankles sake and for planning sake. We have now figured out the rest of our time in NZ. We take a bus out of here today at 3pm to head down to Wellington- the southernmost point of the North Island. We are saying there for 4 days at an Airbnb location.  Side note on Airbnb- CHECK it out if you haven’t heard of it. People rent out rooms in their houses all over the world for cheaper than what you can find hostels or hotels for.

From Wellington, we take the ferry to the south island where we have rented a car for the 13 days we are there. We will adventure around and then take a flight from Christchurch in the south island back up to Auckland in the north island on the 19^th. On the 20^th we fly out to Australia where we will run the Tough Mudder on the 23^rd. From Australia, we still aren’t sure. We will know more about that next week once we have plans set in stone.

I went into the Northern Circuit hike just thinking it would be that- a hike. I came out “getting it”. I get why I’m out here in New Zealand. I get why my life has taken such a different path and I get that life is what you make it. Plans change daily and that’s OK.

You won’t always know where you are going next but you are going somewhere, and that is better than standing still.

Emerald Lakes

Leaving Your Comfort Zone and Staying Strong.

When do you know when you’re out of your comfort zone?

For me, it’s when after being independent and living alone, you find yourself back at your parent’s house, in their basement, with your bed next to a double oven.

For Adam, its when after being deployed to Iraq, back safe, living the backpacker life on the Appalachian Trail, and finding himself at his girlfriend’s parents house, in their basement, with his bed next to a double oven.

Seriously.. 

HAVING SAID THAT… we are being tested… and staying strong. Living in a basement may be the definition of being out of your comfort zone…but the light is there.

Two HUGE things to mention in this post:

1. I have left my job
2. Our website is LIVE!!! www.HauserBautz.com

Bye-Bye Work Life.

Bittersweet! I have worked since I was 14 and walking out on my last day I found myself full of emotions. Being walked out by one of my closest friends at Stampede, Felix, I was greeted at the door by Adam with a dozen red roses and a huge hug. I was overwhelmed with what to feel. I sat down in the car and said to Adam, “I’m not sure if I should smile, laugh, or cry…but I guarantee all of these will happen at some point in the night once I realize what is happening!”

I have met some incredible people while at Stampede and I will forever be thankful for the friendships that were made while there. Kimmarie, Karen, Stacy, Jenn & Felix- you guys ROCK and kept me laughing and smiling!  

What? We have a website?

YOU KNOW IT! This took many hours to complete, and two calls from GoDaddy- who has the best support team EVER by the way. Although I still find myself changing things as time goes on, I am incredibly proud of what has been created.

Our website has ALL original photos that myself or Adam have taken, and we plan to keep it this way. What better than to look through the site and know we stood where each one of those photos was taken? There is just so much more meaning to us that way. 

Realizing that with not working, we will need a way to keep up on our gear and food- something we have planned from the start to do on our own. We have set up a pretty strict budget for food and shelter on our journey, in addition to cultural and adventurous activities we find along the way. We are also saving up for the GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition; check out this incredible video here. It’s amazing what the Hero 3+ can do and this is how we will capture and record everything we are experiencing along the way. I have been asked a few times how family member and friends can help along the way. With some research and advice from people, we have set up a Plum Fund- check it out here if you would like to help! We have a few things on our "Wish List" but any contribution helps! 

22 days until departure- we see the end of the tunnel, and it’s gorgeous. 

How did we get here?

Everyone always has that one neighbor that they will never forget. You know, the one who you can get caught in a conversation with and lose the hours-sometimes not by choice, the one who is always the first to greet you, or the one who seems to have that one friend that you feel is just a little different than the rest. My neighbor was Brad, and that one friend turned out to be the love of my life, Adam.

Now let’s back track…

As a whole, I feel our society always looks at those reaching for the stars or trying to live their dream as a little “crazy” in a sense. We think they aren’t “focused” or we think they may not have enough “drive”. What really is crazy? Is crazy living the 9 to 5? Is it waking up every day doing the same routine just because this is what you have learned actually IS the norm?

I think crazy is doing just that: living the way we have learned is normal and what society has told us to do after we go to school or graduate college. I lived that life and I can tell you it isn’t satisfying- for me at least. It may be for many, but the routine and structure didn’t provide what I was looking for. Graduating college, buying a house, living 15 minutes from home. That may be comfortable for some people, but it wasn’t what made me happy.

Having said that- chances take guts.

I was the normal. I was structure. I was safe.

This person was my opposite. Adam was that one person who lived the life he wanted to, knowing just how important life was. Being a Marine and having two deployments to Iraq, Adam knew what it meant to love the life you live, and he has shown me just that.

What IS stopping you? You have the power to do exactly what you want. It may not be comfortable or the norm- but if anything is holding you back, it’s you.

I looked at my dream and decided to follow it- when do you find your soul mate who has the same dreams and aspirations to live like you do?

I was ready to live. I sold my house, we booked the tickets- and started to plan the dream.

What may be a dream to many is a reality to us.

New Zealand, we’re coming for you.

January 8, 2014. 

Summit of Cadillac Mountain; Bar Harbor, Maine 2013