Updates For The Masses

Well, it's about time I update the blog. I've bee updating the Facebook page using my phone, but now that the wifi is working at the RV park I can hopefully start getting things updated here as well. Still using Blogsy on the iPad to do it with for today as I sit at the laundromat. Since we're going to be staying at the RV park at least until we get the road completed, it is kind of hard to setup any kind of outdoor laundry and clothesline.

Ashley and I both have found work at Walmart and although we're driving a little further than I'd like we will still be able to take care of the few bills we have and still have some left over. Once we get past the "probationary" period we can request a transfer to a closer store and from what I've heard they are pretty helpful in those situations. We will average about 35 hours a week and they are working to make sure we both work the same days, if not the same shifts, so we can carpool. A 1996 Jeep Cherokee lifted with 31 inch tires is not exactly the best commuter car. It's kind of like driving a sheet of plywood into the wind.

Deb will be here in less than three weeks now and I can't wait to see her. We were finally able to video chat a couple of days ago and although it was great to see her, it almost made it harder. Every time she would talk the dogs would keep looking for her. Their reaction to her coming home will be one to record and post here. We have the day off at work so picking her up will be no problem.

I did have one issue here already though and it's not over. I had two five gallon cans of gas here that we were using as backup on the drive out and I was keeping full for emergencies, and to use for the chainsaw. A few days ago during the storms, I took one and put it in the jeep just in case and forgot to put the lock back on the second one. Two days later we came home from work and the second one was gone. The lady here are the rv park was more than upset and said she thought she may know who took it. However today as we were leaving to come over here I saw my missing gas can, which is pretty distinctive, in the back of a truck in front of us. The truck is from the mobile home side of the park. I will talk with the manager when I get back today but basically if the can is not returned with cash to refill it, I will have no problem getting the police involved. I'll update on the situation as it develops.

Well the washers are done, so I'll end this here. Until next time.....

 

Two Years - Two Months - Eleven Days Later...

Two Years, and Two months ago I sat looking at my computer screen watching as someone tried to outbid me on eBay. The auction was for our dreams. Ten acres of wooded land where we could just get away and live our lives the way we wanted to. I was at work in the report writing room and not even supposed to be on he internet at the time, but there was no way I was waiting until I got home to find out what happened.

We won the auction and were now the proud owners of ten acres of land in Hughes County Oklahoma. Why Oklahoma you ask? I honestly didn't know. It wasn't a place we had even thought of going but our research on the land and the seller (who is carrying the short mortgage) led us to believe this was the place. We prayed about it and put in our bid.

A year later we went to physically check out the property we had bought. It was exactly (other than the ticks) what we were looking for. So much so that we bought two adjoining lots and now have 30 acres. 

It's been a series of ups and downs since then including my losing my job in November two months before we were going to leave and head out there. We've come up with idea after idea about how we can make it work and each one just puts it further off. The only thing that will change a dream into reality is action so....


In less than three weeks, on April 24th 2013 two of us are leaving to move to Oklahoma. Why only two? Deb will be staying here and continuing to work for two months while Ash and I get settled on the property and begin to look for work. She'll fly out on June 11th and we'll really be there.

This is obviously not the ideal situation, but we're all tired of waiting for that perfect moment and are doing whatever it takes to get there. Including a yard sale selling 80% of what we own just to cut down what we're hauling.

I'll be posting more over the next couple of weeks including pictures of the packing. At this point we may look like the Beverly Hillbillies driving there, but we'll make it.

-mike

Found a new service that will be of use here on the blog. It will basically take things we post on other sites from Facebook pages, Twitter, Pinterest and more and add them as content here.

They can be posts like this or pages like the Pinterest one above.

The service is called TINT and you can find them at http://www.tintup.com The basic service we're starting out with is free, but it can go much further once you start paying.

Click the "Our Pinterest" link below the sites logo and let us know what you think.

Site Design Changes

Well, haven't posted much because there's not been much to post. With the rain going on it's really not feasible to uncover, dry off, load a few things, then cover everything back up. I've been going through more things and getting stuff packed inside or thrown away if possible. I got the CB installed in the truck and one Jeep, the last one needs to be a temporary setup for Ashley because I don't think she'll want one installed all the time.

What I have been doing however,

Trailer Prep

Spent the past couple of days getting the big trailer ready to move (as well as a couple of days away) and picked up another small trailer. Hopefully I can get the two trailers packed and ready so when I come out to get this one we won't have much to get put in it. Seems like there's still a lot to do but envy day gets us closer..

On another note, what's up with the

A Little Q&A Session

I though I'd take a few minutes and answer a few of the questions we get asked frequently regarding our move to Oklahoma.

The number one question always seems to be why which in itself is a few different questions. Why move from California, Why Oklahoma? Why leave your extended family behind?

Why move from California? I'm sick and tired of the politics and ridiculous rules and regulations in this state and the social expectations of living in the city. I can't park in my front yard without risking a $75 ticket. I can't replace my windows with upgraded more efficient windows without getting permission from nanny.gov and paying them a fee for the privilege. My neighbors are so

Facebook Test

Well this post doesn't really have anything to do with the move. I'm just testing a new addition to Facebook that will let my RSS feed post to my wall and how long it takes.

-mike

The Rain Gods Are Against Us.

Can anyone explain this one to me? I am no longer employed so that we can get things ready for the move. I had one day and then it decides to rain and it's not supposed to stop for 4 days. Granted it's not a torrential downpour nor is it even constant, but it's enough to be annoying and keep me from doing much.

On the plus side it will give me more time to get the digital side of things ready. This blog and a couple other sites we had/have in mind may get some time.

It's too cold to give the dogs a bath which they both need and most everything inside is already done and ready to be loaded or packed once we get a little closer to leaving. Guess I'll be doing some laundry today.

I did order some air shocks for the