"your doing WHAT?"

That's the response I often get when I tell people we are moving all our stuff into storage and living out of our van for 8 weeks.  Yes, the kids are coming with us.  Yup, we all fit just fine.  Ummm...actually, I don't need to shower everyday.  And nope, I don't get tired of sleeping on a bunk.  Uh huh, the kids love it.  Yup, we cook - we have a propane stove, a small fridge, and a sink...we also bring along our mini grill.  Yes, there are two double beds - one up and one down.  No...no A/C at all and no heat unless we are moving.  It's a 1987...but the engine is a 2009...that's a good thing.

Well, it might not seem like all that fits in there but it does.  And it fits just fine.  I do sometimes feel like one of those clown cars - you know, the ones where a ridiculous amount of clowns somehow emerge from a teeny tiny car.  Once we start taking things out, I am completely amazed that all those items actually fit all nice and snug back into the van.

We still have quite a few details to work out in these next few weeks - like where we are actually going to put our stuff while we are away, where we are going to go on this trip (guess that can be a spur of the moment type thing but we should still have some semblance of a plan), and how on earth we are going to get all the work (packing, planning, and "real" work) done in the next 3 weeks.  Oh - and throw a few visitors in there for good measure.  Phew...just thinking about it makes me tired.

must. start. packing. boxes.

transitions

It has begun.  Another transition.  Once again, we are putting our things into boxes.  Sorting, selling, donating, packing.  Purging and cleaning.  Organizing and labeling.  It feels good to know this is the last time I will do this for a long, long time.  My packing goal: everything I put into a box will have a place in our new home...each object will either be useful or will make our home beautiful or perhaps will do both.  But, for the next couple of months, all of these useful and beautiful objects will be stored while we head out on an adventure.

The van will be packed with only our essentials.  Nothing more.  Climbing shoes, camp chairs, festival tickets, rain jackets, bathing suits, sunscreen, food, and the four of us.  Summer vacation will take us to California for a family reunion.  Following that, we have no real plan.  We have at least 8 weeks to wander.  No school, no work, no appointments.  No place we need to be and nothing we have to do.  I can't wait! 

Ahhhh...summer.  It's almost here.