It has been a little different being back in CT since June. It took us a while to get reconnected and energized to do certain work oriented tasks. The sense is sort of like when you come home from vacation of two or three weeks only multiplied by 6 or 7 times. And I was left with a question of, What am I supposed to do. I closed down the business for the year, so there was no work to do or anything related to the building business remaining on the plate. There were and are many items to do around our house but that somehow did not seem like much fun however necessary. There were certainly people to catch up with so we began our reentry by checking in and visiting with each of our kids and there loved ones. We then began contacting our friends here and letting them know we were back in town and wanted to get in touch and visit them as well. Slowly others have learned that we are back and we have been immersing ourselves into the relationships that we sort of put on hold for the extent of our visit. We have not yet been able to contact everyone or visit with everyone but we intend to for sure.
As a result of our contacting folks and some hard organizational work, we were afforded a very great get together opportunity last night. We attended a really comfortable summer outdoor picnic type party back in Middletown. One of our friends put it together for all of us to be together but specifically so that we, having returned to Ct for a short while, could spend some time with the friends we left behind and haven't see since December.
Thanks Sogul and Paul. This was a great treat and just as splendid a way to spend a summer evening as any one could have come up with.
We caught up with friends, had really great food that each group brought to share and talked about new things going on as well as recently passed items of interest, like the North Pole trip for Daisy Mayhem as well as catching up on some of the continuing life circumstances of the various families attending.
Jasper left in the middle of the evening to go to a special friends house (that has a horse farm and lots of riding farm equipment) he comes home from these visits full of ideas of how he wants us to be living and what animals and equipment he wants to own. He had a blast!
The night ended with Ed catching fire flies and showing them to all the kids (and Sogul) and a cool summer evening ride pick up Jasper in Durham and then on to our temporary home in New Haven.
What a great evening! Thanks to everybody for being there and sharing this time with us and making it work in your schedules.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
We have not left the Planet
We have arrived in and are currently staying in New Haven, CT and have been occupied with a variety a details regarding our families, dancing around the city (explained later) and our house since arriving home for this period of time. We will be heading out again soon and we will be traveling to and through the northwest corner of our country and western Canada for the late summer and fall.
We have decided that the material gathered on the blog, in notes and pictures along the way will be collated and assembled into a book describing the journey. The book will take into account how the trip was planned and launched, reasons why anyone and more to the point, why we, would take on such an exploration (We intend to capture the emotional/spiritual dimension of why one would take to wandering and what did happen for us as a result), possibilities on how to finance such an endeavor and the effects of doing it the way we did, how we attempted to put all the pieces together, what we hoped for prior to leaving and how that may have led us to what we got , how we planned our travel destinations and what we saw and found physically, geographically (on our planet and from our interior geography as well) and emotionally and spiritually as we traveled around the country during this provocative period of our US history. We will also discuss the aspect of taking on such a journey with a 10 year old, in particular our 10 year old boy and how homeschooling has dramatically affected us, the parents and how we approach his education, and him as a student and child growing and learning on the road doing what we affectionately call "Roadschooling". While we are at it we will also meander around the topic of our discussions of the pros and cons of whether to send him back to structured school or to continue with home/un-schooling, how he feels about the matter and how that works in conjunction with finding a new place to call home in the US.
As mentioned above, part of our trip purpose was to search out a possible new place to call home that would allow us the opportunity to build an energy regenerative, earth friendly structure after the trip ended. Thus, we will also explore how in the world you can plan to and seek out such a place after having lived in, become a part of community and have raised a family in one state for 30 plus years. How to intentionally take on the possibly scary thought and act of creating a new home center and personal community out there in the world. Now, this may not be a frightening thing for some people but for others, changing the knowns and stretching oneself into new lands can bring about all kinds of reactions. We intend to explore that which occurred for us and how we attempt to accommodate the feelings and emotions of each of us and our families as we branch out from the established center.
So much more arose from the trip than can be described in short blog notes or certainly this short blog note, so we will expand on our findings and offer a view of the US and its people from the (our) prospective of witness to our culture from a wanderers eye.
I am very excited about this opportunity to share our story, all of the mind thought and physical changes that occurred on such a trip, as well as, all of the wondrous, enlightening and possibly miraculous aspects of the trip.
Something deep happens as you leave what you know behind and set out into the world unknown.... (before, during and after) Perhaps, not unlike what the so called pioneers of our country experienced as they headed into the deep west in those early days of our exploring the vast, unexplored areas of this country. As was recorded as true for them, was true for us. There are innumerable different and unique experiences that occur constantly and most are unanticipated and your reactions to them are unpredictable. In a particular frame of mind those things are just "what is" but in another, in the midst of living your daily life they, can and do, run the range of extraordinary to mundane (depending on the day, geographic location, altitude and weather conditions, your personal mindset and perhaps the alignment of the stars).
I have just finished the book "Blue Highways" written in 1982 by William Least Heat Moon and was thoroughly re-inspired to capture the account of our exploration into and around America and our larger community throughout. Thanks Jeff, very much, for the lend. I may have to get you a new copy though as the paper cover has gotten a bit dog eared. See you again soon.
If anyone who sees this entry knows of any publishers that may be interested in this format and content please let me know. bill@adaptbuilders.com
Thanks
We have decided that the material gathered on the blog, in notes and pictures along the way will be collated and assembled into a book describing the journey. The book will take into account how the trip was planned and launched, reasons why anyone and more to the point, why we, would take on such an exploration (We intend to capture the emotional/spiritual dimension of why one would take to wandering and what did happen for us as a result), possibilities on how to finance such an endeavor and the effects of doing it the way we did, how we attempted to put all the pieces together, what we hoped for prior to leaving and how that may have led us to what we got , how we planned our travel destinations and what we saw and found physically, geographically (on our planet and from our interior geography as well) and emotionally and spiritually as we traveled around the country during this provocative period of our US history. We will also discuss the aspect of taking on such a journey with a 10 year old, in particular our 10 year old boy and how homeschooling has dramatically affected us, the parents and how we approach his education, and him as a student and child growing and learning on the road doing what we affectionately call "Roadschooling". While we are at it we will also meander around the topic of our discussions of the pros and cons of whether to send him back to structured school or to continue with home/un-schooling, how he feels about the matter and how that works in conjunction with finding a new place to call home in the US.
As mentioned above, part of our trip purpose was to search out a possible new place to call home that would allow us the opportunity to build an energy regenerative, earth friendly structure after the trip ended. Thus, we will also explore how in the world you can plan to and seek out such a place after having lived in, become a part of community and have raised a family in one state for 30 plus years. How to intentionally take on the possibly scary thought and act of creating a new home center and personal community out there in the world. Now, this may not be a frightening thing for some people but for others, changing the knowns and stretching oneself into new lands can bring about all kinds of reactions. We intend to explore that which occurred for us and how we attempt to accommodate the feelings and emotions of each of us and our families as we branch out from the established center.
So much more arose from the trip than can be described in short blog notes or certainly this short blog note, so we will expand on our findings and offer a view of the US and its people from the (our) prospective of witness to our culture from a wanderers eye.
I am very excited about this opportunity to share our story, all of the mind thought and physical changes that occurred on such a trip, as well as, all of the wondrous, enlightening and possibly miraculous aspects of the trip.
Something deep happens as you leave what you know behind and set out into the world unknown.... (before, during and after) Perhaps, not unlike what the so called pioneers of our country experienced as they headed into the deep west in those early days of our exploring the vast, unexplored areas of this country. As was recorded as true for them, was true for us. There are innumerable different and unique experiences that occur constantly and most are unanticipated and your reactions to them are unpredictable. In a particular frame of mind those things are just "what is" but in another, in the midst of living your daily life they, can and do, run the range of extraordinary to mundane (depending on the day, geographic location, altitude and weather conditions, your personal mindset and perhaps the alignment of the stars).
I have just finished the book "Blue Highways" written in 1982 by William Least Heat Moon and was thoroughly re-inspired to capture the account of our exploration into and around America and our larger community throughout. Thanks Jeff, very much, for the lend. I may have to get you a new copy though as the paper cover has gotten a bit dog eared. See you again soon.
If anyone who sees this entry knows of any publishers that may be interested in this format and content please let me know. bill@adaptbuilders.com
Thanks
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Change in direction (again), heading to Iowa!
After spending our personally illustrious time in the Tetons and Yellowstone, we whimsically and obtusely thought that we would head south again for some currently undetermined time to let the, what we would consider, late winter weather dissipate. And, this brings us to our decision of having left the RV in Boulder, CO. on Thursday the 29th of May after having arrived there the previous Saturday, May 24th. We arrived in Boulder by plan, just in time (actually the party started without us) for a fantastic memorial day party being thrown by friends Laurie and David. At the party, we met many of their great neighbors and friends and just had a blast recounting our trip for some of them, talking about Boulder with others, eating really good food and tasting some really great local beer. From our perspective, out on the road, we hadn't really known that memorial day was approaching until we called them and asked if we could stay there for a few days while we thought about what we were going to do, where we were going to go and waited for the warmer temps in the north. Memorial day weekend is a real good time to be in Boulder. They have a wonderful annual festival there with many eco centered vendors as well as the regular food and beverage vendors with a boulder twist. They have musci most all day everyday throughout the weekend and we were luckiy enought to catch a U2 cover band on Monday night that were real good and played right up to and slightly crossed over the 10 PM line of quiet.
After hanging there for the night and following day and finding that they could and would be willing to store the RV for us at a municipal airport hanger about two miles from their home, we decided to take advantage of the summer schedule of one of our closets friends/families on the planet and spin east to visit and stay with them for a few days in Eastern Iowa. While we were at the hanger I also took advantage of the dry covered space and changed the oil of both vehicles. did some tire rotation and balancing work on the RV and Now, you may have been able to tell by now that we decided to leave the RV in Boulder and head to Iowa by car to make the visit. This move would save us hundreds of dollars in fuel and the RV was not necessary as we stay with them in their house, intentionally, each and every time we visit them. For years when they lived in CT, we talked about living in community together as family. Just previously on Thursday, May 22 we landed in Salt Lake City having driven down from the Tetons National Park. This was certainly one of our longest drives of the journey to date. It took us from The Tetons, with a basically quick stop in Moose, Wyoming, at the post office, to mail something back east that we had hung on to for way to long for mom Chris. Next we stopped at the final, from where we were coming, most southern visitors station still in the Tetons National Park, Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitors Center (Grand Tetons Park map link) http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/GTNP_map_CTDVC_08.28.07_Sum.pdf
Check this one out a little later as I will complete the balance of the story in this post in just a bit!
After hanging there for the night and following day and finding that they could and would be willing to store the RV for us at a municipal airport hanger about two miles from their home, we decided to take advantage of the summer schedule of one of our closets friends/families on the planet and spin east to visit and stay with them for a few days in Eastern Iowa. While we were at the hanger I also took advantage of the dry covered space and changed the oil of both vehicles. did some tire rotation and balancing work on the RV and Now, you may have been able to tell by now that we decided to leave the RV in Boulder and head to Iowa by car to make the visit. This move would save us hundreds of dollars in fuel and the RV was not necessary as we stay with them in their house, intentionally, each and every time we visit them. For years when they lived in CT, we talked about living in community together as family. Just previously on Thursday, May 22 we landed in Salt Lake City having driven down from the Tetons National Park. This was certainly one of our longest drives of the journey to date. It took us from The Tetons, with a basically quick stop in Moose, Wyoming, at the post office, to mail something back east that we had hung on to for way to long for mom Chris. Next we stopped at the final, from where we were coming, most southern visitors station still in the Tetons National Park, Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitors Center (Grand Tetons Park map link) http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/GTNP_map_CTDVC_08.28.07_Sum.pdf
and after that rushed, by me, visit we jumped on the RV bus and continued south and west through the active little tourist town of Jackson, Wyoming (more famously known for the ski area named Jackson Hole) without stopping for more than fuel, yet again. We were now on a beeline and on a mission to attempt to make it to Afton, WY so we could get to a prearranged factory tour at 3 PM at the Aviat Aircraft I
nc
. company. 
Here is where they build the small fixed wing planes Husky (single fixed wing)
nc
. company. 
Here is where they build the small fixed wing planes Husky (single fixed wing)and Pitts (bi-plane)
and Eagle aircraft from the ground up, on site from start to finish. Great place, great tour.
Check this one out a little later as I will complete the balance of the story in this post in just a bit!
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