The Adventure Continues!

So much is happening right now that it's difficult to keep everything straight. My world is a blur, emotions are running high, and I have no idea what the future is going to bring (and that's scary). I'm reminding myself to take things one day at a time, one thing at a time, and everything will get taken care of. Big things are happening, both good and bad!

First, the good.

Last weekend Jordan and I camped high up in the Sierra mountains in King's Canyon National Park, where he proposed!

I said yes!

Our hands are resting on the soft bark of a giant sequoia tree in one of the most beautiful places we've ever been to. I'm working on a big blog post detailing the trip and should have that up this weekend, but my first priority is getting my last week of writing work complete. Then I have a lot of packing to do. I will be shipping my snakes on Monday and flying back to Grand Marais on Tuesday! So much to do!

Now, the bad.

Last week Jordan was laid off from work. Today he found out exactly what our options are concerning our apartment. It would cost roughly $5,000 to break the lease right now, even though his unemployment alone isn't enough to live on until February when our lease is up (our original moving date). Thanks to a severance and my own savings we're okay right now, but it's going to get difficult quickly. We're trying to find someone to sublease, but the rent is high and the apartment isn't in the greatest shape. The complex would likely replace the carpet, repaint the walls and shower, and replace the toilet before renting it. We're not counting on this option, which means Jordan will likely have to stay in CA until February.

The other options suck, though. Jordan could get a full time job and quit in 6 months to move to MN (which is both rude to the company and looks horrible on a resume), or he could get a part time job that has 75% of the wages removed as part of the unemployment terms. The situation sucks all around and we're not quite sure what direction to turn from here.

I know we can get through this, and we'll be stronger for it when we look back on it later.

Still, this move is proving to be more difficult in ways I never saw coming. That's life, eh?

Life Happened + I'm Moving to MN!

It has been a month and a half since I last wrote. Oops! Sorry about the unexpected hiatus. I even said on my last post I was going to write more here. Then life happened. You all deserve to know what I've been up to, so this is a journal update highlighting what's been going on.

I'll start with the big news - I'm officially moving back to Minnesota at the end of the month (June 30th), and thanks to my wonderful cousin I have both a job and a place to live waiting for me on my return!

Home!

I'll be moving into the small rental house she's been living in (yay tiny house living!), which as it turns out is owned by other distant relatives of mine! I'll also be taking over her job at a realty office that sounds like something I'd be good at. On top of all that, she offered me art studio space at her house in exchange for helping out with animal chores. I'm so excited to finally get some hands-on homesteading experience! I'm looking forward to these big changes. The next chapter in my life is opening up!

I was able to purchase a plane ticket using money raised from the Indiegogo, and the rest will go toward my first month's rent and shipping and travel expenses. I will be sending an email to my Indiegogo contributors with updates soon too, including a link to this blog post.

My mom has been struggling with illness and fever, but hanging in there. She's looking forward to being done with chemo soon. Then she gets a break before radiation begins. She's one tough cookie! I'm eager to spend time with her and my dad (and my other friends and family) back home soon.

Of course I have a lot of mixed feelings about the move. It's going to be difficult leaving Jordan here while I go back to the place we both want to be, but it's more than that. I've grown really comfortable here. It has been hard to get by sometimes, but we've been making it work and enjoying some good times too. I'm really appreciating what's here now that I'm leaving it behind.

It is a nice area, really.

Jordan and I had an unexpected house guest for a week at the end of May. An old friend of Jordan's was down on his luck, and we let him take over our living room for a week while he looked for a room to rent. It was tough just because our place is small and I didn't like the lack of privacy (and I'm a private, anxious person to begin with), but I'm glad things worked out.

Also I'm sad to say our oldest rat Raven had to be put to sleep. Her brain tumor progressed to the point where she was unable to eat or drink. We euthanized her here at home where she passed peacefully.

RIP Raven, you were a sweet rat

Just like her sister Sassy before her, we entombed her in a pot below an herb plant. This time we chose mint. I'll have photos in a garden update soon!

I'm still not to the point where I feel comfortable with my money situation, so I'm working hard this month to sell some things. I really need to downsize the number of snakes I'm bringing home so I've been busy tending ads and taking pictures. I'm working on selling a variety of other things as well, including books and old artwork. 

I've been really busy with my writing job, which will sadly come to an end before I move. I love it, but it's for the best. I've been behind on the work for a long time and I've found it's nearly impossible to catch up, but I have to. I'm looking forward to going back to a job that has set hours and a schedule to stick to, and also doesn't rely on me to handle the tax stuff because ugh, what a pain. It is definitely not easy to be self-employed, and I don't think that's best for me right now. Not until I get my shit together. :)

I've also been getting a lot of general apartment organization and upkeep stuff done and making packing a priority, and Jordan has been helping cook and clean which is always wonderful. I've said it before, but we really do make an amazing team.

I'm really looking forward to the weekend of June 19th, as that's when Jordan and I are heading to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park to camp. It's an amazing place and I've been excited to go back for years! Those big trees call to me. 

I know I said it in my last blog post, but I am definitely going to be updating here more often. Perhaps sometimes even daily. I'm starting to work more on my book, and there are some things I want to blog about before I move that will probably make their way into the pages.

This is going to be the busiest month ever. I'm not ready, but it's happening!