Conclusions (Part 1)

Time passed slowly while we were travelling.  These 5 months at home have gone in a flash.  It doesn’t feel possible that I’ve procrastinated for 20 weeks; on the trip, if I put off blogging for 2 weeks, it felt as if I would never catch up.

The drive up the Natchez Trace into Nashville was the ceremonial conclusion of our Year Trip.  AT2010 was the definitive conclusion of our Year Trip.  When we came off the trail, we went to our house and began making ourselves at home.  We kept the rooftop tent on our truck in anticipation of camping at Otter Creek’s family retreat in September.  Since then, we’ve taken off the tent, unloaded all the gear, and slowly unpacked and undone all the preparations we made back in spring of 2009. 

We tired of driving an F250 around town and paying for diesel.  We bought a more efficient vehicle.  We made plans to sort through pictures and to sort through all of our thoughts.  We are finally getting around to some of that sorting.

The most common question since we’ve been home:  “how are you adjusting back to normal life?”  We generally answer, “just fine”.  But we sort of hope we aren’t adjusting too much.  We hope we are somehow different, that we learned important things, and that we are making changes to our pre-trip normal.  As we begin 2011, we wish we were heading out on the road, and we are hoping that unsettled feeling will cause us to evaluate where we are headed on our  everyday journeys.

It’s past-time for a few thank-yous:

To Josh, Wendy, Parker, Dawson, and Maren for living in the house.  What a gift you gave us.  We didn’t have to worry.  When the flood came, you were there to assure us all was well.  Our transitions away from home and back home were so uncomplicated because of you.   Instead of leaving behind an empty house, you lived in it and filled it with life and laughter.

To Russell and DeeAnna, Caleb and Addison for letting us load up your attic with our junk.  And for helping us move it in and out.  And for supporting us.  And for meeting up with us in Colorado.

  To all of those who made us feel at home in their home:

• In Mukilteo, WA: Tim, Shauna, Zachary
• In Mill Creek: Chris, DeAnne, Dean, Christy Anne, and Colton
• In Lake Stevens, WA: Duane, Lissa, Mandie, Savannah, and Sarah
• On Lake Sammamish, WA: Adam and Monica
• In Everett and Westport, WA: Ben and Kathy
• In Port Hadlock, WA: Kelly
• In Fremont, WA: Darcy
• In Ravenna, WA:  Bob, Jenn, Claire, Jack, Nick
• In Wedgewood, Wa:  Scott, Lindee, Bethany, Brodie, and Isaac
• In Salem, OR: Shay, Derek, Beverly, Michael
• In Boston: Martha
• In Williamsburg, VA: Danny and Cathy
• On Shelter Island, NY: Cliff and Tish
• In Albany, GA: Bobby and Laura, BF and Marilyn, Tommy and Joyce, Greg and Sandi, Patrick and Angie, Elizabeth, Garrett, and Grant
• In Lebanon, TN: Royce and Faye
• In West Monroe, LA: Brian, Cynthia, Hannah and Daniel
• In Thousand Trails RV, Kissimmee, FL: Greg, Cheryl, Shayna, Jeremiah, and Josiah
• In Cedar Creek, TX: Jim and Judy
• In Sacramento: Nick, Christee, Tyler, and Branden
• In San Clemente: Bob, Kimberly, Xander, Christian, and Hannah
• In Walnut Creek, CA: Dave, Alice, Joseph, and Jackson
• In Salida, CO: Shawn, Christi, Emma, Justin, Carly Beth

  To friends and family from home that we met in far away places:

• In Camden, ME: Scott, Jessica, John, and Abe
• In Saranac Lake, NY, Jekyll Island, and on a southwest tour: Mom and Dad
• In Boston: Aunt Judy
• In Orlando: Dawn, Brad, Audra, and Carmen
• In Joshua Tree: Jim, Danna, Zane, and Emma
• In Spokane, Burbank, and WA Cascades: Jim
• In Phoenix, AZ: Nikki
• In Hollywood: Dawn and Jessica
• In Pepperdine: David and Becky
• In the Washington Cascades and Key West, FL:  OCYG
• In Moab, UT: Jerry, Colton, Austin

And to our Nashville friends who sent us off with blessing and love and support and checked in with us often.  And to Patrice who made us a beautiful scrapbook so that we wouldn’t forget anyone.

More conclusions and lists and statistics and thank yous to come in part 2…

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