Wait, we’re already a few days into May?? I believe I’m fashionably late with my April Currently post!
Currently living/working: Home has been where the toothbrush is! After staying put in Alaska for the past 14 months, we’ve been on the move most of April, and it’s been hectic! From AK to NJ (me) to CO (both of us) to VA to NJ (one day) and next to AK.
So here’s the deal. If you’ve been reading the blog for a few years, you might recall we purchased a Sprinter campervan in 2018. Admittedly, it’s been in storage more than on the road with us since 2018, mainly because we had our job working for Subaru/Leave No Trace. If you’ve been reading the blog for even longer, you might recall we owned a house in Danville, VA, from 2005-2015. When we sold it in 2015, we put everything from the house into a 10×10 storage unit in Danville, thinking it would be a year or 2 before we bought another house. Fast forward 6 years, and that storage unit has been the bane of our existence.
The stars aligned and it was finally time to tackle cleaning it out for good. Justin bought a 6X12 trailer to pull behind our Sprinter, we cleared out our mini storage unit in Denver, loaded our kayaks, then packed the rest of it with “some” of the VA storage unit’s contents. Alaska bound!!! For those who don’t believe we are settling in Alaska, you better believe it now.
Current mood: Relieved to have downsized our STUFF. Virginia had the bulk of furniture, which went to our good friends, who will split it between themselves and their 2 adult children. So next time we visit, we might be sitting our on our couches! A few friends took some other goodies, we donated about 6 other boxes and threw out/recycled 4 bags of crap.
Currently amazed by: Both of us are sentimental hoarders, so I was quite impressed with our abilities to let go of things. There was only a tiny bit of panic packing, which involves confidently packing, then second guessing what we packed, then just throwing things about. But for the most part, we did well. And it only took us 1.5 days!
Currently regretting: NOT PUTTING SUNSCREEN ON. Justin & I are fanatics about sunscreen; we lather up all the time before spending any amount of time outdoors. And we have a lifetime supply of Sawyer sunscreen, so no excuse not to. Yet, I didn’t think about putting any on during day 1 of storage unit cleaning when I wore a sleeveless shirt because it’s so darn hot & humid in VA. My skin hasn’t seen sunlight since last August, and to say I received a dose of Vitamin D is an understatement. Might be my worst sunburn of my life?! (Side note: talk about weather whiplash compared with the below-zero temps & snow in Alaska when we left at the beginning of April.)
Currently excited about: Saving $1260 per year in unnecessary storage fees!!!
Current confession: Don’t be mad, but we probably passed through your town on this road trip. Normally, we do a hello-goodbye tour anytime we are driving cross-country and try to see as many friends as we can. But this wasn’t that kind of road trip. This was point A to B to C to D. Plus, Covid. Even though we are fully vaccinated, we didn’t want to see EVERYONE. There’s still that risk. So, we just beeped and waved as we passed your exit.
Currently thankful for: It’s always so nice to roll into Danville & be welcomed back among our framily there. No questions asked with our coming and go and tight schedule, and always ready to make plans when we’re available.
Currently proud of: Justin’s long overdue colonoscopy in Denver revealed a very clean bill of health and that he is definitely still in remission. I truly believe being in remission for Crohn’s has been thanks to a perfect blend of modern medicine and food choices. Justin has given up SO much (i.e., dairy, red meat, caffeine) since his major flare up in 2016 followed by 3 surgeries. And we still tweak it whenever we notice an issue. His GI team said: “just keep doing what you’re doing!” Go Justin!! You are a rockstar Crohn’s patient!!!
Currently not excited about: ALLERGIES. Virginia struck both of us, but hit Justin extremely hard. Maybe that was it though?
Current guilty pleasure: Sweet Tea in the South!!!!!!
Currently worried about: CROSSING THE CANADIAN BORDER. Most people don’t realize we have to drive through Canada to get back to Alaska. Well, let me put it in simple terms: Canada is extremely strict about folks driving through their country (rightfully so). They have guidelines, however, everyone’s experiences at the borders have been inconsistent. We are Alaskan residents, so we are allowed to drive through and aren’t so much worried about being turned back. But we have to jump through what seems to be an obstacle course laden with fiery hoops, flying daggers and disappearing floors. You know it’s serious when both Justin & I are equally worried. Please send us good vibes for a successful crossing either Sunday 5/9 or Monday 5/10!
Currently watching on Netflix/Hulu/Apple TV/HBO Max: Can’t say we’ve watched anything regularly this past month, especially since we were apart. Justin tried out the first season of Game of Thrones with his mom (the jury is still out for him). Justin also loved the Beastie Boys documentary on Apple TV, so if you have it, watch it! Together, we started watching Mare of Easttown on HBO Max, and it’s actually fantastic, even if Kate Winslet looks very different than she did in Titanic …
Currently reading: I finished Rhythm of the Wild: A Life Inspired by Alaska’s Denali National Park by Kim Heacox, and really enjoyed it. I’m now more than halfway through Open Book by Jessica Simpson because I saw lots of people loving it, but I can’t say I am. It’s another sad, riveting behind-the-scenes look into a celebrity’s life, but I don’t love her narrative style. Justin & I are also listening to Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly on CD in the van. Not sure where we acquired the 4 books on CD we found in the van, but we’re happy to have plenty to listen to for the LONG DRIVE AHEAD.
I cannot believe how full your storage unit was! Good job purging!
OMG, we need to throw you a Cleaned-out-your-Danville-storage-unit Party! I thought you guys would never give that up, but you FINALLY moved out completely! (BTW, have you seen Lawless movie, based on a true story from an area near your old neck-of-the-woods? I kept thinking of your southern adventures there.)
Sad that you didn’t stop to see us, but we understand. Now you gotta find space in your dry cabin for all your “new” stuff!
Such a great post about “cleaning out” plus seeing friends! Enjoyed all the photos!
Best of luck going through Canada!!! I will be thinking of you and hoping whoever is working at the border is in a GOOD MOOD and sends you on your way to Healy. Sunset on May 4th 10:35pm
I’m behind—no wonder I was lost on your IG post!
First: I think I have that scrapbooking tote! Did it make it into the trailer or was it trashed/donated?
Second: trashing your AT Journey’s mags?!?! Sacrilege! haha j/k
I want to watch Mare of Eastown but haven’t done the HBO/Max pass thing yet. I’m sorry you didn’t like Open Book as much as I had written about. I think I enjoyed it because I listen at 1.75x speed *at least* and I was able to get through it quickly. It was very depressing, though.
YAY for Justin being in remission.
So, does it feel weird to basically be mostly untethered to the Lower 48 now?