Wednesday, September 26, 2007

T-Minus 3 Days

I tell you, this not working thing is awesome! Wake up leisurely; chat a bit while still in bed; make some coffee after an hour or so; chat some more; make some breakfast; wonder about the poor saps already at work; do some packing; play guitar; go for a bike ride; do some more packing; oh, and look at that... it's already lunch time! It's a a tough existence. I don't know how we're going to manage three more days of this.

Christy and I are actually making great progress. After Saturday's yard sale we've pared down considerably. The basement, office/spare bedroom, living room, and our bedroom are mostly packed already.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Yard Sale

Today was our yard sale. Christy and I started putting stuff out at 6:30AM. Fortunately no one came early. It was quite a success from our perspective. We sold everything with the exception of a few books and Cd's. We made $130! We thought it was great but my mom (who's German, BTW) said "Zat is not very much."when told how much we took in. Thank God I have some Latin blood in me to counter such high standards. Hi mom, I love you!

A lot of our neighbors stopped by to say hello and wish us well. We also met a neighbor couple who we wished we had met sooner. They're into organic gardening and alternative energy also. Bruce and Liza stopped by to drop off their car to be sold on our front lawn. They also gave Christy and I a wonderful gift certificate to Gardens Alive - thank you so much you two! We were also treated to a farewell visit from Mark and Anne and their boys. Thanks for stopping by to wish us farewell. We hope Ethan and Nicholas enjoy their boards.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Farewell Luncheon II

I'm really starting to like this going away business... three farewell events inside of a week?
Well, today is my last day with SemEquip, Inc. It's been a fabulous 3 years. I truly loved working here. I've been treated better than any employee could ever ask for. There have been plenty of challenges but it was always fun. And what made if fun was the group of people I worked with. I want to list the people but I don't want to be up all night. But I have to say that my boss Vijay was the best boss anyone could ever hope for. Boy, if only I still worked there I might get an extra raise for that one. Brian Haslam, I love you, man. Mike Kogan, I enjoyed our political and social discussions. Stu, you are too funny.

So, this last day, SemEquip held a going away BBQ in my honor. Which was an honor. I'm very humbled to be treated this way. Thank you so much SemEquip. Stu, thanks for initiating it; Dan, thanks for doing the grilling; Mark, thanks for sending out the invites; and finally, Brian Cohen & Dale Jacobson, thank you for all you've done.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Farewell Luncheon I

The boys at SemEquip treated me to lunch today at my favorite little pizza joint - The Flatbread Company. They serve a variety of funky pizzas that are made from mostly organic ingredients. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone's company, it was awesome. It was very flattering that they took me out for my last lunch outing. I'm going to miss our weekly lunches at the various eateries that we've discovered during the last three years. I was also shocked that the farewell greeting card was accompanied by $200. Thank you so much guys! It was an honor to say the least.

Thank you Vijay, Brian, Mike, Steve, Edy, George, Grant, Andy, Jeff, Dennis, Ted & Scotty. You're the best!




Sorry Grant and Andy... you missed the photo op.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Going Away Party

We had our going away party today. It was a fun, low key event with family and friends. Guest list included Lindsey, Adriana, Franklin, Jamie, Lauren, Grant & Shiela, Roy & Laurie, Bruce & Liza, Rick D., Alex L., Stephanie & son Riley, Davis & Amanda, and Knute & Laurie. It also turned out to be a semi Teletrol reunion. It was great seeing everyone.

Earlier in the day Grant, Shiela and I went to the Friendly Toast in Portsmouth. I convinced them to join me for breakfast at this cool & funky restaurant. Afterwards we checked out the Portsmouth Farmers Market where I received a white spruce seedling to commemorate the 100th birthday of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska.














Wednesday, September 12, 2007

T-Minus 17 Days

Seventeen days left until Christy and I leave Allenstown, NH to begin our big adventure. And almost as exciting - only seven days left to work. Our plan:

  • Stay w/ Christy's parents in Charlotte, NC while searching for property in Floyd, Va (http://www.floydvirginia.com/)
  • Lots of visiting with family: Christy's parents Jim and Linda and sister Nancy, and my family in Durham and Wake Forest, NC: my brother Adrian and his partner Keith, brother Roney and his wife Beatriz and two daughters Parisa & Bianca (& Micah on the way), and last but certainly not least mein mutti und ihr ehemann Ron
  • Buy property: 4+ acres of very rural, rolling topography, wooded lot
  • Live in a camper while we build our house out of mostly renewable materials - reclaimed and/or FSC timber & in-filled with straw bale (http://www.thelaststraw.org/bonus-articles/ann_edminster.html)
  • Generate our own electricity via an off the grid photo voltaic system (~1-2kW with battery backup). More detailed specs to follow at a later date
  • Grow most of our food via an organic garden
  • Work p/t for supplemental income

We've made good progress on preparing for the move, e.g. identifying items for the yard sale & beginning the packing.

The down side, as with any move, is the sadness over leaving my daughters Lindsey, Jamie and Lauren. Granted they're young adults, however, it's still difficult. But alas it'll give all of us a reason to do some traveling.

A few poignant quotes:

"Maybe a person's time would be as well spent raising food as raising money to buy food." ~Frank A. Clark

What Is Simple Living?
"Living in a way that is outwardlysimple and inwardly rich."
- Duane Elgin

Here's a great site that elaborates a little on what is "Voluntary Simplicity":

http://www.simpleliving.net/content/custom_voluntary_simplicity_part_1.asp