Project Glamp

So this is how the story goes....

I hate tent camping.

I know hate is a strong word, but it is more than appropriate in this situation. I have the privilege (?) of working in the Yukon Territory for three summer seasons which last 4 months each. There is NO housing there for all us seasonal workers - so we lived in tents. Little tenting communities popped up lovingly referred to as "Tent Cities". You quickly lose the novelty of camping when you live that way in the arctic. I never was able to get any of the novelty back...the Yukon wilds beat it out of me.

Fast forward 18 years. Now living in a house with real walls not made of canvas and co-habitating in said house with one big and two little people who love to go camping. I managed to dodge the camping idea for sometime with the very good excuse of not wanting to camp with babies. But alas and sigh, my baby is now almost 4. That standby excuse is no longer valid. So after much "discussion" with the Hubs, we compromised on a vintage travel trailer to both meet his need of all things cool and vintage, and my need for a solid roof and running water.

We set about to find a vintage tin can that would have all my wants and all his. No easy feat I must say. But we were able to amicably settle on a 1976 15' Scamper trailer. Not as vintage as we would like, but it was what we could willingly pay for an old trailer and had all the bells and whistles - like a teeny tiny toilet and running water! The JOYS!

The downside of vintage is gross, old, stinky trailer decor. We wanted to make this a little cottage on wheels and the cutest little cottage on wheels we could muster. Plans quickly developed (thanks Pinterest) and we set out on glaming our little trailer find.

I am going to document our little project so anyone who is in my camp (get it, get it) may see that even you can do this too!

Hope you join us on our adventure.

I'm BAAACCCCKKKKK..........

You missed me didn't you! It's okay, you don't have to admit it, but I can sense that glint in your eye ;)

So obviously I have taken a very long break from writing. Why did that happen...well...life sometimes has a way of getting in the way. Wait. Re-frame and rephrase.

 I have a way of letting life get in the way!

I allow myself to get caught in the never ceasing cogs of life, just getting turned around and around, thinking that I am doing stuff when really I am just slowly spinning. In the dizziness of it all, I lose sight of what I want and what I need. My passions are paused, my fire is smothered. And I am the guilty party. I allow it - then I complain about it - then I get sad about it - then I finally try to pull myself free of the life-machine and LIVE.

I know that I am not alone in this vicious cycle. It's okay to admit it. We blame it all on family, responsibility, career demands, funds (or lack there of), etc. But I am going to stand with chin high and admit that I am responsible. Life is choice. What you choose will be your life. If I choose to allow myself to be smothered in the blanket of what-have- you (job, kids, etc) then what is the point.....seriously. I want my kids to see my light. I want my husband to bask in it. I want my work to thrive in the energy of it. BUT I have to choose it.WE have to choose it.

So I am choosing life.... as defined by experiencing, doing, exploring, creating, reflecting, loving. And letting my light shine.

Shake it.

I love to dance. No, I am not a trained dancer of any sort. When I say dance, I mean to move your body in a way that is pleasing to you - in a way that brings you joy. I take part in a dance class (GROOVE Method) every week that allows me the freedom to express what I want how I want through movement.....more on that class later....but I wanted to share with everyone this video I stumbled across.

THIS is why I dance. THIS guy (guy, I know...who knew???) gets it. I applaud him....and am slightly jealous that he got to do this....Hey, Matt, next time bring me along.

Here is an explanation he provided for this video and his project:
What are these humans doing? Dancing. Many humans on Earth exhibit periods of happiness, and one method of displaying happiness is dancing. Happiness and dancing transcend political boundaries and occur in practically every human society.  Matt Harding traveled through many nations on Earth, planned on dancing, and filmed the result. The  video, the latest in a series of similar videos, is perhaps a dramatic example that humans from all over planet Earth feel a common bond as part of a single species. Happiness is frequently contagious -- few people are able to watch this video without smiling.