chapter 16
{not to be confused with chapter 11}
………………….
i poured myself a glass of fine boxed wine and decided that this would be chapter 16.
it just sounds good….and i can hear the page turning……or better yet…..i can hear the kindle fire electronically
moving its way through the story.
Lola told me the other day that she is going to start writing a story about Captain Morgan
{who by the way turned 1 last week and got those paddles as a bday gift}
who knows what will come of it…..but the point is…..she will be writing a book……and he has
a very interesting life to say the least.
check check
First things first
here we are……. finishing up on year 2 in Hawaii……
and as you all know…..we moved here with the intention of staying only one year.
I remember thinking when we moved here that we were going to soak it all in……and in reality….
it was going to be a sabbatical of sorts……
Bryan had lost his job in Chicago….and we had this grand idea to pick up and move the family to a different
{hopefully not so different}
but different enough that we could all still speak English as a first language
and just difference that our families might not think we all fell off the deep end
by moving to a third world country.
{my mom was here for the last 10 days and i just looked at our calendar…..
she has come to visit us 4 times in the last 2 years……so i’m happy to say we are not in a 3rd world country}
Like i have said in a previous post……that year went faster then you could say
hanalei don
and then we decided to stay one more year.
We had a bit of a problem renting out our home back in the Chicago…..a few months had gone by with not a sound…..
not a bite….
i had to get a part time job……
schedules around Bryan and Myself had to be rearranged to best fit in and organize the kids schedule
we made it work.
I work 2 afternoons/evenings a week….
bryan works full time mornings still at the St. Regis….
and an additional 2 nights a week at another restaurant…..
which leaves us 3 evenings together as a family……but gives bryan 5 full afternoons with the kids
and that is what life should be about.
Life here revolves around the beach……and so far even we haven’t taken one single moment for granted…
i’ve turned into a bonafide a beach lover…..
{even though as i type this ….it’s raining outside}
Anyhoo…..back to the story at hand.
CHAPTER 16
The kids are onto their last week of school….hard to believe.
A few months ago…..we sort of had it decided that it was a good possibility that we were not going to
continue to live here on Kauai mainly due to the fact that Mason was about to graduate 6th grade
at our favorite little school….Hanalei Elementary
The public middle school that Mason would be attending next year is not a great school…..
and because education is somewhat important to us….we were thinking long and hard about
what and where we would go next with our life.
I kept bringing up the fact that we were thriving and the kids loved it here…..
{and duh…..i sorta loved it here}
and then the clouds parted
the sun broke through
and we found out that a brand new middle school was opening up here on the north shore of Kauai.
I went to all the meetings……researched the curriculum…..right along side of
all the other parents of 6th graders who were just as thirsty for a school that would
be the perfect solution for our kids.
The downside was….it’s a private school….and how are we going to be able to afford a private school.
We talked it over and decided that we would make it work…..
and even though i’m sure my Mason would do just fine at the public middle school….
and he would get a decent education there……but the 45 minute bus ride to and from
alongside of the fact that it just has a bad rap…
we decided it was better to have him in a private one
for middle school where i know who the kids are …i’ve met the teacher
and they have a water sports coach as well…..spending a few afternoons out in the water learning.
Stoked.
It’s actually quite affordable compared to the other private middle schools on island….
and i will have to pick up one more night of work ….but it affords us the fact that we can stay here
in Hawaii.
Chapter 16.
We are going to stay.
Then last month something else happened that confirmed our decision was a right one.
Our tenants back home in Chicago……decided to stop paying rent and live rent free in our home.
After numerous attempts to work with them and try and figure out a solution….they cut off contact with us
completely and now we have to evict them.
We’ve talked with a lawyer….we talked with our realtor……we’ve done everything.
Our best course of action as of right now is to sell our beloved home
{and with it….my favorite time out corner}
There is no way we can continue to pay a mortgage when no one is paying the rent.
It’s brought on a ton of stress and tears these last few month……and money problems are the root
of any and all arguments in our lives……so this is the only option.
We just need to get the free loading tenants out.
It’s heartbreaking….but life goes on and so will we.
but because of our decision to stay…..i’ve been able to start doing little projects around the condo
to help us feel like it’s more of our home…..
and not just a place we live in.
my favorite room so far and it’s still work in progress is the loft upstairs……
i pushed the two twin beds agains the wall….
and turning them into daybeds of sorts…..
it’s all coming together and i will have photos soon.
So this is where we are…..and for now…this is where we will stay
we kinda love it …..
and not quite the end of our story.