Only 40 years to wait

We are just back continental side from an amazing birthday week in the Hawaiian sun. Whose birthday? That would be mine. The 40th. And I can think of no better way to have spent it than with my family, and no better place than Hawaii.

A few years ago I took stock of my lifetime of travel and decided to set a goal of seeing all 50 states by the time I reach 50. At the beginning of this year I had been to 44 of them, so it's a reasonable goal, but the states I have yet to see are strangely strewn across our continent. Alabama and Georgia in the Southeast, Maine in the northeast, Idaho in the Northwest, and the outliers, Hawaii and Alaska. And now, thanks to this amazing trip, I can move Hawaii to the done list.

There are lots of ways to do Hawaii, and I'd categorize our trip as thoroughly relaxing. Our goal was to spend as much time together as possible while soaking up sun and beautiful views, and we accomplished this by renting a house just outside Kailua-Kona, on the west side of the Big Island, through VRBO. I'll say first that the house we rented was amazing. While we've never had a bad VRBO experience, this one outdid all the others by actually surpassing our expectations. The home was updated, the kitchen well appointed, and the views breathtaking. For us the best part of renting a house is having the family living space. We spent nearly every afternoon playing in the private pool, nearly every evening enjoying the sunset on the Lanai before grilling a delicious dinner to enjoy together, and many a night introducing Calvin to the Hawaiian wonder of Magnum P.I.

While some people take on Hawaii with a "collect them all" attitude, coptering from island to island, since our goal was just to relax and be together, we picked one island and stuck with it. We opted for the Big Island in large part because it is less developed, less touristy, and for Volcanos National Park. We wanted to see lava, and boy did we. Our National Park excursion was a full day experience. Driving on the island is a tortuous experience, and nobody is moving very fast, but the scenery all the way there was brilliant, and the park well worth the effort. We arrived at midday and stopped for lunch in the Lodge overlooking the active caldera. Lava isn't visible from that vantage point, but having just arrived we were perfectly entertained by the trail of smoke that was. After eating we spent some time at the Visitors Center so Calvin could earn his Junior Ranger badge before heading to Jaggar Museum where we were treated to a great view of the active lava spouting and roiling. This was amazing. Our next stop was to hike the Lava Tubes, which I found disappointing, but we followed up with a hike across the cooling, inactive crater at Kilaeua Iki, and for those who can swing the incline and uneven terrain, this is a must do. Walking across the now hardened waves of lava and feeling the hot steam rising from still cooling vents was an amazing experience (made even more so by having watched the video in the Visitors Center earlier about the crater's earlier eruption). Our final stop, and one I wouldn't have missed for the world, was back up to Jaggar Museum to view the lava after dark. This, too, is a must do. 

A note about lava in Volcanos National Park. The viewing varies greatly, even from minute to minute. We arrived during daylight hours to see two large tongues of lava lapping at the sides of the caldera, bright orange cracks forming across the black, molten surface, but just a half hour later one of those tongues was no longer visible and the other greatly diminished. Of course the same is true at night, and we were lucky enough to be treated another great spectacle on our after-dark return, but be forewarned: it gets chilly on top of the volcano after the sun sets, and the crowds are something to contend with (think small town fireworks display), but it is totally worth it to see both day and nighttime lava.

Another note, there aren't many restaurants near the park, and the choices become even fewer that late, so it's good to go with a meal plan.

Another goal of our trip was to take in the varied terrain of the Big Island. Dry and almost desert-like on the west side, the east side of the island is a rainforest, and the two are separated by entirely undeveloped lava fields. We took a day, or really a long morning, to drive across the relatively new highway that runs through the middle of the island to see the waterfalls and vegetation that clutter the island's east side. The drive across was alone worth the trip. We saw lava flows of many different ages in various stages of reanimation. we also got a good look at the main peaks of the island, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, and the observatory on top. Although you know that you are climbing in elevation much of the way, it is still a surprise to begin the descent into Hilo to find yourself above the clouds. On the day that we drove over, we descended into completely cloud cover that hid the road below us. The effect was at first disorienting, and then completely stunning. Our time in Hilo was spent on light hiking to visit three falls sites: Pe'epe'e Falls, Rainbow Falls, and 'Akaka Falls. The first two were very short walks on paved paths, with optional easy hikes on the side. Rainbow Falls was a longer walk with greater elevation changes, but still a paved path. All three were beautiful, and the vegetation and wildlife (lizards and birds) were an added pleasure.

A final goal for our trip was to attend a Luau. Now, we understood going in that luaus these days are but a dim reminder of what was once a culturally significant part of island life, but arguments about authenticity vs. kitsch aside, we knew we wanted this unique experience while we were there. My dad did his research and made reservations at the Mauna Kea Resort Luau to ensure our place at a highly rated luau on my actual birthday. It did not disappoint. The views alone were spectacular, and the food was great fun, but the dancing...oh the dancing. Authentic or no, it was amazing to watch, and it came with a bit of a history lesson, which I loved. 

Other things we did on our trip included a tour of the Kanaloa Octopus farm, and a tour of Kuaiwi Coffee Farm. I highly recommend the octopus farm if you have any interest in wild creatures at all: the tour was very informative, and the octopi highly entertaining. The visit needs to be booked ahead of time, although we booked ours only a week in advance. In other good news, your visit helps to fund this important program aimed at saving wild octopus populations. The coffee tour was also a complete joy. The plantation we visited was on old one, and today is a very small, family run affair, so our tour was private and unique. The air was cooler and cloudy up in the hills, and when we were there the coffee crop had already been brought in, but the land is planted with a wide variety of fruit and other trees and plants and we were treated to a taste test at nearly all of them. The owner/guide is immensely knowledgeable and very warm. We ended that tour with a sampling of coffee and chocolates on the family deck, that's how private and homey an operation it is. Highly recommended.

Then, like I said, the rest of our trip was an exercise in relaxation. Vibrant, welcoming mornings, long pool afternoons, delicious dinners, stunning sunsets, and restful evenings. It was everything I wanted, and I only had to wait 40 years for it.

The following photos were taken by several photographers, mainly myself and my wonderful sister-in-law, who was too gentle to rib me about my age even though she's nearly ten years younger and I gave her permission to do it all week.

10 (+30) things about me at 40

(1) I am not bothered by turning forty (2) When I was young I wanted a career—not a marriage and definitely not children (3) I am happily married and I love my son (4) I have homeschooled my son all his life (5) I did not have pets growing up (6) I think I will always have a pet as an adult (7) I wanted to be a veterinarian...until I'd worked in a vet's office (8) I am a follower, not a leader (9) I still sleep with stuffed animals (10) I love to read (11) I write book reviews for a magazine (12) They know me at our library, it is like my church (13) I love to hike and to be outside (14) I love living where we have all four seasons, (15) but I hate being cold (16) I am a hobby birder and naturalist (17) I studied evolution in college and still see the world through that lens (18) I am an atheist (19) I am a humanist and I believe in the inherent morality of humans (20) I am artistic but not creative (21) I love eat, and I especially love to snack (22) I love to garden (23) I'm not big on TV or movies (24) I love hot showers in the winter, cold showers in the summer (25) I love to get really dirty, especially in the summer (26) I am a runner—I run at least 3 miles 3-4 days every week (27) I cross and weight train on my off running days (28) I struggle with depression and anxiety (29) I use exercise and diet to manage these conditions (30) I love to write (31) I love taking pictures (32) I am an introvert (33) I am on the board of our homeschooling group (34) I am on the board of our library Friends group as the book sale manager (35) After any time with people I need a lot of time alone (36) I'm learning to play the piano (37) I love to sew and am getting better at it all the time (38) I don't get enough sleep (39) I love to cook (40) I love my family more than anything else in the world. 

(10) things we always pack for trips

Traveling is wonderful. I love discovering new places. I love making a home in a hotel room, tent, or other temporary dwelling. I love planning, executing, and recording all the wonderful things there are to do. But traveling can also be stressful. When all your usual items of comfort and ease are not at your fingertips coping with unusual situations becomes difficult, and even on a good trip, often on the best of trips, unusual situations abound.

So, whether flying, driving, or hitching a ride on an elephant, there are a few non-essentials that we always try to bring with us. I'm not talking the usual clothes or toiletries, but things you might not think of automatically yet will likely find useful along the way.

A checklist of small items. I don't list everything, mind you, but I try to keep track of chargers, tiny electronics, and definitely stuffed animals or other toys. And if not a detailed list, then at least a count (5 cords, 12 stuffed animals, 47 books...)

Ziplock bags. I'm not usually a proponent of expendable plastics, but it is surprising the number of times a good ziplock back comes in handy on a trip...for bring home rocks, for keeping wet bathing suits separated from dress clothes, for toting snacks or leftovers. Especially on long trips we generally conserve space by packing our clothes in the bags with the air sucked out. Not great for wrinkles, but hey, it's only vacation.

Camping silverware and a multi-tool. I've heard that there is a trick that uses the chain on a hotel door top open...is it a bottle of wine or beer? I can't remember because it seems ludicrous, and because we always pack a multi-opener for beer and wine. Because...travel. Also, we have these neat camping tools we always pack, too—a cross between a spork and a knife. I call them Sknorks (with a silent "k", like in knife, of course), or sometimes spifes.

Backpack. Not a lot of people think to pack a bag in a bag, but a lot of our trips include trail hiking, museums, or long days on the town, and having something other than a purse or suitcase to lug your sunscreen, camera, and travel guides is pretty handy. When flying we'll use a backpack as one of our carry-ons, or on occasion we'll fill it with clothes before throwing it in a suitcase.

water bottles. That thing I said about hiking and long days on the town? Long days get long, and depending on what you're up to, water isn't always easy to get, or it costs a fortune. Plus I try to avoid every buying or using water in plastic bottles. On drives we obviously take filled bottles, but on flights we stuff them with packed items and slide them in the suitcase or the carry-on. 

journal and tape. This might sound like two totally different items, but it's not really. I usually try to pack a journal or other notebook to commemorate our trip. We take turns writing about our days and reviewing things we've seen it in, and I use the tape to secure ticket stubs, maps, and other ephemera we can't seem to part with. It's true, though, that tape could come in handy in other ways.

Book light(s). Fairly self-explanatory, these insanely helpful for keeping passengers occupied while driving after dark, but it's also handy for reading or playing a game in the hotel room after the kid has fallen asleep.

At least one travel game. Standard playing cards are a never-fail, but sometimes we'll throw in a couple of other games that are small not only in physical size, but playing size as well. Love Letter, Oz Fluxx, and Frog Juice are some of our favorites.

Sewing kit. I started carrying one of these with me on trips after I read it in a list of things to pack for camping. It's especially helpful then because a tear in a sleeping bag or tent could be catastrophic, but a needle with thread has lots of uses and I try not to go far without one. 

(10) resolutions I'm going to try and keep

I'm a week or so late on this, but that's more in the writing than in the making, and you'll see that I address such tardiness in the following list, so bear with me.

(1) Take more photos. For several years in a row I took, and mostly kept, the photo-a-day challenge, and by the end of the year I had a lot of wonderful shots to make a family yearbook with. The last couple of years, though, I've spent less and less time behind a camera. To some extent this is a good thing, but I miss the photos, and I miss the hobby, so this year I want to refresh my knowledge and start working on my "skills" again.

(2) Read out loud more. We read to Calvin every night, several times a day, actually, for many years, but when he started being able to read just about anything himself, we fell away from this. I blame impatience, because both Calvin and I can read in our heads faster than out loud, and we're often too eager to hear the story for it to go so slowly. This past fall, though, we read a couple of books together because they were difficult reads that I thought would go better read together, and while it really is sometimes exhausting, I've missed reading together.

(3) Get courageous in the kitchen. We are all good eaters. There are very few foods that we won't eat, and we really enjoy trying new things. I try new recipes all the time when cooking, but rarely do I venture out o my own.

(4) Stop counting calories and logging food. A few years ago, when I had a few pounds to lose, I started keeping a food log that tracked every calorie in and every calorie out. I lost the weight quickly, and reduced my record keeping to a less anal food log, but even now, after years at a healthy weight and with a very religious exercise schedule I am keeping that food log like my life depends on it, and the truth is, it doesn't. I have become a slave to the food log, and it's time to let it go and focus instead on keeping to my generally healthy lifestyle with easy happiness.

(5) Turn in book reviews on time. I review books for a magazine: they send me a stack of pre-release books each month which I then read and write briefly about. Each book has its own deadline, and although I'm almost always finished with the books well in advance (I like to read them all in a sprint so I can read books of my own choosing for the rest of the month), I almost always put off the writing part and and up turning in the review minutes before the deadline. Time to change that nasty habit.

(6) Plan the next four-ish years of homeschooling. Alright, this is more of a to-do list item than a resolution, but it is something I need to be resolved about. Four years ago Calvin and I decided together on a couple of curriculum paths that would last for a four year span. We've reached the end of that span and it's time to look ahead again.

(7) Read more non-fiction. I want to be a non-fiction reader, at least some of the time, but almost all non-fiction puts me to sleep. I've found some joy in reading Mary Roach and Bernd Heinrich, but it's time I branched out a bit.

(8) Revive, update, and stay on top of the blog. Self explanatory.

(9) Get back to the piano. When Calvin was three years old we both started taking piano lessons. A few years later I broke a couple fingers and had to take a break, which got me out of the habit pretty quickly. Now, seven years later, Calvin has gotten good enough that he could give me lessons. I'm giving that some serious consideration.

(10) Get more sleep.

Good night.

Hello, 2017

A new year, a new start. Actually, there are two, maybe three times each year that I feel the world giving me a chance for a fresh start. January, of course, is the quintessential fresh start month. That's when we all make resolutions that we may or may not keep down the road and flock to the local container or office supply stores in search of that one item that will finally keep us on track and organized. But I feel a similar need to set goals and create order every year in September when a new school year is beginning and a cold snap is in the air. And on occasion I'll feel a similar push during spring cleaning days, when the warmth of the sun is returning and we're all just coming out of hibernation, or our closest approximation of it.

In fact, September might be my biggest "fresh start" month, but January is still a time to look around and take stock of the situation. With so many fun traditions around Christmas and the New Year (and let's be honest, the crazy really starts back around Thanksgiving, what with all parties and performances that happen throughout December), by the time January 1 comes around, I need to take a moment to figure out how many balls I've dropped and how I can real them back in again. There's migrating schoolwork that got missed, updating the now defunct school calendar, catching up on chore lists and to-do lists, putting things back in order physically and mentally.

This year I'm using a newish method for me. I'm using a Bullet Journal. Affectionately known in social media circles as the BUJO, this has got to be one of the greatest organizational tools since the Trapper Keeper. The idea is to take a fresh journal, any fresh journal, and use the first pages to set up an index that you will keep adding to throughout the year. Now use the book to enrich your life. Use it for whatever you want—art, writing, photos, planning, checklists, reminders, recording—and just keep a record in the index of where you've put things. It can be anything, even everything, you want it to be. I joined in the fad last year, actually, with a journal I'd gotten for Christmas the year before.

I've never in my entire life kept a journal for longer than a month or so, and that's being generous, so I was skeptical at first, but as the year went by I found myself using the book religiously. At first I used it to make meal plans and track my eating and exercising habits with weekly logs. Then I drew in a set of calendars and started using it to keep track of the family schedule. By mid-summer I was creating weekly spreads to keep track of to-do lists, and individual pages for meal planning. I used the book to plan our travel, and used it on our trips as a travel log. I used pages for taking notes in meetings or at doctor appointments. And by fall I was creating full pages of art simply for the sake of art. It's a daily planner meets monthly calendar meets scrapbooking kind of deal for me, and I love it.

So for Christmas 2016 I asked for a specific planner and a few art supplies to go with it, and was thrilled open that fresh book and start making it my own. The first few spreads are monthly calendars and record keeping pages for bills, long-term chores, and some fun stuff, like a reading log and a bird log, then I got things going with a spread for tracking chores in January and my first weekly spread.

Because that's where we are, in the first week of January. And I'm read for it.