Our work day commute is almost over.  Beginning on September 1 we will be living on San Juan Island, right in town, about a five or ten minute walk from downtown.  If we plan it right, we could be to Kings, purchase a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream, and be back home by the end of the commercial break.  Not that we would actually do something like that, but knowing we could presents all sorts of opportunities.

 As far as schooling goes for Jen, it would appear today that she has made the choice to attend school on Orcas.  We spent some time exploring the high school in Friday Harbor – we actually met the new principle and talked to her about the various class offerings – but Jen feels that being with her friends is more important to her.  She will get up at the crack of dawn, get herself ready, walk down and take the ferry over to Orcas, catch the school bus, attend school, catch the school bus and then the ferry back to Friday Harbor and then walk home.  At least she will have study time on the boat coming and going.

 Sarah informed us on Sunday night that she is moving to Bellingham with some of her friends to find work and live on her own.  Her larger dream is to move down to Texas, which she plans to do by year end.  Sarah and her group of friends have a rental apartment just south of Western’s campus.  She will be moving over there on September 5^th.

 I remember when I left home.  I graduated on a Sunday and I moved down to Salt Lake City from Worland the very next day.  I think I had $100 in my pocket, if I was lucky, but those days one could purchase a gallon of gas for .32 cents per gallon.  The local fast food chain in the Salt Lake area, Dees, sold hamburger for .15 cents.  My hourly wage at a book wholesaler was $1.70 and I thought I was making some pretty good dough.  There were times that my after work activities took most of my money and paying rent was a challenge.  I found it amazing all the different types of dishes one could make with pasta and a bottle of ketchup. 

 Not having the commute back and forth to and from Orcas will give us between 3 to 4 hours of time per day to go and run, relax, cook and all sorts of fun stuff.  We will be able to sleep in until 7 without the stress of missing the ferry and we can linger after work with friends without missing the boat home.

 The present chore we are doing is painting Jen’s bedroom at the new rental.  She has chosen Tulip Red for the walls and white ceiling and trim.  Her room is starting to look like a Victoria’s Secret store.  Oh joy.   Jen has turned out to be a pretty good painter. 

 This weekend is planned to be a packing day and getting everything ready to load into a U-haul on the 31^st and off we go.  Packing is not my most favorite thing to do and I have reduced my stuff down to storage bins, as it seems that I move more than I really care to.  This move will be my 56^th move since I moved out at high school graduation.  If we were smart we would reduce our stuff down to one bag and live the simple life.  Maybe we can get there by next move.