Bare Essentials

Well, how long can one live in an electric tent? We're going on 4 weeks of camping in our new home... all of our things in a container that was supposed to be here by now. It's not. Still in Korea and will be for another 2 weeks! But we're actually learning to enjoy it. I mean, it's not fun to type this on the floor, but it's certainly doable, as I've learned many things are.



I've made bread from scratch while stirring with a tablespoon (borrowed from the neighbor) and chopping walnuts with a knife borrowed from a friend of a friend.

We made it 21 days on Hefty plastic silverware!

I made it through 12.5 swim lessons with a toddler strapped to me (because the stroller is in Korea) until a very sweet Iranian woman loaned me one of her spare umbrella strollers. This meant numerous times in the shower room trying to scrub a 4 year old's hair and not get the both of us drenched.

I'm surviving Seattle's night time temperature drops with a baby blanket over my body.

I've learned to receive with gratitude and gentle humility, but not embarrassment or shame. The landlord, neighbors, friends of friends and my new Iranian pal have shared camp chairs, kitchenware, toys, and more. This not to mention the linens, pack and play and bed supplied by my in laws.

We've learned to live without a TV and do without blankets. I've learned to adjust to one knife, spoon, and bowl to cook with. I've begun to enjoy the evenings full of reading and internet surfing rather than cleaning up messes that only come with stuff.

Life is more simple.

We may not really know anyone or have much of a social life. We may not have a homey home yet. But this simplicity is growing on me.

When Chris said we're looking at 3 more weeks I laughed. A big, hearty, embracing laugh. Kalsin. "Let it stay" in Turkish.