Just posted on facebook that I feel 'Content' today.

Not only did I get a couple of things accomplished today I also
- worked hard on going paperless (spent about 5 evenings so far sorting paper),
- downsizing (shedding, consolidating, prioritizing),
- time over money (what is important and what do we really need),
- reconnect with my husband,
- clean our trailer for some hours,
- spent a little time with each of my kids,
- found a gift card with $60 on it
- shared a couple of really good ideas with my coworkers,
- made some sense out of the stuff and information,
- said 'no' to overflow,
- still looking for easy entertainment and something to relax myself,
- enjoyed the small moments,
- learning about myself,
- feel empowered to not hide myself but bringing out the good,
- overall making small but important changes in the right direction.

​Overall 'content' within the chaos.

Today I took a ferry, spent 24 $, 3 hours of cleaning, many drops of sweat for a no show! I hate FLAKES. Why do you arrange a time to meet if you don't plan on showing up. 

I will use all my energy to solve this frustration by rewarding everyone that shows from now on. I don't want to be passive aggressive. I want to end this experience on a positive note.

My Mom sent a little package with books for the kids and the local newspaper from my hometown. I love reading those and staying up to date with what's going on when again nothing is going on. It's a small town with usually not much changing at all.

So, as I read that little pamphlet I come across a story about dying fish in the little stream running by our old house.

I had a somewhat tragic childhood memory. When I was about 9 the police came to our house to interview me what I have witnessed playing in the stream that day regarding the dead fish all over the place. I was very timid and shy and answered truthfully, but without telling them that I also brought about 2 shovels worth of sand from my sandbox to the stream. I wondered til this day if I might have caused the killing of the fish. Murder.

So, today, I read, 1500 fish were found dead in the stream again (but this time obviously not my fault being over 5000 miles away). The police came. Again. And investigations found that the leaves of the chestnut trees above the stream release a poison killing the fish.

Mystery solved. It wasn't me. I am so happy! All these years I felt bad. Turns out it was the trees not my sand. Yeah!

Long overdue but also a bit scary: today was Marco's last day at work. We are trading time for $ and comfort.

​He worked so hard for the last 12 years in one of the most demanding and fast paced work environments imaginable. 
In the 12 years we also got really comfortable, constantly raising our life standard and being able to afford most of the things we needed. Like a perfect brag book we finally acquired a townhouse, 3 cars, a trailer and a boat. All was used and reasonable priced, but still. But all the stuff also meant to be even more part of the rat race. To keep up with all of the expenses he needed to keep up work and deliver. He dragged himself basically all year and it was really painful to watch.

Out of my very happy, funny, caring partner became an easily irritated, stressed and hard to inspire grouch.

I instantly knew I would trade everything we gathered at that point to have his old self back: The one that loved to try new things, be social, play with the kids, offering his help to anyone who would need it. The one starting a new hobby like trying taek wondo, going on a long bike ride with his son or letting others judge about his singing ability online. The playful adventurer. The funny German guy with the awesome shirts.

I was secretly hoping he could stay put for a couple more months til I figured out how to make enough money to provide for the family and he wouldn't have to keep working for much longer unless he wanted to, but unfortunately I am just not there yet with all my business ventures I started over the last 3 years - after finally getting my US work permit in 2012. I told him to demand a 3 months leave of absence (which he did not get) or a 4 day week or some kind of relieve. But we were running out of time noticing his lack of energy, not able to do anything after work, his moodiness and declining health.

We were lucky we had a long summer break showing us a glimpse of what happiness for us as a family and couple usually looks like. We had a good time traveling, exploring, not thinking or talking about work, unplugged in the nature, in good company and getting ready and experiencing the Burning Man festival. Life was about so much more and to be lived and not sacrificed for a greedy big corporation. He was still part of the system and indoctrinated by the companies mission, but our trip opened his eyes for some change, possible change.

We needed to take the plunge. We needed to do it fast. And we did. So, today is the day. Today is the day we start restoring his old self. Or his new self but bringing out all the old awesomeness. Today we start getting a bit less comfortable, a bit more mindful over time vs. money, we'll let go of the unneeded to make room for more us and happiness.

​Schon aelter und gerade auf der Festplatte gefunden:

Nur ca. 8000 km westlich von Kronberg, quer über den Atlantik, über das Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten hinweg, bis an die Pazifikküste und schon ist man da,  
in Seattle.
 
Frisch gelandet, solltet ihr Euch kurz an einem der zahlreichen Ufer entspannen, bevor ihr Euch zu einem Becher Kaffee in der ältesten Starbucks Filiale (geöffnet April 1971) am Pike Place Market einfindet. Von dort geht es weiter zu den Flying Fish vom „World Famous Pike Place Fish Market“, aber Kopf einziehen vor dem Copper River Salmon. Im Pike Place dürft ihr schlendern, shoppen, Honig probieren, Organic Fruits und Blümchen für Jean erstehen, frische Donuts naschen und den Ausblick auf den Puget Sound geniessen. Mit dem Aufzug könnt ihr zur Waterfront runter und dort zwischen Aktivitäten wie Aquarium-Besuch, dem Historic Pier 57 Bay Pavilion oder einer Fischbulette im weichen Brötchen wählen.
 
Vom Pike Place aus die Strasse runter, am sagenumwobenen Pioneer Square  (608 First Avenue) solltet ihr unbedingt Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour sehen. Humorvolle Geschichten geben Euch Einblicke in die Zeiten der Pioniere, der „Näherinnen“, der Stadtväter, der unterirdischen Bürgersteige und dem Goldrausch.
 
Von dort geht es eine Block östlich zum Smith Tower Observation Deck von dessen Aussichtsplattform im 35. Stockwerk ihr einen schönen Rundumblick von Seattle, Mt. Rainier und den Olympic und Cascade Mountains habt. In den antiken Holzsessel muss sich Jean aber nun nicht mehr setzen, der dafür sorge trägt, das willige, ledige Frauen innerhalb eines Jahres zu ihrem Ehe-Glück kommen.
 
Als Nächstes könnt ihr die Glasbläser am Occidental Square bestaunen und dann ein Seattle Hidden Treasure suchen: den kleinen Waterfall Garden Park, designed by Masao Kinoshita zu Ehren der United Parcel Service (UPS) Arbeiter. Vor dem Wasserfall lassen sich romantische Fotos für Euer Album machen.
 
Gleich um die Ecke liegt dann noch das Museum vom Klondike Gold Rush, wenn ihr weiter auf den Spuren der Pioniere wandern möchtet. Von der Innenstadt kann man dann mit der Monorail zum Seattle Center fahren. Dort könnt ihr die Space Needle, erbaut zur Weltausstellung 1962, erklimmen oder auch im SkyCity Restaurant 160 Meter über Downtown Seattle dinieren und den erlebnisreichen Tag langsam ausklingen lassen.
 
An den folgenden Tagen empfehlen wir:
- Crab Pot – feudales Fressen mit dem Holzhämmerchen
- Arboretum und Seattle’s Japanese Garden
- Fährenfahrt nach Bainbridge und Ausflug nach Port Townsend
- Besuch in Leavenworth, dem bayrischen Ort 2,5 Stunden östlich von Seattle
- Ausflüge mit Übernachtung nach Vancouver, Cannonbeach oder Portland
- Wandern am Mt. Rainier und dem aktiven Vulkan St. Helen
- Camping oder Hotel (je nach Jahreszeit) auf Orcas Island
- Spazieren am Alki Beach
- Fein Essen im Palisade direkt am Hafen
- Shoppen in den Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip
 
Schlaflos in Seattle
Tini
 
PS: Seattle hat genauso viele Regentage pro Jahr wie München.

My fun for the day: