Life in the Pacific Northwest

A New House

Posted by wcrowlandksr on December 1, 2014
Posted in: General Ramblings, Life in the Pacific Northwest. Leave a comment
After a year overseas and working towards having no bills, I have a dilemma.  I thought about posting on Facebook about a new home purchase but was not sure it wouldn’t just come off as trying to show off or be seen as a failure of  becoming 100% debt free.  I still have paid off all but the car loan and it’s almost done.  That alone is so much freedom…as you can imagine!  I still have a house to get rented out, but i’m on the way.
I decided to post here because it’s a little different when you leave Facebook and come to an un-connected-to-Facebook page.  It feels morel like a personal blog and notes place rather than a place to blurt out noise on social media sites.  Besides, just as much as a I don’t give a crap about what some celebrity ate for breakfast last week, I would expect that not too many people will be all that concerned that I am moving. For those who are interested, read on.
It’s been quite challenging…to move.  I have been in my current house for almost 14 years.  That’s a long time to pile up a lot of stuff in one place and while I wasn’t moving to a bigger house to accommodate more….stuff, I am definitely working to get rid of the things that are more work to manage than they are truly worth.
After spending a year overseas with very few of my earthly possessions, it became clearer than ever that most of it isn’t required to survive.  I learned that it’s far more important to filter down and out, that which keeps you from enjoying life and to get rid of things that do not serve a purpose and meet a need or in some cases, a want.
I have found that I want space to create and build things.  The current house just doesn’t quite have enough room.  This new place has enough room for almost anything I could want to do.
I won’t go into details but I will say that I am happy about this purchase.
Expect to see little projects from time to time that I hope to share and maybe inspire your life a little.  First on the list I suspect will be a rain barrel water collection system and later, a green house, maybe a ham radio station setup and I suspect some home improvement projects.

Olympia Vs Kitsap County

Posted by wcrowlandksr on September 26, 2013
Posted in: General Ramblings, Gov't, Life in the Pacific Northwest. Leave a comment

This morning I decided to ride the ferry on my motorcycle. The state has decided that a bike that is over 8ft in length now has to pay the same rate as a small car. Are you kidding me!? My bike is right at the max length so I am not required to pay this rate but it’s really getting bad when the ferry system is putting the squeeze on motorcycles.

They run two tires, weigh less than any small car and are easily parked on the boat in places that a small car would never fit. These boats aren’t full and space is NOT at a premium. Kitsap county used to be less expensive to live there but the way the greedy bastards in Olympia are, one should consider the real cost. It’s just a matter of time before the 8ft length gets cut down. With the t(r)oll bridges and Ferry System in place, the state has the people of Kitsap county by the balls when it comes to getting on and off the Peninsula. Sure there’s the “free” back roads through Shelton and this gives the State to ability to pretend that they are innocent in extorting the residents of Kitsap but it’s all B.S. and they know it.
Thanks Olympia for effing the peninsula residents in just one more creative way and a big thank you for killing the local economy by slowly driving out the people who bring back the Seattle money into the county.

 

 

Blooming where you are planted

Posted by wcrowlandksr on July 22, 2013
Posted in: General Ramblings, Life in the Pacific Northwest. Leave a comment

An old saying but a true one. I’ve had some time to settle down a little since I have been back and I have come to the conclusion that living by that old saying is pretty healthy. It’s keeps us from thinking that “if only I just moved to…..blah blah place, life would be good because it sucks here”. The truth, there are some places that have less opportunity, but we have to start somewhere and right where you have been planted today is a good place to start. I left my current home a while ago, made some good progress in life and returned to the place where I left. Before I left, I had become indebted and had little in the way of hope for much more than dragging myself to work each and every day to pay for things I couldn’t afford in an attempt to make myself happy. I let the lure of having things I couldn’t afford blind me to the fact that even if I could afford them, it would be with a monthly payment on a schedule that left me with no room for emergencies or additional costs associated with the toys. What if I broke it? Better be extra careful and in my case, I became almost a nut about preserving the toy. It was to the point that I couldn’t even enjoy them.  This has changed and while I still take care of the toys, I am not as obsessive about it as I once was.

Now I am a bit more content in blooming where I am planted but I also have adapted to not looking to toys to make up for living in a less then perfect location.  That can only be addressed by finding the right location while still understanding that I am where I am and I can choose to enjoy it.

 

Back Home

Posted by wcrowlandksr on July 22, 2013
Posted in: Life in the Pacific Northwest, Out of the Desert. Leave a comment

Written about three months ago and now publishing:

Today is the first day I have been on my new job alone…it’s quiet. I took over a role where the last employee decided to leave on an expedition. This left me a perfect place to land. I have learned a lot in the last year and some change and if there’s one thing that stands out, it’s the fact that life will have some twists and turns. You can never be one hundred percent sure where you will end up but that’s what makes life interesting.
Each day, I walk through the Pike Place Market on my way to work and because of the time I spent living in the desert in the city, I find that I appreciate it all more than if I had never traveled. Living in a large city in a foreign country has changed my views on so many things and I think it has helped me see life in a better way. I used to have no interest in walking around in the city and hated the idea of catching cabs or for that matter any form of public transportation.  Now I actually find myself wanting the service of travel and freedom of not having to manage the transportation once I am at my destination.

Today:

I have installed new systems and helped my company progress with these new systems.  Looking back over my blog has shown me how much has changed in my last 18 months here on this planet.  All in all, I am truly blessed.

 

Northwest Drivers

Posted by wcrowlandksr on July 22, 2013
Posted in: Life in the Pacific Northwest. Leave a comment

This is figurative and of course I would never really run someone off the road.

Driving, part “A”:
It’s designated to get you from point A to B and sometimes C and D in as expeditious of a manner as possible.  It’s not a place to voice or act out by driving, your displeasure against the driver of the other car that may burn a little or in some cases a whole lot more fuel than you.  It’s not your duty to educate the other driver about following too closely and jamming on your brakes to display your knowledge of physics unless they are just being terribly rude….(See Driving, part “B”:) .  Driving is not about speeding up to block someone when they have taken the required step of letting you know they wish to change lanes by signaling.  Consider it a courtesy that they notified you before making the change in your presence.  If you attempt to cut me off after I have signaled properly and I swear as there is a God in heaven, I will run you off the road!  I’ve done it before and I will do it again.  My years of practice as a demolition derby driver outweigh your impatience and concern for you and your car’s well-being.  Show a little courtesy and you would never know if there is a monster behind the wheel of the car you are challenging in your very Northwest Rude Fashion.

Driving, part “B”:
Tailgating AND honking as opposed to speeding up to cut off the signaling driver.  This is one that is a biggie in some cases but not as often seen here in the Pacific Northwest because most Northwesterners are too passive and timid to do this but it does happen.  The act of cutting someone off and not looking in their direction is easier to pretend that they “just didn’t see you”.  The act of honking your horn however when no danger exists calls attention to an already rude and self important driver and typically signals that they have a self sense of importance that supersedes your own and they somehow perceive a right to exist in what the honker perceives as “their way”.  Example,  Honk Honk, get outta my way you are in the space I wish to occupy and I am more important than you…move!  Once again, I will apply physics and derby skills to my advantage.  I’m sure the guy in the car that ended up getting hit from behind after honking at me for going a tad to slow over a speed bump never thought my could car stop so fast.  I am also sure that the tailgating car behind them didn’t expect the same thing.  They say a two second following rule is a great way to eliminate such little fender benders.  But I digress, that wasn’t a lesson for physics but a gentle application of excuse me and mind your manners please.

Driving, part “C”:
Left Lane squatters.  Ok soccer moms and Volvo drivers this is probably you!  That left is for passing, it’s not your own personal “safety” lane where there are fewer cars in it so you can squat there with your 3.2 kids in your car while you poke along and  pace traffic to your right.  You are causing a traffic hazard by doing this and if you had any concern for your fellow drivers you would move to your right after you have passed the car ahead of you….and no, passing the traffic on your right at about 1/4 mile per hour and taking 3 miles to pass them doesn’t count as using the passing lane for “passing”.   If you are using this excuse, you are one of the typical brain dead “Educated” drivers who thinks your argument holds water.  And while it might technically be accurate, it’s that kind of behavior all around the northwest that makes us end up with so many laws to define things for stupid people like you!

Nice weather

Posted by wcrowlandksr on July 18, 2013
Posted in: General Ramblings, Life in the Pacific Northwest. Leave a comment

Some say you can just make your own sunshine and not complain about the grey skies in Seattle…I say to them…BWAHAHA!  I just spent 3 days east of the Pacific rainclouds and the sunshine WAS FANTASTIC!  I have come to the conclusion the the Northwest harbors a huge liberal populus and east of the mountains is conservative.  It is my belief that for this reason that the westsiders hold onto the rainy side as being so much better than the dry sunny conservative east side.

I cannot understand why anyone would prefer rain to sun most of the year. If the rain and sun switched sides of the mountains, I would never want to move.

As it stands, work and the surrounding water are the major draws.

Rude Behaviour

Posted by wcrowlandksr on July 10, 2013
Posted in: General Ramblings, Life in the Pacific Northwest, Uncategorized. Leave a comment

This morning, I’m standing at the bus stop and there is a small bus waiting to leave.  It is packed.  A stranger sees me standing there as he is walking towards the stop and asks, “Is the bus full?”.  I answer and say “O yeah, it’s full”.  An acknowlement of a brief nod and an “oh”…and that conversation is over.  A minute later, I say to the guy, “It seems that a bigger bus might be in order with that many people riding.”   This same person, doesn’t even acknowledge I said anything.  I then become annoyed and say, “You know, I spoke to you when you asked me a question but to ignore someone talking to you is just rude!”.  The guy looks a bit shocked that anyone would call him out on crappy behavior.  So tired of rude people in this place.   

Halftime

Posted by wcrowlandksr on May 16, 2013
Posted in: General Ramblings, Life in the Pacific Northwest, Life In The Sandbox. Leave a comment

After just over a year of living in the desert and a world nothing like the one I had lived in all my life, I have discovered that my recent adventure was probably a little like the Half Time of a football game. While I hope it’s not exactly the halfway point and I hope to live longer than it would suggest, it could be that halfway point. It’s the point where you can look in the mirror and self asses a little bit. It’s that time when you look at what you thought you knew and figure out just how much you don’t. It’s a turning point where you realize that there are very less fortunate people in the world that have a life that is much harder than your own. It’s also that point where you can make a decision to change your life’s course and do those things you have been meaning to do forever. It’s when you realize that life isn’t going to slow down and tomorrow may never come or even more often, it does come and today is that tomorrow you put off yesterday.
Whatever the case, my halftime has arrived and while I know that there will be more life events that will deepen this view, I see things differently and I think more clearly than I did before. Colors are brighter, life unfolding around me has more meaning and the daily business of living isn’t as stressful as it once was.
I’m thankful that 18 months ago, I was presented and opportunity and started moving towards what has become one of the best adventures and life changing events in my short existence on this planet. It now drives me to find out more. I know that not everyone gets such an opportunity but I hope to make the best of mine and maybe inspire you to take a chance if you are given one and make the best of yours. Just remember that no one can really tell you enough to change your own life as much as you living it.

Is it just me?

Posted by wcrowlandksr on April 13, 2013
Posted in: Life in the Pacific Northwest. Leave a comment

Today I went for an interview in Seattle.  On my way to and from I encountered some funky people and I’m not talking funk and soul…just nasty funk.   I truly do not understand how people can run around with such a cloud of B.O. surrounding them and just not notice.  Stringy smelly hair and just a lack of concern for personal hygiene literally takes my breath away. 
I can’t imagine it’s a lack of having a place to get clean but rather just not caring.  I know times are tough and money is tight, but Im thinking that commuters going to and from work should consider bathing more frequently and they probably have the means.  Try once a day rather than once a week!  It’s a shame the people are so lazy that they just let themselves go like that. 
The worst of it was on the ferry boat.  I used to commute on it but it has become more of a smelly rusty freak show that makes me want to take a sanitizing chemical shower just after being on it.  Quite disgusting!
The same bathing suggestion goes for the stinky couple in the store that “breezed” right on by me and made me gack!  For the love of god in heaven…SHOWER and WASH your clothes!

Life is good

Posted by wcrowlandksr on April 8, 2013
Posted in: Life in the Pacific Northwest, Randomness. Leave a comment

It’s a Sunday evening and I am just finishing up a job application. I have discovered that I don’t really need the job, just the money. But I haven’t quite found that pot of gold and even though we get rainbows here, I don’t think the leprechaun’s loot would be easy to find.

I have been enjoying these last days and being able to not panic without work has been a way of life I could not have imagined but I love. I am enjoying it for now but I know the day is coming when it could all change. So, I continue to look for the elusive perfect job to avoid the panic. I suspect it’s out there. I just need to find it.

In the middle east…where I spent an entire year the weather is now back in the 90’s for heat and the weather is stuck here as if it were winter still. I really am growing tired of living in a place where everything is wet and cold all the time. I never thought I would miss the heat but I sure do now. In fact, I have a fire going in the stove and it’s about 85 inside. I am a happy warm camper…that’s in interesting word to pop up in my thinking…”camper”, as I do feel a little like I am camping here in my own house. Not quite the home it was but I have the required items to survive comfortably. Not quite home because I have discoverd a world well outside of what I had been living in for the last many years. Figuring out what really I want now that I have figured out what I do not want is a lifelong journey. Each day I do a little here to organize my life a little more and eliminate the junk that I collected over so many years before. It has become clear that for the most part, holding onto that piece of junk or the widgets just serves to slow a person down when they are attempting to move on in life and be nimble without having to manage said junk/widgets.

It feels good to eliminate stuff and clean out the closets and rooms. It gives me hope that at some point I could travel again or work abroad with less worries and live daily without the hassle of tripping over something I’m not using and may never use again. I spent a day cleaning up an old RV and afterwards realizing that I haven’t used it in a long time, I felt like it was just something that I will have to consider ridding myself eventually if it’s not used. It’s not a finacial drag but having it here is just one of those things that is something to manage. It also is my shelter in a time of emergency so for now, I’ll keep it…reluctantly.

Tomorrow is another day to scoop up and throw out or at the very least, organize with the newfound space of the scooped and tossed. Life has become one big cleanup operation from a self misguided past of living with to much junk and not enough quality everything else….that my friends is changing.

I hope you enjoy as I continue to write and if I am the only one….it’s ok too because I can always look back at where I have been and how far I have come. This year has been one of the best for learning for me…so far and I’m looking for ward to many more of these experiences.
Life is good.