[Lizza]

My husband just called and said he has to stay away another week (he's been gone a week and a half). He is in Maui doing construction. We are happy he has work but I don't know if I like how it is unfolding that he doesn't have any work lined up locally but only in Maui. We have our animals and the kids activities all here, I can't just visit him and now he is talking about working part of the year over there vrs just taking jobs here and there. I don't know really what to think. I guess I could keep the homestead going myself, it's really my thing anyways. I know other husbands are gone part of the year. Sigh. No real point to my post, just wish there was more work close to home.

 

[Cabin Fever]

I'l tell ya what. I'll go to Maui and take over your husband's job for a month. Not only can he can go home during that time, but I'll send what remains of his check to you after I take out what I need for food and lodging.

Deal????

 

[Lizza]

Hey CF......I thought people would catch that he was in Maui working . That is pretty much the reaction I get when I tell people that is where he works part time. It is so far away though, it's not like I can drive to see him with the kids.

He is working in Kehia, the dry side, basically across the freeway on the hill above The Grand Waliaa and The Four Seasons, if anyone knows where those places are. If anyone else goes to Maui ever I like the little town of Piaia a lot.

Everything is so expensive over there he doesn't do much besides work (he is always on a deadline to get everything done) but he does like to do the free stuff like drive up to Hana and he has friends now so he has been trying to go out paddling in the mornings but the weather actually has been stormy these last few days.

I still miss him though !

 

[Lisa in WA]

Been there, done that (16 years ago)and we really hated it too. We had a suburban house and a 4 year old in preschool. When I look back I'm dumbfounded that we didn't just go and stay where he was working, with him.
Wouldn't work with a farm or older kids but jeez, I was young and dumb.

 

[Dodgegal79]

Mine only comes home for a day and a half on weekends. He works 3 hours away from here, I know what its like. I did live there for awhile but I missed home, so we went back to the old way.

 

[Sanza]

Tell him the economy is still booming up here in Alberta.....then he'd be closer to home, but the weather here isn't what you'd call "balmy".
Seriously tho, If he can make enough in a few weeks or few months to keep hearth and home together then it's not too big a sacrifice. I grew up that way with my dad going away to work in the winter, and my mom looked after the farm. It was not easy and I applaude you for being so strong to shoulder everything by yourself. My son has been bounced all over western Canada these past few years and sometimes his wife goes with him, but he says "make hay while the sun shines" these great paying jobs might not last.....

 

[Lizza]

Thank you all.........it is a little hard to get use to. He will probably take at least a month off, so it is worth it, and the kids can catch back up with dad (mom too!). Unfortunately the construction in Oregon has been terrible so he's had to start taking these jobs in Maui (yes, big sacrifice, but you know what I mean .

Thanks Sanza for the invite. We are moving anyways...........you all have a nice looking country up there .

 

[Gunnie]

I understand how you feel. My husband is gone for 3 to 4 months at a time (hes a merchant marine) The longest was 6 and a half months. I would love to have him home all the time (well most of the time ) but there would be no way we would make it especially with Michigans economy. Just lots of phone calls and when hes at a dock we can go visit at we travel. To bad you cant go visit for a few days even. Good luck to you.

 

[Lisa in WA]

You're moving Morningstar? Are you leaving the Pacific northwest? How is your sister doing? The anticiapation of the holiday season must be terrible for her (and all of you) this year.

 

[Lizza]

Thank you for asking Lisa. It's horrible......for lack of a better answer. We are selling our place that we bought with my sister and BIL (we lived there for almost 6 years raising our families together). With the market as it is we aren't expecting miracles but we do have a really nice location so we are hopeful. We are going to stay in the Pacific Northwest......we actually are going to dip into Idaho on our road trip to find a new home. We are open to anything, we have a list of things we are looking for in our new place. My sister is going to move with us, although she is worried about making a big move so we may move ahead of her, but we can't leave her.

Two years ago we had so many places to go (family) to visit on Thanksgiving or Christmas and now there is no one. We lost my husbands father in April 2007 and then his family (they were a step family but we never thought they'd toss us out after we lost my FIL), then we lost Chris and our family splintered. Now it will just be our little family of 5 for Thanksgiving, my sister does not want to do anything or go anywhere, and their is no one else.

My sister leaves to Costa Rica for the month of December in less then two weeks (she's rented a house in Montezuma). She is going with a friend and our Mom is bringing down my nephews to her on the 16th in Costa Rica so that they can spend Christmas with their mom. The only thing I can look forward to is that we can get through this first Christmas, it can't be worse then last Christmas, and then try and find our way through the dark back to something that resembles a normal life. Sorry to be so depressing, it has been a depressing few years.