Being home, in one place these past 6 months has been like a vacation! Knowing our way around for banking, shopping, eating – and knowing the language and currency. Getting used to one bed and sleeping with the same pillows. Time to read, to rest, to work, and learn. Less blog posts. Time apart from each other. Time with family and friends. No travel planning. 

The downside is a less active lifestyle and the subsequent weight gain. Plus it costs more!

Steak and Eggs for breakfast!

Cost of Living: Portland, Oregon 

Average monthly expenditures: $2511.40 or $83.72 a day. Average monthly expenses for food and accommodation run similar to what it cost while traveling. Cost of transportation, health, gift giving and miscellaneous is higher.

Food: $22.62/per day

Accommodation: $31.14/day

Transportation: $13.33/day not including purchasing 2 vehicles.

We spent $15482 to set up housekeeping and purchase vehicles. 

Some October Highlights

Free tickets to a Itzhak Perlman recital at The Schnitz (Portland5 Center for the Arts). Thank you so much Carol and Joe!

A whole freshly caught salmon. Thanks, Wayne!

The guys finished the flip house. It was listed and we accepted an offer the following weekend. I hope the transaction closes on schedule without any serious issues.

The Weather?!

PDX saw measurable rainfall 28 of 31 days in October, smashing the old record of 23 days set back in October 1950.

The October rainfall total was 8.30″, just .11″ shy of the record of 8.41″, set back in 1994. Normal rainfall for October in Portland is 3 inches.

Oh no! I started to get some serious itchy feet… 

We Take a Quick California Road Trip

We found the sun again in Palm Springs, California where we stayed 5 nights with my sister.

Packing for a trip is harder than living out of a suitcase. There is the decision of what to not take, whereas living out of a suitcase one has everything they own with them. I have been slowly accumulating material goods and now own 5 pairs of footwear!

The I-10 at Palm Springs.

Arriving in Sacramento, California felt like “home” since that’s where we lived before we quit our jobs and sold our possessions to begin our around the world trip.

It was fantastic spending time with good friends and eating at some favorite places, but we could’ve used more time there.

We stayed a few days in Sacramento where we ate at a few of our favorite restaurants. Buckhorn Grill has a Monday Tri-tip special for two. What a feast!

Traveling around the world we craved Mexican flavors and Costa Vida in Roseville, California is one of our favorites.

Spending Time with Family

Sharing good food with family is best!

And now it’s November…the month we’ve been anxiously awaiting for our grandaughter to make her entrance into this world and forever change our lives. I go to bed each night and wonder if I will Meet Her in the Morning!