Friday, January 29, 2010

Chili and Hawaii

I've decided to make chili. Having never made it before, I picked up some things that sound like they should go in it - a few types of dried beans, some tomatoes, chili powder, onions, green bell peppers,* and ground buffalo. I figure I'll toss it all together and hope for the best. This is my preferred method of cooking. Usually it works out. Sometimes, not so much.

Now that I've addressed the chili, I'll move on to Hawaii. One of my bloggy friends - Vicki, from Where The Fuhkaui - has moved with her family to Hawaii. I'm burning with envy. BURNING. It's becoming physically painful. I've already been wanting to steal her on the road, unschooling, adventure filled life, and this latest development is like a stab in the eye. Hawaii. The land of my birth. My island heritage.**

They just decided that they've always wanted to live there, and they up and moved. Just like that. I'm in awe of them, so impressed with their fearlessness, with the way they follow their dreams. I would love to follow in their footsteps.

The only problems, from what I can see, are that A: I married my mother. Not literally, of course, but the same type of personality. I got MM to Texas, and now that we're back in AZ, I don't think he'll ever leave again. He's settled here, he loves it, he hates newness and starting over and all that comes with it. Life on the road, I'm afraid, is my dream, not his.

The B part is money. Now if we would have decided to do this when we sold the house before last, when we had a lot of money in the bank, maybe it could have worked. At least for a little while. But since we're down to a very small nest egg, I think one month in Hawaii would suck it all away. And work-wise, I'm not sure what we'd do in Hawaii. It's an expensive place to live. We could always sell pot to tourists, but what kind of example does that set for BW?

Hawaii, or really anywhere but Arizona, is not in our future. For now, I will continue to live vicariously through Vicki while enjoying the life we've created here. And maybe, just maybe, show up at her door one day for a visit during our next island vacation. :)


*******

*The devil's fruit. They are fruit, right? Doesn't matter. The important part here is that they're made by the devil. Which is code for I REALLY don't like them. But I'm beginning to find that they're kinda sorta OK cooked in some dishes, so, again, hoping for the best.

**Well, I was born there. My dad was in the Navy.
Island heritage maybe a little inaccurate. It was mostly for dramatic effect.

6 comments:

Zayna said...

Hey, I LOVE your dramatic effect don't go spoiling it with technicalities. :P

And how can you not love green peppers...they're awesome. Though for the record, Hubby makes Chili quite often and he doesn't put any in his. I even suggested it once and he looked at me like I was alien...so there's that.

Oh, how I relate to the rest. One of my bloggy friends just spent the last month selling almost everything she owns (including her house!) to live in an RV with her family in Southern California.

I too am burning with envy.

And all our previous talk of selling this place has turned into conversations about extending the mortgage another 5 years. *sigh*

So, we're pretty much in the same boat. Except you're in Arizona and I'm in Ontario. :P

lisafer said...

Oh, boy! Five more years? Sounds like us, from one option to a totally different one. Ugh.

At least I know it's not just me! :)

And hey, the chili turned out really well. It could have used a little more salt, but, in my opinion, what couldn't? Lol!

Anonymous said...

My dh's conversion to the dark side of not absolutely hating green peppers began with my chili when we were in college. I used to have to chop them up small enough that they were invisible. Almost a puree. Saute onions and garlic, add the peppers, and then the meat. Yes, once upon a time, my chili had meat in it.

It still cracks me up that you like my black bean salad. Not one kind of pepper, but THREE. Not even cooked mind you!

lisafer said...

I can't explain the black bean salad thing. There's no reason under the sun I should like it. Yet I do. :)

Vicki said...

You better show up on my doorstep!!

It was not as simple as it sounds, though..believe me. The kids started calling their Dad a LIAR because he's told them a few different times we were moving to Hawaii and didn't. I even had to be convinced to move to this island, I wanted the Big Island. What a bitch I was!

I'm glad we did take the leap though...we may be broke already but we're HERE!! that was the hard part.

lisafer said...

I've always told Mike I could live flat broke in a shack on the beach and be totally happy, if only I were in Hawaii! :) Hey, you can live off of mangoes, bananas and fish, right?

I'm excited for you that you're there, Vicki! I can't wait to hear more about it.