tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post8700859346750591870..comments2024-03-27T19:04:31.290-05:00Comments on The Amazing Trips: home sweet homeThe Amazing Tripshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-15115509920743141472009-05-04T02:01:00.000-05:002009-05-04T02:01:00.000-05:00What do they plan to do with all their money if no...What do they plan to do with all their money if not live comfortably? I'm all for less materialism and no debt, but don't they have any standards of cleanliness? Sounds like they could fix up the place without going broke!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-5014717390579330122009-05-02T12:19:00.000-05:002009-05-02T12:19:00.000-05:00I love this post! Thank you! You know I've lived i...I love this post! Thank you! You know I've lived in lots of different places with mold (especially if you've lived in older houses). The stuff that makes you sick gets fixed. We lived in a rental where the garage had a ton of mold. The finished basement had a ton of bugs which is where my husband would work during the day down there - I swear we had a whole ecosystem - we had a monthly pest control service come and that helped some. There was even mold in the bathroom. It was an old house. Where we were living though was great! Lots of times I've done things that are 'temporary' and then in retrospect after 4 years go by, I think - why didn't I start out with a more long term perspective? Oh well. I think generation X definitely has this idea that every child needs their own room. The baby boomers would raise 4 kids in a 1,000 sq ft house and wouldn't think twice about it. I think I worry more about the school district and the neighborhood than the accomodations.holly whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330225563028611599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-77084124485299829202009-05-01T00:48:00.000-05:002009-05-01T00:48:00.000-05:00I think your friend has found out what is importan...I think your friend has found out what is important in this life, and what is not. I sure wish I knew him. Does he have a web page?<br /><br />~Cindy! :D<br />..~Cindy! :Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-53711083965656400502009-04-30T11:32:00.000-05:002009-04-30T11:32:00.000-05:00I just worry about the mold and the effect it can ...I just worry about the mold and the effect it can have on their future health.Renohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05920399858153893689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-26095361794934491392009-04-29T12:54:00.000-05:002009-04-29T12:54:00.000-05:00I'm definitely in a different place mentally now t...I'm definitely in a different place mentally now than I was just a few years ago. As much as I love our house, I keeping thinking that we should downsize. Unfortunately, we can't afford to sell in this market, so the idea is moot. But I'm at least downsizing all the crap we own, especially as more keeps seeming to come in the house with the toddler and soon-to-be-here baby.<br /><br />To each their own about levels of cleanliness. They obviously don't have the allergies I do (mold and dust, among other things) nor the freak outs if the kitchen is messy for too long. I love that they have the sign above the door. <br /><br />That's great that it works for them. My only word of advice if they were my friends is to think about the childrens' future spouses. When one spouse does not learn to clean and the other needs help cleaning, it can become a big point of discontention in a relationship (luckily not mine, but I've seen others). So hopefully they will at least teach the kids about cleaning somewhat. But it's great they are teaching them to enjoy life.caramamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327695885346537321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-51484159132577949332009-04-28T22:15:00.000-05:002009-04-28T22:15:00.000-05:00They bundle up when it's cold? Why not heat the ho...They bundle up when it's cold? Why not heat the house?<br /><br />Interesting post. I could never live like that but I also don't jude them at all. 10 years ago I would have but with age comes wisdom: Live, and let live. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-63460876538857575092009-04-28T20:27:00.000-05:002009-04-28T20:27:00.000-05:00I guess "To each his own". I know your friend and...I guess "To each his own". I know your friend and I also met his previous girl friend who was heavily in debt and had so many clothes she could not fit them in the closet. It seems this bubble gum vendor has many odd tastes--but if it works for him, I am sure it is the right thing.<br />It is great to have "unusual" friends. The kids look very happy on the farm and toys.<br />NONIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-64672627550174542502009-04-28T20:23:00.000-05:002009-04-28T20:23:00.000-05:00Nana Coleman used to tell me to "forget the house ...Nana Coleman used to tell me to "forget the house and enjoy your children." It sounds tripe when your up to your knees in laundry, but she ws so right. The happiest kids I know are the one's who enjoy being with their Mother and Father. Soon enough they will be gone.Aunt Gracenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-37810357591262715202009-04-28T16:57:00.000-05:002009-04-28T16:57:00.000-05:00I think Greg and I strike the happy medium between...I think Greg and I strike the happy medium between you and your friends. We have no debt, own three homes for cash now, but we have no big fancy appliances or fancy cars. I only knew what PBK was from reading your website. (I'm KIDDING, but barely) We live almost exactly as your friends, minus the mold and rodents. Our house is clean. He could easily cart off that old double wide and put a new one on there for 20 grand. CASH! See? Problem solved!Michele Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15061520456909635254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-83018911410981633822009-04-28T16:06:00.000-05:002009-04-28T16:06:00.000-05:00Great post!
My mom's house is always cluttered....Great post! <br /><br />My mom's house is always cluttered. Toys strewn over every surface, the biggest pile of socks, shoes, boots, coats, backpacks, and umbrellas known to man by the front door. Books stacked on every piece of furniture. But it is clean. And it is the happiest place for my children to be.Katherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111672135619695024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-8365513013951329532009-04-28T15:39:00.000-05:002009-04-28T15:39:00.000-05:00We live humbly, even if we canNOT do it on two inc...We live humbly, even if we canNOT do it on two incomes. We've made some life choices (pre-family) that meant two-incomes at the time. Then the kiddos came and we realized our priorities have changed. We are slowly making changes towards a simpler life and I'm proud of the progress we've made. (Debt-free next month - woohoo!) It's been a lot of sacrifices and continues to be so. Sacrifices of things that once were really important, but now, not so much. Life is just different. I just wish we'd had the foresight to have seen those changes back when we got married.<br /><br />I have to say that I love reading your blog because it just reminds me that there are other families attempting to make those life changes right along with us. Thank you!<br /><br />I am creating a new definition of "Joneses" to keep up with. It's those folks that see the importance of celebrating the small things in life, loving our planet, and loving those that God puts in our paths.AWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07976537861843058177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-64563441264661616432009-04-28T15:18:00.000-05:002009-04-28T15:18:00.000-05:00Thanks for the perspective. Home isn't a house, ju...Thanks for the perspective. Home isn't a house, just as family isn't always who you're related to.Sadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04042551936789254047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-88471594247610243772009-04-28T13:50:00.000-05:002009-04-28T13:50:00.000-05:00I'm never doing dishes again. Our family needs to...I'm never doing dishes again. Our family needs to learn to live within our means. I think when we had a lot of money, we just went and spent it on crap... Only the house is not "crap" but we could have lived in a smaller one... ugh. I WISH we could have a garden...but living above the Arctic Circle has its downside. Happy trails!Finnskimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15796494092961147276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-89594800614454311522009-04-28T13:26:00.000-05:002009-04-28T13:26:00.000-05:00This was a great post. In Alaska, compared to the ...This was a great post. In Alaska, compared to the states, you will find a much slower paced life. You will find a lot of people(my sister being 1 of them who just had her second daughter) living in Cabins with no running water, who have an out house 50 ft from the cabin, grow their own vegitables, hunt their own meet and are the most content people you will ever meet in your life. I am also sure there are spiders and bugs livig with them too and probably an occasional mouse or two. While this is not the lifestyle I could ever handle living in, I think it's all about perspective and what's important to you.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01122450710708569556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-81218695702033568872009-04-28T13:21:00.000-05:002009-04-28T13:21:00.000-05:00Oh come on...make a Facebook site for the Amazing ...Oh come on...make a Facebook site for the Amazing Trips so I can become a "fan!"<br /><br />Once again I have linked to your site on my Facebook account today. (Is that okay? Maybe that's not okay?)<br /><br />I thought this post was a great reminder that we each have our own story and our own priorities and there is freedom in just being ourselves.<br /><br />Great message!Vileation Nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09309325494069656213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-41000283274253342962009-04-28T12:45:00.000-05:002009-04-28T12:45:00.000-05:00So many wise words!So many wise words!Heza Hekelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16521747190274748084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-57335790081678836432009-04-28T12:25:00.000-05:002009-04-28T12:25:00.000-05:00I have to say that I agree with Deborah as well. ...I have to say that I agree with Deborah as well. There is a difference between frugal and filthy. We could probably all stand to live a little more frugally that is for sure, but I don't get what point the not cleaning is making??? It takes the same amount of time to wash ALL the dishes at once as it does to wash them slowly over time, so it's not like they are actually saving any time by washing them on an as needed basis. And my husbands whole family lives in San Diego and I have seen the size of the rats there...that would be enough to get me cleaning. <br /><br />Kelly(Houston)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-35101328564181724492009-04-28T11:44:00.000-05:002009-04-28T11:44:00.000-05:00Laura: I just spent the past few minutes discussin...Laura: I just spent the past few minutes discussing whether or not the house is sanitary with Charlie and at first we both said "NO!". <br /><br />But then, I looked up sanitary to get the definition. <br /><br />"of or relating to the conditions that affect hygiene and health, esp. the supply of sewage facilities and clean drinking water."<br /><br />They have clean water from a well. They have a toilet that flushes and drains to a septic system (which is located in an area far removed from the well). They have refrigeration and they cook their food thoroughly. <br /><br />I don't know if there are rodents IN the house, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were. Then again, there have been rodents in OUR house. In our toilet, in fact. And we are absolute neat freaks. <br /><br />To answer your question: I think their house is sanitary and I don't think it would be condemned. But their level of cleanliness is substantially different than ours.The Amazing Tripshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-29863801142687343732009-04-28T11:22:00.000-05:002009-04-28T11:22:00.000-05:00Wow what a great post. Yes everyone lives in ther...Wow what a great post. Yes everyone lives in there own comfort zone. I couldn't live the ants and rodents or the dirty sink. There property looks amazing and looks like you had a great time.monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16192307518144845441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-22025169046909471792009-04-28T10:59:00.000-05:002009-04-28T10:59:00.000-05:00There's are many different levels of cleanline...There's are many different levels of cleanliness. Sanitary is in there, too. Is their house sanitary? Must they wear socks to avoid being bitten by ants? Do they knowingly have rodents in the house (that aren't pets)? Would the city come and condemn the house for its living conditions?<br /><br />I definitely don't keep my house clean, but I don't have mold, ants, or rodents (not sure if those are still there anymore) in my house either. <br /><br />It's not important for me to have a clean & tidy space either. BUT, it is important for me to have a sanitary house.<br /><br />Their property does sound amazing and a great place to live and grow up. I can only imagine the great experiences and memories that are being created. For that I do envy them. But, the house? No thanks! <br /><br />As long as it's sanitary then it's fine. If it's not sanitary then something needs to be done.<br /><br />I'm glad you all have a great time though. And, I'm not being judgemental. I'm just curious whether the house is sanitar or not. I'd worry about my kids' health, but that obviously hasn't been a problem for them (hello fresh air and exercise!).<br /><br />BTW, I love reading your blog. You always make me laugh and your pictures are great. Thanks!Laura M. in Indiananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-72934232615367916472009-04-28T10:40:00.000-05:002009-04-28T10:40:00.000-05:00Debbie - There's no doubt we have different comfor...Debbie - There's no doubt we have different comfort levels for what is clean and what is dirty. <br /><br />For our friends, they are perfectly content with their house just the way it is. When the dishes overflow the sink and they have no more to use, they will wash them. But only what they need. They don't want to spend time cleaning when they can spend that time doing other things. It's not at all important for them to have a tidy and organized space. <br /><br />I spend a lot of time and energy trying to keep our house at a certain level of clean. Seeing the way that they don't care, I actually felt a tiny bit envious. My body does not possess the ability to walk away from a dirty counter top. Or, look the other way when I see broken toys. I'm borderline FANATICAL about keeping things a certain way. <br /><br />Although you and I might not let our shower turn black with mold, those conditions haven't made anyone in his family sick. They are all wonderfully healthy. And the fact that they have NO insulation and the temperatures drop in to the 30's where they live hasn't made them sick, either. They just bundle up. <br /><br />And ... eat a lot of organic vegetables.The Amazing Tripshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-40734604860398505102009-04-28T07:53:00.000-05:002009-04-28T07:53:00.000-05:00I don't know, J... At the risk of sounding judgmen...I don't know, J... At the risk of sounding judgmental, there's a difference between living 'humble' and living 'dirty.' Cleaning mold so it won't make your family sick isn't about saving money. All the rest of what you say sounds like an awesome life philosophy to me, a woman who moved to a new country for a year with her 3-1/2 year old triplets and only the material goods we could fit in our suitcases. In our humble-at-best rental over here, I still clean my toilet and my charity store dishes, even if both are chipped and older than I am.Deborah Halversonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01813383597378919945noreply@blogger.com