We made it!
We’ve been in The Land of the Midnight Sun for over 2 weeks now and I thought it was about time to fill y’all in!
We are doing great and I am slowly easing myself into pretending to be outdoorsy. Also see under: slapping a hysterical, frozen smile on my face whilst repeating (in a weird, high-pitched voice) THIS IS GREAT!!! I’VE TOTALLY GOT THIS!!!
Here’s the thing, y’all. I’ll let you in on a little secret. The worst kept secret of all time. I am not outdoorsy. Like, not even a little bit. The other day I was at the PX buying a styrofoam cooler for ice. The lady asked if I was going camping and I literally said “EWW NO!” It escaped my mouth before I even had time to think about it. She looked very confused. That is not the standard answer around here.
I have never enjoyed camping. Or hiking. Or bugs or peeing in the woods or NATURE. As Cora says, I NO YIKE IT.
But you know what else I don’t enjoy? Being miserable. And I will become miserable if I don’t adapt here so I am going to become outdoorsy, dammit.
I want to fully embrace our two years here. And if that means strapping on the hiking boots or snowshoes or crampons, then by God I will. I want to bloom where I’m planted. I won’t spend my time here wishing I was somewhere else. It is GORGEOUS here. And to experience that beauty, I need to be outside.
We had our very first family hike the other day. We went to Angel Rocks. It started off sorta dicey, with the girls screaming about the giant bugs and the potties at the camp site (THOSE ARE SO DEEP AND SO FULL OF POOP) but it ended up going really well. I can’t lie. I totally brought up the rear and I was out of breath and out of shape, but Jimmy reminded me that when we got to Italy, I almost died the first time we had to walk across little downtown Vicenza. And by the end of our three years there, we walked across all of Rome, Florence, and Paris. We walked to the top of the duomo and the top of Mont St Michel. We walked alllll over Sardinia and Normandy and Halstatt and Munich. It became second nature. I have to acclimate to this.
On the way home we almost hit a moose. Like…missed him by a foot. Sadie screamed WHAT THE HECK IS THAT, A CAMEL?
The Howells have much to learn about Alaska, y’all.
Let the education begin.
xoxo
S
ah! I’m excited to hear all about your adventures over the next 2 years.
I’m sure you will adjust and love it, just like all the places you have been.
I hope to see cool moose photos from you! They are one of my favorites, but I always joke that there is only 1 that gets moved from place to place because I have been where they are suppose to be (Maine, Wyoming, etc) and never seen one!
I swear you’re my lost lost twin! Reading ✅ scrapbooking ✅ Target ✅ outdoors ❌. Your ability to adapt and bloom is amazing though!
I love hiking. But I do not love camping. I actually can’t imagine my life without hiking. But a night in a tent? No. Claustrophobia is real!
You will find your comfortable space in nature! Just be patient and willing to be adventurous. I can’t wait to see what you experience!
Oh Stephanie- YouGotThisGirl! Once you get in your time zone clock, your altitude adjustment (which is real) and climatized- things will be much better. Because today was solstice, the days are gonna keep getting shorter so that midnight sun won’t mess with your sleep so much. Wait till you can take the girls fishing- in a nearby stream or when you go for a drive and chop down your own Xmas tree! For now, buy lots of bug spray and pack environmental happy toilet paper- sometimes pooping over a log in nature is better than a porta potty!
So happy you had a nice move! I can’t wait to hear all about Alaska! Great pictures! I hope you have a great library near your house!
I’ve been following your adventures over on Instagram — best wishes for a wonderful two years in Alaska and to all the memories you will make together there.
I used to live in the Florida Keys. I did NOT take advantage of living on the water, literally. Even when I was there I knew I would regret it. Moved from there to Guam. Yes, Guam. 🙂 I said to myself “Lisa, you WILL join in, you will take advantage of this amazing opportunity!”
So, I instantly joined the outrigger canoe team. I had never canoed in my life. IN. MY. LIFE. And it was awesome. In the water every day after work for practice, long races on Saturdays. Snorkeling on Sundays.
And yes, when you work on Guam, your company has an outrigger canoe team. Or two. One for the Ladies, and one for the Men. 🙂
P.S. You’ve got this!
I only know 3 military families and all of you are in Alaska!!! One came straight from Houston and humidity, one from Malaysia and its warmth and y’all!
Hahaha. I spent 35 years living in the heart of Los Angeles so moving to the PNW 10 years ago was a shock to the system in the best kind of way. Nature has a way of putting everything into perspective. It has worked wonders for my anxiety. The trick is learning what “kind” of outdoorsy you wanna be. I’m the trail walking, flower picking, knit by a fire pit in my backyard type. I bet you are similar, except maybe instead of knitting you’ll be reading
I predict you’ll be sad when it’s time to leave- while outdoorsy may not be your thing, I think the slower pace will grow on you. When you first moved to Italy you did a Q & A about your new life- I think you should do the same when you get settled in Alaska!
What a great mom you are and a great example. I love the whole “bloom where you are planted” mind-set and I love that you are so wanting to embrace the place that you live while you are there. Life is good, enjoy all the moments that you can. And, please share. I loved your Italy adventures and look forward to seeing Alaska from your viewpoint.
Beautiful photos Mrs. H, I’m with you on the outdoorsy thing and have had to adapt to my surroundings too. I’m now happy to report “I love kayaking”……never thought I’d utter those three words. Keep up the good work!
OMG, a camel – that made me laugh out loud.Being from Canada and having driven through the Maritimes many times, I have seen my fair share of moose. The best was seeing a few early in the morning just drinking from the river while I sat in a kayak across from them, just observing. You’ve got this girl! You’re about to see whole different side to everything around you. Looking forward to experiencing it all through your eyes!
It’s so green and gorgeous there! What an adventure the Howell family will have in Alaska. I can’t wait to see more! I just got done with a wonderful book and came to your blog because I love your book lists. Already trying to find the next great book. If you haven’t read Beneath a Scarlet Sky yet it’s totally a must read.
Hope you LOVE Alaska!! Good luck on becoming outdoorsy!! 🙂 Love your attitude, it’s the BEST!! Love knowing you are all together and on to the next adventure!
UGH, camping. I can get down with the outdoors as long as I dont have to a) pee in them, or b) sleep in them. Seriously
You that meme that floats around every year, usually about this time? So me:
“I’m outdoorsy in I like getting drunk on patios.”