This year I turn 30 and I have been married for three years so you can only imagine how often I hear from people, "When are you going to have kids?". If you had asked me this question even a year ago, I would have said never. But I am slowly starting to like the idea of a little Whitney/Jeffrey running around conquering this crazy world we live in. That being said, this adventure will be waiting... at least another year.
I am lucky to say that my parents and Jeffrey's parents have never pushed us in the direction of having children right away.. if ever. Maybe it's because our siblings have had enough for both our families ;) But I think they want us to live our lives doing the things we love. Traveling, road trips, sports, nights out, quiet nights in. All these things I love would be a little more difficult with a "bundle of joy" around.
I think the reason I am slowly liking the idea of kids though is because the past few years I have been living my life and slowly checking things off my bucket list. Having experienced these small adventures made me realize how lucky I am to have the opportunities and one day I would love to share these experiences with a family.
California was a bit of a spontaneous trip. I decided one day I wanted to go so I booked that day and we flew out less than a month later. Having nothing really planned as far as hotels and what not, we basically went off the "seam of our pants" and discovered Southern California in a little rental car driving up the Pacific Coast Highway. In that one week I realized how lucky I was to have the life that was given to me. I met some pretty chill people who live "simple lives" and love it. All around me were people of all ages, genders, etc whose passion belonged to the sport of surfing. This was something all the people in the small surfer towns we visited had in common. Everyone was so nice and relaxed I never wanted to leave. They look forward to that early morning surf that they describe as their form of yoga and meditation. Better than coffee is how one person described it. Surfing in these towns isn't just a sport, its a lifestyle. Everyone has surf racks and boards on their cars and every house you drive by has at least 2-3 boards sitting out front.
Having only surfed a couple times before heading to Cali, I was in no way close to being good but that did not stop me from embracing the culture. We rented boards every chance we got. The thrill of that perfect wave when you finally get up and feel the push is exhilarating. It really is like an escape from reality.
California and the people we met along the way taught me that life doesn't have to go so fast. We really need to slow down and enjoy everything life has to offer. Yes I may not be working my dream job but at least I am working at a place that allows me the time off to do the things I love. Yes I live in an unfinished house, but weekends and week nights are filled with memories in return. The "unfinished house" thing use to weigh on me but after getting back from our trip I looked around my house and felt grateful. In some ways I like that the house is still "under construction" because it means we are living! Living the life I always dreamed of!!
