longing...

I love to travel. It's been way too long since I have. And someday I'd like to visit every state. I'd love to spend some time in each one. I want to see mountains. Oh I've seen a few wimpy ones. Those big hills in Kentucky. The bigger ones around Chattanooga, Tennessee. But I want to see the ginormous ones. Hike in them. Stay somewhere close to them. Explore & stuff. I want to see both oceans. I've seen the Gulf long ago. But never an ocean. I'd love to go on a cruise. At least I think I'd love it. Being somewhat claustrophobic, maybe it would be a lil scary. But then again, maybe it would be breathtaking. I want to go back to Disney World. We haven't been back since our honeymoon. I would've loved to take the kids when they were younger. We always said we would. But no funds for that. :( I'd love to see some Caribbean islands. Historical places on the east coast. Alaska. And Texas. And the beauty of the Northwest. And California ocean highways. And the Grand Canyon. And visit again the only place that's ever felt like "home." Our former home of Nashville, TN. Sigh. What's in my way? Hubby hates to travel. No money for such things. And no time.
Honestly I've always loved to move. My family moved pretty often as I was growing up, even between states. I developed a love of finding things in new places. So after awhile, I get tired of being stuck somewhere. In the first years of our marriage, we didn't live anywhere more than 18 months at a time. I loved that! Always a new area to get used to, new things to try, new places to find. That may be why I've been so restless. We've lived in our current house for 9 years. NINE YEARS. That seems like forever to me! So yep...I am wanting to move VERY BADLY.
We live in a manufactured home in a community. That's something I usually don't like people to know. It carries the stereotype of "trailer park" and "trailer trash." I feel very uncomfortable with people's quick judgments along that line. In the past few years however, I realized that we were pretty smart. When we bought it, we knew we could afford it. We weren't in over our heads. And now I look at people in big houses who are struggling, and even losing their homes...and I feel very grateful to have a roof over our heads. We would not be able to sell this house for what we owe on it though, so we are looking into moving it to land somewhere. We had originally planned, when we moved in, to do this within a year. A few layoffs, cut salaries, debt problems...and 9 years later, after a new job and paying off a huge chunk of debt, we finally feel somewhat ready to tackle this. So what I'd LOVE is, plenty of land, trees, maybe a pond....just SPACE where we can sit in a backyard,(ohhhh how I miss having a nice backyard!!) enjoy God's creation, and just RELAX together as a family. We are praying about all of this...because frankly, it's going to take plenty of God's provision and favor to make it happen.
And maybe in the future, after saving some money, convincing the hubby, and some time to kill, we MAY be able to cure my restless wandering bug. :)