Mr. Butters

"A dog is the only thing on earth who loves you more than he loves himself" 

- Josh Billings

I just have to say that if you are a dog owner, that quote probably made a tear come to your eye as you know how true that statement is. My dog, Butters, was rescued exactly 9 months ago by my husband and I. It was a rough couple of first weeks as he had severe (and I mean SEVERE) separation anxiety.

However, its been completely worth it. I now can't imagine my life without the little guy. Who else would greet me the same when I've been gone 2 minutes or 2 days? Crying and jumping and kissing me like I'd been gone for months! Who else would be there to run around destroying his toys like a lion? Getting excited over the word Treat and Shrimp? Who else would howl in excitement when its time to go for a walk....then 5 minutes later begin to drag his feet in protest? That would be my dog.

To this day, we still are not sure what breed he is. Some say Pug/Chow, some say Pekingese Chow.... who knows? All I know is that I am absolutely, completely, in love, with my dog. This is a little random post to show off my beautiful, lazy, hilarious beast of a dog, Butters!

The grass always seems greener on the other side...

So I've officially been back in the US for over 8 months now and have recently been comparing my life in the UK versus the US. Did I make the right decision? Yes, I moved for my family as I missed them everyday while I was in the UK, but there are so many things I've given up.

I forced a quick move back to the US as I wanted to get back to sunny California and my family, not actually realizing the life that would mean for me and my husband in the US of A.

My passion is travel (... my Letters Home Blog... see for yourself!). In the UK I got 25 days paid vacation (minimum) which allowed for me and my husband to be as adventurous as we wanted to be. We worked hard and got to spend our money exactly the way we wanted.

Life in the UK is generally easier as there is paid vacation and paid sick days. In the US, I went 3 months without healthcare hoping that that I wouldn't get sick or had an emergency while I waited for my benefits to kick in.

Now that my husband and I are settled in sunny California, the debate is on! Did we really make the right decision for us?

We always say we don't want children, but that's IF we stay in the US. It simply is not affordable to have children and if we decide that we want a child we will not be allowed any time off work (paid time) to spend very important bonding time with our child. Child care also costs a fortune and health care, well we all know how affordable that is! In the UK, we wouldn't worry about any of that as I would have at least 6 months maternity leave. Children were never in the cards, but these are actual questions we need to think of now.

We love our little life in sunny San Diego, but now that we're settled with a dog, apartment, job, family members close by, we really still are contemplating that if it was the right choice for our future family, and for ourselves.

I have always wanted to get a post grad degree, but in the US it would cost me about $50,000/year at the institutions that have the course I want. This also would be about a 3 year course. In the UK, I could get the same degree in 1 year for a masters and 3 for a PhD for the cost of less than one year at the US University.

I came back to America as I missed my family and the sunshine. However, I still only see them about one weekend every other month. If I lived in the UK I could afford to come home to visit for 2 or 3 full weeks every year, or more.

Don't get me wrong, I love the US, but I work too much for too little. Life is too much about money here and working hard, for what?... Healthcare? Coming back during the presidential election also is depressing. Things that are being debated here are considered standard across the board in other 1st world countries.... that in itself is a whole other topic!

I know my parents would be devastated if I left again, but I am not sure if that guilt is enough to stay here when I genuinely feel I could have a better life in the UK. More importantly, I could get my spark back.

I am selfish, I want my 30 days paid vacation, my free health care, my sick leave, maternity leave, and guaranteed excitement in my life by having my passion back; travel. Why is it that Americans DO NOT DEMAND these simplistic necessities to be a part in our lives? I am more than willing to pay my fair share of taxes to have it all.

I am not sure if coming back home to have peaked at my job, not afford post-grad education  and worry about healthcare and if I can afford a family actually is worth it for a little bit of sunshine.

.... now its just if I actually can bare to tell my family the doubts I am having of a life in the US.

Yet, I don't want to get to the UK and be all, "oh crap I miss my family again and lets move back!" It took too long for my husbands green card to come through to uproot again from UK to USA and back again. I was in the UK for almost two years and loved it, but missed my family and got sick of the rain. Now, I am in sunny California with my family, but miss my travelling and cozy life in the UK. I want it all, I just am struggling to decide which things are more important to me and my future family.

I guess the grass will always seem greener on the other side.

The Good Ol' Days

What ever happened to "The Good Old Days?" I don't know if I am feeling rather sentimental because I am  currently reading Little Women or because I spent my Friday night with a bunch of 80 year old men and women. Either way, it really has made me sad for the next generation.

Last night I met some pretty incredible people who were discussing World War 2, Hitler, their mothers who were proper Victorian Ladies and what they would do on their Saturday nights. I couldn't stop listening and asking questions as the history major side of me was fascinated that these people were around during WWII. Not just across the pond hearing about it, but literally were in the thick of WWII and going to bomb shelters during the Bristol Blitz. It really fascinated me. The history they saw first hand was incredible, but what stuck out the most was how knowledgeable and full of culture they all were!

We spent the evening around a piano while quite the old man and fabulous piano player took requests and would play anything from memory. Then after a song  was played, a story was told. One was about the great Liberace and how he met him while being at the American camps during the war. Liberace and the war led to discussions of politics and history. They talked about books, authors, presidents and prime ministers. One fellow said that his greatest regret in life was that he was not fluent in a different language; which all really touched me. The ladies were ever a lady and the men, ever so gentle.

Today, many young people are more concerned about how short their skirts are, how dumb they can act in class and disrupt the teachers, who has spent the most money on their clothes or i-pad,pod,phone. Saturday nights are not spent enriching the brain in discussion around a piano, but spent killing brain cells by drinking the night away into oblivion. Don't get me wrong, last night these lads and gals were drinking me under the table, but in a more respectable way than how it is done today.

There are so many amazing cultural things going on right now today in the 21st century. The great debates of global warming, the rise and fall of the economy, world peace, cinematography; but less and less young people are interested and taking advantage of these wonderful and necessary ideas. I really hope that can change. The good old days, really were quite splendid. Last night really was inspiring. I hope that as life goes on and technology becomes more advance we don't lose sight of the classics, of history, and the importance of knowledge. 

cheap travel

So many people ask me, how do you and your husband afford to travel so much? Well, here is the answer! I firmly believe that travelling is not a luxury, it is a form of education that is possible for anyone; if they really want it.

Instead of spending money on a night out on the town, we stay in and watch a film. Instead of going out to dinner, we'll stay in and cook. Another benefit of that is now we have become great cooks. We love to cook anything from Thai/Indian curries, pastas, Mexican, stir fry, and much more. We also have friends come over for dinner and a movie instead of going out and spending a fortune on one evening.

Instead of owning a car, we walk. That one was the hardest to get used to, but public transportation is not bad (in the UK). Obviously, living in the US one must own a car. However, when I move back home I will not buy a new car, or a gas guzzler. Also, do we really need more than 1 car per person? What a waste of car insurance!  Another benefit to walking, is that it is a healthy lifestyle change. Without even trying I have lost 10lbs just from walking instead of driving.

 "Name Brands," don't buy them. They cost 3x the amount of generic products and usually are the same quality. There are some things I won't skimp out on, such as toothpaste, make-up, and deodorant, but food; definitely! Pasta is pasta, vegetables will always be vegetables. Also, we have become pseudo-vegetarians. Not just for our health, but meat is EXPENSIVE!  Also, buying fresh at the farmers market not only is cheaper, but buying local helps the community and always tastes better.

As soon as we're paid every month, we try to put up to half of our earnings into savings (depending on monthly circumstances). After bills, rent, food, if we have anything extra, then that is a bonus and only then will we go out to eat, go out drinking, go to a movie, or go shopping. If you think about it, a $200 day of shopping could be a flight. To me and my husband, we would rather live humbly and go travelling and see the world than have a new pair of jeans.

Also, when travelling one needs to be open minded with out a plan. When looking for flights, we book what ever is cheapest. Letting the sales picking where we go; which adds a little exciting spontaneity! When it comes to hotels, you do not need a 5 star hotel; 3 stars are usually very nice, great staff, and breakfast tends to be included with 3 star hotels as they are smaller and sometimes family owned.

Basically, we don't live outside of our means. Little things really make a difference. For example, our crappy cel phones. We don't need to spend loads each month when we can get a phone that makes calls and texts for $10/month. Also,  we don't spend extra for fancy Tivo, we just have basic cable. I understand that these are not things some people would do, let alone want to do, but that is how we travel so much.

Don't get me wrong, I miss shopping every weekend, having a car, and having an expendable income, but to me, travelling is so much more important. Clothes, new gadgets, and dinners out in town don't last forever, but the memories and the experiences from travelling do.

It has been hard work, but it has worth it. By the time the year is over I would have been to 8 different countries. At the start of next year, we have a backpacking trip to South East Asia planned; which will be 7 countries in 3 months. We are able to do all this, work full time, pay rent, and live a comfortable enough life. Little sacrifices really make a big difference. This life isn't' for everyone, but I wouldn't change a thing!

The Why...

Hello everyone!

Yes, I know what you're all thinking... "great, another blog". Well, yes that is right! I figured that I just have too much to say and have too much on my mind that I need another outlet. I LOVE travelling and my other blog, Letters Home, but I have more passions and more I want to share with everyone.

The list of what this blog may be about ranges from politics, to the "how too" of cheap travel, great books, living abroad, food, and anything else I feel like I need to rant about.  So whether you love it or hate it, my apologies. I  just have more I want to share than jut my passion for travel.