The Life of a Nomad

One of my college housemates, who I also worked with at summer camp for two years, and her family are traveling the country in an RV this fall.  In the spring they plan to travel around Europe.  For the past week they've been in Colorado seeing lots of our mutual friends.  We were lucky enough that they were able to stay at our house for two nights.  The Nomads have 4 children, the oldest at college, a high school freshman, and two younger children who are the same gender and age (within months) as the Ranch children.  Everyone had a great visit--lots of wii competitions, a couple movies,  and not much sleep!

We think we made a good case for moving to Colorado, since "everybody else is" and listened to a good case of why we should sell our worldly goods and travel.

Short visits

A long time ago I lived in a Cooperative House at Purdue University.  We had some things in common with the Greek system, but a lot of things that were different.  One of the the things we had in common was the tradition of "Big Sis" and "Little Sis" so that new members had a mentor.  One year my "Lil Sis" and I had little in common and another girl had the same situation with her "Big Sis".  So, we kind of adopted each other.  She was a bridesmaid in our wedding, I was the unofficial dress fluffer at hers.  We spent several years not communicating well, as we moved across the country (me), had kids (her, then me), and generally were busy, busy, busy.  Thanks to the magic of Facebook (and older kids) we are better at keeping in touch these days and try to meet up once a year or so.  If I go to the midwest, I try to plan a night or two at their house and if they come out this way we meet somewhere.  This year they spent a few days with cousins in Colorado Springs, but due to our crazy busy lives we weren't sure we could meet up...until they called early one Saturday morning and said they were in the neighborhood.  Yay! We had a few minutes of coffee and chatting before they hit the road for their continued road trip and we headed out for a hiking trip (stay tuned for that story!)

 Big and Little Sis in the early 1990's

 Little Sis (far left) and me (in the wedding dress, duh) at my wedding, 1995

 The Girl driving the Gator at Little Sis's house, 2012

 An attempt to get all the kids in one picture, 2012
And below, Mr. Ranch, Little Sis, Big Sis (me), Mr. Little Sis and all the kids...all in one picture...amazing that we all held still long enough!