Things happen for a reason...

I haven't checked in for some time, and I'm sorry for that!! It's been a busy couple of weeks. We returned to Channel Islands Harbor on Tuesday, December 6th. I called my old boss, Emma, to let her know if she could use my help during year-end, I'd be happy to help and it turns out she was interviewing for my old position. So, I ended up getting my old job back at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and I started on Monday. Meanwhile at the shop, we jumped right in and prepared for the big Parade of Lights weekend and had a wonderful weekend. We had Michael's Dad, Chad, Chad's Dad (Paul), Casey & Barbara on the boat for the parade. It was a nice evening, Dad made Pot Roast & Cherry Crisp and we had plenty of hot buttered rum's!

Since we've returned, we've been trying to get back into a routine and get re-established. We found a car for Michael this weekend, a 2000 Lexus GS300, that we'll pick up on Wednesday, I have been shopping for some 'work' clothes, we're looking for a slip for the boat, and generally trying to get things moving. We've been car shopping as well for me, but I'm much more finnicky than Michael and we haven't found the 'one' yet. I'm looking for a PT Cruiser Convertible, Jeep Wrangler, or a VW Cabrio. We'll see what I end up with!

We decided one improvement we'd make to the shop is bring the upstairs (Clothes, Shoes, Nautical decor items, gifts, etc) downstairs and move the downstairs (Marine supplies) upstairs to hopefully draw in more of the passers-by. We have this move scheduled for the 1st week in January, the shop will close for the entire week and lots of changes will take place. So we're ramping up for that - purchasing lots of goodies, preparing, planning, & getting excited.

We're spending Christmas out in Palm Springs with Michael's family. We're having Christmas Eve dinner at Jennifer's house and will come back home on Monday. We can't wait to see the kids!!

So what's the plan now? This is a postponement of the trip, not a cancellation, so we're still planning on leaving in the next couple years. Our plan is to doll up the shop, wait out the redevelopment of the complex where the shop is, and get it making some good money, then put it up for sale and actually make some money on it. That's the plan, hopefully it'll work out as we plan! Michael will work at the shop, and then do some Real Estate part time. I'll work at LMVNA as the computer chic. :-)

We'll write more as things happen, stay tuned!!
Rene & Michael