RVegan Broccoli Soup

One of our favorite recipes is Vegan Broccoli Soup I've made it so many times I hardly look at the recipe anymore - and I forgot that I adjusted the proportions to make a decent pot that lasts two nights as opposed to the tiny serving featured in the attached blog - clearly that blogger is not cooking for a family!

I fill a large pot with veggies - like this!  That is about 4 medium carrots, 4-5 stalks of celery, a half of a large yellow onion, lots of garlic, and three medium heads of broccoli.  I add 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil and heat it up.  Once the onions start to turn translucent I add 1/2 cup + 1-2 Tbsp whole wheat flour and some salt and I cook that for a bit to cook the flour taste away.  Then I add a 4 cup box of veggie broth, a can of coconut milk, two cups of plant milk (macadamia is the best, but I also use cashew or almond depending on what I have) and then add 6 Tbsp nutritional yeast.  Simmer that for 20-30 min...

Immersion blend and serve!  The original recipe has broccoli croutons - I've made them, but I don't think it is worth the extra steps.  We always make a fresh loaf of whole wheat bread in the bread maker to go with this delight....everyone loves it!  We were seriously missing this meal during the summer when it was too hot for cooking inside, but this is back on the menu and I have made it once a week for the past three weeks!

Whole Food Plant Based Odyssey...

We first tried going WFPB back in 2010.  We started a challenge with some friends of ours over the holidays to see which couple could lose more weight (percent weight loss) over a period of time.  The change we made was to go 100% WFPB after I read The China Study and watched Dr. Fuhrman on PBS.  We lost a crazy amount of weight and won the challenge.  I lost about 45 pounds and was down to my weight at 20 - I fit into my wedding dress, it was amazing.  The pounds just fell off.  But that was not the only reason to pursue a dietary change - I wanted to control my high blood pressure and both Husband and I wanted to lower our cholesterol without medication - which we did.

I think what derailed me was trying to get pregnant and suffering another miscarriage prior to Sister.  I turned to food for comfort.  It was my third miscarriage - I had had two before Brother was born.  I know many women who have suffered the loss of pregnancies at all different stages.  It is heartbreaking and depressing and if we could see the future to know that things will be ok we may not sink so low - but alas, we suffer not knowing what the future holds and we cope however we cope.

Obviously I did have a successful pregnancy after that sad event, but I gained all of the weight back that I had lost plus some pregnancy weight.  Since Sister's birth we have incorporated WFPB recipes into our diet on a regular basis, but we also ate poultry, fish and dairy.  Diet is a continuum from the least healthy choice to kale.  Seeking nutrition full of micro-nutrients has been a dramatic change from our traditional diets which were based upon meat and potatoes - like most Americans.  We were raised in Michigan where a meal isn't really a meal without meat and dairy.  At my worst I think I weighed around 250 lbs (pregnant), Husband was around 260 at one point - though he had already lost a good deal before our WFPB journey.

If you haven't seen Forks Over Knives you may want to check it out; it is a good documentary.  Over the years I have made hundreds of WFPB meals from Dr. Fuhrman's cookbooks, the Forks Over Knives cookbook, Dreena Burton, and Chef AJ.  I also am a huge fan of Pinterest and have boards for WFPB dinners, soups & stews, desserts, and snacks.  The best part of the WFPB diet is the fact that you can control and reverse many chronic diseases without medications which come with a host of side effects.

My point here is that dietary change is really hard - especially when surrounded by such a toxic food environment, but it does help to reduce one's distractions and stress and be purposeful about one's choices.  I find that whenever I am hurried, stressed or overwhelmed it is more difficult to make good choices about my meals.  Our new life has helped us simplify and make more conscious choices about meals.

Fall Festival, fall weather, fall food, fall reflections...

Last night was the fall festival at Brother's school.  It was fun & the kids had a great time.  The weather was breezy and seemed in the high 70s.  It was perfect.  Next week are parent teacher conferences - we will be halfway through our academic year in December!  It's crazy to think how quickly our big adventure is approaching.  We were dreaming and scheming a couple of nights ago about how our life would change if I end up teaching all online classes...then we could live anywhere!

We applied for our passports this week.  I found out that I can volunteer to teach study abroad classes and that the family can come (at our expense of course).  I have an orientation to the study abroad program scheduled for next week.  The prospect of spending time in another country while earning my instructor income is amazing.  For so many years we have been tied to our location through our jobs and home ownership. By reducing our expenses, being content on one income and being conscious of our choices we have opened up, literally, a world of possibilities!

I want what I have, and I have what I want - that is my mantra.  Everyday is Buy Nothing Day - by design we have to be very careful about what we purchase. 

We are doing well following our budget.  We have been reviewing our expenses and can see when we are less mindful of our actions and purchases (when we are under self-inflicted stress). Our monthly expenses total around $1900 (includes lot rental, utilities, food and gas).  We have a contingency pad of $700/month - with that our spending cap equaling $2600/month.  I'm not sure what our food budget "should" be for a vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian family of four - but we are trying to keep it at $200 per week.  We have been packing lunches, eating before we leave the Hideout, and cooking dinner at home.  It makes sense now to cook indoors since it has cooled off significantly - though we still grill and run our bread maker outside.  We've been eating lots of beans, salsa, potatoes, nuts, fruit, and broccoli (we're huge fans of broccoli). 

Last week we planned a meal to cook at a friends house.  It was one of our favorites: Almond Butter Noodles.  We haven't made it since we left the McMansion. It was nice to use a full size stove for this recipe as I needed three burners going at the same time.  Our friend made a delicious fruit salad to go with it and we had a wonderful meal at her place. 

Today my plan is to plan meals for next week with Husband - I am passing the torch, but teaching him what I have learned over the past many years of experiments in vegan cooking.  Husband has cooked some amazing meals.  Another past favorite he has made recently is Easy Bean and Rice Wraps from the Forks Over Knives Cookbook.  We wrap them in whole wheat tortillas from Mama Lola's.  We drive right to the tortilla factory in Phoenix to buy them....THE BEST!

Life is so good.  I am a thankful mama.

Plumbing issue...

So...this is our brand new bathroom faucet!

I wish I could say that we took the initiative to improve it of our own volition, but alas - the original one crapped out on us after four months and started leaking.  We spent a morning (last weekend) without water while Husband ran back and forth to Home Depot twice to get a faucet that would fit the tiny space.  $80 later here we are.  I have to say it is huge improvement, but this speaks to the quality of fixtures in general.  The shower faucet will probably be next to go...I don't want to blame it on the kids, but I blame it on the kids.  Husband and I treat everything in here gently.  Kids - uh - not so much.  Or maybe it was just a piece of shit - which it was!  It started squeaking a month ago and sounded like a gasket was messed up....clearly it was.  The old faucet was all plastic and very cheap.

I've heard YouTubers say you should just replace these right away...but I was thinking we could use up what is here before we replace anything...so I guess we are on our way to using things up!  I just can't believe that it only lasted four months!

Along the same lines I was out dumping the tanks a few days ago and the sewer was clogged and my hose was draining so slowly.  I called the office and they sent the maintenance guys over with the snake.  The maintenance guys are very helpful, it took a little time - maybe an hour - and they cleared the line.  It was a beautiful morning so Husband and I sat out on the patio while they worked.  It is very nice to have such a responsive team here at this park. 

Apache Palms - long term lot rental!

I guess I sort of left you hanging with what is happening with our location...we are staying here!  Thankfully another monthly spot opened in the park and on November 1, we will move our Hideout to a different spot around the pool circle. 

There are pros and cons with everything...the pro is that the new spot is approximately $80 cheaper than our current spot/month - the cons are the reason for the reduced price...we will be close to the dumpster.

Our current spot has shade in the AM from the apartment buildings behind us

Walking away from the Hideout along the East side of the pool

Past the pool

Straight ahead is our new spot

so...there it is - no neighbors, but next to the dumpster

I have no idea whether it will be a problem or not.  I have asked around, including asking the guy who was living in the trailer pictured, and no one seems to think it is a terrible spot....I have concerns, but maybe they are unfounded.  I don't know.  What I do know is that I love walking to the light rail station to commute to work and not having to drive. I also love living in Tempe.  The kids ride their bikes around the pool every day and I am glad to still be on the circle.  I am very thankful that on short notice Apache Palms was able to fit us in as a long-term renter.  I am also glad I don't have to pay the winter rate for our current spot.  

We currently pay $410 + electric ($150/month in the summer), our current spot will jump to $620 + electric from November through April.  Our new spot will be $538 + electric.  As our electric bill will go down from the summer we may end up close to what we have been paying or maybe less...hard to say.

If we hate it for some reason we can put our name on their list to move.  It seems that they are pretty good about trying to work with people - they certainly helped us out!  

Selling more stuff...

We listed our 2011 Ford Fiesta for sale yesterday on Craigslist and we have an appointment to show it already!  We will also be selling our 2009 Toyota Yaris.  We are selling both of our commuter vehicles and will purchase a new small SUV - I think.  We haven't decided what to get yet.  

We also have a huge collection of Easton Press books that we are going to sell.  We originally put them in storage, but after almost four months we are ready to part with them.  We are going to try to sell them as complete collections....we have the 100 Greatest Books Ever Written, Books that Changed the World, Science Fiction Collection, Fairy Tail Collection....and many more.  If you know of anyone...We will probably try Craigslist and Ebay.  We have to go to our storage and organize and photograph them by collection.  

They really are quite beautiful when displayed!  

This picture is from a previous house when the collection was much smaller!

Like everything else, they were fun and expensive to collect...we will never get our money back - but they just don't fit in with our new lifestyle.  We have at least 20 boxes of these leather bound books...

On our recent trip to the land I also trimmed down the toys we keep here in the Hideout.  The kids just don't play with them!  This week, during fall break, they have played outside SO much!  The day starts and ends with bike riding and playing with other kids here in the park.  It's a good life and we just don't need all the clutter!

Fall break!

We spent a night in the mountains last night. It was so quiet and the moon was so bright!  I was straining my ears to hear some noise because the silence was deafening and disconcerting.  Finally I heard coyotes far off in the distance and it was actually a comfort.  It's always nice to reconnect with The Land.  Because we have been visiting the area since pre-Y2K, it feels like home.  It's the property we've owned the longest.  We used to visit with nothing more than a tent - our accommodations have certainly improved since then!

1999 Camping trip

Present day "camping"

Though we have a well and septic, we don't have running water yet.  The cabin/garage is a work in progress.  We built the building in 2007 - just the two of us - before we had kids.  The building is very secure and safe from animals.  Because we always seems to have a project going on we still sleep in a tent that is set up inside the building.  This helps us keep the bedding less dusty and free of spiders or other bugs.  Plus, the kids love sleeping in the tent - I always have glow sticks and candles in the building to make it fun at night. We have an old futon mattress in the tent to sleep on - it's better than the floor, but not by much.  There's no electricity.  

Whoa - needs some organizing!

Currently half of the building is serving as storage for some furniture and boxes from our house.  Our family picture (that aren't digital) as well as books, toys, clothing, bedding, and some shelves. Most of our tools we keep with us in a smaller box, but we do have a large tool box that holds less used items as well.  One of the things I retrieved while there this weekend were the tools to replace bicycle tubes as well as the training wheels and helmets for the kids.  Both of the kids' bikes need some work and I plan on getting them up and running tomorrow or Tuesday.  Our RV park has a loop around the pool that is ideals for riding around.  Also, Sister has outgrown her tricycle and will inherit Brother's big kid bicycle.  It's really nice to have a little break halfway through the semester.  Yesterday I took the kids to the pool and we met a really nice couple from Germany.  They rented a motorhome to tour the US - what a great idea!  Living in this RV park is great for meeting people on their epic adventures!

Reversing roles & budget realities on one (smaller) income...

We have embarked upon many new adventures in our 20 years of married life.  Most recently we gave up the McMansion for our tiny Hideout on wheels and we became less possessed.

"Open still remains a free life for great souls. Verily, he who possesses little is so much the less possessed: blessed be moderate poverty!" -F. Nietzsche in Thus Spake Zarathustra

We are also continuing the process of being less possessed.  We currently own two small commuter vehicles and a truck.  We are going to start by selling one of the small cars, a 2011 Ford Fiesta.  We hope to get that listed for sale this weekend - I washed the exterior this morning and Husband took it to vacuum it.  Then we will detail the inside together.  We are also in the process of selling off items in our 5x5 climate controlled storage unit so that we can get rid of that monthly expense of $60.  The proceeds of any personal property sales will go into our savings with the proceeds from our home sales. Our rental income each month also goes into savings.  We are fortunate that we have some wealth (assets exceed debts) -  approximately 50% of Americans have zero net wealth (debts exceed assets).  As a side note, our wealth which was held in real estate, has fallen significantly due to declining housing prices.  Compared to the purchase prices we paid for the properties we recently sold, we lost $75,000 - however, in 2006 we made a net gain of $100,000 on the sale of one home.  So we have taken the losses at this time and adopted a historic view of our real estate transactions. 

For most of our married life we have both worked.  My breaks in employment were related to moving to follow his job, kids, and school (I was unemployed for a year after the birth of Brother and during the last year of my doctorate).  Otherwise I have been full or part-time employed.  Husband has not had a break in employment, for more than a weekend, for at least 17 years!  So this adventure - him at home and me working - is new.  So far it is a huge stress reliever for me because when I work from home I don't have to simultaneously do childcare.  He is discovering the endless nature of mundane household tasks.  It is a significant role reversal!  We are only in the first week - we are still settling in.

So here's our new reality - our budget every two weeks is $1,300.  That includes everything from lot rental fees, groceries, gas, and fun.  Though I only work (and get paid) nine months of the year, this is the budget we will maintain to ensure we can cover our year-round expenses.  We have no debt of any kind. Part of Husband's new job is financial management of our household in light of our budget goals.  He has been managing our books for a couple of years (we have taken turns over the past 20 years) and we've taken steps to get our monthly bills to a minimum.  We've used an open source financial management software called GnuCash for years.  That's how we've kept our rental expenses and income straight for tax purposes. By using this program we can generate reports and know exactly how our spending matches our budget.  We estimate our monthly bills, groceries and gas to be around $1800/month, so that leaves around $800 for unplanned expenses and outings on our new, smaller budget.  For comparison purposes, at the peak of our earning (2015-2016) we were making, combined, a gross yearly income of  $168,000 (just from earnings not including rental income). Everything about how we were living then is different from how we are living now.  

A bit of a view of our metal building

I am 25% of the way through my work year - the academic year! Brother and I are now on fall break from school and so we have a mini trip planned for this weekend.  We are heading up the mountain to camp at our land.  While there we will retrieve some items from our garage/metal building and drop a few things off.  It is beautiful and peaceful there.  The kids enjoy climbing trees and discovering nature.  It's been getting cold at night so we may not want to stay more than one night.  We're not taking our trailer because the roads are unimproved. One day we will improve the roads, but for now we don't want to risk damaging the Hideout. We've owned this land since 1999 - it was our first real estate purchase! When we purchased it it was completely unimproved.  We have put in a well & septic and we built the steel building.  Our dream for this land is to turn the metal building into a 500 square foot, off-grid, small house with two lofts for the kids. The building sits on 72 acres of land.  In conjunction with the Hideout, the land offers us the opportunity to have an (almost) "free" home (taxes are around $275/year) once we invest in a solar system. 

Driveway on our land

While we are not clear on our timeline for working on improving our land further, it is currently serving as a storage facility for personal items of use or sentimentality, but no real value.  For example our winter clothes, extra blankets for the beds, overflow toys, and books are there.  It is also a nice getaway from the city and a cheap adventure for the kids.    

Hiding out in the AZ fall/winter!

I've lived closer to Mother Nature and her fury (expressed as heat) in the past three+ months than I ever have.  As an adult, other than camping trips, I have lived in suburbia and indoors.  Living in the Hideout, without private laundry and cooking outside, I have experienced much more of the AZ summer than in years past.  That's why when the weather is only in the 90s, I am happy to be outside and I am feeling like it is fall!  Well, that and the nights are cooling off to the 70s, and we are sleeping with the windows open each night.  Surprisingly, this little corner of Tempe is really quite quiet.  The RV park is surrounded by apartments, but people are mostly indoors.  Tonight we walked around the park and it was a peaceful, quiet, and clear evening with a bright moon overhead.  Some really expensive and beautiful RVs and motorhomes are in the park right now.  I would estimate that they run upwards of $100,000...dwarfing our little Hideout.  They are a curiosity - an extension of excess. Many of the owners probably have lovely homes in addition to their trailers.  We have met some full-timers.  There is a family from Texas who fled to AZ to avoid the hurricane.  Another family (husband & wife) work as insurance adjusters and they came here to process claims due to the hurricanes! 

As a follow-up to our drama on Sunday I should add that the managers from Kon Tiki reached out and when I told them about our experience they were very apologetic.  They offered us an alternative spot, which was much nicer than the first.  It was tempting to give it a try, but we considered how nice our current park is and opted to just stay here and take a chance that a long term monthly rental would open.  I replied to the managers this afternoon via email with our decision to pass on the second spot.

In the meantime, Apache Palms is filling up and we are lucky to have a spot after I told them we were leaving!  I asked on Sunday to be added to the wait list for a long-term monthly rental and today about an hour after I emailed Kon Tiki, I heard back that one opened up!  I will go up to the office and chat with them about the situation tomorrow.  I am feeling very positive about staying here through the end of the school year.  The pros are that we love the location, I walk to the light rail to commute to work, it feels safe, there is an excellent vibe, great laundry facility and public restrooms/showers, and we are close to friends.  The con - and I think there really is only one - is that winter rates go into effect on November 1 - which means $$ - though I am not sure exactly how much because they have different rates for different spots, some are more/less desirable and I don't know which one we will end up in.  When I do, I will let you know!  

"A three hour tour..."

So...we didn't move.  That is the very short story.  The long story goes something like this....

We got up early, we packed, we organized, and cleaned.  We hitched it up.  I squared up the bill with Apache Palms...we left by 11:00 a.m. (check out time).  Then at 2:00 p.m. we moved back in.

The three hour tour from Tempe to Chandler and back went something like this....

We arrived in Chandler.  We saw a young male walking, thug-like, through the community and he seemed to be scoping the homes for something to steal.  There was a vibe people.  I can't get more specific than that.  

We tried to contact the managers who said they would be available today - but they were not.  I finally got them on their phone and they said, "go ahead and get set up and come to the office in the morning."  So we went to the spot we were assigned and as we were setting the trailer in the spot a neighbor came over to offer some free advice.  He was very drunk (it was 11:30 a.m.) and he was sort of upset with us for not taking every word he offered to heart.  The stink from the dumpster was a little overwhelming in the 100+ degree heat.  We wondered if it always stunk like that...Finally he left and brother said something about mice, which was disconcerting and we shrugged it off for a bit until we adults witnessed it...turns out the mobile home next to our spot seemed to be abandoned and there was quite a lot of rodent activity going on under the skirting (which brother and sister had noticed while we were trying to back in the trailer).  It was a little scary and I lost my shit and panicked.  I am not parking my RV near a rodent haven.  I called back Apache Palms and asked if we could have our spot back.  Thankfully they said yes.  We will be here for at least two months if not more.

So here we are, back in Tempe after a very eventful day of moving and then returning.  Well....lessons learned.  Thank goodness we didn't pay the other place any money ahead of time.  What a day!