CHAMORRO HAPPINESS

This morning I woke up with heartache. It is a common thing for me on Christmas eve day. Most of my family moved back to Guam many, many years ago and I have not seen them in a long time. Then there is family elsewhere all over the world, yes I do have some of my people here in Charleston. It does hurt that I can't hug them all. I know I am not the only one who doesn't get to see their family at Christmas and some people do not even have a family to be with. I am very grateful that I have my life and that I have living relatives. There are many that have left this world and it hurts not being able to enjoy the company of those who have gone on to heaven, and I know some people who take death harder than others, but we have to enjoy the time that we did have with them and savor the memories of those gone. My family in Guam celebrate Christmas earlier than here because they are 15 hours ahead of Charleston. Every year more holidays pass, another birthday, another Easter, anothe

So here it is 9 months before we begin our journey and our route has changed slightly. That is perfectly a-ok with me though because that is how this entire adventure is going to be.  We don't really have a defined route. It will constantly be changing and giving us challenges and obstacles that we will overcome, fix, use to our advantage or learn from. I am ready for this life change and I am going to adapt to it like nothing I have ever accepted before. I think that is what I am hoping to accomplish in what we are doing, I am wanting change and the challenge to adapt to it. I already know that I am capable of living this free and rugged life that is forthcoming. I am willing, ready, and able to give up common luxuries that many people have grown accustomed to and cannot live without. Well, folks, I am more than happy to inform you that I don't need 10,000 dishes, or 50,000 shoes to make me happy. I think that this freedom is going to make me happier than anything right now

   I used to have every Sunday off from work and used to take random drives to wherever. When I say wherever it means locally around the Lowcountry area (Charleston is known to be part of the Lowcountry which means we are a low laying area below sea level which includes many areas in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties, which equals to frequent flooding). I would just get in the car and drive randomly either north, south, east, or west, and decide where I was going to turn mostly when we arrived at that turn. A couple of times I did venture to Savannah, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach, Pawley's Island, Walterboro, Yemassee, and Beaufort to name a few. I enjoyed the freedom of just going where I wanted to go. Sometimes we would stumble upon a flea market or a craft fair and one time we found a water festival. It is great to just be in a new place to see new buildings with different architecture and a new vibe that it heightens my senses as I look around and take it all in. I

I used to love every season and all kinds of weather, but just recently I think I decided to be in love with only fall and the weather that comes with it. I smile every time I see leaves of different colors falling from the trees just blowing in the wind. The colors of these trees before they lose their leaves are so colorful and bright with the muted dark tones of orange, yellow, red, and green that these dark colors bring happiness to my soul. Living in Charleston most of my life has deprived me of the beauty of fall. We barely have an autumn season or a winter, just a season that I have named as "hot". I am so excited to see the many colors of the fall season all over the USA! I have seen so many pics from others of the beautiful landscapes that could only have been taken during this magical time of year. Here it is the beginning of December and the leaves are just turning colors. There is more to fall than the colorful leaves that excite my senses, li

Caught Nic off guard again! Never lacking a multitude of churches I have a thing for moss ;)   There is something to say for places that catch your heart and you do not know why. Edisto is one of these places. The land, the beach, the houses, the people, and most importantly...the feel. It must be the atmosphere that grabs me and makes me love the area. Edisto does have Botany Bay in its area, so that may be a big part of it. I don't like the slope of the underwater drop-offs little ways in the water, so it has been a long time since I was in the water there. Another reason I doubt I'll ever get in the water there is the knowledge of many sharks that are ever-present in the beautiful dark waters of the South Carolina Atlantic coastline. 🌊⛱ There are a couple of roads that take you to this (getting more popular every day) area on one road that will fascinate you and make you smile. And if you have ever been to Edisto you will know about the curvy roads heading th

Could have been the traffic heading to Wal-Mart! 🦃🦃🦃I had a great time today being with family and friends and I am pleased to say that there was no drama at the gathering. The thing today that made me sad was all the cars out and about and all in a hurry and all the restaurants and stores open all day. I remember when there were maybe 5 cars within 10 miles that were out on this holiday that was doing the same thing I was doing, looking for a store that was open because I forgot some milk or needed something. There used to never even be a grocery store open or a convenience store. It's really sad how many people have to work on Thanksgiving. I know a lot of places pay double or holiday pay but still. Thanksgiving is a day to be with your family or loved ones and it should not be called "friendsgiving" or "turkey day get together" it is called Thanksgiving, to be thankful for the ones you have in your life and to be thankful to be alive. I just wanted to

 EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN THING She does this, she does that, he is good at that and he is good at this. Things are done individually. Everyone does things their own way. He's a great artist, she's jealous cause all she can do is sew. That's ok. Savor what makes you happy. Enjoy what good talents you have enhanced. Why envy others' talents and achievements? Be proud of yourself, and if you find it difficult to find a good quality, Then you should best get started on you.  But still, praise others and enjoy others' happiness. Find your own happiness also,  and your joy. I have found mine in the realization that I'm going to be traveling and living. The overwhelming need to see and be has taken me by the whole. I'm going to do my own thing,  and so should you. Find what makes you happy!    Working in the Charleston City Market for the past 8+ years I've met some very talented artists. Many have been downtown selling their wonderfully unique pieces for

   Why go where everyone goes to on a regular basis? I understand that seeing the same people every day is ok to an extent. But me personally, don't want to go to a place where I can't even move without bumping into someone. Physically. Where there is no room to stand or breathe. I would rather be walking down an empty street or a deserted beach enjoying my surroundings having my own space and area that if I wanted to all of a sudden break into a few spins with my arms flying, then I will. I love my mornings in downtown Charleston. I get the early morning ghost areas, which is fine with me because there are not many people out and about at 6 in the morn! I walk down the same streets that I have been walking down since I was a teenager. So much has changed and many streets are completely foreign to me because of the different buildings or lack of them. But I am going to be doing this in other places, and don't want to see the change from here, but out there. I want to

Call me crazy if you must, but I do love the smell of the stinky marsh odor that you smell here in the Lowcountry. I am sure that if I smell that potent smell elsewhere that I will think that I'm driving down Highway 17 south towards Charleston. I am positive I will. I have taken a few short trips and know I am close when I get the aroma of pluff mud filling up my nose. I am grateful for having my sense of smell (even when I have an allergic sneezing fit and can't breathe for an hour) because that is one sense that brings back memories to people in a different way for everyone. A certain smell can make you think about an odd thing or place. I had a conversation with a very nice debutant of a lady and she was telling me a story about how her husband came into her life with a smell. She said that 1st line to me and I of course giggled. She started to tell me her story from many years ago.  She smelt a touch of gardenia coming from the gentleman that had just walked by her

   I recently started looking into current prices on parks in the area to put my motorhome at, and I was surprised at some of the prices. There really are only just a few RV parks in Charleston and that was also kind of shocking to most who visit here. There are KOA's of course, but KOA's seem to be the most expensive and over lavished places. Yes, there are a ton of facilities at your disposal, but are the luxuries worth the price? I'm sure to some people it is, but personally, I think I could do without the pool, without the lake and boat rentals. I guess I am more into the basic no-frills type of place. But to each their own. I was just searching for a little getaway from home for the weekend but I decided against it right now, why do it when we will be doing it full time shortly. I do sleep in Gima-ta a few times a week. I just feel so good when I'm in there relaxing. I sleep so much better when I am in there, I don't wake up 5 times a night.    It feels lik

What to do in Charleston, or should I say, what I have done in Charleston on numerous occasions and don't want to do anymore. I do not mean to sound bitter about this wonderful city I live in, but that is just my opinion. The reason I said that is because I have been here since 4th grade and everywhere I go I see someone I know. I don't have the most perfect memory and on multiple occasions, I have had people from high school come to me and say.."Janille, how have you been?" I know it has happened to most of us. Of course, I am standing there looking like a deer in headlights because I might recognize this person, but hell if I remember names. It is not just the fact that I see people I know everywhere, but that everyone I see, I think I know who they are or have seen them somewhere. Another annoyance is the fact that when you know so many people, there is more drama to be had. Even if I barely know someone, there seems to be bitching or complaining, or just plain

  Courtesy of The Travel Bible    I read an article recently in a magazine that said you should declare your intentions on why you want to travel. It said one should share why one chose to travel. Are you traveling to check off your bucket list? Or at a crossroads? I personally am traveling to see the world and explore. Yes, it is to bring peace to myself and to give myself the freedom to do what I want. I do not want to work my life away. And in response to sharing my upcoming adventures, I've told many. I actually bring it up to probably everyone I have a conversation with. Strangers are excited for me, friends are probably getting tired of it! I speak of it on a constant basis. I can't help it, it's all I think about. I want to apologize to all of you who are irritated by my constant talk about my dreams that I'm making a reality! I'm also sorry that you don't have a dream or who aren't passionate about it, because if you did have aspirations, I woul

     It is inevitable. I will lose many friends shortly, or even friends who I thought were friends or so-called acquaintances.  I will leave and only my true people, those who are genuine and not fake, will keep in touch with us. I have always been honest with everyone I meet and take to heart the word of someone else. Some will be equally honest back and some will lie straight to your face. Being honest and open is really what makes a person distinguishable and loyal. I often think and wonder if someone ever feels guilty for not being a good person? Not so much a good person, but at least true. There might be a few friends who keep in touch for a short time, then slowly fade away. I am going to probably be guilty of not keeping in touch. I have a couple of friends who I only speak to now periodically, but they are true friends in the way that we always know we can count on each other. We always pick up and know we are always going to be close and can tell each other anything. We c

   Slate, cobblestone or brick. That is what makes up the sidewalks and streets of Charleston, so if you are thinking of visiting here, be aware of the dangerous ground beneath you. I almost busted my butt this morning on my usual walk/jog in downtown Charleston, and I was wearing tennis shoes and just walking. The slate on the sidewalks juts up all over and every which way. It is very risky to be walking around downtown in shoes that aren't easily walkable in. Heels are for sure going to get stuck in cracks or in the numerous grates all over town. I have seen on multiple occasions, the harm that can come from someone thinking that they won't have the problem of breaking their ankle or a heel on the streets of Charleston! It is hard enough to walk in heels as it is, so add the equation of messed up streets, and you have a pain in the butt walk on your hands. I couldn't tell you how many times I have had to catch myself from falling down. But is the beauty in wearing he

      I can't dance, I can't sing, but I still do it anyway, and with a smile that I've been told is infectious or contagious, whichever. I have tried my whole life to eliminate the word can't out of my vocabulary, and so far it has been somewhat successful. When someone tells me "I can't" do something, Just like most it makes me want to do it even more or at least try to. I strive to better myself in a way that only makes me appreciative. Meaning, I only do things to improve myself to make me feel better. Does that make sense? I hope that doesn't sound too selfish. When I like music💃I dance and move my body to the music, and I really do not care what anyone thinks of me. So I'll continue to dance. Without care. I am not that person who follows what others do or say. I do have acquaintances who feel the need to fit in and who do things to please others, and it really is sad, but hey, to each their own. I'm guilty of it too. In my opinion, that

I'm going to start to call every trip I take a vacation. Why not? Even if it is 10 miles down the road, it is still an adventure and a vacation, which actually means "a period of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel". My life is going to be filled with rest and relaxation and I will enjoy every minute of the time I have left on this great big wide world! Now don't get me wrong, I am not going to be lazy, I could never be considered that. I plan on hiking, walking, biking, kayaking, and whatever else I feel like doing. Back to the original topic, Clemson. I had the chance to experience an SEC college game in the quaint little town of Clemson, SC. Clemson was playing Wake Forest at Memorial Stadium and it was a homecoming for them. I really do wish that I had an extra day to explore the town a bit more. I love places that I have never been to and to see the different things that make a town it's own. There was a heaping amou