Less than six weeks....

In less than six weeks we will be back in California. Everywhere we go now we are looking at things differently..."it could be the last time" eyes!

Last weekend we got together with one of Andrew's coworkers and his wife. What a dear, sweet couple. We took them to Duin en Kruidburg where we had a wonderful relaxing lunch together.  When we parted, we both thought, it might have been the last time we would see his wife while we're here.  😞

Andrew's company sent him a contract for his new job in California a couple of weeks ago. We are both very happy that he is still employed. The company will be assisting us in the move back to the States by hiring a moving company, paying for our airfare and providing housing and a rental car for a month when we land.

The company is having difficulty finding us housing in the Bay Area (that will take a large dog). They have set parameters under which they work, so that's what they are going by. They said they will check again in a couple of weeks to see if they can find something. We have told them that we don't have to be in place close to his job....with hopes that would make it easier.

I have been watching rental housing websites and property management company sites for rentals in the Bay Area also. Oh my, prices have skyrocketed (again) there! I am finding it difficult to find a rental that will take a dog over 20lbs for a price we can afford.

While we are renting in the Bay Area I plan to take a few trips to areas we are considering retiring to, to scope things out. We have a few choices in mind (Northern CA, Texas, Montana and Idaho). If we end up in a place that gets snow, we want to be sure to be in an area where the temperatures aren't below zero and there is minimal snow. Wherever we decide to buy we want to be sure it's in an area we can sell again when/if we need to. I have noticed that the housing market in a lot of areas are still depressed and nothing is moving.

Andrew's brother has been taking care of our (old) Dodge Durango while we've been gone. It's a gas hog, but it runs! He's having some work done on it and will get it up to the Bay Area before we return. That way we will each have a car until we can buy something more practical. We just may hang on to the Durango to use for the Scottish Highland Games which we plan to get involved in again next spring.

Yesterday I went to the Van Gogh Museum. I got there around 08.45 and already the line was long. No photos were allowed inside. It was nice to see Van Gogh's most famous paintings once again before we leave.

 When I left the museum the line was down the block!

 The Rijksmuseum (aren't the clouds beautiful!?!?!):

 Waiting for the bus:

 After the Van Gogh Museum, I went to a Dutch fabric store in Amsterdam called "Den Haan and Wagenmakers". It had been recommended to me by the women who owns the quilt shop in Haarlem. I wanted to get some Dutch fabrics to work on a quilt when we return to the state. I plan to take some quilting classes when I return.

Andrew and I have been going for more long walks...working on getting in better shape.  We have been taking Sammy with us most of the time. Yesterday we walked in the woods for about an hour....it was a beautiful day in the woods! Sammy is so happy here...he can go off leash and play with his friends and people don't get freaked out. It is such a dog friendly place to live.