What to take.... Heel Hell.

Black, black, black and blue, Beat me 'til I'm numb, tell the devil I said "Hey," when you get back to where you're from. -Grenade- Bruno Mars

I feel as though I am playing a very real life game of Stranded on an Island.  What do you take with you if you only have so much room to take things?  In grade school, I wanted to be stranded with Taylor, and have books, and clothing, and all that cutesy innocent stuff, that is so no fun at all. Seriously.  I asked my friends this, and the answers I got were the same old, "Things that cannot easily be replaced and toss everything you haven't touched in 6 months." "That's what I do when I am moving."  But I LIKE my stuff.  And I am not leaving Medford forever.  I mean I will be back.  We are keeping the house here and you can't build roads in a ton of snow... Just sayin. I plan on being in Hawaii at that point though. ;) Taking a break from packing to update you on my progress.  Ok. I needed a mental break.

So I started with Booze.  Booze is an excellent thing to take to an island where a bottle of vodka is $25.00 for the cheap stuff.  OK, so Glory, (My car) is only 14 ft long.  I can't take enough to supply me for the entire time I am there... in fact, the majority of what I am taking is for the Father in Law... Early peace offering?  Maybe when we fight I can give him the stash one bottle at a time? Just Kidding... I will have my own Shanty to escape to.  And I am not far from my Ocean.  About 100 yards to be exact...

Next I decided to Download every CD I have and put it on my Iphone. Back up those photos, those contacts before something happens, always always back up what you care about.  You never know when some Cell phone wench is going to accidentally erase 2k in photos...  (Shoot me) I am sitting here uploading CDs from Highschool days.  We are talking, So Long and Thanks for the Shoes- NOFX; Slowly Going the Way of The Buffalo- MXPX, Absolute Garbage- Garbage, Greenday, Lonestar, Tim McGraw, Britney Spears- Opps I did It again, and probably Every NOW CD from-34. I haven't purchased a CD in years...  Oh man, there I go, Dating myself again. Bwahaha!!

Dog Food, Diapers, Canned food, Bread machine...I have no Oven.  So things that can be made in either a pot or a Crock pot.  There are grocery stores, yes, but its EFFING expensive.  For real.  So I am trying to take what I can to live for a bit without having to trek and hour to the nearest grocery store.  Sad.

Clothing.  Do you think it would be appropriate to take all my high heels? I didn't think so either.  Let me tell you, I am having separation anxiety just thinking about it.  Breathing into this bag with a bottle of vodka inside and instantly I feel better. Weird. whew.  Okay, I am taking flip flops, two pairs. Volcom, of course. (Side note- Volcomista, Volcom fashionista... there's that explanation, you're welcome)  My cowboy boots, Tennis shoes and When I buy my Hiking boots, those.  I also really like my clothes, but understand that while my entire wardrobe may fit, I also have to take the kids clothes, and I've already shipped a TON of stuff... Ugh. This may never end. I know I am going to get to about Roseburg and have a panic attack I forgot something VERY important. Lefuq.

My Rebel, Canon Digital Camera, Bad ass Tripod, multiple lenses, memory cards and batteries.  Relatively small bag. Will be easily accessible for sure. Overnight bag. I am not unpacking just to get conditioner....

The Dogs. Yep. Me, two kids and 5 dogs on a boat.  Leashes, cage, harnesses, Health Certificates, umbrella stroller... UGH... Does anyone know anyone to come do this strategic planning for me? How am I supposed to know what I am going to need for the next 6 months... Boo. :(

Well, John and Karen are set to be here soon. Till next time.... Here are some pics of what my cargo space is so you have an idea of where it's headed... lefuq.

And maybe some of the shit I am taking. ugh.

The start of an Adventure

🎼🎶"And so it goes, one foot after the other, til black and white begin to color in,  and I know, that holding us in place, is simply fear of what's already changed."🎼🎶 Sara Barellis- Manhattan

I'd be lying if I told you this last two months hasn't been the scariest times of my entire adulthood.  Letting go of what is steady and sure and secure, throwing my hands up and changing what was so steadfastly so.

For those of you who don't know me, here's a little background:

My name is Megan Smith. Original, I know. Yes, it's my real name, although I'm better known as the infamous Megan Lukas... I'm a small town California girl who 5 1/2 yrs ago met a man, And we then uprooted my daughter and me and moved to Southern Oregon. For the last 6 yrs. (until May 2, 2013) I had been working for Big Red.  Yes, Verizon Wireless.  I was a sales representative. No, I wasn't an assistant manager, nor a manager, dealing with other people has never been my forte. So I stayed a sales rep. Then I only had to deal with my crazy, not other people's crazy. Mine is far more manageable, and if you know me, me and other people's crazy are total un-mixy things. Anyway...  I have two kids, Eden, who is damn near ten, and that scares the hell out of me, and Lukas, who will be 2 next month on the 9th. I also have, 5 miniature pinschers. Faith, Spike, Ruger, Colt and Danée.  Now I know what you're thinking, "Who needs 5 dogs?" And believe me, I thought the same thing. But they have become part of this crazy, loving, joyous, adventurous, chaotic, peaceful home. And I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.  I am obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Burn Notice, and Nashville. I will often find myself quoting Buffy in particular, and when we watch it on sydomegocation, my husband tells me I am Buffy. Sad, but so, so true.  You can only be so awesome. My love of music consumes me at many times.  In fact, the only times I've ever gotten speeding tickets were when my "Song" was on, and I wasn't paying attention. *Cough Eff you Boise Bike cop... Cough* My favorites are so all over the board, but there are many. Lyrics move me.  See above. :)  I am 29. Uhh, Err.. 26 three years running. *Wink wink* Although I feel at heart I will always be 21. After that Birthday you really just stop counting. Enough about me. I'm Boring. My adventures however are not...

Fast forward to February 2013.  My husband got a job for South East Road Builders in Craig, Alaska. Yes, you read that right. Alaska.  In February he embarked on a journey that has led us up to this point. I'm headed North to Alaska.  The island we bought property on is Prince of Whales Island. The town our Cabin is located in is a small fishing town with nearly 200 people in it, Coffman Cove.  Cabin is a strong word for our place, I'll be referring to it as the Shanty.  I quit my job in May, hoping that by now I would be in Alaska doing all those things the crazy Alaska women do.  How is this Born and Raised Californian going to Fare in the Wild Frontier? That remains to be seen. Either way, it should be an entertaining change.  The last 11 years this cell phone has been plastered to my hand. I was selling Cellphones when they were still Motorola bag phones. Analog. TDMA was just launching and CDMA was the future. Man that dates me.  I remember telling my boss, "No one will ever use texting. Dumb."  No, I was. But, Cheers to a new future.  I think I will find my lack of cell phone service both Great and painful at the same time.  Hell hath no fury like a woman stuck on an island.  :) Poor Beau.

Monday the 17th I travel to Portland, where I get to spend 3 nights with my best friend Josh Elo. He is the best friend I could ever ask for. I will be me, him, my kids, the dogs, his BF his 2 dogs and Brian his bf's snakes, spiders and creepy crawlies. YUCK. Might as well get used to it though.  Then on the 20th I am driving to Arlington WA. to meet a friend I met on instagram named Jessica Flores.  She owns a Min Pin as well. It is nice to branch out socially. I am very excited to meet new friends on this journey.  That is probably what I am looking forward to the most.  No cell phone service so I will be forced to break out of my shy shell and actually get to know people. The 21st I have to be in Bellingham WA to get on a Ferry.  The Ferry is a 2 days mini cruise to Ketchikan, where I then have have to get on another ferry to get to Prince of Whales Island.  I cannot wait to upload pictures from that trip. :) 

The majority of this blog will be the amazing pictures I get to take along the way.  The Catastrophes I always seem to get myself into, The unique people I get to meet, and a few self induced Vodkatastrophes, I am sure.  I plan on taking Ferry's to the different parts of the state, Picking out hiking boots and carrying my .357 everywhere I go. Her name is Roxanne. I will be trying to post weekly as much as I can, but with limited access and the local bar being the only place with free wifi.. (Dial up) it may be hard.  "You have a baby! In a Bar!" You also are free to find me on Facebook, Megan Smith, or on Instagram, my Name is Volcomista.  #minpinbuddies!

I am closing out this post for now... Thanks for joining me on my journey. I hope that you enjoy the breathtaking scenery like I will. If nothing else be jealous that I get to spend all this time learning who I am, and developing my crafts, Jewelry Making, Photography, Painting... Here are a few Gem pictures of my most recent travels in California.  Home is always where my heart lies, and San Francisco... And Portland... And Alaska... and...