3 months ago, on June 25th, we pulled back in to Sedona. It was my first time back since we moved away in March of 2014. Pam was here for a short visit in 2015. 2 months ago this past week, on July 21st, I started my new job working in the support office at Pink Jeep Tours. I must say, I am the happiest I have been in quite some time, other than the pain and healing time that Pam is having to go through with her recent elbow and arm injury. There is always room for things being better and/or for some improvement, and that is why 3 + 2 = 8, and not a 9 or 10.  Jeff

It has been 2 months since we arrived in Sedona on June 25th, and just a bit over 1 month since I started my new job working in the support office for Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona. We have been in our new rental home for 2 weeks now, and our cargo arrived from Hawaii about 1 week ago.
 
Getting settled back in Sedona has been both happy times, and some stressful times. Finding a new job, and a new place to live were definitely good things, and happy times. Having to replace furniture we sold, and other household items, has at times, been a bit stressful, but is just stuff, and it will all be fine in the long run.
 
There have also been some bad times. A couple days after moving in to our new place, my wonderful wife, Pam, took a fall and hurt herself. A dislocated elbow, and a fractured arm led to 11+ hours in the emergency room, and a lot of pain, aches, discomfort, and bad times. Now she gets to start the rehab and physical therapy process. I wish I could wave my magic wand, or have some futuristic device to make her all better. Please send her some good vibes, and some healing hugs. She certainly does not deserve what happened, or what she is going through. She sure picked a heck of a way to get out of unpacking boxes and getting the house organized.
 
Once we do get unpacked and organized, we will share some pictures of our new place, and more of beautiful Sedona. For now, I leave you with this one, the main cover photo here on our website. It is one of my favorite pictures taken on Pam's birthday in 2012 while we were out on a Pink Jeep Tour.  Jeff

We have hit 3 weeks and 3 days back in Sedona.  There was another warm week with no real monsoon activity up until this afternoon. I hope the monsoon storms return soon. We had a day trip to Scottsdale to pick up a package and have lunch with Pam’s aunt, and visits to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Trader Joe’s and Costco. Sure missed those first two in Hawaii.
 
More job applications were completed, and a couple more interviews happened, too. The job I really want had a second in-person interview first thing last Monday morning, and then a follow-up phone call on Thursday with a few more questions. Finally at ten minutes to 5PM on Friday last week, came the phone call with a conditional job offer pending past employment verifications, reference checks, and a drug test. The offer on paper came today, and I went and did the drug test, too. Should get the all clear on Wednesday, and then it will be official. Stay tuned to Facebook for the official announcement.  
 
We also went looking at permanent house rentals yesterday and today. We put in an application on a place in the Village of Oak Creek area of Sedona. Should find out about that on Wednesday, too. If that happens, we have our own place as of August 8th. Woo Hoo! Now we just have to buy a bunch of furniture since we sold all of ours in Hawaii, and wait for the ship with all our household and personal goods to arrive in LA, and then trucked to Arizona. That should happen about the shortly after the house lease starts. In another few weeks, it should all come together. Keep you fingers crossed for us.  Jeff

​It’s been two weeks and 2 days since we arrived back in Sedona. What a whirlwind the past couple of months have been. Our first week back we were both under the weather a bit, but are feeling fine now. We have settled in a bit, but we are still in limbo as I look for a new job, and then a place to call home. Week two became a productive one with Pam’s car being delivered to our rental home, getting our cars registered and our AZ drivers licenses, and getting my prior AZ license plated re-assigned back to my CRV.

​​Have crossed paths with a few of Pam’s relatives down in the valley, and some old friends in the Sedona area, and of course, looking forward to crossing paths with more. One thing that I liked in Hawaii was the aloha spirit and when greeting someone, or even meeting them for the first time, there were usually hugs and polite kisses involved. Maybe we can start spreading the spirit and tradition here in Arizona, too.
 
While it has still been warm, the lack of humidity is nice. Week one we did have a couple monsoon storms, but nothing in week two. This week is looking dry, too. I really like the monsoons, not only for the coolness they bring, but the rain smell is good, and the thunder and lightening is always a nice show.
 
I have applied for a bunch of local jobs, and had a couple interviews the first week, and have some lined up for this week. Hoping something happens quickly so we can move forward with getting settled. Well, it’s time to go get ready for a couple interviews today. Wishing you all a great week. Aloha, and adios.  Jeff

​We have survived our first week back in Arizona, and Sedona. We have started contributing to the local economy by visiting the local grocery stores, Costco and Trader Joe’s. Compared to the prices in Hawaii, we are in shock how less expensive food and gas are here in Arizona. I have to fight the urge to not stock up on stuff, as those are normal prices, and not some blowout/closeout sale.
 
It is a bit strange to be in a furnished vacation rental home, since we are not on vacation. We are here, but it is like we are not here since it is not our stuff. It’s hard to describe. Just glad we have a place to hang our clothes, a place to sleep and eat, and a place to call home while we transition and get settled. It has been in the 80s and 90s, but the dry heat is much easier to deal with than the 80s of Hawaii with the humidity.
 
We both had caught some stomach bug that messed with us for a few days, but still had a productive first week that included grocery shopping, getting a post office box, and opening a new account at the credit union. I also had a couple job interviews, one in Prescott, and a phone interview with a company in Sedona, that has already scheduled a second in person interview for the 11th. This next week we will get our AZ drivers licenses, and register our cars. Pam’s car has reached Long Beach and is supposedly going to be delivered to Sedona on Thursday.
 
They do not have a fireworks show here in Sedona, so we will do our normal watching of a Capitol Fourth on PBS on Monday. Will also watch the Padres at Diamondbacks on TV. I wish you all a safe and happy holiday, and thank you to all who serve and have served to keep us safe, free, and independent.  Jeff

One week ago we left our rental home in Kona, Hawaii, and we are now “settled” into our temporary rental home in Sedona. Last Monday seems like a million hours ago, and a million miles away. The near weeklong of travel to get to the mainland, pick up my car in California, and drive to Arizona was very draining on both of us … emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially. As were the few months leading up to our relocation. Thankfully we have each other, and the support of friends and family, too.

A very special thank you to Jon, a good friend and former co-worker in Hawaii, and to his family, for allowing us to rent their family’s vacation rental home in Sedona while we get settled, I find a job, and our belongings sail across the ocean. Jon and his brother Mike in Florida have been a big part in making this move back to Arizona possible. I have never met Mike except on Facebook, but Jon and I worked together at a tour company in Kona. He now has his own tour business, and is one of the best Tour Guides that I know. So if you ever wind up on the Big Island of Hawaii, I highly recommend a day tour with Jon and his Luxury Travel Guide Global Award winning company, Kona Adventure Tours.
 
As for our adventures, we have landed back in Sedona and new adventures await. We will keep you updated here on ArizonaLife.Rocks, and on Facebook, too. Adios, Jeff.