Hubby and I have devised "Plan B" if neither of the current camps comes through with a job offer...

North to Alaska!

It's been a dream of ours for 14 years now, ever since we returned from our "honeymoon" summer missions trip in '92.  But we've planned it and tried and failed to go so many times that I'm afraid to put too much stock into it. 

Re: the camps in NH and CO...we are STILL waiting to hear, something, ANY thing.  Very frustrating.  It's going on six weeks now since the initial contact.  Both parties went on vacation shortly there after, which accounts for some of the time.  But I'm feeling pretty abandoned at the moment.  It also really irks me that as an employee, you'd never get away with such a lapse in time when pursuing a job!!  Why is it apparently ok for the employer??  If someone tells me they'll be in touch on or around a certain date, I take them at their word!  Maybe I'm just too naive but that's a pet peeve of mine, people not keeping their word.  The guy in CO was supposed to be in touch by the end of November.  Nothing.  The guy in NH was supposed to call once he was back in the office from his vacation, on 11/20.  Nothing!  It gives a person a complex!  Even more frustrating is that DH has spoken recently with three of the 6 or so people he listed as references, and not one of them mentioned being contacted.  Grrr......

Ok, so off that soapbox.  We saw a travel show on Alaska today.  That's about all it takes to get us going again.  The dream has never died, we've just shoved it to the back dusty corners of our minds.  Last spring there were a couple of camps in Alaska looking for summer maintenance help.  Now normally we'd be seeking full-time, year round, but for the chance to get back up there, we'd take a summer position.  The details of staying on afterwards would work themselves out, or we'd come back (to what??....don't know!) 

For the first time in a long time, all the little details of planning something like this would actually be in our favor.  We were planning to sell the house anyway in the move to a camp job.  We own a full-size van that has tons of room AND runs well/is reliable (this is important...!).  We also have a pop-up camper that we could live out of on the trip up, and for whatever time needed upon arrival.  It would mean getting rid of LOTS of "stuff" in this house!!!...but that's a good thing.  There's also plenty to sell to sock away some cash.  A few important "to be shipped later" boxes could be packed and left with family.

I'm really ready to do this if it comes to it.  I would hate to come to the end of my life and look back with regret on the things I didn't do.  I'd rather try this and fail than not try at all.

I know there are others right here on this blog forum who've done similar things or are planning them right now.  I'd love to chat so please feel free to comment or better yet send a pm.  And for anyone who is so inclined, I would appreciate your prayers for our family and direction and the next step, whatever way it may go!

I'll keep you posted!