No, not really but I can hope one day!

It has been a hot minute since I updated my blog and there’s a reason….we have been in California for over a month and Keegan hasn’t worked but one day and we haven’t done much with our time here like we have in other locations for many reasons.

Let me start off by saying that the California that Tupac and Dre or even The Beach Boys talk about simply doesn’t exist so get that out of your head immediately! The 60s were the peak of California and it has only been down hill from here, at least in Southern California.

California landscape is yin and yang – the northern part of California is forestry and clean air and the southern part is desert and many other derogatory adjectives about the air quality and more. Bet you can’t guess which area we are in?!? 🙂 Yup, the latter.

Bakersfield, California. Population of 410,000 and I am pretty sure most of them drag race every night on the street in front of the KOA we are staying at. Located 2 hours and 15 minutes north of Los Angeles and 4 hours and 30 minutes west of Las Vegas, we are not far from the devil’s playground.

We are surrounded by “mountains” that are only 20+ miles away but you are unable to see them on a normal day due to the smog in the air, and these mountains are NOT small. But according to the government, electric cars and taxing cow farts is the way to eliminate this issue. *insert eye roll here*. (Come on, we will do it together.)

Fuel is still almost $5 a gallon and diesel is almost $7 but hey, it is slowly but surely going down.

Our campground has been spotlighted by a police helicopter a few times during the night in the month we have been here and we would be rich if we had a NICKEL for every police car, fire truck or ambulance we see and /or hear daily (we would be billionaires if I said a “dollar”, it’s that much!).

Guardrails in the mountains are not necessary according to California, which we noticed when we were in Lake Tahoe in April of 2021 for our honeymoon. According to how these people drive in their smart cars and Teslas, I would make a positive assumption that they are mandatory.

We have all heard the BS of the paper straws — well it is bologna! We have only been given paper straws one time. Any other time, it is plastic lids for cups and plastic straws 100% so don’t buy that hype for Southern California.

Grocery bags. Let’s talk grocery bags. Ugh.

They are reinforced reusable bags, which is good in my eyes. They hold a lot of stuff without the fear of tearing and I love that. But being charged per bag?!?! *forehead slap* If you go to self checkout, it asks “how many store bags did you use” and yes, they get counted at the door. If you go to an actual cashier, they ask if you want a bag. Otherwise, have fun carrying all of your can goods by yourself.

There is security at every single store. Walmart, Target, Costco, everywhere. That’s comforting (sarcasm). If we take the kids out of the campground, it is Keegan and I together, never one by themselves. Otherwise, it is either Keegan or myself, running the errand by ourselves. I don’t think I will muster the courage if Keegan goes back to work to go out by myself with the kids. Grocery pickup will become my new best friend, sorry Beth! LOL!

It hasn’t hardly been bad, despite what I have mentioned above. We thankfully haven’t had any issues since our plates prove we are from Texas, we use plastic, eat meat and support the 2nd Amendment loud and proud, but we have only been here a month so stay tuned.

Our KOA has been nice. Security. Locked gates at night. A playground for the kids, heated pool and a mostly working hot tub for us to enjoy daily. There is also very good bar and grill on site so Keegan and I have been able to sneak away and have a quick “date night” occasionally.

We have made some life long friends which has been lifesaving here in Bakersfield at the KOA. A good friend is invaluable and in the short time we have been here, they have been just that! Lots of laughs and memories already. They definitely have helped being 20-23 hours from family during the holiday season a little easier.

We took the babies to Universal Hollywood for our middle child’s birthday the beginning of November and it did not disappoint. All 5 of us had a great time. Minions, Secret Life of Pets, Simpsons (man did that take me back to my childhood!), and much more! Our favorite was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. OMG did I geek out! Even Keegan loved it and he is NOT a Harry Potter fan at all. If you ever get a chance to go, do not hesitate! (A word of advice, if you have a Sam’s Club/Costco membership, you can get tickets cheaper!)

The local museum/zoo in Bakersfield is doing a Holiday Lights show that we went to earlier last week and it was spectacular. A safari, botanical garden, dinosaurs and Christmas land, all made of Christmas lights. Definitely a sight not to miss out on!

We have plans to eventually go to the ocean, may be go to San Francisco. Some of the roads in the national parks around us (Yosemite, Redwood, etc) are mostly closed this time of year due to potential weather which is a complete bummer. There is a possibility to go Las Vegas and see the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon but nothing is set in stone yet.

From what we understand, we will be here until at least the first of the month and then we may have to option to leave if Keegan still hasn’t worked by then. We may not be going here or there all of the time, but we are enjoying each other’s company and the company of those around us at the KOA. We will be home for a few days for Christmas then back to California.

We haven’t done a whole lot in California but we have been here long enough to know, we are not in Kansas anymore, Toto. It is good to experience different locations to know what you do or don’t like. Our middle child has informed us that “she doesn’t like California because it is stupid and dirty”. Mind you, she is 6. LOL.

Although we are completely out of our comfort zone here in South California, we have enjoyed being able to step back and breathe and spend some quality time together. Am I ready for Keegan to go back to work? Yes. Is Keegan ready for Keegan to go to work? Absolutely. But it has been a nice “paid” vacation for him. But momma is about to lose it with him home 24/7 which gives me very little hope for when he retires LOL.

God is good y’all!

Culinary school is going great. One “assignment” a week (which is a simple recipe or two teaching techniques) and I am maintaining a 4.0 GPA! YAY!

I hope everyone’s thanksgiving was pleasant and Christmas will bring many good memories. I pray everyone’s 2023 brings happiness and joy!

Until life gets interesting or we move again! Remember to always choose happiness.