2013 Goals

Since I usually accomplish about 3/4 of my goals every year, I love writing them out (I'd forget half of them if I didn't, plus it keeps me on my toes). I actually started this list in the middle of December, but it's already been amended. Sadly, one of my goals for 2013 has already been dropped (operating our mother-in-law unit as a B & B...VRBO offers waaaay too many other inexpensive options). Though crushed (I'm having a really hard time walking away from this one), relative to real problems in the world- well...no big deal. In time, another door will open, and it will seem like fate. I just need to hang tight.

2013 Goal List

1. Plant a pomegranate tree and replant my dragon fruit - These two fruits are among my favorite healthy treats. And since both cost an arm and a leg here ($3.50/ea and $5-6/ea respectively), I want to grow my own. It will require learning how to self-pollinate dragon fruit, but it sounds manageable. [Also, on a related side note: slugs are pigs who still eat absolutely anything, even very, very thorny dragon fruit plants. I have thus far refused to do the eggshell genocide, but get ready slugs...it's coming your way in 2013!]
2. Take the boys camping twice- Once at the beach, once at the volcano cabins (the latter has already been booked)! Gotta dust off my halo and create those priceless childhood memories for the boys. ;-)
3. Run the Kona Half - 2012 was 'my' year to run, so 2013 will be Rich's turn (he's running the Kona full to mark turning 40). I'm taking a breather/backseat to help him train and just drafted a training schedule for him. However, I'm contemplating taking Ryan with me on my run. 13.1 by itself isn't anything new, but while pushing Ry? That sounds like a challenge. :-)
4. Plan Ryan & Rich's birthdays - Ry's 5th will be smallest, simplest party yet, but I always look forward to his birthday more than other day of the year. Rich also turns the big 4-0, so this year calls for a little more pomp. :-)
5. Organize our big move - If all goes well, we'll be packing up the trucks to move a half-mile up the hill to our house in June. (Special thanks to the Nikolai's for the killer bed Ry will be sleeping in when we're there!)  It will be my job to procure boxes, pack, clean, acquire furniture, etc. and organize as seamless a move as possible.
6. Rent out the mother in law unit - This always takes time- listing the ads, reviewing applicants, renovating. This is not the ideal situation (renting out our 'ohana unit), but it will be a relief to help subsidize the mortgage until I can start working more hours.
7. Finalize our solar/PV installation(s) - This has been a project a few months in the making already (I started in October), but contracts have recently been signed on both our house and my parent's house. I've learned so much through this process, and the best/fun part is yet to come. (Note: We have the highest electricity rates in the country. My parent's bill is sometimes in excess of $650/mo since we have a family compound.)
8. Find myself a real J-O-B - Once we're in the house and Ry is in school 5 days a week, it's time for mama to gets herself another jobby job. One that requires more than 5 hours per week like her current (awesome) one. I'd (wrongly) assumed that businesses would be chomping at the bit to get a P/T HR professional at a fraction of my normal salary, provided they were willing to work with my very limited hours of availability. Turns out that most employers want one full time, regardless of cost. :-( Still, I believe. I'll find it.
9. Plan our two annual trips - It's Rich's turn to pick, so we're off to Peru and possibly either Ecuador or Bolivia next fall (pending fund availability). Prior to that, we will go on our domestic trip somewhere, location TBD once funds are saved! :-)
10. Learn how to make homemade yogurt - This has been on my mind for years. I've been buying $5-7 tubs of non-rbst yogurt weekly for long enough. In 2012, I learned how to make my own household cleanser (I use vinegar, water and peppermint oil) and detergent, which make me happy. I'm hoping yogurt will be my 2013 green project. 
11. Figure out a way to design/build a chicken coop - I still really want chickens. But I want to avoid the stinky chicken poop smell and feeling like a heel for caging them. So I have a few design ideas in my head, it's just a matter of being able to build it at a cost-effective price (you know, with all that architectural and construction background that I have...). So you can pretty much expect to see something made out of scrap lumber, scotch tape and twisty ties.

I'm feeling quite smug because I've already started a few (it's the Asian way). As we speak, the first batch of homemade yogurt is in the fridge solidifying (we hope)*, and I popped a few arils open from my pomegranate and planted the seeds this morning). I also showed Rich a few coops online (turns out experts in the field have better design ideas than me!) that he's on board with. So we're off to a good start, 2013. Here's hoping 2013 is as good as 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009 and...you get the picture (every year that we're alive and healthy is a good one). :-)

*UPDATE: Farmer Jo sucks. I tried to find the easiest way to make yogurt online, skipping the oft required double boiler, thermometer, cheesecloth, starter, etc...and as a result, I think I FAILED. After a half-day of refrigeration, my yogurt still has not thickened. Instead, I have some very expensive boiled milk. Guess it's back to Google to find a better way!