Seven Months in Siam

We knew there would be differences from the USA, despite us having been here multiple times , when we planned this trip ,but everyday brings a new challenge or experience.

Getting around town was our first priority ( we do have a car to use ( thanks to the parents giving up one of theirs) but it’s an SUV gas guzzler and the Thais have small parking spots ). We have found a favorite mode in the Song thiew. The back of a truck with benches. Twenty people can squeeze on , some hanging out the back on a metal step/ frame reminiscent of the San Francisco cable cars according to Justin ( if you close your eyes ) or at rush hour like those overloaded trains in India where people are also on the roof. I don’t believe the driver never stops for another passenger. A tuk tuk is always available at 10 times the price but will take you directly to your house gate. If I’m feeling flush , I’ll treat us.

Justin has driven us about 20 miles away from home and did a wonderful job driving on the opposite side of the road and vehicle, avoiding motorcycles, pedestrians, stray cows and hundreds of dogs in our path ! I have yet to try , but with my $20 International driving permit from the AAA , I will soon.

Shopping has to have been the biggest learning curve so far. They have very familiar names here ; Starbucks, Dairy Queen , Boots, Tesco , Burger King and McDonalds. All staffed by very young , happy people. The prices are higher than the traditional local options but like my tuk tuk rides , a treat.

The big supermarkets are modern , most are air conditioned, and have familiar items , but the most startling to me was to see the open tables of fresh meats and fish. Customers can use tongs and help themselves to the meats , then taking them to be weighed ( just like we buy produce). I saw one little girl stroking a fish whilst her mother looked on. Note to self to wash all the meat before cooking.

The prices are good. Obviously , the imported items such as cheeses and peanut butter and Nutella are about the same or more than the USA.

We have found the nicest coffee is an instant freeze dried coffee from Holland , Douwe Egberts.

Little boba carts are everywhere , even at the side of the road, my personal favorite is a taro milk tea which happens to hang beautifully from the trolley.

We did go to a local market for fresh vegetables ( many of which are unfamiliar as yet) and the prices were amazing , the herbs with their roots still attached. We saw fresh fish , eels , frogs and barracuda , little squid and octopus, and the biggest prawns ever. A tad smelly but we told the kids not to react and walk briskly past.

Alcohol is only sold in shops between 11am and 2pm then 5pm until midnight. Not sure why. Perhaps to curb day time drinking ? Brand names that we recognised are at least double the prices we are used to and the wine is at least triple !

We have found a very palatable gin that mixed with limes and cane sugar is quite pleasant by the pool of an evening.

The currency has us standing counting in our heads or grabbing for a calculator still , but we are starting to know if something seems excessively expensive at a glance. The Thais use Baht and it’s counted up into the thousands. 30-32 Baht to the dollar at present.

So many of the people we have encountered and interacted with are willing to try English or at least stand whilst we grab our cellphones and open Google translate to help us with directions , find a bathroom , or the elusive can of baked beans we want. All credit to them. We are also attempting to learn a few phrases and vocabulary so as to make the effort.

No matter where in the world the British go , the afternoon cup of hot tea is necessary , mine is currently being sipped as the children swim and I write our blog.

Lovely.

There are many differences from what we are used to and we are relishing each one as they come at us. That is , after all, why we are here in Thailand.

~ Arlene

If you are here and reading our blog , thank you ! You are very kind.

We also have a Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/sevenmonthsinsiam

We also have an instagram in it’s infancy ( I am just not a good poster of images , I like to talk and more of a ‘journaler’.

#sevenmonthsinsiam

Facebook is where we add extras and more of the antics and fun we are having , not quite worthy of a blog post.

Instagram gets photos.

Please feel free to like our page ( there is no long term commitment or fee, only kind vibes and insight into our long trip. )

~The Morgans

We have been here for a week as of today.

Our long flights here seem a dim , distant memory , sort of like holding the baby after giving birth and forgetting the pain. Well, not really … but man , it’s good to be in Thailand !!

Our home is well equipped with modern furniture , we have been given the use of a car and we have a sparkling blue saltwater pool in the front yard. Take two steps out of our front fortified gate and you are in a typical Thai soi ( or alley). There are lazy dogs that get up slowly to come and see who we are , chickens wandering at our feet and old toothless ladies who stick their necks out to see the new ‘Farangs’ ( foreigners) and houses more reminiscent of shacks. It makes us thankful for how lucky we are.

It’s a 5 minute meander to the main road in Takieb ( yes, we timed it and did a time lapse video). The street is winding and narrow and the sidewalks bumpy , missing , and only 12 inches at some parts, if at all. You look both ways multiple times before you cross in case a motorcycle sidecar combo with at least 6 people and their groceries knock you over.

The delights on this street are endless from food stalls grilling satay and salted fish to Boba Taro milk tea

, a laundry , small gas stop for motorbikes ( they refill used whiskey bottles with fuel)

There is an air conditioned massage parlor (legit) and coffee shops , a 7/11 and a small supermarket (no fresh meat or vegetables sold)

Charcoal is sold at one storefront.

We had a wonderful experience buying fresh pressed coconut milk.

We have met one of our Thai neighbors who speaks the most exquisite English and she has invited us over for dinner and offered to take me shopping at a local market. Only condition : I’m squatting in her side car, actually she said we could all fit. Haha.

The mosquitoes are having a feast on our juicy sweet skin and we are hoping that they will stop soon ? Does this ever stop with time , or are we always fresh meat ?

We are able to buy our small grocery purchases and walk home along the beach , which currently has a lot of washed up jelly fish due to rough waters and the rainy season pending.

Home School has started and so far it’s going well. The students seem to understand that this is school and it has to be done. We swim or play before school and get out some energy.

At the house we don’t have hot water. The showers are electric (think small tankless water heaters ) and the drinking water has to be boiled each night for the next day. We are making this a routine of filling the kettle and boiling on a propane burner each night ( no plumbed in gas either )

At night we always second guess whether the water is cool enough to pour into the water containers. Sometimes the gamble of everything on black loses ..

We are on a septic tank but we are in California , so that’s not new to us. We have a washing machine and the clothes are hung out on a washing line. Thank goodness my Scottish granny taught me how to hang out a decent washing line!

We made a trip in the car ( opposite side of the road for us and a little frantic) to the local veg and fish market. The kids were appalled and thrilled at the same time at the sights and smells of this new place ! Live Eels, frogs , fish , octopus , all being sacrificed for someone’s dinner on the spot. We were sprayed by catfish juice as one was being clubbed on the head. Not my happiest moment but hey ho , it’s living in Thailand and all it has to offer. Littlest child not happy at seeing the frogs on a tray.

We had a broken tooth on our first night but that was taken care of , quite beautifully, by a Thai dentist that my father recommended and my sister uses when she visits. She is now our International Dentist of the Year.

I have actually picked up a paperback novel and read a few chapters and it feels really good , I have so much nervous energy and little to do , it’s making me a little uncomfortable. I have to keep telling myself it’s only been a week and I have 23 more! It’s so hard not to be on vacation mode and to realise this is home for 6+ months.

The local mall has a food court and for the princely sum of $1.75 a plate of rice and omelette with a large bowl of green curry is lunch. I particularly love the hot water to dip the silverware (cutlery) into to clean it. There’s even UV light to use if preferred.

The electricity is known to give out at any moment and looking at our pole , it’s not hard to see why ! The internet is so far keeping pace with us and a VPN has us streaming Sling and Hulu TV.

We have had the most incredible week and our kids are thriving. I had a moment of ‘should we have done this ?’ But I have no doubt now.

Seven Months in Siam , is our jam.

~Arlene

The day was here. Time to go. Seemed like such a long time of planning and a little surreal that we would actually ever do it.

Emotions were running high , what had we forgotten to pack , are we ready ? All the ‘what if’s’ our minds can imagine. Too late , too bad we were going.

We said our goodbyes to our eldest and to the puppies ( this was the hardest part of the trip ). Beforehand , we had sat down and went over list after list of instructions for the man child as to how to look after our newly built house. How to turn on the house alarm , what constitutes a ‘party’ , which plants to keep alive , how to clean a bathroom, what’s in the freezer to eat , the lists went on.

Assured we had confused him to the max , he drove us to the airport. A few suitcases had to be tied to the roof rack as we had 7 checked bags and 6 carry ons! Morgans on the move.

At the airport we encountered the youngest and newest member of staff that China Airlines could legally employ. She was very sweet but a little slow to check us in. We were the last people in the whole airport to go through security ( it’s a smaller regional airport)

For those interested, the airplane was China Airlines. They fly daily from Ontario , California to Taiwan and that serves as a hub for south east Asia and farther. Prices are very good and they allow 2 large checked bags free ( hence the suitcases filled to the max and car roof mounted)

The flight to Taiwan was 13 1/2 hours and each seat had plenty of legroom and a personal entertainment screen with a decent array of movies , tv shows and games. It was definitely aimed towards the Chinese population but I didn’t expect otherwise. Power ports and usb charging at every seat. Complimentary ear buds and slippers given out even in our cattle class seats. Staff were attentive and VERY pleasant. The cabin mood lighting was soothing as was the gentle piped in music as you used the lavatory.

The kids were fantastic. They slept and behaved , no major mishaps , spilled drinks or tantrums. We dressed them in pajamas to fly because it was after midnight when we took off. The meals were okay but just a heads up , ovo vegetarian option is a variation of tasteless noodles and tofu for all meals and the coffee is horrible ( I know coffee).

Taiwan was a quick 90 minutes in transit. I grabbed an Illy coffee ( delicious coffee) and it was heaven. They accepted my US $5 bill and gave me pretty coins in change for our collection. Our smallest one couldn’t understand fully why one plane ride wasn’t enough.

3 1/2 hours later we landed ( a little bumpy) in Bangkok airport , we walked briskly towards immigration with a herd of approximately 1000 people. As we stood in a line which looked like it was never ending, an immigration officer motioned to us to follow them , oh no what had we done to single ourselves out? She pointed towards the children and said ‘you have kids, come this way’. We followed obediently and she walked us over, away from the crowds, to a separate area with a sign that said VIP / diplomats ! We looked at her as if to say ‘you know we are The Morgans , right?’ And she smiled and pointed. We walked straight up to the passport control officer and handed over our 5 passports , a little anxious that our newly procured visas might be rejected for unknown reasons. Nope , she smiled , we smiled , she stamped them and we passed through.

This is the best part : ALL SEVEN OF OUR SUITCASES ARRIVED !! ( we have a long history of airlines losing our luggage).

Opa /Andy / Dad was at the airport to meet us ( I need to get his and Naphat’s permission to publish photos of them) and greeted each of us with fragrant mini Thai flower garlands , icy cold washcloths and a huge hug. We are so happy to be in Thailand.

The large minivan we rented took 4 hours to get from the airport to Khao Takieb , 229 km from the airport, stopping at KFC , of all places , for a bite to eat.

Naphat was waiting at the house and what a welcome we received !

She is a devout Buddhist and said a serene and beautiful prayer/ chant for us in her prayer room and in the yard at the spirit house. She had also tied the mango tree with colorful tulle. Best and sweetest of all , she had stretched a ribbon across the driveway in front of the house and we had a ribbon cutting !! Thank you to our most generous of hosts.

Two kids went into the pool on arrival , the other crashed straight to bed. We all ended up in bed by 7pm.

It’s 2:30 am and I’m up writing this because of JetLag. I’ve had a few coffees , rearranged the kitchen and got Netflix working on the tv.

It’s definitely been a long road to get here both literally and figuratively but so very worth it.

I’m sure by 3pm I’ll be sparkled on a pool chair, not a bad life.

Seven months in Siam has begun.

~Arlene

The Thai Consulate in Los Angeles is in a beautiful affluent tree lined , coffee shop and hipster area on Larchmont . It reeks of fabulous people and yet it made us ridiculously nervous !

We have been dreaming of this adventure for nearly 3 years now and as it drew closer the only true obstacle that we faced was obtaining our multiple entry Thai tourist visa (know as an METV amongst travelers.) It allows for 180 days stay in Thailand for the princely sum of $200 per applicant and the main stipulation is that you leave every 60 days over a border to ‘check in’.

The list of requirements is lengthy from proof of employment letters, passport photos, copies of birth certificates and marriage , proof of accommodation whilst in Thailand and at least $7000 , yes , that’s SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS , in the bank account for each person. Thus allowing the Thai government not to be burdened with you should you not have enough money to live for that period of time. Thank goodness we started those college savings accounts at birth.

We went to Los Angeles by train early this morning meeting our weary family leader, Justin, after a full 24 hour long LAFD shift saving lives. Straight to the consulate to hand in the packages of papers we had been accumulating. A guard greeted us ( kind of) , traded our California ID for a visitor badge and we went up to the 2nd floor. The kids had been warned to be on their best behavior and happily no one made a scene.

The clerk looked through our papers , my heart and mind racing in case I had forgotten anything and asked us a few questions, shuffled the paper and passports , then handed us a receipt and said “come back at 3 o’clock ”

We retrieved our drivers licenses and walked back to the car. Just a little info to share here : if the visa is denied they keep your $200 per person fee and you have to agree to that. Nothing for it but a drive about Los Angeles for the next 5 hours.

The Grove and the Farmers Market amused and fed us with another stop for a Boba tea. 3pm was looming.

Back to Larchmont and another exchange of licenses , up to the desk only to be told to sit down it wasn’t ready … my nerves can’t take this!

Ten minutes later the clerk points to us and he summons us forward. Five passports with visas handed over with a “please check them” instruction and we had the visas !!

We casually walked into the elevator and I wouldn’t be surprised if most of Hollywood heard our whoops of delight as the doors closed on us !!

Thailand here we come !!

~Arlene

This photo shows my pain and fears of being a homeschooled family.

The children do not associate our home with school. Sitting at a table in their home means ‘homework’ not lessons and that has always been a struggle for us all. I am Momma and not the teacher in their eyes. My kids disrespect me in ways that they would never do to a ‘real’ teacher. Getting up and going for a snack , asking for the tv to be turned on , crying , wailing , complaining, covering their ears , sneaking away to play in their rooms when I’m with someone else…the list goes on.

I knew this would be a learning curve for us ALL and I do hope once the school room that we have created in my Dad’s house in Thailand has the door shut that they will settle down. We will have more structure , especially physically ,and that should help with their mindset.

I have our cases packed with dry erase boards , laptops, kindles , text books , posters , timetables , etc, etc. Dad has put in desks and chairs and a TV for us. It will resemble a school classroom and best of all it has a door. Once it’s closed , school is in session.

I wonder if I should have waited to start schooling until we were there?

Perhaps.

I didn’t want them falling behind. Highly unlikely though, as we have probably covered more than the grade level already.

Homeschool is not for the weak hearted but I am strong and my coffee is stronger , let’s have recess and move on.

~Arlene

We have been planning this Edventure for a few years and talking about it had always felt as though it was so far away in our future and sort of a surreal daydream.

Well it just got REAL !!

We leave in just over 2 weeks and now we are in full GO mode.

The butterflies are flying around inside me making me excited and terrified at the same time. I wondered what word would describe how I am feeling right now and thought of combining them into a made up word such as terrexcited or excitified but on looking up in the online dictionary I found it :

I am AMPED !

Most of the other words on this list also describe feelings I am currently having but I am trying to stay positive and not drown in my anxiety , so I’m taking on ‘amped’.

I have ‘fear’ that we are making the wrong decision to force this huge change to our kids but I push that fear away because how can a long exposure to other cultures, environments and international travel be wrong ?

I am ‘on edge’ because we don’t have the visas in our hand yet and I have an insane compulsion to be organised.

I am ‘frightened’ because I’m scared I’ll be homesick within 2 weeks.

‘Troubled’ hits home because leaving our eldest for the first time ( yes , he’s 23 BUT it’s his first time being a bachelor …oh that just gave another lurch … what state will my house be in when I get back??)

Security cameras are in place.

The kids and I will be alone in a house when Justin flies home to work , miles from my parents and what if someone tries to mess with us? This causes me to be ‘alarmed’. (The chances of anyone interfering with us is low. The house also has a high security fence and gates)

So it turns out that the definition of ‘angst ridden’ might be my state of mind currently.

Justin always seems so calm next to me. Actually, If you know me , most people seem calm next to me. I’m high energy.

In less than 3 weeks time when we arrive in Thailand and are settled into our house, far from here , there will be nothing I can change or fix, and so nothing to do but enjoy the moment. I have to let go and relax ( not in my nature ).

That little meerkat and boar have it right.

Wrong continent , right sentiment !

~ Arlene

Getting organised to leave is exhausting. We are packing and sorting, repacking , adding , removing, forgetting and remembering items.

So far we have 4 large suitcases packed and a fifth on the horizon. Each of us will also have a backpack or messenger bag.

The visa process is the most complex and sensitive document to procure, with many documents required to ensure we are not a burden on Thailand and their economy. We are not allowed to stay longer than 6 months ( although a cheeky wee 30 day extension is permissible once there , hence the blog title, for a fee) or to work.

We have been gathering all of the required letters of employment , photos for the visas and international drivers permit, copies of bank statements, birth and marriage certificates , copies of our return tickets ( must have a return flight booked) and of course a large check for the visa fee. Phew. Almost there.

One of the requirements of the multiple entry visa is to leave Thailand every 60 days to validate the visa. This will be a trip to Vietnam and to Malaysia. Not sure if it’ll be by plane , train or minivan but we will post about it.

The visa starts the moment it is handed over the counter to us from the embassy in Los Angeles and so we are leaving it until the week before we leave to apply. It also happens to be Labor Day weekend. Talk about cutting it fine.

Our plans are coming together for our return flights and we should be booking soon , hoping to include another stop in another foreign land on the way.

4 weeks and counting….

My first visit to Thailand was as an 8 or 9 year old little girl. We were having a week on a gorgeous ,almost uninhabited island paradise , turns out it was Phuket circa 1978 or so. Since then it has changed into a popular tourist destination with a McDonalds and Haagen Das on the beachfront. I was burnt to a crisp without any sunblock on and have forever attributed my freckles to that week in the sun and sea. So first point : wear sunblock and bring it with you as it’s very expensive there.

Next , pack very lightweight cotton clothing and don’t pack jeans and high heels. The most comfortable loose fitting clothes are best and you may find yourself changing outfits twice per day due to the humidity or being caught in a rainstorm. Ladies bring your favorite hair serum and scarves as the humidity will frizz your hair as soon as you step off the plane.

If you intend to visit a temple then a light cotton shawl, long pants and or long sleeves for the ladies. Wear slip on shoes as you will be expected to remove them at each doorway. just a note : even the temples have signs that your shoes may be stolen if you leave them outside, hmmm I like your shoes better as I leave, so I’ll take them!

The male monks are not permitted to touch females or to be touched. They must be shown respect at all times. No arms slung around them forcing a selfie. They are serene and incredibly colorful especially when in a group , but please take your photos at a distance or ask if you may take a photograph.

When you visit a beach in Thailand there may be rows of chairs, recliners and umbrellas. Firstly determine whether a resort owns those chairs solely for guest use , and if not, if you linger around one for long enough( about 90 seconds) , a fella will run towards you to rent you one for the day at about $3. He will look after your belongings (a watchful eye only) and will bring you snacks and drinks at a slightly inflated price. Each time you leave he will sweep the sand off your lounger and keep the area tidy. Sort of cabana boy style. A variety of food vendors will walk past with delicious snacks but the worst are those peddling souvenirs , they are relentless. Smile, say no thank you and do not look up from your book.

Night markets are exciting and full of colorful items to buy, smells of bbq meats and hot bulbs over each stall. Jostling people and the occasional pickpocket as in any country. There are knock off Gucci and Chanel, etc with really poorly spelt English t-shirts totally missing the original meaning. One example was a shirt we saw (and had to buy) which said ‘make out with my butt’ , we translated it back into ‘Kiss my A$$ !’

Please do not ride the elephants at the tours. We did and after finding out the inhumane ways they are treated , will not do so again. One exception ; there is a great elephant rescue in Hua Hin that has a baby elephant that gives kids rides and delights in it for the reward of lots of bananas !

Another ride not to undertake is that of a moped driver. If I say 10,000 mopeds on one road at a time , no helmets , no licenses , no road sense. That’s enough.

The food in Thailand is 10 times more spicy than anything you have had in the USA or UK so don’t say ‘yay I’ll have it Thai spicy’ or you will most likely never put out that fire and it will revisit you at the other end the following day. Pace yourself! Have you seen a traditional Thai toilet ( squat and rinse)?

Pharmacies are a veritable candy store in Thailand offering all sorts with no prescription required. Keep in mind that even though you bought it in Thailand , you’ll still need a prescription at International customs.

“Thai time” is one aspect I cannot get my head around as it’s if and when they feel like doing something. I’m mildly OCD and I want it now. Ain’t gonna happen. They will get to it when they get to it. I’ll have a very hard time with this.

Bargaining is a fun part of the markets. The rule of thumb is to bargain back with half of what they say and wrangle from there. Over the years the haggling has become less fun because they give up and walk away before you do. Could be the internet and more cultural awareness. If you’d really like the item , be reasonable.

Learn a few phrases and how to perform the wai , also a few of the numbers etc and the Thai people will be so pleased. English is spoken widely but who doesn’t like a foreigner trying to fit in ?

The islands off Thailand are gorgeous but also where many backpackers go so may not be the island paradise you were expecting ( unless you can afford the 5 star resort on a private island away from the bustle) Full moon parties and drunkards flock to the islands for a night of endless pleasures.

My idea of misery.

Thailand is so beautiful and well worth the visit for all ages , who knows perhaps one or two of you will visit ?

~Arlene

When we first decided to go to Thailand we had to sit down with a spreadsheet and determine whether or not it was a financially viable option for us. Two weeks in the sun ( or snow , thanks Scotland) is all well and good but this is seven months of groceries , bills and living.

We usually have an international annual vacation and so that covered the initial ticket budget, next was to secure accommodations. We are incredibly fortunate that my parents own two homes in the area and one, happily for us , not so much for them, is sitting empty and only about a 5 minute stroll to the beach. Thanks Pops and Naphat ! It doesn’t hurt either that there is a sparkling saltwater pool in the front and plenty of room for all of us, including a room for a schoolroom.

I asked my father to go to the local grocery store and price a list of foods for me including items such as : a kilogram of chicken , a loaf of bread, rice, veggies, etc. He did this for me happily , he’s a good man. Some Western foods were comparable to here and the local produce and poultry and seafood are cheaper. We will eat fresh foods and less processed foods and I am hoping to learn to cook some Thai dishes using local ingredients. There are unfortunately some really amazing bakeries there and we all enjoy cakes.

Our cellphones will be easy to use by buying a Thai SIM card and paying a monthly pre paid fee to have calls , text and data at our fingertips. There is internet at the house and free WiFi in many restaurants. We are hoping that our Netflix and Hulu will be accessible and failing that we will buy DVDs at the local market of all the latest films. Games such as dominoes are a favorite of ours as is Connect 4, jigsaws and horror upon horror, actually having conversation with the kids of an evening.

Transportation will be a little more of a challenge. A typical Thai family can fit 5 people comfortably on the same moped but not us! Dad has offered the use of his SUV but I am not the most confident of driving in Thailand (think about 5000 motorcycles cutting you off with said families on board every 2 minutes ) , speeding buses and trucks piled high with cargo looming over and past you .There are other local options such as my personal favorite, the tuk tuk. a small carriage attached to a motorcycle with a canopy over it. For about $3 the driver will take you and your groceries about 5 miles (my dad thinks this is outrageously expensive) His favorite other than when he drives himself is a songthaew which is a pickup truck with a cover on it and benches for the fortunate passengers not forced to hang off the back . This mode of transport costs 10Bht and that’s about 30 cents for the same as the tuk tuk.

Eating out is about 100-120 Bht for a curry and rice ( approx $3-4), a large local Chang beer is about the same. There are many wonderful places to eat in Hua Hin and Khao Takieb including British foods, French bakeries, the food court in the mall has very traditional food . You buy a prepaid card and pass from vendor to vendor loading your tray. A meal in there is only about $1-2! If you want fancy there are beautiful hotels to eat in as well as incredible seafood places locally.

For groceries we have air conditioned stores ( just like here) or the local produce markets where we may not recognise most of the offerings, this is where my step mum will be our guide. Imported foods are pricey, such as decent coffee and cheese, but we will treat ourselves once in a while to luxuries and eat local delicacies (just not the fried crickets for me). Wine and spirits are very expensive and so the local firewater (Thai whisky) will have to be the base of our poolside cocktails.

Entertainment will be swimming, visiting the parents, exploring the local countryside, excursions to Bangkok , exploring caves and waterfalls , walking (and cleaning) the local beaches, learning to cook, hopefully some pottery classes for me and general cultural education. We may have visitors and they will join us in our South East Asian experiences.

Overall, Justin coming back to the USA to work for us will be the financial rock we need to make this happen and for that we are all very grateful. We will tighten our belts, live by local standards and enjoy the simpler things in life for a while.

By Arlene