Friday July 30, 2010 - Camarillo/Santa Barbara, California

Another day of looking over various rental properties. The 4-bedroom that I went to see was actually very, very nice. As nice condition as the Carpinteria property, but probably at least 3-4 miles closer to the church. Close to Costco and shopping. The neighborhood isn't quite as nicely kept up as the one in downtown Santa Barbara, but it's not a dive, either. The owner is remodeling both of the bathrooms (two full baths, as opposed to 1.5 baths at the central SB property), and they're open to us doing some gardening in the backyard. I proposed a lower rent to the owner, so we'll see if they're willing to negotiate or not to get a longer-term rental family in the place instead of college students that change every year.

The afternoon I spent in my new office at the church, going through the detritus left behind by the previous pastor. Lots of stuff to be thrown out or donated. Some things to be traded in at the used book store for credit towards something more useful for me. It's a strange feeling to be going through someone else's office and making it your own. It's a nice office though, and I feel a little guilty about having such a nice space. My capacity for guilt never ceases to amaze me.

I discovered that the former administrative assistant - who has been on maternity leave for several months - has decided not to return to work, and they're in the process of hiring a replacement. I was able to sit in on the interview with the only candidate they've solicited thus far. So many changes for a small church in a short time. There's an air of anticipation that's exciting. Were I wiser, perhaps it would be intimidating. As it is, I just look forward to getting started and seeing what God will do in spite of me.

Thursday July 29, 2010 - Camarillo/Santa Barbara, California

Today was spent in catching up. Returning returned calls and emails from various realtors and owners, and scheduling appointments for more viewings tomorrow. There's one more 4-bedroom house that I've seen listed and we want to see. Otherwise, I'll be looking at some 3-bedroom homes as a point of comparison. Still no clear certainty on where we should live, but I trust that will come in time.

I've also updated a few earlier posts (a couple of weeks ago from Oregon and New Mexico) with a couple of photos. Nothing major, but in case you're curious, have fun.

Wednesday July 28, 2010 - Camarillo/Santa Barbara, California

Today is our five-month anniversary of nomadic life. On February 28, after leading worship at my parish for the last time, Gena and I jumped in the van, grabbed a bagel & lox, and headed off across the desert towards the rest of the world. It was such a mixture of feelings - relief, pain, disappointment, uncertainty, hope, joy, peace. We didn't know where the following days and weeks would lead us, we just trusted - as we continue to trust - that we are led.

Five months and roughly 16,000 miles and 30 states later, we're still being led. It's a great comfort and peace in the midst of uncertainty, anticipation, anxiousness, hope, joy, and a myriad of other emotions. We know a few more details about what the near future is likely to bring, and what the indefinite future may look like. But those details are pretty minor. A geographic area. A parish. Familiar faces not too far away. The continuing of work and mission and education in a new setting, with new people. We don't know the big things. What will happen. How we'll feel when it's time to leave or retire or move-on. What the next stage of the journey might look like. These are the blanks that only really get filled in day by day, hour by hour, regardless of how nice our five or ten-year plans might sound or look on paper.

I try to remember that at the end of a long day looking at rental properties over a 30-mile distance. At the end of the day, there are two strong contenders - a property about 13 miles south of Santa Barbara in the small community of Carpinteria. It's a beautiful house and yard, meticulously kept up. The kitchen is a bit small and awkward though, and we're not a big fan of carpeting throughout. But these are small issues.

The other contender is in Santa Barbara proper, probably about a mile from the church as the crow flies. It's an older property, well maintained, with lots of yard space. But it hasn't been updated and maintained quite as well as the Carpinteria property. In particular, there's some ancient linoleum in the kitchen area that looks atrocious, and the countertops in the kitchen and bathroom are old tile. Beyond the color of the tile (black/white and peach/light green, respectively), the tile is old, broken and chipped in many places, and makes the place look considerably less nice and clean than it actually is.

Decisions decisions. Location or condition?

Tuesday July 27, 2010 - Tempe, Arizona to Burbank/Camarillo, California

For the second time in as many months, I leave my family behind to fly out to California. This time, I go not to discern whether or not the Lord is leading me to accept a Call as Pastor, but rather to try and figure out where we're going to live.

It's not like we haven't been looking.

It's funny - when we were moving to St. Louis six years ago for me to attend seminary, I flew out to St. Louis for 3 days, and in that time located a house, made an offer, and began the process of purchasing the home. Six years later, after weeks of searching, I haven't been able to have the same success.

California apparently has this law that forbids realtors and other folks looking to sell or rent a home from providing interested parties with information on the square footage of a house. You have to actually come out and measure it yourself. I've never heard of anything so monumentally stupid. One of the most fundamental pieces of information in buying or renting a home is being deliberately withheld - by law - all because of some ridiculous lawsuit in the past, no doubt. Incredibly frustrating.

House prices in Santa Barbara are astronomical. It could cost us three times as much to rent a home in Santa Barbara as it's costing my brother-in-law & sister-in-law to rent a place in Hawaii. HAWAII. Come on people. This makes no sense! But it is what it is.

The plane flight to Burbank and the train ride to Camarillo were uneventful. It feels so natural to be back, and yet everything will be different very soon when we find a place to live and settle into a new town and a new job and and new routines. We're grateful to have some good friends a short drive from where we'll be living & working - I know that will make the transition a little easier for all of us.

Monday July 26, 2010 - Tempe, Arizona

Today I'm packing and preparing to leave.

Oh, yeah. We decided that, since Gena's mother's eyes are doing reasonably well, I'm going to fly to Santa Barbara (well, Burbank) and stay with our friend Lewis until I find a house for us to live in. If that happens before my installation on August 15, then Gena & the kids will drive out with her dad for company sometime after the movers have done their work, and then stay (well, not her dad). If I haven't found something by 8/15, then they'll come out for the installation and then head back to Phoenix to wait it out until I *do* find something.

No pressure there, eh?

As an aside, Southwest Airlines has an interesting new little deal. For a nominal fee, you get to board the airplane pretty in the first boarding group and you get a free drink. You also get an extra .25 flight leg credit for your money. Apparently how booked the flight is determines how far in front you get to board. On my flight, it was offering me the option of boarding as one of the first five people. On another sample flight I just did, it was offering me the option of being in the first 15.

Interesting, eh?

Sunday July 25, 2010 - Tempe, Arizona

We worshiped this morning at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Tempe. This is the church my family attended after moving to Arizona from Indiana in the late 70's. I was confirmed there and attended through high school, after which I left to join the campus student ministry that played such a major role in my theological development. In one of those odd, who woulda thunk it sort of things that life gives you every now and then, this is the church my in-laws have begun attending after my father-in-law retired from the aforementioned campus ministry.

Of course, pretty much nothing looks like it did 20 years ago. The church has built numerous buildings and given the place at least one major renovation/makeover. The contemporary worship service we attended was in the multipurpose building, which didn't exist when I left the congregation. There isn't much of a sense of deja vu, in other words. The pastor is different, and I don't really recognize anyone. Part of me wonders if there are people my age there that I knew during my high school days, but considering how poorly I got on with most of them, it's not a mystery I'm necessarily worried about solving.

We got home and began preparations for a mid-day dinner that Gena's sister & her family were coming over for. We did a Mexican-style dinner. It was great, the kids had a blast playing in the pool and running around the house. It was a great way to exhaust the kids!

Saturday July 24, 2010 - Tempe, Arizona

Oh yes, we are late in updating.

Actually, we've talked more than once about when our adventure is officially over. At what point does this blog really become irrelevant in terms of it's original purpose? When is the unemployment tour actually over?

• Is it over now that I've accepted a Call to a congregation and know that 'employment' will start in a few weeks?
• Is it over now that we're back in Tempe, where we began our shindig?
• Does it end when we find a house and move in, ceasing our nomadic lifestyle?

Oh, the decisions.

For now, it seems logical to continue this blog until we have moved into a home. This may make for some boring entries if we don't find a home very soon, but hey, it's not as though boring entries are anything new. Right?

Speaking of which, nothing of import happened today.