Framing / First Two Weeks on the Island!

Mar 8

I started writing this blog post a week ago, I thought it would be nice to check in a week into our new Island Living. It is already almost the second one gone, and I'm trying to get my thoughts together as it's a lot of new to take in.

The biggest difference we have noticed is - there is way less noise and a lot more nature, and that is, basically, the main reason for our move to the island. We are outside most of the daylight. Right after school we either drive to the house project and go on the beach or go to our farm. We are new owners of a farm, but that's a whole other story to tell you sometime.

Beach time in Deer Harbor is always a good idea, kids can find all kids of treasure with the beach tied going in and out.

On the island, we also sleep better, by 9pm everyone is asleep, including grownups. It's ridiculous. Is it from the extra fresh air or all the new excitement and experiences that makes us so much more tired.

While we are building our new house in Deer Harbor, we have rented a house in Eastsound. About 20 minutes to our house project and about 5 minutes to school and downtown Eastsound.

Charlie and Marta are attending local Orcas Island Elementary school. Four full days of school and once a week Camp Orkila. It's been truly the best experience, everyone is so welcoming, so organized and just smooth sailing. Both kiddos have made some new friendships at school and absolutely love outdoor activities at Camp Orkila.

First day of School on Orcas and IN PERSON!!!

Marta: "I never want to leave Orcas Island, every day is like a new adventure!". It is sure nice to hear that from your kid, it is also a new place to live and everything is fun and exciting. Let's check in after a while and see, but we truly believe this adventure will last for a very long time.

There are some reasons living on the island could feel a bit remote. Work wise we make it work, but Ella’s doctor visits will have to be traveled to. It is about one hour ferry travel and another hour and half drive to Bellevue or Seattle, so total about minimum three hours of travel in a perfect scenario, and if the ferry is on time. Other than that, everything you need, you can find in the local shops, markets and farm stands.

Ella got to fly for the first time with Kenmore Air to her doctor visit in Bellevue. I hear it was a bumpy ride.

We got a great start to our framing this week. We started with the kids bedroom bunk section of our home, once this is complete we will begin the master bedroom box and then connect them with the main living area room. It was a lot of number crunching this week, all the elevations of the floors, roofs, posts, etc. have to be just right in order for the structure to come together properly and meet all the structural requirements. We even go our welder out to the site to install the steel posts. It is coming along nice.