Sunset, Kailua-Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii, March 11, 2024

Sunset, Kailua-Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii, March 11, 2024
Sunset, Kailua-Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii, March 11, 2024

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Ties that Bind - Tues., Sept. 30, 2014



[Today's blog is a guest blog by Bob.] 

There are several factors that contribute to a successful, long-term relationship like the one Susan and I have shared for over thirty years. We are attracted to each other on several levels. We met through an unusual personal ad (remember this was before the internet) that used characters from a novel to describe the qualities of the person I was looking for. Susan was one of only two serious responses. We met, moved in together after a week, bought a house together after a month, raised two boys, and are in love with each other 31 years later.

Bond Falls, Upper Peninsula, Michigan (Photo by Bob)
Another contributing factor to the success of our relationship is our common background. Both of our families share very similar trends which makes the way we live our lives together very comfortable.

Susan’s parents met in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When Susan was three years old, in 1956, her family moved to California. Then in 1966, after California started to get crowded, the family again moved to Newberg, Oregon, where they settled down.

My father moved his first wife and children from Chicago to California in the early '50’s as well. After a divorce, he met my mother, started a second family, and when California got too crowded, moved the family to Hawaii in 1960.

But there is more to the story than that, as it turns out. Susan’s father was born in Marquette, on the upper peninsula of Michigan. My father was born in Iron River, on the upper peninsula of Michigan. Until you have been here, you don’t realize what a coincidence that is, given the sparse population of the U.P.

Bob in his father's town of birth
Susan’s father’s family moved to a suburb of a mid-west metropolis (Detroit) and my father’s family moved to a mid-west metropolis (Chicago). 

On my mother’s side, while she was born in California, her father grew up in Watertown, Wisconsin, another place we visited on this trip. He attended University of Wisconsin in Madison before moving to California in the '30’s.  In an interesting side note, my father’s father ALSO attended the University of Wisconsin.

There has been a lot of movement in both of our families. Thus it should come as no surprise that Susan and I have called four states home and currently live in a house with wheels!



9 comments:

  1. You two basically had the Gypsy Spirit inbred into you since before you were born. It's nice that the RV lifestyle gives you the freedom to indulge yourselves as you see fit.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  2. Holy cow - two Yupers traveling America....aren't there laws in some places about this? Don't worry, your secret is safe with me! Seriously, a very nice tribute to your life together, goo luck and safe travels!

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    1. Yep, two Yoopers. Crazy how life is.

      Safe travels to you as well. Hope to see you in Texas again.

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  3. Now that is a love story with some depth! How fun to visit places where you have shared history.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lisa.

      For the past three days we've been in places checking out my family history. Interesting stuff.

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  4. Amazing at all the likenesses and similarities in your lives led you two together!

    PS I know exactly where Bob is standing in that pic, and the grey house over his shoulder is the home of some long-ago family friends. Walked over that bridge many times myself....

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  5. Nice blog post Bob....easy to see how compatible you two are.

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