The Js are Silent

Us in Budapest, November 2024

Collage of Chester and the view out our window by Angela of Loving Petsitter. Also November 2024.

It’s hard to believe it, but we are now ending our second year of living in Ljubljana. It’s certainly a bittersweet time around the holidays–this is the time when we miss our old family and friend traditions from back home. But on Christmas night we will be paid a visit by Sue and Erik (Krista’s mom and brother), who will stay with us for a couple of weeks.

They will be the last visitors in a year full of visitors. From April to September, we were happy to have frequent visitors from home and abroad. It was great fun to show people this magical city and country, and we do hope for more visitors next year (and that includes any of you who want to meet up in other parts of Europe. Wherever it is, we’re probably close).

Krista worked steadily for most of the year, still working on adult and aging service policies and programs. She has 2 new contracts to kick off 2025 so she’ll be busy. Rory had one energy policy paper he wrote for a Berlin-based consulting firm regarding Vietnam energy policy, got his old job back driving for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, and just signed a 4-year contract with energy program evaluator Opinion Dynamics.

Other than that, we had great trips around the different parts of Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, for Krista New Mexico, and for Rory a few weeks on the West Coast. On the agenda for 2025 are trips to Zagreb (to see the Tindersticks), Milan (to see Soccer Mommy), the Pyrenees Mountains to watch a stage of the Tour de France, and a bike tour of Belgium.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season! And we would be thrilled to catch up via Zoom in the New Year–we have found that’s a great way to stay in touch.

Na Zdravje! Vesele praznike! (Cheers, and happy holidays!)