When you decide to pick up your whole life and move across the country, it doesn't hit you right away how much things will change. You dream of different views, less rain, more fish, and fewer people. You do not dream about rebuilding your entire life. You don't realize the work involved. You can only see the dream. Reality is much different. 

For much of the past year, I've worked out of the 'she-shed,' a small outdoor building with no air, windows, or heat. Jacob has been working out of a neighbor's workshop. While we're both incredibly grateful for the ability we had to continue working, it was, shall we say, trying. 

A few months ago, with the completion of our tiny house, I moved out of the shed. Not much later, Jacob moved into his new workshop. While we're both still putting things together and getting more accustomed to our new spaces, the work has rolled in.  

Jacob began procuring glass blanks on the day that his building was being installed. Rod building is as much a part of Jacob as fishing itself, if not more so. Early mornings and late nights are spent huddled over rods, and much of our conversations revolve around tapers, grips, paintbrushes, and varnish. We look over different reel seats, examine guides, review swatches. It's not a typical lifestyle, but it's ours. 

This little green rod was a product of the first round of blank procurement. It's a 7'6" 4 weight and I'm still trying to convince Jacob that it's meant to be mine. I'm not sure that'll pan out the way I want it to. 

• 7' 6" 4 weight, 'S' glass

• Spalted maple reel seat with welted cap and ring 

• Modified forward wells grip

• Banded coffee agate stripping guide

• Olive wraps tipped with chocolate and antique gold 

• Original snake brand guides

• vintage style aluminum rod tube with a finely threaded brass end cap and custom rod bag #baglady

Here's to all of our dreams, finally meeting each other! 

#MadeinMancos