Sunday, July 10, 2011

SOME MORE THOUGHTS ON TRAVEL PLANS

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I have noticed a few early signs of our lush prime growing season turning a wee bit of a corner.  Brown patches are beginning to appear on some lawns & there has been a slight shift of color in our big ferns.  A month from now the weather will again shift & the nights will slowly begin to cool.  In the meantime we are into the hot humid days of summer & Monday promises to be a shirt wringer.  Not my favorite time of the year!!

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TOYS, TOYS EVERYWHERE & WHY IS ONE OF MY TOYS ON THE TRAILER HITCH DAD?? 

Meant to thank Fred Wishnie for pointing out a geographical error in my Friday night post. I had said Bob from The Caretaker Chronicles lived in the far off country of Vienna. Vienna is actually a city in the far off country of….AUSTRIA. I have since made the correction:))

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WILD RASPBERRIES IN OUR BACK YARD 

When travel plans are being made by 2 or more people both parties have to be on the same page or concessions may have to be hammered out.  There are many variable factors that must be figured into the plans.  Sometimes the perfectly logical & reasonable reasons of one person have to be set aside for the perfectly logical & reasonable reasons of the other person.  Kelly & I balance each other out very well & are generally able to work things out to both our satisfaction.  Such is the case with this years departure date for the Southwest except that I came out a smidgen ahead this year. 

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EACH YEAR THIS IS HOW THEY DREDGE THE MOUTH OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER...SLUDGE IS SCOOPED UP & DEPOSITED IN THE BIN BEHIND THE DIGGER..ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF RISKY BUSINESS TOO ME...........

For the past couple of years I have given in to Kelly's reasoning that the later we leave, the longer she can work meaning extra money for us in the long run.  Always hard to argue with extra money, unless you are me of course.  Kelly is more  of a financially oriented person than I am & that is where some of our balance comes in.  Remember, I'm good at taking the garbage out sometimes!!   However, I too have a set of solid realistic thinking methods on the other side of the coin. 

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AND THIS IS HOW THE BOATS ARE PUT INTO THE WATER IN THE SPRING & TAKEN OUT AGAIN IN THE FALL

With each passing year we get closer to whenever the RV bubble will burst.  And yes, even for posi-thinkers. the bubble will someday burst.  I have continuously emphasized to Kelly that if we want to see & do the things we want to do, we have to do them now!!  Not in 2 years, 5 years or 10.  NOW!!  We are well aware & know how fast things can change whether the change comes in the form of a heart attack, stroke, cancer diagnosis, faltering economy, higher gas prices, domestic problems, financial difficulties, loss of a driver's license, an accident or whatever.  The list just goes on forever & to deny any of those things can happen is simply not to be living in the real world.  We are living our part time RV lifestyle dream now so therefore it will have a conclusion......not a beginning!!  

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YOU CAN SEE WHERE I CUT THE RECTANGLE OUT OF THE BIRD STATION'S BACK WALL SO NOW THE BIRDS HAVE A GREAT 'BIRD'S EYE VIEW' OUT THE BACK TOO:)) 

If you are financially stable & have your health then do not put off your plans until tomorrow.  We all know people who have done just that & then one day it was too late!!  Just like that, too late!! 

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IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO TODAY THAT 'PETE THE JEEP GUY' CAME OVER TO SHOW US HOW TO TAKE OFF THE JEEP'S SOFT TOP.  WHAT AN EXERCISE IN FRUSTRATION THAT WAS...A FEW DAYS LATER I  HAD TO GET  PETE TO HELP ME PUT IT ON AGAIN....AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN OFF SINCE!!!!  

In our particular case, because of our travels being limited by the winter months as to where we can go & for how long, I already know it is very unlikely we will ever get to see the Northwestern States.  We just can't go there in the winter & of course we spend our summers anchored here in Bayfield. 

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CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO BE STUCK IN BAYFIELD DURING THE WINTER EVEN IF WE DO HAVE 5 SNOW SHOVELS

I have always wanted to see the area where the 4 States of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico & Colorado meet.  Only chance of seeing that area is to head west as early as we possibly can in the Fall because winter comes early to the mountains of Colorado.  Ideally, I would like to see us head out there right after the labor day week-end but that is just asking too much so I have to settle for the next best time which is after our Canadian Thanksgiving.  By the way, I think the months of September & October are the finest travel months of the entire year.  Our getting away in mid October is a bit on the late side but better than nothing & certainly better than our last two years when we didn't get out of here until the first week of November.  My heart really goes out to all the Snow Birds who have to wait until after Christmas to head south in the snow storms & icy roads.  

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MOTORMOUSE IS UP ON HER HIND LEGS IN ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION OF US REACHING THE BURRITO WINDOW AT McDONALDS:)) 

So, ka-blooey with earning extra money this year & let's just get out there & on the road as soon as we can......while we can!!  There is certainly more to life than the almighty dollar that's for sure.....10-4!!

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PETE TOOK US ON A SHORT SWAMP TOUR & IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY WE WILL EVER BE DOING THAT AGAIN!!!!  AND YES, WE DID 'BRIEFLY' GET STUCK...
Oh how I wish we could travel the summer months like IVAN does out there in the wilds of Alberta & British Columbia. For Boondocking oriented RV’ers like Kelly & I this is RVing at it’s best. Totally surrounded by the sights & sounds of nature’s abundant wonders.

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Kelly had to work today so I slipped on down to the Ritz Villa to see Uncle Harry.  He was stretched out in his recliner & had his electric shaver in high gear giving himself a shave.  The mobility is pretty much gone in his legs now so his wheelchair has become his main source of transportation instead of the walker.  Still dealing with some lower back pain but he was alert & said he had heard about the cat problem we have in our front yard.  Said he wished he had wheels on his big recliner so he could go outside.   He had a twinkle in his eye & managed a few smiles this morning.

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<<< SHADOWS IN OUR FROG POND 

GROANER'S CORNER:( 

Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state,dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'  They got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine,
and my Scotch!!!!  They are such idiots!!

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stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

14 comments:

  1. I agree with you that it's best to "Do It Now" rather than wait until everything is in an optimum state. I really don't have the extra-serious health problems some folks have, but what I have has caused me to slow down and rethink what I can and can't do. And it would be much more fun to go RVing with someone, as I wish my ex and I could have done if he hadn't died at age 66.

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  2. We always traveled in April, May, September and October. Usually cool, calm weather without snow. I hope you get to see the four corners area, Colorado and Utah have a lot of beautiful areas to see.

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  3. I was hoping we were going to be headed south by the middle of September but we both have Dr. appts for the 14th of September. Shortly thereafter, we will be heading south and I can hardly wait. Can't decide if we're going to go down through Colorado or through Utah. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

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  4. I am soooooo much with you on your thinking here..I lost my mom at age 64 and my dad at age 67....That certainly puts life in perspective for me...but Den loves the farming and harvest and I can't take that away....Life is, however, shorter the older we get..and lately, things have happened that really puts that foremost in my mind...I hear ya, Al...I hear ya....

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  5. I agree with you totally Al... get out there and do it now while you can. That is the reason Judy and I retired early! We wanted to go and do it while we could and enjoy it! Money is not the end of all! People will never have enough money! It is more important to have your health and the will to travel and enjoy... that is what we are doing!

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  6. We all hear you loud and clear..life is short!..too short sometimes!!!

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  7. Certainly something we all must consider. We have not traveled nearly as much as we want to...always something taking precedence. But at least we have our Yellowstone trip laid on and are leaving early Sept. Good luck to you Al, hope you get gone as soon as you possibly can.

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  8. I may be just dreaming, but I'm thinking about a long trip to Utah next spring. and a trip to New Mexico to see the Ballon festivals in October.

    I have he New years Rose Bowl parade all booked.

    It might be most cost effectivel to do these trips using rental RVs. I haven't yet figured it out.

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  9. We are in the lets do it now group as tomorrow may never come. congrats on the negotiation skills, I almost always end up at the short end of the stick on that one, but that may be because she thinks things thru more often than I do:)

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  10. We must all deal with reality and the ticking clock. It sucks, but that's just the way it is. Glad you got a smidgeon ahead this time. :)

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  11. Hi there -

    We have been following your blog for quite a while now - close to a year...and we are about to hit the road in a month. We are so excited and simply cannot wait.

    I saw on your pix that you have a TJ jeep. Just wanted to point out a serious problem with the TJ series. Happened to a friend of mine and I have found many stories of that model. It has to do with the brake line rubbing and eventually losing all brake fluid and losing your brakes or worse - brake fluid catching on fire. Don't mean to sound like a downer but wanted to point it out.

    Safe travels when you hit the road.

    Kari

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  12. Al, I am so on board with the "do it now!" philosophy, being a cancer survivor. That's one of the main reasons we are living this lifestyle NOW instead of holding out for "retirement age," whatever that may be nowadays. So glad you have some plans in the works and have a target date to anticipate with much excitement!

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  13. It's always more fun to share the experience with another but having to put what you want to do on hold and possibly never get to do it, is a huge sacrifice. There is a lot to be said for solo travel. I sure hope you get out to the Northwestern states some day especially the Canadian Rockies.

    Virginia

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  14. Yes, we all have to face the fact that some day may just be too late. That's why we sold everything and got on the road. Even though we are stuck here in Indiana for a few months, our hearts are out on the road. So much to see, so little time. Hope you get your wish this year and are able to see the four corners. Love the header picture. Stay safe.

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