Four Months On The Road

Time flies when you are having fun and we're certainly having it, becoming experts at doing nothing. 

Yes, we've finally slowed down.  We went from a mad dash cross country in the dead of winter through Northern states to Oregon to be with one of our son's families for Christmas, then down the coast through California, over to Quartzsite, AZ, then on (and on and on and on) through Texas to a whole week in Pensacola, FL. 

The Journey's engine barely cooled off and we rolled again up to South Carolina to spend two weeks this time with our daughter's family.  Finally, up to New Jersey for little Anabelle's birth and we're back where we started after 7,000 miles of travel. 

We've been here a little over a week already and will be staying until early May, when we head out to Sioux Falls, SD to get our drivers licenses and vehicle registrations done.  Our plans had included then heading out to Oregon to help our son move his family to Philadelphia, PA, but they've decided to make the move on their own. 

Now that we're stationary for a while, I have some odds and ends to do to pimp the Journey and our Honda Element toad.

What have we learned so far in our full time life?  Here's a few items:

  We must really love each other because we're still talking (and laughing) together.

  Even though we have almost 400 square feet in the Journey with the slides out, it still has some tight spots.  If we ever buy another big motorhome, we'll be giving two bathrooms a hard look.  It takes me a  long time to look this pretty.  ;c)

  Budgets are made to be laughed at.  Especially with rising (rocketing) fuel costs.  No matter how carefully I drive and maintain a nice slow speed on the highway, a headwind will wipe out any fuel savings.

  Passport America is a wonderful budget stretcher.

  Military campgrounds were worth staying in the service until retirement. 

  Overnight stops at a Walmart are way too expensive, often exceeding the cost of a KOA.  ;cO

  Despite two GPS units, maps and Marti navigating our travels, I still can manage to make the wrong turn.

  We're slowly starting to remember how to cook decent, healthy meals again.  When we were working, the obscene hours we both kept left little time to cook, we had to eat out way too often.

  We still haven't figured out how best to store some of our things.  The microwave doubles as a bread box.

  We've fallen in love with late night TV shows, reruns of the King of Queens and Everybody Loves Raymond have become favorites.

  Our mail service, Alternative Resources is working out well for us.

  Verizon stinks, Sprint has been the best Internet service for our needs.

  The extended warranty we purchased when we bought the Journey has saved us big time on two expensive repairs.

  We're still working on not feeling guilty for not going to work.  That feeling of "we have to do something" is slowly fading.

  We've met some wonderful people on our travels, they seem to be some of the best friends we've ever made.

  We still are weeding out clothes but have kept too many (you never know when that invitation to the White House for dinner might come).

  Kindles rock.  Don't remember what a book looks like anymore. 

  We're thankful for the ability to move where we want to or need to be.  We've gotten to know another sweet granddaughter because of it.

Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.

PS:  For Sherry, a follow up for your question yesterday.  Hard choices have to be made in today's budgetary crisis.  We made many rescues during the winter months.  Hopefully the extra time from the next nearest Coast Guard station won't be too long to cost a mariner's life.  Also it leave a wide open door to smuggling, yes that still goes on.  It is a risky choice.