There we were last night, Marti and I sitting side by side on the couch in our Journey. It was almost a romantic moment, except we were watching YouTube videos on how to replace a colostomy bag by yourself.
It has been a learning experience dealing with Krakatoa, my bag. I've mastered emptying the bag by myself, but there is a whole technique required to replace the attachment point (called a Wafer) that sticks to the skin around the opening in my stomach. I've got to get the hang of that so I can go on my motorcycle trip in July with my brothers. It is something you have to do right or you can end up with a...well use your imagination.
One other thing, Marti alluded to in her post. Yes, we are building a house outside of Columbia, SC a couple of miles from our daughter. We had plans to do it on the back burner for a couple of years and the time has come to put the plans into action.
First off, we are not going to stop traveling in our RV. We have no plans to sell the Journey, in fact we think we'll be using it even more than we have over the last couple of years because some of our granddaughters are moving to California this summer when our Coast Guard son gets transferred to a new assignment.
A couple of reasons have moved our plan into action, one is my dad, who is 95 and living well on his own may at some point need to have more hands on care. One of my brothers in New Jersey has a place for dad to stay part time and we can take him part time, too. Sort of a winter/summer rotation if it does come down to that. We felt it would be better to be ready in advance if the time should ever come rather than scramble to put something in place at the last minute.
We are building the house right near Marti's older sister, Gail. She has always been single but being some 15 years older than Marti may at some time in the future need some extra care with things, too.
Then as we recently found out, good health can change unexpectedly at a moment's notice, so we'll have a place to land if health issues should ever force us to hang up the keys.
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It's going to be a small home with a tiny piece of property and we'll be treating it like a second or vacation home. It will give us a place to keep some of the things we carry now in the Journey to store as we won't need to carry everything with us. Projected completion of the house is slated for late August or early September.
We'll continue to enjoy our Journey and traveling for many years to come with just a new chapter in our life.
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.
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I think you're wise to think about an exit plan before you're forced to. I did the same thing. If some grandkids are moving to California, perhaps our paths will cross again. And this time you wouldn't have to worry about washing my rig. :)
ReplyDeleteExit plans are of the utmost importance. We kind of have ours figured out but it's still a little fluid. We know folks with their friendly bags and I have no doubt you'll get it all figured out and be back in the saddle before July. Hugs and prayers (especially for Marti - cause I know how hard it is to be the caregiver).
ReplyDeleteKeep at the learning curve and the house plan going forward.
ReplyDeleteWe have exit plans but nothing carved in stone. Many possibilities but likely not a house.
You've given us something to think about. We have not yet planned an exit as we feel we're still getting started. (Our full-time traveling was way-laid by economic hardships in 2014. So we've been working full-time since then and replenishing the larder, as it were. Still taking some long trips, though.)
ReplyDeleteI admire you and Marti for forging ahead with plans. Continued prayers for you both.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have lots of travel in your future but a small "vacation" home sounds nice. As rvers, we know we can live in a much smaller space. Remember practice makes perfect!
ReplyDeleteYou'd better keep RVing. We still need to cross paths! Best of luck with your plans.
ReplyDeleteI too think you are wise to have an exit plan in reserve rather than to have to scramble to put one together. We had hardly started full timing when we had to start thinking of the exit plan. Luckily, so far, we haven't had to use it but as you see, things happen that you would never expect. I wonder if you won't be one of the first folks to do a motorcycle tour with your faithful friend. I admire you for sticking to your plans with Doctor's approval.
ReplyDeleteSo, you finally decided to let the cat out of the bag. Well, congratulations to both of you. I certainly understand the need for a break from the RV. Our little cabin provides just that for us. Hopefully, we'll have a chance to meet up in California.
ReplyDeleteI thought Marti may have let something slip in that post. An exit plan is a good thing to have as so many have mentioned. Having options is a good thing ... you never know when you may have to exercise it.
ReplyDeleteBetter to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared for both Dad and yourselves!!!
ReplyDeleteWhile you may not be completely up to par physically... there is nothing wrong with your sense of humor:o)) A romantic evening... REALLY?!?!?!!!
Always good to have a plan. We really like having our small home and our RV home.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to have an exit plan. Combination of a S&B and RV'NG is kind of our plan.
ReplyDeleteThat kind of planning reminds me of a motto of some well known organization:))
ReplyDeleteThanks for the updates. I keep you in my prayers that you continue to heal. Medical issues is the biggest worry we have with our "someday" RV plans and it is reassuring that it is possible to get care.
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