Life As We Know It - #17

Every weekday morning, a thunder storm rolls through - directly above our heads. It is a burst of energy, excitement - footsteps, running, jumping, loud voices, crying - a cluster of activity!.  It begins at one end of the house, works it way across the kitchen through the mudroom and tapers off in the garage as the kids climb into the car and are delivered to their respective day care and pre-school. Then, in an instant - all is silent once again and we drift back to sleep for a little while longer.

Coffee is the first order of the day in our world - a morning addiction Charlie and I both share. We are rested, non-rushed, sipping our caffeine fix and planning the day in our minds. For Charlie, today is working on his motorcycle, studying for his next level HAM radio license, hanging out in his ham shack.  For me, it's starts with straightening up, repairing a squeak in our adjustable bed, exercising, making some foods for an upcoming Passover Seder with friends, a good long walk/run and doing some writing. If the weather was a little nicer, I would definitely be outside doing yardwork and enjoying the sun - but no sun today.

Everyday is a little different.  Starting Monday, Charlie will  be training new employees, part time at his former employer, Kingston Trailers.  It will be a nice change of pace for him for a little while and it means a little extra money, too. For me, I plan to start cleaning the inside of the trailer for our first camping trip which is about 4 weeks off. Depending on the weather, I have lots of yardwork and exterior maintenance work to do.  I have designated myself as the unofficial house manager (along with Brooke).  I have more time to think about and actually perform the tasks that need to be done to keep things up. There is always a lot to do and I enjoy this type of work,

As life starts to reopen, I look forward to taking some classes (in person) and going to programs at the library I previously enjoyed. 

I've thought about volunteering or even getting some part time work... but then, I enjoy my freedom and non-scheduled life. Plus, the next four months are already well booked with activity and travel.

We try to be flexible and open to anything that might come our way. Being available to help with the grandkids, helping friends. It's nice to have time, enjoy a more relaxed pace and truly embrace everything we now do.- even the small things.

Spring Turns A Retiree's Fancy To Thoughts Of Camping - #16

Winter is now officially behind us according to the calendar; today is the first day of spring and what a glorious day!  The forecast for the upcoming week is promising as well. The sun is bright, warming and I just want to get moving! All I can think about is getting on the road!

I haven't seen my mom, who will be 96 this May, in over a year. Living in Maryland makes it challenging  to visit as often as I would like. It will be great to also visit with my sister and brother-in-law and see my nephew and wife and their girls, who all reside in Maryland.  I am working on a trip to visit the beginning of June for a couple of weeks; just taking our time, traveling to and from will probably take us about a week or so and at our destination, we will be camping at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD for 5 nights. This is a great cityish campground we have stayed at before and we really love it! When we drive to MD by car, we can usually make the trip easily in 8 or 9 hours - depending on the amount of stops. When towing your trailer, you need to be a little more cautious and go slower. We like to stop and smell the roses, so to speak and there is no way I want to spend all day sitting in a truck. I have been looking into places to stop and stay both going and returning; it will be a combination of boondocking and campgrounds.  I will need to make some tentative calls to make sure spots will be available for overnights.

With other activities filling our calendar, it's amazing how quickly our summer schedule is filling up! 

                

On The Road Again - #15

"Just can't wait to get on the road again"....🎵

Today, I made our first reservation for April camping. Although most campgrounds in this area don't have an opening date until May 1st, there are a select few opened all year round. Circle CG Farm and Campground in Bellingham, MA is one of them. We are actually planning several days of boondocking in Connecticut prior to our stay at Circle CG for a week, so we will be "camping out" for about 10 days.  It is exciting to have this first outing to look forward to!

Hopefully, around April 1st, the weather will have warmed up and stabilized a bit; we will uncover the trailer and begin to clean, air out.  I bring all the dish, glassware, pots and pans, cutlery into the house and run everything through the dishwasher as well as wash all the bedding and towels. I clean the insides of all the cabinets before returning items to their designated spots. Everything gets a thorough cleaning and we will usually give the outside of the trailer a good cleaning as well, if it really needs it. Sounds like work but this process brings me great joy! Gradually, I begin to stock with food, water, clothes as our date of departure gets closer. Once we are out on our maiden voyage for 2021, I will start to make lists of what we may need to do, repair, or purchase to get ready for our big trip in the fall, as well as making outings before then more comfortable. I am still considering a new mattress for our bed.

There are always interesting places to visit or a great park or hike at almost every location we camp. You just have to seek them out and with the help of the internet, that's easy!. During our last stay in Bellingham in October, we found beautiful scenic hiking areas - Blackstone Gorge, West Hill Dam - and also visited Southwick Zoo.  We found a great little produce stand not too far from the campground where we picked up some lovely fruit and veggies. On our upcoming trip, we are hoping to visit Garden in the Woods in Framingham, where we have been before but it's probably been about 9 years. I wouldn't mind visiting Blackstone Gorge again; we where there in the fall and the colors were absolutely amazing - it will look totally different in the springtime.  Mendon Drive-In is another popular venue; I am hoping they will have movies by then.

It won't be long now!

10 Things We Love About RVing - #14

 So what's the attraction?

Don't get me wrong - we love the luxury of a nice hotel! But there's just something about camping in the woods...

1-Our Travel Trailer - I have often referred to our travel trailer as "my happy place". Even when it's  parked in the driveway or yard and I'm inside just to clean it or stock it for a trip, I am "transported" mentally, somewhere special and happy. Adventure awaits!     

                                 

 

2-The Great Outdoors - First and foremost - we love being outside. Enjoying fresh air, sunshine, space. Our travel trailer is small - but our living room is the whole world! There's nothing more  enjoyable than eating a meal outdoors on a picnic table. The food just tastes better!     

3-Beauty -  As the seasons change, so do the colors of the trees, skies, water - everyday we are astounded by the natural beauty.

4-Nature - Charlie and I are both keen animal watchers. Their habits, behaviors, personalities  - birds to squirrels to any other critters we may encounter. We also enjoy observing plants and flowers. There is just so much to see, learn and appreciate!.

5-Relaxation - Not that our lives are very stressful these days, but camping out is on whole a different level. Maybe it's the casualness of the lifestyle. I don't worry about what I wear or makeup or my hair (Hey - that's normally me anyway!) I am more creative and enjoy cooking more. I can actually concentrate on reading a book - I am not distracted by chores at home.  We breathe deeper and smile more.

6-Campfires - Who isn't mesmerized by the dancing flames, smell of wood burning and the taste of delicious smores and toasted marshmallows!

7-Hiking & Exploring - I love hiking, Charlie not so much, but it is still something we do together.  We  have visited some great locations - especially during the pandemic when being outdoors has been deemed the safest venue. It has encouraged us to discover trails, different areas within our state and beautiful scenery!

8-Flexibility - Once our travel trailer has been opened for the season, we can go anywhere! We always have everything we need.  No packing or unpacking required.  We have all our clothes, bedding, toiletries, pots and pans, condiments, books, movies - you name it!  Of course, we do have to bring food, but it gives me a great opportunity to clean out the refrigerator, freezer and pantry every time we go on the road. 

9-Boondocking - We love boondocking - especially at our favorite casinos! There is nothing like being fully self-contained, parking a few steps from the casino entrance and being able to stay for free! 

10-Travel and Adventure -  Even though we've had our TT for many years, we really haven't had the opportunity to use it as we'd like.  The pandemic added further crush to our plans but now that we are retired (and fully vaccinated within the next month) we will gradually start to branch out. In the past, we alternated boondocking and local campgrounds, so we could empty our black and grey water tanks in between and we look forward to start making plans very soon! Where will we go? Anywhere we want! Stay tuned!

Winter Thaw - #13

The month of March can go a couple of ways here in Massachusetts. We will either be bombarded with a shitload of snow clear through April or spring will attempt an early appearance, with warmer temps, bright sunshine and dotting of the landscape with little purple crocuses and bright green stems of daffodils.  Like any sane person, I prefer the latter.

As we yawn, stretch and awaken from months of cold - we peer out the window at our travel trailer - covered, winterized, waiting it out. Yes! It's time to get that camping muscle in motion! 

I always tell anyone considering the idea of RVing but who never has, this activity is not generally for those whose idea of getting away from it is to be pampered and served. It is work - but then there is so much reward. This is when being handy, organized and not particularly squeamish is kind of helpful, as well. 

Charlie and I have sort of a natural division of labor when it comes to RVing. He does everything outside and the driving - I do everything else.  But there definitely is a certain amount of teamwork. It impresses me every time he aligns the truck up with that small ball hitch perfectly, to hook up the travel trailer. I am in charge of checking to make sure our vehicle signal lights are coordinated before we hit the road. We both do a walk around to doublecheck everything is tucked in, secured and locked. A "pre-flight" check list wouldn't be a bad idea. Charlie can maneuver the trailer around trees, backing into some very tight spots. I try to assist by directing with waving hands. Once we get to a location, Charlie spends an annoyingly amount of time getting the TT level.  I'm always yelling "It's good enough, it's good enough!". I will help with setting up the campsite, hooking up the electric, etc... he always does the sewer - both hooking up and emptying. (He gets a lot of points for this!)  

Once we are settled in, stairs are lowered, the awning comes out and living room slide out is bumped out. Doesn't take long to feel like home! Setting up fully can take a bit but I find it relaxing.  I check every cabinet and drawer, adjusting for shifting after travel, lay out the rugs, set up chairs, clean and put tablecloth on the picnic table, decorative lights on the awning and then usually prepare a snack for us, put on some music - not necessarily in that order. As Mr. Rogers used to sing "I like to take my time..."

If you ask me what my most favorite part of camping is, my answer will probably surprise you.

It's when it rains.  I absolutely love the sound of the rain hitting the roof and the smell of the rain in the woods. It is perfect!

   

Minnie, The Camping Cat - #12

I almost forgot to mention the third member of our camping team.  This is our cat, Minnie.

Minnie will be 12 years old this year! (Thanks to Facebook for keeping track of memories otherwise we'd have lost a few years.)

Minnie is definitely Charlie's cat. She loves and adores him.  I am just the business part of the relationship - in charge of feeding, watering, cleaning the litter box, making the vet appointments. He gets the cuddling, I get ignored. (Unless one of the above listed matters has not been taken care of to her satisfaction - then I hear all about it)

We knew we wanted to take Minnie with us, since we will be away for an extended period of time but she had never gone camping with us and it was a concern.  I read up a bit about traveling with pets, asked questions of the community and then we came up with some ideas that worked really well.

Firstly, the litter box, food and water. When you are living in about 170 sq ft, - space is at a premium.  The last thing you want in any home is a litter box out in the open or accidentally kicking over a dish of water or food.  After thinking about it, I came up with the idea to remove the door off the cabinet under the kitchen sink where we could create a "cat station".  The inside of the cabinet is wider than the opening itself, I was sure I could fit a smaller litter box on the inside floor. (I actually used a drawer that came from an old plastic rolling cart) The one shelf inside the cabinet luckily is spaced high enough so Min could fit fairly comfortably when using the box. The shelf is also where I decided to put her food and water dishes; again, enough room for her to access, keeping the dishes off the floor and out of sight. I find I clean the box more often which is a good thing. Eventually, we will have a little curtain to cover the cabinet opening so Min can have her privacy.  Well - we all have to make concessions, Minnie is no exception.

Minnie does love to be outside. We've tried leashes, harnesses, which she always slips out of like Houdini. So to be safe, we purchased a fully enclosed playpen.  She can be outside with us and there is less worry about her running off or another animal easily getting to her, although we generally don't leave her unattended for any length of time. We also purchased a pet stroller. This allows us to take her with us if we are traveling and don't want to leave her alone in the truck (particularly if it is hot out). I also like to walk a lot and this gives me the opportunity to take her with me. Do cats really appreciate a change of scenery?

October 2020 was the first and only chance we had to go camping this past year. Partially due to the pandemic - mostly due to the months our TT spent at the dealership being serviced.  The delay was brutal! We were able to enjoy a beautiful 10 days of camping at a favorite campground up in Bellingham. It was also our "trial run" with Minnie.

Turns out, Min is the perfect camping companion! We think she especially loved the feeling of closeness.  She also found a great hiding spot - behind the jackknife sofa.  She really has to squeeze in but it's pretty spacious underneath for some quality "alone time".  She also enjoys looking out the big window. The only negative we encountered is her unhappiness traveling in the truck. There is constant meowing. We bought her a new soft-sided carrying case for travel, as it takes up less space than a hard case inside the truck cab. Maybe it's the feeling of movement; we are hoping she will get used to it after a while.

Freedom - #11

For me, it's all about freedom. 

I like flexibility and although I am very responsible, take commitment seriously, am reliable when I give my word to someone - it's been important to me to limit stressful situations or having too much to do.

Living in a much smaller space has cut my cleaning down to a fraction of the time I previously spent. Keeping material and household items, furnishings and clothing to a minimum allows to keep track of what I have, stay organized and eradicate excess spending on duplicate items.  I work toward zero-waste with food - buying what I need and using it up before I purchase new.  I like keeping things simple and uncluttered and very neat. I'm good at minor repairs and am frequently retightening a hinge or door knob, lubricating a squeak, touching up with paint. Having less to me equals more control and a less stressful environment. It has taken me over 60 years to get here!

Recently, I made the decision to allow my hair color to go natural and for me that means gray. I've gotten some positive and negative feedback from friends and family, but I feel pretty good about it and ultimately, it's my decision.  Charlie obviously seems to be okay with it as he spends a lot of time chasing around after me when he's not in his hamshack. 

I love being on the open road, driving - not under pressure - not in a rush. This is also a great feeling of freedom to me. I love being outdoors!

My biggest worry about not participating in the driving with the trailer in tow; Charlie's driving makes me very nervous. Whenever we leave someplace, anyplace - whether home or the supermarket, doctor's office, campground, friends house - as he puts the vehicle in drive, he prefaces our departure with the statement "Let's get the hell out of here." Firstly, you'd think we just had a bad experience and need to leave in a hurry or we did something illegal. Secondly, where are we in a rush to go?  On the road, I often think men envision they are in some kind of road race.  They don't like anyone to pass them, they drive way too close to the vehicle directly in front of them and there is a lot of derogatory commentary about other drivers. It's all slightly more nerve wracking when you're dragging your house behind you. Therefore, I will be practicing deep breathing techniques and mindful meditation as we make our way to the winter retreat. I'm preparing myself now.

Let The Countdown Begin, Again - #10

It is said  "the third time is the charm". 

For those who know us and our luck in planning long range RV trips, it has not gone well. 

Something devastating has always interfered with our plans and ultimately, we had to cancel.

But this time, I am confident we will get there! (I have to be!)

We plan to spend 5 full months (November 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022) escaping the New England winter in a little town called Bandera, Texas. Texas had a rough time of it this winter for a couple of weeks, but the majority of the season is much warmer and snow-free compared to what we live through in Massachusetts. The plan is to leave the beginning of October to allow for a slow, stress free 2000 mile drive to Skyline Ranch RV Resort in Texas Hill Country.  Charlie will be the driver and I want to make sure he gets plenty of rest en route. Hopefully, we can take in some sites along the way, depending on the pandemic situation in the fall. Most of the activities I enjoy are outside but I wouldn't mind taking in a museum or other interesting indoor site. 

So why Bandera? 

To begin with, I was searching for a winter destination with warmer weather and virtually no snow.  It didn't necessarily have to be a tropical climate - just warm enough to be outside. When you're RVing most of your time is spent enjoying the outdoors. 

Next and very important - cost. We needed a reasonably priced RV park, with all the amenities important to us and would fit our budget.  So I put the question out to the RV community universe -  and voila! Skyline Ranch came highly recommended. After doing some further research and following the reviews, I knew this would be a good option for us. 

Bandera has been dubbed "The Cowboy Capital of the World". Activities and events held in town  center around embracing "the west" - rodeos, horseback and bull riding,  It is also a big motorcycle town with famous roads attracting bikers.  We will fit right in. ( Unfortunately, I don't think there is any way we will be able to take our Harley)   Bandera boasts quite a few RV resorts in this small area which obviously makes it a desirable spot for wintering. Skyline Ranch is right on the Medina River, with a lot of wildlife roaming freely, fishing, birding. We are looking forward to our stay.

T-minus 212 days and counting!

Travel Countdown

212	days
5091	hours
305508	minutes
18330492	seconds

until Friday, October 1, 2021 (Boston time)

Retirement...An Anti-Climactic Milestone But Made Lemonade - #9

 Both Charlie and I have  "unofficially" been retired for a year. 

There were no farewells at work, no hugs, celebrations, or dinners ... COVID happened and robbed us all of these special milestones.

The first months being home, we spent a lot of time focused on "food".  What were we going to make for dinner? What should we order from insta-cart? Who's turn was it to cook?  (we ate a lot of meals jointly with the family) I started baking, cooking - often with my granddaughter, as an activity.  Going into the pandemic, I was already overweight and all this eating wasn't doing me any favors. I starting gaining more weight, feeling really crappy. I also had lost my strength and stamina from lack of activity. I decided to try to make some changes; downloading a food journaling app on my phone and searching for easy, beginning exercise videos on YouTube. I had all the time in the world now to focus on myself and I really did want to get into good fitness and health for this wonderful new stage of life. >>>>>> Fast forward 9 months and I have lost 50 lbs and feel great! I have no idea what clicked in my brain this time helping me to stay on track, but I am glad it did!  I am within 5 or so lbs. of the goal weight range I feel is best for me and I have really built up my fitness and endurance. I am ready to take on retirement and RVing!

What The Pandemic Wrought - #8

The 2020's of the 21st century was anything but a roaring good time.  

It was/is still about isolating, distancing, virtual socializing and keeping safe.  2021 brings the COVID vaccine, but a long wait for those of us trying to get an appointment in our age bracket and state. As of this writing, I am still trying every day, throughout the day, to find an opening.  It will happen eventually.

It is mind boggling to believe we have been mostly home for about a year now.  The last day we worked was Friday, March 13th, 2020. It was months before I set foot in a supermarket (we had food delivery) and I remember feeling "elated" the first time I went to Shaw's.  

My daughter and son-in-law fortunately have been able to work from home, but the down side was that their wonderful day care had closed down. That's where I was able to offer some support caring for the children, keeping them entertained for a few hours everyday.  It was not easy finding the energy keeping a 2 year old engaged - something I really had not intended to be doing at this stage of my life.  But, I did get creative and had some fun with it and I really wanted to be of some help, especially since we were no longer working. 

I realize just how lucky we all have been to be living together during this time of staying home, when so many families still can not be with or hug their loved ones.  My mom has been isolated in assisted living for so long; I feel so badly that we can not see her and the lack of stimulation in her life.  But, she is at least healthy and vaccinated. I look forward to when we are on the other side of this.

Charlie has spent nearly everyday of the pandemic in his "hamshack". He obtained his technician's level ham radio license about a year ago and invests countless hours building and maintaining his antennas and making long distant contacts on the radio. He is currently studying for his next level license and I am proud of him for keeping positive and productive while we are home. I am doubly grateful that we built that shed for him; I knew he needed a place just for himself and his "toys". It gives us just enough separation to spend time with ourselves, think, plan, study, dream. Everyone needs their own space, especially during this time.

And lastly, our plans to winter in Texas Hill Country had to be cancelled. With rising cases in Texas and throughout the south and with the threat of a increased and more dangerous surge predicted as the cold weather approached, we felt it prudent to just to stay home. 

During the summer, we were able to arrange to have maintenance work done on our travel trailer and truck so we are now good for winter of 2021/22.  We already have our reservations.  Meanwhile, our trailer sleeps and we wait.