Announcement Reactions

Thanks for all your encouraging comments. We are still in a state of shock. It’s all coming together.

Of course, we have been telling everyone that it’s official and that we will be leaving the first of June. It’s amazing all the strange reactions we get when we tell people we’re leaving. Most of the people we’ve told, have lived in this same small town most of their lives and really can’t imagine living anywhere else. By the way, Rockwall is the smallest county in Texas.

Last night we ran into a few friends and told them we would be leaving June 1st. Their first question was how long are you going to be gone. At which time we would explain we’re not sure when we’ll be coming back through this area. Then, there’s; what do you mean, you don’t know when you’ll be coming back through this area?

We then go on to explain that we’ll be traveling all over the U.S and living in our 5th wheel and don’t know how long we’ll be gone.

Here are a few examples of the comments we’ve received from people we’ve told;

• Have you lost your ever loving mind?
• That sounds like fun.
• Why on earth would you want to live in a travel trailer when you own such a nice home?
• Sure wish we could do that.
• Don’t sell your house; you’ll be tired of traveling in a few months.
• That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.
• Wow! Where you going first?
• Do you really think you’ll be happy traveling all the time?
• Where on earth did you get that idea?
• Don’t you think you’ll get tired of each other pretty quick living in such small quarters?
• How could you leave your family and friends?
• We’re sad to hear you’re leaving.
• Be sure and take lots of pictures and post them on your blog.
• You can’t sell your house and run off like that. Everyone needs a house.
• I love to do that but my wife would never go for it.
• We’re so happy for you and wish we were going too.

 We've done our best to explain to no avail. The new answer is "You only live once and we're gonna do this"

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

House SOLD! ! ! ! ! !

The house is SOLD.

We are in a state of SHOCK! Our minds are going 100 MPH! OMG! We are really going to get to fulfill this dream!

Sorry about that!
Yes, that’s right we’ll be hitting the road as of June 1st. Can you believe it? We can’t! We sold the house without a For Sale sign.

Maybe we should explain how this happened. It all came about because Dawn’s best friend, Lisa showed an interest in buying the house. They discussed the asking price and the next thing you know we have a contract and earnest money in hand.

We can hardly believe it! This works out great for both parties. Since Dawn and Lisa have been best friends since childhood, Lisa practically grew up in the house too. We are so excited for the sale and we are also excited that Lisa and her family will be the next owners of the house.

We have so much to do before June 1st . We are still going to paint the interior of the house before we leave. We also have more packing to do and we need to rent a storage unit for the items that we plan on keeping.

We’ve gota get BUSY!

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

Still Sorting and Packing

More sorting and packing went on at our house last night. We have moved some winter clothes to the 5th wheel. We can only hope we won’t be here next winter. We have moved some addition cookware out to the 5th wheel kitchen. It is very important to have all the necessary cooking utensils to prepare a proper meal.

Dawn loves to cook and I must say she is pretty darn good at it too. When we started living together I weighed *!@?#, well let’s just say I was average weight for my height. It is obvious when you look at me that I might have been over indulging myself with her good cooking for the past eighteen or so years.

O.K, maybe I exaggerated just a little. But you get the point. I know I need to get into shape. Of course, round is a shape!


Anyway, back to packing and sorting. Dawn has been packing up the kitchen of the things that we haven’t been using and setting aside things to go into the trailer. This will be a good test for us to see what we really need.

Yesterday Dawn went through her spice cabinet and threw out a lot of spices. We have pull-out spice rack drawers on each side of the oven that holds approximately fifty or so bottles of spices per drawer. The other area she keeps spices is in an overhead cabinet with three shelves. It was over flowing with maybe a hundred bottles. What can I say, the girls like to cook! She cleaned out the cabinet area and we now an empty shelf! We will have throw out or give away a lot of them before we hit the road.

We are still making progress!

Well, after all the sorting and packing is all done, we have to paint the interior of the house and shampoo the carpets. I love to paint so that won’t be a problem. Dawn doesn’t care to paint and that’s fine. She usually ends up with more on her then the walls anyway.

Dawn asked me the other day what we’ll do with all our spare time when all of this sorting, packing, painting and shampooing is done.

That’s a very good question. We’ve been doing this for so long it will feel a bit strange but I’m sure we will find something to fill the gap. Maybe we will learn to sit back and relax while we wait for the house to sell!


Travel Safe
Dawn and Denise

Wax On, Wax Off

We had a productive weekend. We pulled out the 5th wheel and I finished up the curtains. Now all the windows have matching thermal curtains. We connected to water and checked the plumbing for leaks. No Leaks.

We watched washed and waxed the truck. Two coats of wax to be exact. It was only waxed once last year and it was past due for another coat. I don’t mind waxing. It sure is rewarding to step back and see how great it looks with a nice shine on it.

Dawn gave the interior the full treatment. She cleaned all the leather and then went back over it with a conditioner. She did such a great job that we now have to tighten our seat belts in order not to slide out of our seats when traveling! It really does look good inside and out.

Again, I really don’t mind waxing the truck but now my arms feel like I’m wearing concrete gloves. My shoulders feel like I’ve been carrying a heavy load. I know, Get Over It!

We really need to wash and wax the 5th wheel too. I’ll wash it and then put it back in the RV garage. I’ll wax a section of it every day until I have it all waxed. I have waxed it in a weekend but I had problems lifting my arms for a few days afterwards! Oh, and we have a Saturn Ion that also needs a good washing and waxing too. That’s no big deal; I can wash and wax it in a couple of hours.

We drove the lawn mower around and mowed our two acres. We also did some laundry. Visited the grocery store too.

We did snap a few pictures of the moon on Saturday. It was so orange when it began it’s to show it’s self. We sat on the patio and watched as its colors changed from a burnt orange color to a bright white.

Now that I think about it, we sure got a lot done in a couple of days. That’s pretty good for two old out-shape fat girls. Dawn reminds me that round is a shape!!!!!!!

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

Blogspot Background Instructions

Thanks for the comments on our new look. For those who are interested in changing their background here is the link that might help you. http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=176245

You can also add your own picture for your background. We decided we wanted something a little brighter.

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

Interesting Blog

We noticed a comment left by someone we didn't recognize and decided to check out their blog. Let's just say it is a very interesting read and I encourage everyone to stop by his blog and check it out.http://rv-dreamers.blogspot.com/

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

New Look

How ya like our new look?

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

More Packing

I’m very happy to announce that Dawn’s headaches are subsiding and we’re hoping they are going away for good. She’s had a difficult time because they are so depilating. We took full advantage of her feeling better and packed our winter clothes into some totes. We’ve been gradually doing away with a lot of our clothes but still have some that we need to get rid of. Last night we decided to pack the winter clothes that we are going to keep into plastic totes. This way we can get a feel for the amount of clothes we’ll be taking with us on the road.

We have a couple of plastic totes under the bed in the fifth wheel that will hold winter coats, gloves and hats. We are hoping that we won’t need many winter clothes. But you never know!

We won’t be carrying a lot of summer clothes either. We are going to limit ourselves to a lot less then we currently have. It’s funny how we tend to hoard clothes that we haven’t worn in a while including the things that doesn’t fit anymore! We’ll only keep what we can fit into and get rid of the rest.

We also have a small tote under the bed with our small Christmas tree and decorations. Its nice having the under bed storage area. It will hold four good size totes and several small totes. Our closet is large enough to hold four twenty gallon totes and we still have room for hanging clothes. We have a couple of large long baskets we have placed on shelf above the hanging clothes. Where can store T-shirts, shorts and pants. Our dresser has four small drawers. Those drawers are only large enough to hold undies, socks and PJ’s.

We also have an additional storage area in the bedroom where we store our bed linens and blankets. Deciding which blankets and linens to take was a chore in itself. Dawn has her favorites and I have mine. We have that all worked out and done.

We plan to live in the fifth wheel while we prepare the house to put on the market. We want to make sure we empty the house except for the remaining furniture. Living in the fifth wheel will also give us the opportunity to see exactly what we need and what we don’t. This way we will hopefully have the fifth wheel just the way we want it when we hit the road.

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

Many Thanks

Dawn wants to say THANKS for all the birthday wishes. She was a very shocked at how many wishes she received. It really made her day.

Now I have to confess that Dawn's given me full reign when it comes to writing this blog and hasn't had any complaints until yesterday. The problem started when she noticed I posted her age. She asked why I felt it important to let everyone know how old she was.

After apologizing many times, she has given me her permission to write more post. However, I must have approval before pressing the publish button!!!

I find it interesting that many of the people that posted comments also mentioned they were in our age group. I really believe this is a great age to be stepping out into this lifestyle. Seems we are young enough to have fun and old enough to be able to read a map! It's kinda like running away from home at middle age! The exception being that we are taking our home with us.

Travel Safe
Dawn and Denise

Happy Birthday Dawn

Today is Dawn’s "53rd" birthday, Yes, she was born Monday, March 10th, 1958. The president of the United States was Dwight D. Eisenhower. That is also the year inflation dipped below 2%. The average yearly wage was $4,600.00 The average cost of a new house was $30,000.00, average monthly rent was $92.00.

Gas was $.25 per Gallon

Kellogg's Corn Flakes cost $.18 per box,
Hershey Bar $.05
McDonald's hamburger prices $.15
2 heads of lettuce for $.25
10 lb bag of potatoes $.59
Eggs per dozen $.33
10 lb Sugar $.79
Loaf of bread $.20
Postage Stamp $.04

The year Toyota and Datsun Cars were sold in the US.
Elvis Presley is inducted into the Army.
The Microchip co-invented by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments.
Zennith Corporation develped the remote control.

The Wham-O company introduces the Hula Hoop.

Popular Films included; The Bridge on the River Kwai, South Pacific, Gigi, King Creole and Vertigo.

Popular Singers included; Elvis Presley, Billie Holiday, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra, The Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Popular TV Programmes included; Candid Camera, The Ed Sullivan Show, Come Dancing, The Jack Benny Show and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN

Travel Safe Denise

Fulltime Budget

Budget! We have been doing some research online to find out what our living expenses might be as fulltimers. It appears to be different for everyone. We’ve noticed that some people can live on very little money and some have staggering budgets.

Here is what we’ve learned so far. Boondocking, There is quite a few people that live this very frugal lifestyle. Their living expenses are very low because they are very self contained. They tend to stay out of the way places such as BLM for nothing or practically nothing. They use solar power for their electricity and use it sparingly. They haul their water from off site and it is used sparingly too. They claim to have the best views of any RVers.

It sounds appealing. We are certainly open to the wide open views and the quite of the great outdoors but we are kind of spoiled. We like having electricity. We run the A/C when it’s HOT outside. Neither of us are big fans of sleeping with the windows open and sweating ourselves to sleep. I have severe allergies that make it difficult for me to sleep with the windows open anyway. We don’t use a lot of water but we really don’t care to have to haul it either. If we spend too much time in the wilderness we might drive each other totally crazy!

Resort RVers. WOW, we have learned that many people stay only in RV resorts and enjoy all the finer things in life. The finer things such as full hook ups that include water, electric, sewer, cable and wifi to name a few. These resorts have computer centers, laundry, restaurants, bars, golf courses, tennis courts, fitness center and heated swimming pools. Have you seen the prices of these kinds of places? We could spend our monthly income and stay at RV resorts, but we’d have to spend our days pan handling for food and gas money. That doesn’t sound too appealing.

We might just have to shop around and stay in the average campgrounds until we get an idea just what our living expenses will be. We sometimes learn best by doing!

We are welcome to any input anyone might want to offer on the subject.

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

Slow Weekend

Dawn is experiencing another bout with the cluster headaches. This is her second or third year to suffer with them. These headaches only last a few minutes each episode but she may have twenty a day. The after effect is exhaustion.

It seems they come on in early spring and last four to six weeks. They go into remission and will return again in the late fall. She has text book symptoms and her doctor says there isn’t anything they can do for her. The cause has not yet been discovered.

It is really difficult to watch her suffer with the terrible pain these headaches cause. Yesterday afternoon she was in tears and I felt helpless. She is in her third week so we are hoping they will soon return to remission.

This weekend I packed up a few more boxes for storage and did some odd and in things around the house. Other than that, we didn’t do much at all.

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise

Chasing Our Tails

It sure is becoming more and more difficult to watch while everyone else is starting their full timing dreams. I realize we’re doing the best we can but there are times when it seems as though we’re moving in slow motion. I’m tired of boxing up STUFF and moving boxes. I’m sick of having garage sales. I just want it to all be done. I’m ready to move on the next chapter.

We’re just so jealous to read that Heyduke and bride  have sold everything but the house which currently has a contract pending. Annie and Roxi  will be heading out on the open road real soon since Annie has been laid off effective today. George and Laurie have the house on the market and have had some lookers. Looks like Gin and Syl  are still planning on hitting the road this fall.

We’re just getting very impatient because we still have so much to take care of. Sometimes we feel like a dog chasing its tail! Seems we’re just going in circles. This has been a long drawn out process for us. We have been having garage sales for roughly three years now. We had to do it this way because we had her parents STUFF, our catering STUFF, Bed & Breakfast STUFF, her STUFF and my STUFF. Folks, I’m here to tell ya that’s a lot of STUFF!

Before

But wait a minute, as I say that I also suddenly remember all we have done. We have done a lot, a whole lot! We are doing pretty well actually. Our garage sale STUFF is now down to a single car garage. We might be able to get rid of this STUFF in a couple of more sales.

What will we do with all that STUFF gone? We will celebrate!!!!!!!

We will no longer be known as the garage sale ladies.

Suddenly, things are looking up. I need to just quit feeling sorry for myself and get my big A** in gear and take care of the rest of this STUFF so we can get out there too.

Sorry don’t have time to blog, we gota get busy!

Travel Safe Dawn and Denise