Thursday, 7/31/2014, I retired! This is one more step in our full-timing process. I've only worked about 50 years! Wow! I guess it is time to stop! I had a great day on Thursday. So many people came by to say goodby and wish me well. My "guys" gave me a Camping World gift card that I'll use for a back up camera. I'll miss them all. There are so many talented, friendly and caring folks at Lockheed Martin. I'm proud of my nearly 29 year career there. Although I'll miss everyone at LM, I'm anxious to start the next phase of my life. That is, start traveling! The heat and humidity here in SE Georgia is a huge contributing factor to the anxiety. If I wasn't receiving some Chiropractic procedures for a pinched nerve condition, I'd hook up the truck and pull our little home on wheels out of here and head for a cooler climate! Although I am feeling much better and tempted to cancel the rest of my treatments in order to hit the road, I should probably complete them. So, that will put us on schedule, which is to leave on August 14th and slowly meander towards Berryville, AR.
Besides, I have chores to do and a few friends to visit before pulling up stakes. I need to build a cabinet to house all of Maggie's food, leashes and other paraphernalia. Yesterday, I started a project to secure the skirt of the RV. The factory simply ran screws through the thin sheet metal and wind and vibration can rip the metal loose. So I'm putting in more screws and using large fender washers on them. I'm also going to install a wine cooler. Hey! It only hold 18 bottles, so that still qualifies as primitive camping, right? :-) I also need to buy and install some good mud flaps on the truck. Dirt and rocks thrown up from the tires can make a mess and damage the front of the RV. So, even though I no longer live in a S&B (Sticks & Bricks) home, I still have "home" projects to work!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Almost there!
Well, I've completed my second last week of work. Five days from today, I will complete my last day of work and will be officially retired! I've wondered if this day would ever come. The light at the end of the tunnel is not a freight train, after all! LOL!
We had moved into the RV on the 15th and still do not have a home for everything that we have brought into it. I think that is making my very organized better half a bit edgy, so I'll have to work on that! I have to modify one cabinet by removing the shelf or raising it, so the sewing machine will fit into it. Then, I have to build a cabinet by the front door to house all of Maggie's dog food, leash, etc. We have a piece of plywood that we put in front of the door to protect the door from Maggie if her separation anxiety gets the best of her, when we leave her alone in the RV. In the past, she had scratched and chewed the door frame in our house and destroyed the door screen in the RV. However, she has gotten better. We've examined the plywood each time we come back and there has been no damage to it the last couple of times that we have left her alone. Hopefully, she will be "cured" and we can dispose of the plywood.
I also need to set up a WiFi system. We are going to keep our printer in the bedroom and do not want to have to haul our computers in there to print. Also, my Denon Surround Sound System is internet ready and I want to connect it also. That will enable us to listen to internet radio, show photos from our cell phones on the flat screen TV, etc.
So, since we are living in the RV since the 15th and no longer own a house, we must be RV full timers! However, we will feel more like full timers after I retire and we hit the road! It won't be too much longer. Sometime in the second week of August, we will hit start our trip to Arkansas and that will mark the beginning or our adventures!
We had moved into the RV on the 15th and still do not have a home for everything that we have brought into it. I think that is making my very organized better half a bit edgy, so I'll have to work on that! I have to modify one cabinet by removing the shelf or raising it, so the sewing machine will fit into it. Then, I have to build a cabinet by the front door to house all of Maggie's dog food, leash, etc. We have a piece of plywood that we put in front of the door to protect the door from Maggie if her separation anxiety gets the best of her, when we leave her alone in the RV. In the past, she had scratched and chewed the door frame in our house and destroyed the door screen in the RV. However, she has gotten better. We've examined the plywood each time we come back and there has been no damage to it the last couple of times that we have left her alone. Hopefully, she will be "cured" and we can dispose of the plywood.
I also need to set up a WiFi system. We are going to keep our printer in the bedroom and do not want to have to haul our computers in there to print. Also, my Denon Surround Sound System is internet ready and I want to connect it also. That will enable us to listen to internet radio, show photos from our cell phones on the flat screen TV, etc.
So, since we are living in the RV since the 15th and no longer own a house, we must be RV full timers! However, we will feel more like full timers after I retire and we hit the road! It won't be too much longer. Sometime in the second week of August, we will hit start our trip to Arkansas and that will mark the beginning or our adventures!
Friday, July 18, 2014
The next step...
Yesterday, 7/17/2014, the movers for the storage company came and picked up all of our furniture and belongings that we are not getting rid of or taking with us. It's now a little odd walking into the house and seeing it totally empty. Sad for one part of our life, but so exciting that we are about to embark on the next phase of our life. As we were giving away and donating stuff, the house started to develop an echo. When Maggie barked, it seemed so much louder than normal!
Another "next step" was to move the RV from the S&B (Sticks & Bricks) house to our local KOA campground. We did that yesterday, as well. So, this is the first "stay" of our new lifestyle. This KOA is very nice although close to the interstate, so you do hear the noise of the traffic. It's not a problem for us since we are well insulated and have double pane windows. We don't hear the noise inside and I slept like a baby last night.
The staff at this KOA (Link thingy) are very nice and very helpful. If this place wasn't so close to our S&B, (about 6 to 8 miles) we would have stayed here before! If you are traveling this way, we recommend it. They also have cabins and you can see part of one behind our camper. Ginny (the lady at the desk) said all you need is food and charcoal! They are fully set up and ready. I think she said $90 a night for a 2 person and $120 or $130 a night for 6 person cabins.
We will be here at the KOA for about a month. I'll retire on the 31st of July. We'll use the rest of the time to take care of local business, spend time with friends and family and say goodby to Camden County. We've enjoyed our life here and will come back often to visit. When we leave the KOA, we will head for Berryville, Arkansas. Slowly, that is, because we'll be retired!
Another "next step" was to move the RV from the S&B (Sticks & Bricks) house to our local KOA campground. We did that yesterday, as well. So, this is the first "stay" of our new lifestyle. This KOA is very nice although close to the interstate, so you do hear the noise of the traffic. It's not a problem for us since we are well insulated and have double pane windows. We don't hear the noise inside and I slept like a baby last night.
The staff at this KOA (Link thingy) are very nice and very helpful. If this place wasn't so close to our S&B, (about 6 to 8 miles) we would have stayed here before! If you are traveling this way, we recommend it. They also have cabins and you can see part of one behind our camper. Ginny (the lady at the desk) said all you need is food and charcoal! They are fully set up and ready. I think she said $90 a night for a 2 person and $120 or $130 a night for 6 person cabins.
We will be here at the KOA for about a month. I'll retire on the 31st of July. We'll use the rest of the time to take care of local business, spend time with friends and family and say goodby to Camden County. We've enjoyed our life here and will come back often to visit. When we leave the KOA, we will head for Berryville, Arkansas. Slowly, that is, because we'll be retired!
Friday, July 11, 2014
Update to our Full Timing status
We are getting closer and closer to becoming full-timers! On the afternoon of June 16th, Nicole Readdick (our agent) placed the "for sale" sign in the front yard. On Wednesday, June 18, she called and said there were people that wanted to see our house that night at 6:15. We said, come on! That night, Nicole called and said the people really liked the house and would be making an offer the next day. Thursday, June 19th, we had a full price offer! The closing date is set for July 21st. We are another step closer to being full time RVers!
Now, we have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of. Kids, friends and grandchildren got a lot of stuff. The trash men got a lot! Useable stuff that nobody wants goes out to the road where it mysteriously disappears! We are keeping enough "stuff" to start back in a small home, if we decide the nomadic lifestyle is not for us. That "stuff" will go into an environmentally controlled storage facility. They will be here on Thursday, July 17th to take away our "stuff"! We are going to move into our RV between the 13th and 15th. Then on the 16th, we will move the RV to our local KOA campground where we will stay for about one month. After the closing, I'll work until the end of the month and, on August 1st, I will be officially retired! Dodie retired last September, so we will be free to pursue our full timing dream!
First stop" We dunno! First destination? Berryville, Arkansas. Why Berryville? That's where our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live. One of the advantages to being a full time RVer is the ability to visit family and we plan to do that!
Now, we have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of. Kids, friends and grandchildren got a lot of stuff. The trash men got a lot! Useable stuff that nobody wants goes out to the road where it mysteriously disappears! We are keeping enough "stuff" to start back in a small home, if we decide the nomadic lifestyle is not for us. That "stuff" will go into an environmentally controlled storage facility. They will be here on Thursday, July 17th to take away our "stuff"! We are going to move into our RV between the 13th and 15th. Then on the 16th, we will move the RV to our local KOA campground where we will stay for about one month. After the closing, I'll work until the end of the month and, on August 1st, I will be officially retired! Dodie retired last September, so we will be free to pursue our full timing dream!
First stop" We dunno! First destination? Berryville, Arkansas. Why Berryville? That's where our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live. One of the advantages to being a full time RVer is the ability to visit family and we plan to do that!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
We arrived at Skidaway Island State Park yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised. It is nicely laid out with plenty of room, easy to get to and plenty of room to maneuver. They have 20, 30, 50 amp power, water, sewer and cable where we are. There are power and water only sites and some are water and 30 amp only.
After setting up and a slight rest to cool down, we were going to go for a bike ride. Oops...rain! At least it was dry while we were getting set up! It's expected to rain for most of the day tomorrow and will be beautiful for the rest of the weekend. :)
Brought the kayak to try a little fishing.
There's enough room to park in front or in back of the RV. Some sites have enough room to park 2 trucks in front and in back of their RV's!
Camp dog chillin'! It was a long boring ride for her from the SE corner of Georgia to the NE corner!
As I said, very spacious! And...very, very clean.
You are not on top of your neighbors!
Check out the size of this lot!
Plenty of places for family and group picnics.
The weather did not cooperate and it was way too windy to launch the kayak for fishing. So, we went bile riding and took these pictures while we were out yesterday. Since we planned to tour http://www.trolleytours.com/savannah/ Savanna tomorrow, I brought the kayak for nothing! :( Oh well, there will be other times.
We highly recommend the trolley tour of Savannah. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour very enjoyable. If you desire, you can tour all day for the one price. You can get off at a dozen or so different places and catch another trolley when you are ready to move on. Savannah is so very rich in history. I had no idea. Trying to remember everything the guide told us was like trying to drink from a fire hose!
Everywhere you looked, there were historical buildings.
You saw a lot of these rocks used in the construction of walls, streets and buildings. These are ballast rocks that were used by the sailing ships that came over from the "old world" empty. They dumped the rocks and returned filled with stuff from the "new world".
We were in the mood for a really good burger and the Warehouse was recommended. They have very loud rock music, but the service and burgers were great! The Warehouse is right on the waterfront.
After setting up and a slight rest to cool down, we were going to go for a bike ride. Oops...rain! At least it was dry while we were getting set up! It's expected to rain for most of the day tomorrow and will be beautiful for the rest of the weekend. :)
Brought the kayak to try a little fishing.
There's enough room to park in front or in back of the RV. Some sites have enough room to park 2 trucks in front and in back of their RV's!
Camp dog chillin'! It was a long boring ride for her from the SE corner of Georgia to the NE corner!
As I said, very spacious! And...very, very clean.
You are not on top of your neighbors!
Check out the size of this lot!
Plenty of places for family and group picnics.
The weather did not cooperate and it was way too windy to launch the kayak for fishing. So, we went bile riding and took these pictures while we were out yesterday. Since we planned to tour http://www.trolleytours.com/savannah/ Savanna tomorrow, I brought the kayak for nothing! :( Oh well, there will be other times.
We highly recommend the trolley tour of Savannah. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour very enjoyable. If you desire, you can tour all day for the one price. You can get off at a dozen or so different places and catch another trolley when you are ready to move on. Savannah is so very rich in history. I had no idea. Trying to remember everything the guide told us was like trying to drink from a fire hose!
Everywhere you looked, there were historical buildings.
You saw a lot of these rocks used in the construction of walls, streets and buildings. These are ballast rocks that were used by the sailing ships that came over from the "old world" empty. They dumped the rocks and returned filled with stuff from the "new world".
We were in the mood for a really good burger and the Warehouse was recommended. They have very loud rock music, but the service and burgers were great! The Warehouse is right on the waterfront.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
April at Jekyll Island
I had planned to go fishing on Friday, but the winds were really strong out of the north, so we loaded the bikes on the truck and went to the historic area to ride. They keep the area meticulously groomed and all the trees and bushes have a new coat of leaves which made the views extra beautiful.
Driftwood Beach is always amazing. This portion of the beach has been the location of many weddings
Since we have made a decision to become "Full-timers" we were on the lookout for full-timers in the park that we could talk to about getting started into full timing. We met Glenn and Judy from Wyoming who have been full timing for 14 years and spent part of Saturday afternoon talking with them. Later, we met George and Laurie from Pennsylvania and California respectively. They started full timing 3 years ago. They came over to our RV and chatted a while. One thing led to another and, before long, we had combined their food and ours and had dinner together! We really enjoyed hearing of their adventures and soaked up as much full-timing information as we could. George and Laurie, we really enjoyed spending time with you and appreciate the info and advise!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Hanna Park, Mayport, Florida
In the middle of March we needed a little "get-away" and decided to try something new that was close to home. We went to Hanna Park in Jacksonville, FL. Link to Hanna Park It is located just south of the Mayport Naval Station. The camping area is very woodsy. There is a variety of sites, so there is pretty much a site that will fit you. If you like concrete pads, cable TV and WiFi, this is not the place for you. They do have water, sewer and good electric. The electrical system looks new and modernized with 20, 30 and 50 amp receptacles at each site.
Although woodsy, there was plenty of room. I could have parked two duallys and car on the site! As it was, a good friend, John Stewart, came to visit and spent the night. No problem, plenty of parking!
Here is a view of the lake. There is also access to the ocean and lots of bike trails.
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