SLOWING DOWN
Sometimes I feel like I just need to let it all out. My random thoughts must mean something to someone out there. And since I love lists, here is a list of my random thoughts today.1. The west coast is EXPENSIVE! Add 30-50% to pretty much the cost of everything that we pay in the Midwest. (Even more in California). As much as I loved the coast, I can't even imagine having to try and pay for living there. Which is sad, because I could so live there...at least during the summer.
2. But NOT on an island! We spent a month on Orcas Island and it was beautiful...but I felt TRAPPED!!!! I need to be able to get in my car and drive somewhere. All there were was dead-end roads and "no trespassing" signs. I couldn't live where a ferry was required for me to get somewhere.
3. My joints are not a fan of humidity. I felt so good in the desert. Anyone know a desert with a beach?
4. We are going to slow down. We are. We really are. Just after we drive to Arkansas for appointments and family, to Pensacola for a wedding, to Texas for Thanksgiving and to Arizona for the winter. But really, we need to slow down.
5. We do need to slow down. Google Maps told me that I spent 60 hours in August sitting in a vehicle traveling. That seems like a lot.
6. So, I tell Chuck we need to slow down and he says "Let's get a camp host job, so I won't be bored if we stay in one place." We're looking....hosting will give us a free campsite. So, I just need to tell myself that cleaning bathrooms is worth not paying for the campsite. Or figure out how to make sure that Chuck does all the bathroom cleaning, so he doesn't get too bored.
7. In our first 15 months, we have been to Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. About 15,000 miles or more. Did I mention we need to slow down?
8 Speaking of slowing down, I have a 15-year-old dachshund who has slowed down a lot. He is also drinking way too much water and sometimes having a hard time breathing. He gets a bit offended because he barks at everyone and they smile and say "aw...isn't he cute".....guess we have to see the vet and see what we need to do to keep him happy through the rest of his golden years.
9. Speaking of golden years, my husband will be 69 in a week and 2 days. Time flies. That's really close to 70.
10. The UPS Store in Fayetteville was a bad idea for mail forwarding. Our mail has been lost twice. We're afraid to even ask for it to be sent anywhere anymore. I should have a month or two of mail when we get back to Fayetteville. I need to find another service. Not looking forward to that. Sorry to everyone whose bills I have missed. Sorry to anyone whose bills I will miss with the next service we try. Sigh. My least favorite part of this lifestyle.
11. In addition to trying to get some camp host positions, we're going to try the 4,3,2,1 rule. No more than 4 hours of driving, arrive where you're going by 3 pm, stay 2 weeks, do 1 new thing a day.
12. I love finding and sending postcards. I love that my friends love their postcards. It'll be fun to find postcards when we stay in places longer. It's fun to find obscure places that have their own postcards.
13. I really don't want to give up our 2 months in Tucson that we have scheduled. I'm kind of curious about what Tucson will be like. I think there will be a lot to do there.
14. Next month is Pensacola Beach for 2 weeks! Hurricanes, stay away!
