I Want To Live Here!

I don't know why I couldn't have been born rich instead of just so good looking...hahaha! But, really, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around just how rich some people are.

We were invited to dinner today at the clubhouse. We really enjoyed ourselves, and sat and talked to some of the "seasoned" travelers for quite some time. My goodness! One couple told us about a few of the trips they have taken and I was in awe of the stories. Helicopter rides in Alaska and over the Grand Canyon. Cruises to all sorts of exciting destinations. They have their own private street that their house is on at the top of some city, and they have a motor home the size of my house in Burbank, Ohio! I'd say he robs banks for a living, but that motor home wouldn't make a very good getaway vehicle.

Dennis and I were talking about it on our walk this evening, and we decided that as nice as all that must be, we are still very blessed to be where we are, and have what we have. And we woudn't change a thing!

HOWEVER! I really would like to live here. We talked to another gentleman who knows a gentleman that owns a lot down here, but wants to rent it out this winter, soooo. I think we just might come back when the snow flies this coming winter.

We are going to get all the information from John (that's the gentleman that told us about the other gentleman) and check into it. Wouldn't that be nice?

And to all my friends and family, come on down!!!

Make New Friends

Most people that know me, will tell you that I'm very outgoing, even "the talkative one". Most would never think I'm shy. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I've never been a really confident person, I just try to look like I am. No small feat, that. But today, I made new friends.

Dennis and I went to check out the clubhouse here late this morning, and we ran into some very friendly folks who are owners in this Retirement Community. (You have to be an old person to stay here. Much to my chagrin, I qualify).

One very nice woman, Dorie, started the conversation by asking us if we were "new" here. When Dennis told her and the others with her that we had just retired last month, we became the "newbies". If you remember, earlier in the week we were called "greenhorns". I am totally enjoying being the new "kids" on the block! Who would ever have thought that Dennis and I would be the "younguns"?

After some conversation, we were invited to a Memorial Day picnic here with some other campers. This really made my day, as this morning I had talked to my mom and my sister, Jeannie, and was feeling just a tad blue and homesick. I know my great big, happy family will all be together this whole holiday weekend, and I won't be with them. And I'm thinking they will still have fun even when I'm not there! Maybe not quite as much fun, but fun, none the less.

So, the song that is going through my mind today has been one I remember from Girl Scouts many, many years ago. "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." Today, I made some new friends!

Leave Your Troubles Behind

I'm sure you've heard that old expression, "Just leave your troubles behind!" Well, I'm here to tell you that isn't always possible. Even in "paradise".

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I'm sitting here clenching my teeth like someone is trying to pull them out of my mouth. Why? Because that's my nature. I worry. And I do it so well!

 We have had to help Mom sell her house because her health is no longer such that she can live alone anymore. That alone has had me all bent out of shape for quite some time. For many reasons, some even very selfish on my part. But I've tried really hard to "pull up my big girl panties" (as a very dear friend says), and deal with it. So, we put it up for sale last September, and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, we got some action on it. It's a beautiful home, and we fixed everything that needed fixing, so it's "move in ready". Now, we have an offer, now we have a contract, now we start moving her things out. And now we have a problem!

With todays economy being what it is, Mom's beautiful, move in ready house appraised for less than the contract. This is a legal and binding contract. But...greed has popped its ugly head out and decided to ask us to drop the price. And, here's where it comes in, I'm here, in "paradise" while the rest of my family deals with all of this. So, I'm sitting here with my teeth clenched, my head pounding, and worrying! And I'm doing it really well!

Maybe YOU can leave all your worries behind, but I just haven't figured out how to just yet. But, I'm working on it!

We're home!

After another long day of driving south on Interstate 75, we're finally at our destination; Ft. Myers, Florida!

The park we're staying in, for at least one month, is called Cypress Woods RV Resort. This is the fanciest, schmanciest place I've ever vacationed! It's a "gated" community. You have to have some sort of credit card looking thing you wave in front of some sensor thing to get the gates open so you can drive in. And there's a guard house, just like the Army bases where my son, Jason, lived  when he was in the Army. Well, there's no soldier to salute you in, but still... And the sign that's planted right in front of the first gate says "Welcome Home!" Oh yea...

There are virtually no other people here right now...snow birds went home already. Kinda nice for us, really. There are 2 really nice pools, exercize rooms, a library, tennis courts and shuffleboard courts. There are 2 lakes with big sprinklers in them, and at night, there are lights shining in the sprinklers! Beautiful!

Palm trees are everywhere. And the landscaping is absolutely the prettiest I have seen outside of a National Park. Someone must work on it all day, every day.

After we got all "set up" (that's camper talk), we went to dinner, then came home and went for a walk. It had cooled off and was perfect walking weather. Chico loved it too, especially when we ran in to a couple from Minnesota walking their 2 little white dogs of some sort. We stood and talked baseball for a while; they are Twins fans, and of course, I'm a Cleveland Indians fan. (nanananabooboo!) Nice people though. I don't think we'll run into any tobacco spittin' folks in this park.

Dennis got his fishin' pole out and stood at the lake that sits right at the back of our 5th wheel for a bit. Didn't catch anything, but I could see him relax completely while he was holding that rod and reel! He looked like a retired man ought to look. Content!

Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!

Signs (written at 10:30am)

"Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs; blockin' out the scenery, breakin my mind..." 

As we drive south on Interstate 75 in southern Georgia and northern Florida, this song comes to mind. (Yes, I'm a '70's gal and this is a '70's song). But, a more appropriate song, I can't think of at the moment.

"All trucks use right lane"; "Golf, fun, retirement living at it's best!"; Cracker Barrel next exit"; "Pecans and fresh Peaches in 5 miles". These signs can be helpful, although they needn't be the size of a small building, in my opinion.

All of a sudden, I begin seeing signs that truly shock me..."We Bare All"..."Strippers!"..."Semi Parking Provided!" Now, If you know me, you know I'm not often at a loss for words, but momentarily, I was.

Then my mind went to my sweet, innocent, precious granddaughters. Someone else's sweet, innocent, precious granddaughter grew up to be advertized on a 100 foot billboard as a stripper that "bares all". And lets not leave out that someones sweet, innocent, precious grandSON grew up to go there and lust after her!

"Adult Supercenter!" This makes me sick to my stomach. Literally! And, ironically, the sign right behind the "Adult Supercenter" sign says "Sex without consent is rape!" Uh...sex without MARRIAGE is a sin! And so is "Baring All".

What ever happened to morals? I know, I know...not popular in this technologically progressive society we find ourselves living in. But, really...even if one isn't "religious", is it really all right in their minds to "bare all", and advertize it on a sign??? This conduct isn't new, it's gone on pretty much forever. Look at Sodom and Gomorrah. But now we're so morally bankrupt that we have no shame and advertize it on a sign.

Jesus BORE it all. And he did it without sinning, knowing we would sin. And I don't think, no, I KNOW he wouldn't approve of these signs, or the people represented by them.

Another song comes to mind- but I'm changing the lyrics just a wee bit.

"Mama just let your babies grow up to be cowboys!!!"

Hi Y'all!

As day 3 comes to a close, I feel such a sense of contentment that I haven't felt in a very long time. I just got off the phone with my dear, sweet mother who I really hated leaving behind in Ohio.

When Dennis and I first started planning our retirement, we spoke frequently with Mom about it, and how we were going to take her with us. My parents spent many, many days traveling around this beautiful country pulling their travel trailer behind them. They actually were in every state of the Union, except, of course, Hawaii. I never got to go with them because by the time they were able to travel, I was raising 2 small boys. I will always regret that, but it is what it is.

Now, Moms health isn't good enough for her to travel with us, and it breaks my heart. She is one of the most fun people to be around, and is a wealth of knowledge about traveling. What we are learning every day, sometimes the hard way, she could be telling us and saving a lot of hassles! I so wish I could be sharing all of this with her, and her sharing her experience with us. Ah, if wishes were horses...as she used to always tell me.

We didn't travel today, at least not with the 5th wheel. We did some around town sight seeing, but mostly rested today. We went to the outlet mall close by, and there were only about 5 stores left, the rest closed and boarded up. Sad, this economy is affecting so many. We did find a discount book store, and even though both of us have brand new Kindles, we bought a few books to take to the beach with us. Old habits die hard. I bought a great Fairy Tale book for my grandchildren, hoping to instill our love of reading and books in them. I'm now anxious to sit down and read it with them.

We found a good steak house to eat dinner at, and enjoyed it very much. When we get to Ft. Myers, we'll grocery shop and I'll have to start cooking again. All good things must come to an end.

I also went to the local Walmart and bought a small vacuum cleaner for our new home. Got it out and put it to good use already too. Much better. We dragged so much muck and grass in when we were packing in the rain at home, it really needed a good sweeping. You don't have to sweep in a hotel!

I still miss my family. My son sent me a picture of my front yard, or as we're calling it now, Johnstonbaugh Pond. When will the rains end? If not soon, Justin may have to fire up the boat by our barn and take it to work. And still dry as a bone down here in the South.

Gonna go to bed and rise early to hit the road again. Destination tomorrow, Ft. Myers, Florida. Happy trails!!!

Our Second Day

We have finally reached our second days destination! As we were driving through Atlanta, I had my doubts, but by the Grace of God, and Dennis's good driving skills, we made it to Valdosta, Georgia.

As we were getting further and further South, I noticed the greenery getting less and less green. How sad that it is so very dry down here, when home, Ohio, is so saturated that walking through my back yard is like trekking through a swamp. Makes one wonder why? Like many other things, God knows the why, and I'll not question Him.

I already miss my family. No suprise there. I love my kids and grandkids so much, that if I were a rich woman, I'd have a great big castle with many wings in it for all of us to live together. Alas...that is not to be. So, I'll keep in touch the new "fangled" way by cell phone, internet and Skype. I feel like Jane Jetson every time I use Skype!

We had a few frustrating moments when we first set up at the campground this evening. We could NOT get the truck unhooked from the rv. It was beginning to scare me, nothing unusual about that, so I got out my laptop and Googled " how to unhook a truck from a fifth wheel hitch"...and it worked! Soon we were out shopping for a few things we didn't realize we needed; like hose so we could have water in our fancy new home away from home. Oh, and cable so we could hook up the free cable offered at the campgrounds. All the comforts of home. Sit in front of the boob-tube.                                  

My little Chihuahua, Chico, has become quite the traveller in two days. He slept most of the trip, and did what he was supposed to at the stops along the way. Now, if he just doesn't bark and bother the neighbors, we're a-okay!

I have decided it's much easier to pack a suitcase and get on an airplane to go on vacation...but you don't really see as much from the air as you do flying down the highway. Look at all the semi's you wouldn't get to see! So far, that's all we've seen. I told Dennis during the last hour of our trip today that this is it! We are NOT in a hurry any more. SLOW DOWN and enjoy the journey. That should be part of the enjoyment of our trip, not just getting there. We'll see what the next leg of this trip holds. I'll keep you posted!