Wednesday, January 28, 2015

January 26, 2014
I went to the Rv show yesterday.  Spent a lot of time looking at travel trailers.  I was very impressed with the Lance.  Of course the price was outrageous. I wouldn't be able to buy a new Lance and a truck so I'll be looking for something used.
The thing I really liked about the Lance was the true 4 season pkgs.  I think I could live in this for a month in Kentucky during the winter.  Certainly not all winter but when I'm in town visiting my children.
However, looking at the amenities and storage for the smallest trailers leaves a lot to desire.  Regular cab pickup is about 19' and then the smaller trailers are about 19' so now your about 38' or 40' in length.  Increase your trailer size to 22' or 24' to add the extras you want and your over 40' in length.  This does not sound easy to drive, much less park.
We also toured some Bs and Cs while at the show.  When it comes to driving these seem much easier to handle.  Of course you lose a lot of storage area.  If I was going to keep my house I would definitely go for a B.
So much to think about.  Will I ever make a decision?
Have a great day!

January 22, 2014
Sunday my daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and niece came for dinner.  I love having them over.  I can't imagine not spending time with my family.  We don't get together weekly or even monthly but I love it when they can all be here.  This is what worries me about selling the house and traveling.  It wouldn't worry me if I had the money to keep the house and travel.  To go months without a visit is not a big deal but years would not be possible.  I have to work this out in my mind somehow.
My brothers and sisters are scattered all over the country and we seldom see each other.  My parents divorced and lived 1000 miles apart.  Some of us grew up in Ky and some in Fl.  We now live in KY, FL, TX, MO and KS.  Sometimes we go for years without visits.  I have nieces and nephews I've never met.  Thank goodness for facebook which has allowed me to see pictures of their birthdays and accomplishments.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

JANUARY 16th & 17th

Friday January 16th
Yesterday I got two boxes out of the back room before being interrupted.  I got one box emptied and will work on the second one today.  Very slow progress.
Again I spent most of the day reading travel blogs.  I'm so addicted.  I'm afraid to miss even one.  There may be some important information or pictures I haven't seen before.  One person talked about all the things she does before moving from her current camping spot.  You know all these things will need to be done but don't realize how hard it would be to remember everything.  She has been full timing for 3 months and only now feels that she has the routine down.  Still she never leaves a site without pulling forward and then double checking everything to make sure nothing is left behind and everything is secured properly.  Smart lady.

Saturday January 17th
I wrote the above yesterday but didn't post so I thought I better do that today.
I finished with the second box of books yesterday and emptied two more boxes.  Sales were pretty good but they didn't make up for the other slow days.
Today I must get all my sales for December entered and finish up the end of the year bookkeeping.  Sales tax are due Tuesday the 20th so I must get December closed out and send in my check.
There is a thrift store going in next door to me.  The manager came  in and introduced himself yesterday.  He was looking for a place to sell his overstock of books.  Ha!  Not me buddy.  The thrift store will probably run me out of here this year.  Most thrift stores charge about 50 cents per book and I have to charge 3.00 to make any profit.  This new store is a Christian based charity store so I'm sure everything will be very cheap.  While I want to close and travel anyway, I do see this as a problem because no one will want to buy the store out right when it sets next to a thrift store.
I better get off here.  I'm hoping today will be a good sales day and I have bookkeeping to do.
Have a great day.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

DOWNSIZING

Welcome to my blog Marilyn and Tina.  Thanks for commenting.  I appreciate all the good ideas.
What a great day. 
Since the first of the year I get up every morning excited about the adventure.  It's hard to understand why I'm so excited about traveling when I haven't finalized any of my decisions.  I just know deep inside that this year will be great.
I promised myself I would blog and do some work in the store before I start reading blogs today.  Yesterday after posting I looked over some of the my older posts and realized I mention reading traveling blogs in almost every post  Ha what a wonderful life.
Today I'll be working on cleaning out some of the old boxes of books in the store.  Most of them were overstock when I put them in the back room now they just need to be moved out.  Some will go on the shelves and some will be donated.  Any that are in poor condition will be tossed.  I will pull several boxes out to the front room so I can sort through them, since I'm the only one working I can't be in the back room long.  I've avoided down sizing the store but cleaning out the back room will not affect my sales.
I've done a lot of downsizing at my home but I still have one room that needs a lot of work.  Also I need to get busy scanning in all my pictures.  I've worked on this some but it is a big job.  I've got all the pictures that have been handed down from previous generations plus my own family pictures, plus my early travel pictures.
Work, work, work.  This is where I need to be concentrating.  Getting things done so I'll be ready when the time comes.
Have a great day.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

LOCAL RV SHOW

I would post more often but I spend most of my time reading blogs.  I start every morning going down the list of blogs I follow, catching up on their lives.  This seriously cuts into the time I could be working, down sizing the house, prepping books for sale, etc.  I'm addicted.
On the 25th I'm going to the local sports, boat & rv show.  I'll walk through every trailer they have and check out some new class c's.  The new Winnebago Trend looks interesting I hope there will be one to look through.  I'm pretty sure there won't be any Casita's at the show but the Casita and the Nash are the two trailers I'm most interested in.  They are small and easy to pull with a 1/2 ton truck. The 1/2 ton being the most economical and perhaps in my price range.  Of course that is only if I get enough out of my house.
Looking on rvtrader there seems to be a lot of 2014 motorhomes for sale.  It looks like there are some really good deals on these.  If I had $100 grand laying around I would get a small class c or b for traveling and not pull a toad.
As much as I do not like the idea of pulling a trailer I always come back to feeling it would be the better choice if I'm going to be working on the road. 
I do a lot of wondering around in a circle, never making a decision.  At least I don't have to make the final decision until I get the money in my hand.

Have a great day!

Friday, January 2, 2015

WHAT TO DO WHILE ON THE ROAD

The beginning of the new year brings lots of thoughts on how I will accomplish my dreams of traveling.  Included are how to increase my income and what would make me happy.
I read several blogs which describe volunteering in different national parks.  I think I would like to work in a refuge.  I like the idea of giving something back.  I love watching the birds and animals in our country and I think it would be nice to feel that I was contributing to the future.  I don't think any of the skills I've learned in my past would help other than working in a VC or office but I would be willing to learn new ways to help.  Volunteering would help me financially by providing a place to park my rv in exchange for my time.

2015 goals:
sell house
purchase a van or truck
rent a kayak
take an all day hike
hike alone