The last day of the year. I spend my days reading travel blogs and living through others adventures. This is the last year for this life style. 2015 will be the beginning of my new traveling life. First I must get my house in order and then I must sell my business. Last but most important buy an RV!!!
Yeah for 2015!!
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Saturday, December 27, 2014
A NEW YEAR IS COMING
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year!
It was a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. My daughter Saunya does a great job of hosting all of us for Christmas day. Thank you Saunya.
Today was my first day back to work and I've spent it catching up on all the travel blogs I read. How exciting it is to know I'm headed towards that life. I will now spend the rest of the day searching for rv's for sale.
2015 will bring great changes and I'm ready.
It was a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. My daughter Saunya does a great job of hosting all of us for Christmas day. Thank you Saunya.
Today was my first day back to work and I've spent it catching up on all the travel blogs I read. How exciting it is to know I'm headed towards that life. I will now spend the rest of the day searching for rv's for sale.
2015 will bring great changes and I'm ready.
Friday, December 19, 2014
WE HAVE SUNSHINE
We have sunshine today. Amazing how much difference a little sun can make.
It's time to get the house ready for the kids to make their cookies and ornaments on Sunday. I will make a chili supper also for Sunday. The kids love my chili which includes lots of cheese and fritos. But first I must wrap the presents that are sitting all over my couch and end tables.
I would write about what I've been doing but I spend most of my time reading travel blogs. As I read and admire the pictures I can dream about being there. Jealously is not pretty. I should be on the road by the end of this year. Can't wait.
Have a great day!
It's time to get the house ready for the kids to make their cookies and ornaments on Sunday. I will make a chili supper also for Sunday. The kids love my chili which includes lots of cheese and fritos. But first I must wrap the presents that are sitting all over my couch and end tables.
I would write about what I've been doing but I spend most of my time reading travel blogs. As I read and admire the pictures I can dream about being there. Jealously is not pretty. I should be on the road by the end of this year. Can't wait.
Have a great day!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
MY BROTHER
Dec 12, 2014
Yesterday was the first time in my life that I knew my brother would not wish me a happy birthday. And for the first time in as long as I can remember I didn't make myself a note to call my brother the next day. I was born 1 year and 364 days after my brother. His birthday Dec 12 and mine Dec 11. I was the intruder in his world. We were the oldest in a family of 7 children. We didn't always have an easy life but we always had food and clothing and a roof over our heads.
I loved my brother but I didn't really know him. We hadn't lived in the same city since we were in our teens and that makes it hard to know one another. He had a type A personality, a workaholic and a alcoholic. Although Mike had stopped drinking more than 30 years ago he still considered himself an alcoholic and still went to meetings. These are the things I know for sure.
Mike died this spring. When I went to the funeral I saw his grown children and met some of his grandchildren. His family talked about what a good grandfather he was and about how he had helped each one of them. This was the first time I had seen the relationship between him and his children.
This was a different Mike, the loving father, the patient grandfather, the helpful son in law. I'm very sad that I didn't get to know that person.
I love you Mike.
Yesterday was the first time in my life that I knew my brother would not wish me a happy birthday. And for the first time in as long as I can remember I didn't make myself a note to call my brother the next day. I was born 1 year and 364 days after my brother. His birthday Dec 12 and mine Dec 11. I was the intruder in his world. We were the oldest in a family of 7 children. We didn't always have an easy life but we always had food and clothing and a roof over our heads.
I loved my brother but I didn't really know him. We hadn't lived in the same city since we were in our teens and that makes it hard to know one another. He had a type A personality, a workaholic and a alcoholic. Although Mike had stopped drinking more than 30 years ago he still considered himself an alcoholic and still went to meetings. These are the things I know for sure.
Mike died this spring. When I went to the funeral I saw his grown children and met some of his grandchildren. His family talked about what a good grandfather he was and about how he had helped each one of them. This was the first time I had seen the relationship between him and his children.
This was a different Mike, the loving father, the patient grandfather, the helpful son in law. I'm very sad that I didn't get to know that person.
I love you Mike.
ROUND AND ROUND WE GO
Business has been good, which is great because if I choose to sell the store I can ask a higher price. Today I found out there will be a thrift store going in next door. That will ruin my business and blow any chance I have of selling this store. Every time I feel positive about my store something else negative happens.
I've got my Christmas shopping done. I've got gifts for everyone except the grandkids and they are getting gift certificates or cash. We will be making cookies and ornaments with the great grandkids this Sunday.
We will go to my daughters for Christmas day. I'm fixing mac & cheese and low carb sausage balls to take for Christmas. Everyone brings a dish and we will exchange presents. We tried drawing names for a few years but now I just get everyone a gift. It didn't feel right not giving presents to my daughters when we were drawing names. I don't spend a lot on each person but since I only support myself I don't feel bad about the money I do spend. After so many years of being a single mom it feels good to give whenever I want.
2015 will be a year of change.
I've got my Christmas shopping done. I've got gifts for everyone except the grandkids and they are getting gift certificates or cash. We will be making cookies and ornaments with the great grandkids this Sunday.
We will go to my daughters for Christmas day. I'm fixing mac & cheese and low carb sausage balls to take for Christmas. Everyone brings a dish and we will exchange presents. We tried drawing names for a few years but now I just get everyone a gift. It didn't feel right not giving presents to my daughters when we were drawing names. I don't spend a lot on each person but since I only support myself I don't feel bad about the money I do spend. After so many years of being a single mom it feels good to give whenever I want.
2015 will be a year of change.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
THE BEGINNINGS
Everyone starts their rv journey from different places. This morning I was reading a blog about a woman that had filed bankruptcy and lost everything - her home, her car, her business. She started over with a truck and used trailer. I've read many blogs like this and I've read many blogs where people chose to sell their house and go fulltime rving. Sometimes they are out of work and can no longer afford their house, sometimes they have retirement money available as well as social security. Some people choose to live in a van or small rv to avoid rent or house payments. Some people choose to live in a high end rv and pay rent at rv parks and resorts. Every story is a little different but in the end we all want the freedom to travel and see what is out there.
I know I would be happy keeping a house here near my children and traveling several times a year but I don't see that as an option. (I think I've written this before.)
It is 11 am and I've only had one customer this morning. Sales have been declining since the beginning of November. Sales during September and October were up from the previous year which gave me some hope that maybe I could turn the store around. I gave myself a goal in August to save $300 a month on average. (I say "on average" because when you own a business you know that money does not come in on a regular basis so you may be up one month and down the next.) So far for the months of September, October and November I've saved exactly $300. In October I did have to pay the business insurance so I knew there would be no saving during that month. The disappointing part is November sales were so bad I not only didn't save but I couldn't pay one of my bills. So roll that bill over to December and hope that I have an unusually good month just to keep up with my bills never mind saving. Then the new year brings taxes and more worry.
I hate being so negative but I'm trying to be honest about where I am with respect to meeting my goals to travel.
I know I would be happy keeping a house here near my children and traveling several times a year but I don't see that as an option. (I think I've written this before.)
It is 11 am and I've only had one customer this morning. Sales have been declining since the beginning of November. Sales during September and October were up from the previous year which gave me some hope that maybe I could turn the store around. I gave myself a goal in August to save $300 a month on average. (I say "on average" because when you own a business you know that money does not come in on a regular basis so you may be up one month and down the next.) So far for the months of September, October and November I've saved exactly $300. In October I did have to pay the business insurance so I knew there would be no saving during that month. The disappointing part is November sales were so bad I not only didn't save but I couldn't pay one of my bills. So roll that bill over to December and hope that I have an unusually good month just to keep up with my bills never mind saving. Then the new year brings taxes and more worry.
I hate being so negative but I'm trying to be honest about where I am with respect to meeting my goals to travel.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
HOLIDAYS
Things I'm thankful for:
My children
My grandchildren & great grandchildren
My health - thankful for no serious illnesses
My home - warm and secure to come home after working all day.
My business - a blessing because I have the freedom to do the work I want and a curse because you can't just close a business for weeks while you travel.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We had Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year. We had 28 people in my small house but I think everyone had a good time. Two of my daughters came over the night before and early on Thanksgiving day to help prep and cook.
The next holiday, Christmas, will be at my oldest daughter's house. She has 6 almost grown children and 3 grandkids. For years they all came to my house but the last two years we have all found it easier to celebrate Christmas day at her house and let all the kids come and go according to their work and family schedules.
Between now and Christmas we will get together to make cookies and ornaments at my house. Holidays with my girls and grandkids is something I would really miss if I traveled full time. The cost of gas to come home for the holidays plus just trying to stay warm in a little trailer when the temps drop into the teens would make holidays very difficult.
I am constantly waffling back and forth, stay or go, stay or go the question never seems to end.
Back to work for now.
Happy holidays!
My children
My grandchildren & great grandchildren
My health - thankful for no serious illnesses
My home - warm and secure to come home after working all day.
My business - a blessing because I have the freedom to do the work I want and a curse because you can't just close a business for weeks while you travel.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We had Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year. We had 28 people in my small house but I think everyone had a good time. Two of my daughters came over the night before and early on Thanksgiving day to help prep and cook.
The next holiday, Christmas, will be at my oldest daughter's house. She has 6 almost grown children and 3 grandkids. For years they all came to my house but the last two years we have all found it easier to celebrate Christmas day at her house and let all the kids come and go according to their work and family schedules.
Between now and Christmas we will get together to make cookies and ornaments at my house. Holidays with my girls and grandkids is something I would really miss if I traveled full time. The cost of gas to come home for the holidays plus just trying to stay warm in a little trailer when the temps drop into the teens would make holidays very difficult.
I am constantly waffling back and forth, stay or go, stay or go the question never seems to end.
Back to work for now.
Happy holidays!
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