Goodbye Friend... Ruby has a new home

I know it's silly to be sad over an inanimate object, even one as cool as Ruby.  But it was bittersweet when she pulled out of the storage facility on the way to her new home this week.

Ruby the T@B parked at her new home!

When I moved to Florida, I thought I was done with camping...  I had just sold the farm and the horses; and the dually and horse trailer.

Big Bubba the truck and horse trailer

the barn

The farm house

 While I adjusted okay to not riding (I will always miss it), I had to have a way to get back outside. Enter the T@B trailer.  If I couldn't ride and camp, I could at least still camp!

We explored the Florida state parks, took in a rally, went back to Tennessee to visit family and even made our way to a couple of national parks.  I had a blast, I was back outside, I was hiking and camping and it made the move easier.

I loved the T@B, but with two big dogs I just needed a little bit more floor space.   So last fall I moved to the Airstream Sport.  Not much bigger, but just enough that I don't trip over the dogs trying to get to the door.  I love the airstream and I'm happy I made the switch, although I miss how easy the T@B was to manuever.  I've had to get better at lining up the hitch and I can't swing the 'stream around to capture the best view from the front door!  

Ruby has gone to a good home and it was time for someone else to enjoy her as much as I did.

Now, time to pack up Breezin' and get back on the road! 

Storage Solution - a little bling for Breezin'

One of the biggest storage issues I've had with the airstream is where to put my clothes for longer trips.  Because of the curved walls, the overhead storage in the Sport model is very limited... even rolled I can't seem to make things stay on the shelves!

On the last trip, I used packing cubes that I had left over from my corporate days of travel. These worked well to hold my clothes but by the end of the week ended up spread out all over the bed and stuffed in the corners.

The closet is very deep, but narrow and really needs some shelves to make it usable.  And I'd rather have that as kitchen and pantry storage once I do get shelves put in.

On a trip to IKEA last week, I stopped at the Container Store on the way home and found these great totes for storage.

These are coated fabric over a metal frame that folds flat when not in use; with a handle on each side and even an area for labeling if you are so inclined.  This is the medium size.  I choose the red to match, but they also come in a brown paisley or in plain beige canvas that would be fun to decorate yourself.

Hopefully this will keep me a little more organized on the next trip.

They zip closed and also velcro to keep the contents clean and secured

This has 8 t-shirts, 2 pj's and all my socks and undies for a week and still has room to add more

Best of all, they fit perfect under the bed... I even had room for a basket for shoes stored on top.  I can turn them the other way if I need to clear room in front of the furnace.

UH OH... the Big Six Oh!

I couldn't decide if I was going to blog about this or not... reader alert, the following post has nothing to do with traveling or the airstream so feel free to skip right over this one if you want :-)

Milestone birthday this past week... the big 6-0.  Sixty is a weird birthday, you are now officially old enough to be considered "old" by the general population, but still too young for the perks (park passes, medicare and social security benefits).  I know it's considered old because my granddaughter told me so - cracked me up!

There's good and bad to growing older... the bad:  Gray hair, wrinkles and gravity!  My brain still thinks I could climb Mt. Everest without breaking a sweat, my body not so much (not that I have ever climbed Mt. Everest!).

The upside?  I am much more comfortable with who I am that I ever was in my 20's and 30's. I'm in relatively good health.  I want less and appreciate more.   I have a different perspective on what's important and I'm blessed with friends, family and a strong faith.  I've jumped off the corporate ladder and wonder why I didn't do that sooner? I am more focused on who I am than what I do...and for the first time in a long time I am much more interested in making a life than a living.  I know some folks 'get it' much earlier in life, but it took me a while to learn these lessons.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.

All in all, I think 60 will be a good year... and having another birthday certainly beats the alternative :-)
Now if I could just decide what I want to be when I grow up!

Clams and Shrimp on the grill and Corona in hand

On the beach with family..

a great birthday!

A trip to the (RV) Doctor

I took Breezin' in for some minor warranty work this week - nothing serious, but I also wanted a couple of changes before the next trip.  My closest dealer is about 100 miles away - all on pretty county or state routes, a nice drive.

Someone (uh, me) made the appointment for 8AM!  The day started out early around 5am driving to the storage area and hooking up in the dark.

Two repairs required parts they didn't have -- I'll have to go back in a few weeks.  I've got a little bit of corrosion started on the grab handle by the door (the downside of living close to the beach) and the sensor on the gray water tank does not work (don't ask me how I know this!!)

I had them do a few minor mods - a new Oxygenics shower head and a clothesline in the wet bath.  And the more important one - an extra battery!  My next trip includes 4 days of dry camping in the Smokies so I'm happy about having the extra battery power.  I just have to save for some portable solar panels.!

I'm also looking for some of these LED bulbs, so if you know of a source less than the price of a new car, please let me know!

Had a great breakfast at The Flying Biscuit in Gainesville with a friend while I waited for all this to be done.  I highly recommend the Veggie Scramble!

Another week at the casa..

I love spring...but not necessarily the home ownership part of it!  Managed to get the hedges trimmed so you could tell I have windows in the front of the house again; put bug stuff on the lawn so I can walk outside without getting attacked and made an appointment for next week to take the airstream in for some minor warranty stuff and maybe a mod or two (I'd really like a second battery and a small inverter, oh and an Oxygenic's shower head) before her next trip.

Trying to start plowing through the inside of the house... I HATE housework so I either tend to ignore it or get into all out "toothbrush mode".  If you don't know what that means, feel blessed... it's an affliction.

It's been crazy hot and humid here until yesterday when it rained buckets.  A cool front moved in and it feels glorious outside!  No more excuses for not washing the outside of the truck and the airstream. That's my weekend plan, what's yours?

Back at home

For a couple of weeks to get a few things done.  I kept busy the first few days catching up...
trailer and truck emptied, and the insides cleaned at least. Lawn mowed,

house cleaned.   It's 85 here by 8am and I'm wishing for a couple more of those 70 degree mountain days!  Next year I'll figure out how to NOT be in Florida in the summer.  I still need to wash the outside of the car and trailer but I keep hoping that either the humidity will break, or I'll get up early enough to beat it.  So far, neither of those things has happened.

The idea of traveling full-time has been percolating in my head for a couple of years... lately it simmers closer to the surface.  Another year and I should be able to not work at all, but really I can do my current job from the road if I get a little more tech savvy.  Hmmm....

I had a very nice Mother's Day with my mom, and great dinner with mom and sister - I was missing my girls, even though I just saw them.

Hope your day was wonderful and spent with those you love.

Travel Day

Sunday, May 4

Because I have some work obligations I'm making this a one day drive.  My least favorite type of travel - interstates and straight through.  10 hours to do about 580 miles.  The truck did great on the narrow mountain roads and steep grades and I loved the engine braking in tow/haul mode.  My overall mileage on the way back was 14.3 MPG, better than I expected.  It's been a great couple of weeks!

On the road again...

Rest stop with Judy and her T@B

Now to clean up the Airstream (you can tell she's been traveling with bugs and camped under trees) and the truck and get ready to go again...