We're Not in Kansas Anymore

 To say 2022 was an eventful year is a drastic understatement. As I reflect over the past twelve months, I hardly recognize our life before Toto.  What began as a fun 4-day vacation in September 2021 turned into a dramatic lifestyle change by May 2022. We left Kansas in August -- heading to our new Florida home -- only to be waylaid in Nashville for several months due to an unexpected health crisis. The year was full of delightful highs and a few overwhelming lows. But through it all, blessings abound. We would not change a single thing. For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...  Romans 8:28 So for my own benefit, I'd like to document the events of the past year as an expression of gratitude. October 2021 : We found Toto after weeks of non-stop research. Delivery time was a bit delayed due to seller remorse, but we drove Toto home on October 6th. While waiting for Toto, we rented an RV at Hillsdale State Park and took the dogs for a te...

  ... or at least we feel like graduates 🎓 By completing the following course "requirements"  -- we are no longer RV newbies but rather joined the ranks of full-time RVers. 1. Today marks 45 days of living in the RV Geoff moved into the rig on May 1st and I joined him on May 5th.  We currently have all reservations booked between now and October 1st, when we check into our new home in Keystone Heights, Florida.  While no lifestyle is perfect, I can honestly say we both thoroughly enjoy this tiny house living 💛 We have settled nicely into a daily routine.  And we are learning to give one another space when we need it. Fortunately, Geoff prefers the outdoors, so the picnic table significantly increases our living quarters. Even Hero is acclimating to the RV life. Are we concerned about the price of gas?   Of course, we are. But once we reach Florida we can control how often we travel and how far. We may need to adjust our original travel plans but are thril...

Today marks two weeks since I pulled out of the driveway and said goodbye to our house of 27 years. While that sounds dramatic, in reality, we are only 40 minutes away and return to the house often for a variety of reasons 😊 We are fortunate to have the time to ease into this new lifestyle before we bid farewell to our Kansas friends. Over these past fourteen days, we've worked hard and accomplished a lot. Organized all possessions into a comfortable home Seasonal clothes are easily accessible ... out of season clothes are stored in a carryon bag underneath The bathroom and shower setup is functional and all the extra toiletries stored away The kitchen is still a work-in-progress, but it's getting there. Plenty of room in the pantry for everyday ingredients. Pots, pans, and utensils fit with room to spare. The basement storage is logically organized and easy to maintain. One special note : We took Toto for a weigh-in this week --  concerned he might need to diet ( e.g. more p...

Well, then I'm only 45   Up until three weeks ago, this was my typical response. After all... I sleep well through the night. Watch what I eat. I'm on no medications and rarely take pain relievers. My mobility is good. My natural hair color is more salt-than-pepper, but at least I have hair (and LOTS of it) 😊 Yep, I'm in the prime of life: we have enough energy to travel, enough financial resources (although the stock market could stand to rally again...), and most importantly, we have our health. But really, we're 62 However, this most recent move has revealed our shortcomings. We simply do not have the stamina we once did. And if we try to push ourselves -- like climbing up and down the stairs of our split-level home at least 50 times to move boxes -- or lying down for hours on a gravel pad site to level the rig -- our bodies remind us of our actual age. We both are type-A personalities. We create long to-do lists. And we chastise ourselves when we don't accompli...

  I am a ball of emotions. Exhausted from packing and moving all our stuff in two short weeks. Weary of sciatica discomfort that prevents me from sleeping well at night. Excited to embark on this new chapter in life. Sad to leave our home of 27 years. At some point, I will write about these events in more detail. But today I will attempt to share my feelings in a different way. I am no poet (as you will soon see) ... but this idea grabbed me so I ran with it. Goodbye, House  (written in the style of Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown) In the cozy little Nook There was a desk, a couch, and a shelf full of books There were journals and pens And scrapbooking bins. And many wonderful memories spent within. But the Paris room was also a favorite sight. With its year-round Christmas tree and twinkling lights. The Beach room reminded us of past vacations, And the possibility of new retirement locations. The Master Bedroom was no designer showcase But provided us a tranquil sleep...