Freedom

Jordan Lake State Park(Poplar Point CG site E95)
Apex, NC

We’ve made a break for it.  It has taken us 4 days but we’ve gotten Wanda packed up tight and have skipped town for a 3 week trip.  When I told our realtor, she asked “how will I be able to contact you?”  With Gin in charge of electronics, that’s not a problem.  My phone rang just as we were pulling out of the driveway.  An agent wanted to show our house in about an hour.  I of course said ok and then just after getting set up here at one of our favorite spots, I got another call from another agent who wants to show the house tomorrow.  Sure, not a problem.  I guess all we had to do was leave and everybody wants to stroll through.  I’m not complaining.  Our house has shown several times and we’ve gotten some nice feed-back.  It’ll sell.

Wanda has a lot of stuff packed in her so she is heavy, probably a bit too much, but she sure did drive good.  I think the added weight helps actually.  She used to porpoise real bad when we would go over a bump and bottom out, but now it’s not so bad.  We only need to add a few small things and she will be good to go!  We plan to stay in our driveway for a few days before we go to SC in September.  I don’t think we’re actually fulltiming yet though.

It has felt just so perfectly right today.  We are so at ease at this CG.  It’s very wooded so satellite tv can be a challenge, but we have a nice waterfront site with a nice private patio area.  When I was walking Smudge down the road, it hit me…I am RETIRED!!  We can go to a nice quiet CG during the middle of the week anytime we want.  Now that’s freedom!

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

First Week

Stix n Brix, NC

What have we done during my first few days of retirement?  Relaxed a bit of course.  Gin has spent a few days in the MH changing out the tv so that she can put her game systems in there.  She has a wii, xbox 360, and playstation 3.  She’s also installed a roku box and digital media player.  Yes, this is all Greek to me.  She does like her electronics.  It looks like an electronics fairy threw up in there.  I’ve put my clothes in there and we have an induction cooktop and new set of cookware tucked in there too.

Yet, we haven’t gone anywhere on it.  The main reason is because I’ve been a responsible 50 year old and had my recommended colonoscopy yesterday.  All’s well and I got that out of the way for 10 years.  I have to take a physical for insurance this coming Monday so it’ll probably be Tuesday or Wednesday before we go to the Lake or somewhere.

Gin’s aunt is coming here tomorrow to buy our lawnmower so I spent the day doing yard work.  I also trimmed some shrubs and burned off some debris.  Did I mention that it was 95* and humid with a heat index of 110*?!  I drank lots of water.  The teenager that lives next door will be doing the lawn from now on.  Sure hope we get an offer on the house soon.  Jordan does a really good job of it though.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Work is Done

Stix n Brix, NC

This week was my last few days at work.  It felt odd to turn in all my uniforms and other property and walk out feeling naked.  It sure emptied out the closet quite a bit.  Friday was the last day so there was one last bit of formality to tend to.  A party at the Downtown District.  It was a very hot, pretty day.

 

I showed a few pics from the stationhouse the other day but I like this one too.  The badge is painted on the wall in the locker room.

Chief Dolan presented me with my retirement badge (yes he’s 6’8” tall) and Deputy Chief Deck-Brown presented me with a plaque.

 

Captain Craghead gave me a nice card that included a very generous collection from the District guys.  The note said it was for RV gas.  It was a heartfelt thanks and a surprise.

I had an opportunity to express a few words of thanks.  There was more that I wanted to say but I had to make it short and sweet so that I wouldn’t get choked up.  After the formalities, it was time to cut the cake.  It’s neat how it’s decorated with the badge.  I love the bouquet of flowers.

 

I’m glad Gin was able to join in on the fun.  She was behind the camera, but she was there along with about 50 folks.  I got lots of hugs and handshakes.

 

Those beautiful flowers made it home to our dining room and they smell so good.  Maybe they will bring us luck because Saturday was another house showing.  The house has been on the market since the beginning of June and this was the third showing, two of which look promising.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.