Saturday, June 25, 2011

I'm sitting here drinking some terrible coffee (I made it, trying to get use to trucker coffee since I'll be on the long lost highway soon), listening to Frank Sinatra on the computer, and being sad, excited, scared, worried, and all around amazing.

It still hasnt sunk in that I am moving and hitting the road for an extended period of time. There are those (Jessica, Dan, Ashleigh, Amanda, well dang near everyone that knows me) that say it wont last long and I'll go back to work somewhere, doing something like I did the last time I retired. Cant say thier wrong but am gonna give it a shot. A job repairing remote communication relay sites would be fun. Going everywhere in the RV and then flying by helicopter to camp for a few days while doing maintenance on the station usually located on very remote mountain tops. Heck, they may not even have to pay me, double heck maybe I'd pay them LOL Not very much since I am now a B.U.U.M. translated recently last night at dinner with Dan and Jessica into Butt Ugly Unemployed Man. 8)

It didnt sink in when I mailed $288 worth of boxes to Montana. I hope all those essentials fit in the dang RV. LOL Nor did it sink in when I went to sleep in my now empty (except bed) bedroom, not even when I dismantelled the TV, and Stereo system this morning preparing to move my stuff out to the new owner and Jessica's stuff in. She did take pity on me and said I could keep my room until I left to soften the blow I guess. Jimmy left yesterday for Montana, he's afraid of flying so decided to take the boat route. BTM misses him but we'll all meet up again soon at Amanda, Jason, Taylor, and Sammies place in Missoula.

I'm looking for a program that I can put on this blog, or my webpage, where you can simply click it and get a location of where I am at the time and maybe a history of the last week or month. Then you can think why's that guy just sitting beside that lake, heck there's not even a road in there, for a month. LOL.

I cant decide if I want to reconfigure myself into a;
Survivalist, cammies, combat boots, ponytail, beard, 27 guns and c-rats or perhaps
a hippy, beard, ponytail, unwashed, tye died shirts socks and pants oh yeah and flip flops. How about,
I paint the world is ending and other doom day prophesies all over the outside of the RV, and wear a tinfoil hat, and dress like the aforementioned hippy. Oh yeah and rip out the interior of the RV converting it into a 2x4 and plywood hostel to everyone hitchiking along the roadway.
Cant figure out my new retired, traveling, persona so will just remain "me", whatever that is, for the time being. LOL

Well, Monday Ashleigh & Ruby come home. Danny boy will be one happy hubby and Daddy. Of course he'll miss all that time working in the shed on his toys but he'll like the improvement for sure. I will be happy to see them before I leave. I may not show it a lot outwardly or sit and talk about it all the time but I am sad and will miss those that I am leaving and yet excited to see those I am going to be seeing again. I am looking forward to the new adventure, and what it brings. I know I wont be traveling alone, and will be safe and watched over.

Sometimes I wish someone was going along for company. A few years back Sammy and I drove to Montana when they all moved down there. That was probably the best roadtrip ever. partly because Sammy was along but also because I had someone to say hey look at that, it made me slow down, get out, and enjoy what I was traveling through. Other than my kids, or grandkids I know of no one to be a travel bubby so I will have to learn to slow down and smell the roses along the way, you know the GPS reading that says I've been stationary alongside a remote lake somewhere in the mountains. ya know.

So, soon there will be pictures and a traveling BUUM to keep track of if your of such a mind. Friday July 1, 2001 at 6pm. I board an Alaskan Airline flight to Anchorage, the Chicago's O'hare, then Kansas City Missouri arriveing Saturday about lunch time. Then the new RV, than ,,,,,,,  I am dreading it, yet looking forward to it, with deep sadness, but great excitement, a lot of what if's.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Last thing, if you look back on previous posts you'll see where I awoke consumed with what if's, and if you know me and/or my family you'll know that I am referred to at times as Bruce the Moose (a story there LOL). With those two thoughts in mind you'll understand how funny it was that the very evening after awkening with a bad case of what-if's I was at a Bible Study thing and talking to a friend (Jeremy) when I looked down and right there by my elbow was a kids book. "Bruce the Moose and the case of  What-if's" 8)

The steps are moving along ,,,,,,

Well yesterday I bought a Fleetwood class A motorhome it is only 26 feet long so not some monster. But it has the amenities I wanted to make traveling a bit more comfortable especially those times between bothering people. It's waiting for Jimmy, BTM, and I to come pick er up. 9 more days.

I packed a bunch of stuff today in boxes, feel like I'm moving via USPS. Think Jimmy is going to have to join me and BTM in Missoula, the flying part is scaring him so it'll be just me and BTM the first leg of this new adventure.

Ashleigh and Ruby are in Tucson Arizona and knowing how much I like Wienerschnitzel she sent me pics of the one there and of her and even Ruby Doobie eating one. (Actually I think Ruby was just licking the paper) I asked her to bring me a couple in a tupperware when she comes back but that may be wishful thinking. While I'd have zero issues with eating a day or so old chili dog with cheese, even mushed is ok. I dont think she'd allow herself to be a party to it, but if she does I know what my snack will be that night. LOL

Things are moving along, dreading the USPS bill when I mail the boxes. I have 5 small, 2 med, and 1 large. Someone suggested (dang I keep getting distracted by that hot dog over there LOL)

Anyway, someone suggested that I only pack the essentials since moving by USPS isnt cheap. So I did, not everyone agrees with my essentials but heck I NEEDED the clothes, the 4 new shoes and boots (still have tags on them so ,,) the files, the printer, the 27" flatscreen. all the dvd's, books, you know, the essentials. Need to get another medium box for Jimmys trip though so since sending a half empty one is wasteful I will fill it with more essentials besides he'll feel safer.

Drove up to the Federal Building to take some spices to Jessica that she forgot, Seems tomorrow the cafeteria is headlining Jessica's chili. Pretty cool, When I got home this red Dakota pulled up and said he saw the for sale sign in the new truck and followed me from the hospital. So, maybe ,,,,,,,, would be nice, one more thing out of the slimmer, trimmer, budget. Hey, if I cant become slimmer and trimmer, may as well do it to the budget. 8)

I'll probably lose some friends because the budget got leaner and I didnt, I can think of a couple. LOL

I am leaving Juneau around 6pm Friday July 1 and flying to Kansas City Missouri. Saturday afternoon BTM and I will hit the road in our new (to us) RV heading for Missoula Montana. Stay there awhile then ,,,,,,,, east or west, dont know yet. My brother is in Arizona but thats more of a winter visit and my Mom is in Texas. But Tammy is East and Carri is west. One of them should go to the other so I can go East or West. 8). I am not looking forward to the temps and humidity, but thats what they make A/C for, ask Ashleigh and Ruby they're dealing with triple digit heat.

Next step is dump runs, mailing boxes, helping Jessica move stuff over here, I hope she likes this place I have put a lot of work into it building the garage, shop, sheds, etc, and she has a lot of work helping with sheetrocking the inside. Just didnt want a stranger enjoying all that effort. Then getting ready to hit the skies. Not sure it's quite hit me yet. 8) Probably the first night out of Kansas City when I'm sitting there wondering oh heck, what did I do, is this really ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. 8)

Another step along the path ,,,,,,,

Been super lazy, and concerned the last few days. Been trying to figure the best way to begin this oddessy.

Way 1, was to use the recently bought slide-in camper on the back of the truck and rebuild my 4 x 8 tilt trailer into an enclosed trailer.

Way 2, was to purchase a motor home down south, leave the truck, and fly down to get it then take it to Montana and points onward.

Way 1 goods, the truck gets good mileage (would reduce with camper and trailer though to ???) I could take a lot of stuff I want with me in the trailer. I would have the truck to drive while in Montana, and it is smaller, thus can drive around areas I visit.

Way 1 bads, gas through Canada makes Juneau gas seem cheap by over a buck a gallon. That camper is very small and doesnt have a generator, shower, etc. so would probably need a motor home anyway but a lot of those funds would be spent driving the truck down. Now my truck would be down south and I would be unable to use or sell it but still have the payments.I will lose the money for the camper because now I would leave it with the guy I bought it from and he gets to resell it. My loss his gain type thing.

Way 2 goods, A reasonable size motor home (say 26'ish feet) would have all the convienances to make extended stays more comfortable. Thier gas mileage is around 8 - 9 mpg but the truck with camper and trailer wouldn't be much more. Basically comfort and convienance are the motivators.

Way 2 bads, Price obviously, mileage obviuosly, what if's (but they apply either way) can take nothing with me thus must purchase everything from the food I would have taken to tools etc.

What to do, what to do, I was so concerned about the what to do's I actually did nothing. So last night I made a decision, I was going to take the truck and "deal with it" afterall it.s not like anyone else would ever be with me so the smallness though inconvienant would/could/may be cheaper. So, I went to the shed and dug out most of the wood I needed to redo the trailer. While measuring it to start cutting I made another decision. One more day wont hurt, plane tickets are already less than 2 weeks so thats not changing and I had two motor homes in mind. One I had a bid on already but had been outbid and the other had a reasonable buy it now. Both were equal basically so I would see where that went afterall I could always start cutting wood tomorrow.

This morning I checked Ebay,  the one I liked best and and had been outbid on hadn't changed and it had 40 min. to go. So I raised my max a few hundred dollars and cleaned the kitchen while I waited. I returned when it had 1 min 18 secs left and was I still high bidder so I chose to wait so I could see it flash "winner". I waited, and I kid you not, at 10 secs there was a blink and suddenly I was outbid by a mere $50. By the time it registered it was to late. Wow was all I could think. LOL $50 bucks thats like losing a bid by 50 cents so close but ,,,,,

Anyway the decision to go motor home was pretty much made so I bought the other one for buy it now. I now own a motor home about 30 miles outside Kansas City Missouri. (and it comes with a full tank of gas  100 gal LOL) They will hold it and pick me up at the airport so thats the plan man.

Will leave truck here for kids to use the only rule is the for sale sign has to always be displayed in the windows.

Will leave Juneau July 1, 2, or 3rd and fly down then drive to Missoula then ,,,,,,,,, who knows.. Gonna visit all the kiddies, and some friends. 8)

Now I have to replace all that wood on the racks in the shed. LOL

another step, yardsale, blah, blah, bla ,,,,,,,,,, 8)

The last couple days have been busy. Dont know if I mentioned it but I bought a slide-in camper for my truck. I have a short bed Dodge thus need a specific camper and had a hard time finding one locally. Found one cheap but in poor condition but it will work for the drive down. And may have to "do" for awhile longer.

I was thinking, and realized, with the loss of a significant part of my income from retireing again, I may not be able to trade the truck in and get a motor home since my debt to income ratio has certainly changed and even though the credit rating may be good that may kill anything like that but we shall see.I did bid on one to buy for cash and won that bid but it didnt match the reserve price so guess that means too bad. LOL

Got all my stuff together for the yard sale and never realized I had so much "stuff". I think Ashleigh commented that 5 years ago when I first moved down here from Haines and she returned from Seattle and lived with me we each had a bed, clothes, and that was that. Now ,,,,,,,,, A LOTTA CRAPPOLA !!!

Sold Vette, Blue Dodge pickup, and Tractor ( a sigh and tear for the tractor) only made $1,300 on yard sale (HAve a lot left anyone want something I probably have it 8) ) so now the getting ready to leave part. I hope to be on the road July 1 and drive to Montana. From there the wind will blow me. Have a lot of family and friends to visit as well as places to see.

Otherwise soon I'll be humming that Willy Nelson tune, "on the road again" and again, and again ,,,,,, LOL

Got started on my adventure ,,,,,,,,,,,, almost. 8)

Woke up this morning with a bad case of the what-if's. What if I get stranded in the middle of nowhere, what if I get mugged at a roadside stop, what is I get sick, what if I run out of moola a week before the moola resupply deposit. What if I get lonely and miss my kids and their families. I mean I havent been away from them other than briefly for as long as I can remember sort of like working I've worked every day of my adult life and now ,,, All that stuff, a couple of my daughters have those type of concerns and I think it may have rubbed off on me. Of course now it's gone and I am again excited.

Lots to do and still dont know my time range when I should or could leave. Want to leave sooner than later but dont want to arrive anywhere at an inopportune time. Did get rid of some things today though. Even sold (rent to own) a mobile I needed to deal with so that concern is gone.

Thought it would be cool to travel in my favorite of all toys. Jess didnt take a picture of the trailer behind it but it was cool looking. Even had "on the road again" playing in my ears. The someone reminded me I looked like that guy on Lawnmower man even though I didnt have a mower. However since I live here and it is SLOW I figured it may be snowing before I got through Canada so I did have the snowplow to keep the road open so the trailer wouldn't get stuck.

Since I liked the movie "The Lawnmower Man" I decided why not I'd just be the snowplow man.

So, away I went, Montana here I come. Heck as slow as the lil John Deere is I knew I wouldnt be there at a bad time but should make it by Amanda's Birthday (maybe her 50th ?? LOL)

The trailer turned out to be to much so I had Jessica come get it with the truck and I gave up on my plan and sold my lil John Deere to a senior citizen center here in town. They said I could send him birthday cards, in fact they even said I could come back in the winter and plow the snow for free. So, I may just have to change my plans and come here in the winter and Arizona in the fall or something.

So anyways I sold my favorite toy, my bestest friend. I guess you would have to have been here to grasp how much I liked plowing snow in my little tractor. 8(

So lil tractor gone, one mobile home dealt with, another mobile home sold, corvette gone, new Dodge truck may go tomorrow and other Dodge Truck is sold as of friday so with a garage sale on Saturday, a dump run to get rid of the leftovers. All that may be keeping me here is ,,,,,,,, not really sure.

If I dont sell the new truck I'll be driving it down and buying a camper for it, was thinking about keeping the blue one as it has a long bed and buying a local cabover I like but if I sell both then I'll fly to Missoula and buy an RV.

Did I ever tell a funny story about my trip down there last year? I wanted to look at RV's so I was riding around with my daughter Amanda my gradchildren and her mother. They were going from store to store shopping and im sorry but that doesnt excite me in fact I rather hate it unless of course I'm looking for something I want LOL

Anyway, Amanda pulled into an RV place and said Sammie (my grandaughter who was 7 at the time) and I could go look at RV's if it would shut me up. (Geez she sounded like her parent LOL) So, we did. To shorten the story we looked at a few and stopped in the office while leaving to ask about a couple. The ones I liked were $189k each. WOW, was all I could think. Then Sammie asked about her favorite and it was $ 389k, double or triple WOW. Suddenly Sammie heads for the door, I asked where you going Sam?. She said I am going out to get your checkbook and tell Mommy I'm riding with you. 8)

A good day today, things are selling, getting done and times a coming to hit the road. I am very excited and equally scared because ,,,, well you know ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, what if ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,????? 

Not traveling yet but the adventure continues ,,,,,,

Well, here it is ,,,,,,,,,,, ummm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, this retirement thing sux ,,,,,,,,, at least when I worked I generally knew what day it was and even occasionally, the date. Lets see it's not payday ,,,,,, don't get any more of those anyway. Awww, I checked the computer, it's Tuesday. Should have known since that's trash day. But that was this morning and seems soooo long ago. 8)

Jessica is going to buy my place. (I think she likes the garage and shop, or feels sorry for good ol Dad LOL) Then I am going to sell hers (took it as a down payment), a yard sale this weekend, selling stuff but people keep saying I want it I'll be back tomorrow and ,,,,,,, ya got it. So still some bigger things for sale.

Spent yesterday with Jeremy replacing the transfer case, and clutch in Jessica's jeep. That was a fun day. It's fun turning wrenches and Jeremy is fun to work around.

Trying to find a slide-in camper for my pickup but having a real hard time (short bed). So may have to drive it south and look around down there. Its frustrating but it'll work out. May choose to trade truck in on a full size RV or bus conversion. See what Jimmy thinks as well as Mr. Checkbook. He's another traveling buddy so see there are three of us.

Got the final check today, was only shorted by 116 hours so we shall see where that one goes. LOL

I got a traveling buddy, so for those that were concerned, I wont be traveling alone. His name is Jimmy, Jessica got to meet him today, Ashleigh has met him but probably doesn't remember, and their Mom has as well but again probably doesn't remember.

Ashleigh went to Arizona for two weeks. She called from Seattle saying the weather down there was expected to be in the  high 90's and low 100's. She hasn't been there since we all moved years and years ago so she is quite acclimatized to Alaska and little Ruby, well, she didn't like Juneau's heat so I am sure they know what biscuits feel like in the oven. I'll be there soon enough traveling around but am shooting for a more temperate time.

Was headed for Montana to be there on Amanda's birthday, but they have no day care early July and the person going at that time cancelled, so I was gonna shoot for that, but heard today they un-cancelled so am back to later in July. Gives me some more time to get things together.

And together they are headed, not speedy like a Roadrunner or a Coyote, but steady like the turtle so, unlike the Hare it will all come together.

Anyway, that's it for today. Thanks for reading. Comments are nice that way I know someone other than Amanda is reading this. LOL

A new adventure begins 8)

Without breaking confidences I will say that in a retaliatory move against someone I love very much my employer promoted me to Retirement. I actually retired 6 years ago as a Fed. however got bored and ,,,,

This company is a work of art (not meant in a positive way) as you may determine from the first paragraph so my stress levels have been really high for sometime so even though the promotion was a surprise I now see it as an opportunity to begin a new adventure. One my daughters and others have said I should have began the first time I retired when I had more money LOL

Anyway, I am now President of nothing, working nowhere, and recently promoted to Professional Bum. I shall be traveling anywhere and everywhere so don't be surprised if I show up to mooch off you. 8)

The hope, dream, plan is Spring here with Ashleigh and her family and Jessica, Fall in Montana with Amanda and her family, and winter basking in that 160 acre desert heat I have in Arizona. Of course traveling all along but those are the hoped for base camps so to speak. have family here, in Montana, Arizona, Texas, Washington, and Illinois and friends spread around. (at least I say their friends we'll see when I come mooching LOL) May have to travel abroad. Heck its a new adventure, the horizon is the goal and the horizon keeps moving as you do.

There, of course, will be a period of adjustment from the money was good to the money is tighter and as current obligations are dealt with it will improve. But as someone recently told me you'll be living in an RV or camper how much stuff can you buy? LOL

I am scared, and excited all at the same time. I haven't look back since I left the federal Building and the only regret is the though of what my response SHOULD have been that didn't strike me til the next day. Something like "bout time, what took you so long, dang"

Well, let the games begin. I will try to use this to chronicle my new adventure. I may move it to my webpage but will advice if I do.

GOOOOD MORNING WORLD, HERE I COME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!