349 Weeks remaining....

Well, it's been a little bit since my last post, but I didn't want to just say we are paying off debt and waiting. So, this week's post is about paying off debt and waiting for retirement. :-)

With just about a year and a half in on planning we have paid off about 90% of the debt we have accumulated over the last 20 years. Down to the home stretch it really feels like we are accomplishing something with our lives. Being this close to being debt free feels like a load off my back. I always thought it was like carrying a ton on my back. I feel freer and lighter every day.

We have been looking at buying a membership in an Escapees park so we can have a home base near our families and a sense of community. We really love the Jojoba Hills SKP park in SoCal. They have just about everything you could ever want there. I think having this membership will also keep our expenses down when coming to L.A. area. The monthly dues are about $300. That makes it a lot cheaper than staying somewhere else for months at a time. Plus all the great people and activities.
 
The Next Trip

Our trip to Glacier National Park and Canada is coming up quick and we are very excited. We have a paper chain just like kids would when anticipating something big. We are just big kids now. This trip takes us through six states and two Canadian provinces. Glacier has been on our wish list for years, but Yellowstone always called to us. I hear Glacier is a mind blower and I am looking forward to my mind being blown. We will do all this in only 17 days - that's lots of driving, but for us it's about the adventure. I am also looking forward to seeing Waterton Lakes in Canada and getting our passports stamped on the lake. We're also taking the kayak and hope to hit a few lakes and reservoirs. It's fun being out on the water and seeing the land from a different perspective.

Trip Posts 

I hope to blog our trip while on the road. So stay tuned for some good times!

355 weeks remaining....

So after a year thinking, dreaming and working towards the "Dream" we have created a bucket list of places/things we want to see.

• See bears eating salmon straight from the river in Alaska
• Travel Route 66 the entire length
• Visit the world’s largest ball of twine, etc.
• Set foot in all 50 states
• See Bigfoot and a flying saucer
• Visit the very end of the Florida Keys and camp right on the water
• Visit the northeast in the fall to see the leaves change colors
• Visit all the Canadian Provinces
• Visit all the U.S. and Canadian National Parks

I think this list might just be a start, but might just take us 20 years to complete. Why don't you reply to this post with your bucket list locations!

Until then keep on RVing....

356 Weeks remaining....

For Memorial Day weekend we decided not to boondock and went to an SKP park instead. We woke up Saturday morning, picked up the trailer from storage and headed to the Jojoba Hills SKP resort. This is the same place we visited over New Year's.

After setting up in our deluxe pull-through site at Jojoba Hills we headed in to town to stock up on food for the weekend. All day there were clouds and it was a little cool for this time of the year in Southern California. Needless to say we survived.

Saturday morning it was still overcast and cool, so most of the day we stayed in the trailer except for walking Stella. Later in the day we went to the pool for a swim and soak in the hot tub. Here is the Dude chillin' on a lounge chair.

After some rest the Dude decide to hit the pool. It was too cold for him but not for Caitlin. Notice all the clouds? Looks cold but it wasn't that bad.

After changing our clothes back at the trailer we decided some entertainment was needed. So here is the Dude playing pool. He is pretty good despite his small stature.

After I lost all my money to the Dude, he decided to head to the gym. I had to spot him while he lifted and stretched out on the exercise ball that was conveniently his size.

The next morning we walked over to the kiddie putt putt golf course for a quick round. This is where the Dude found a house just his size. This place really does have everything.

On Memorial Day we went over to the flag to remember everyone that has fallen in the hopes of keeping us free.

The Dude is a total ham! And last but not least the Dude wanted a book to read so we went to the on-site library.

Well that's the end of the trip for this weekend. Might be a while before we get out again. I just got a promotion and will be working more for a bit. July 4th we will be staying home and enjoying our nieghborhood block party.

Until then, keep on RVing.

359 Weeks remaining....

Wow, what a great weekend at Sam's Family Spa in Desert Hot Springs. We arrived late and found three spaces in a row near the dog park and pool area entry. Saturday was a little windy and cool, but the sun was shining and beautiful. It's great having all your friends with you. First thing in the morning I had my usual donuts and coffee and just relaxed in the shade until everyone wanted to get to the pool.  Look close and see our new travel mascot "The Dude."

First one to grab a lounge chair was The Dude. He wants nothing but to relax in the sun and have fun. All he needed was a drink!

Once it got too hot The Dude wanted to see the pond and all the birds.

On the way back to the trailer The Dude saw a a wood carving of the owner Sam and wanted to pose with him. So cute.

Then on to horse shoes.

Here is a candid picture of The Dude hooking up our surge protector.

 He sure is going to love fulltiming.

Until then, keep on RVing.

361 weeks remaining....

Good news: we have now paid our credit card down to under $10k. For some that might sound like a lot but for us it is amazing it is that low. For 10 years it was well over that and dragging me down.  Now that it is getting lower I feel great. I have over the last year learned a great lesson, STOP SPENDING so much on crap and stuff that doesn't enrich our lives. Being happy does not require buying so much stuff. Another great thing is the housing market is going strong and I hope the house will be near where we want in just a few years.

I also calculated our savings and found we are about 25% to our goal. That fact is making me excited. We will be going to Sam's Family Spa for Mother's Day Weekend and expect to have a great time with friends. I plan on spending winters here when we are fulltiming since it is close to family and friends and just a wonderful place to be. Sam's is so relaxed and has kind of a beachy environment. I so badly want to be a snowbird. Can I call myself that if I don't have a home I'm running from? LOL

So that's about it for now.  If you are currently fulltiming and know the struggle we're having waiting so many years, comment below.

Until next time, Keep on RVing....

363 weeks remaining....

Well it's been a while since I have updated our blog, so here it goes.

Not so much to report, still saving money and camping as often as we can. We just returned from a trip to Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. Although there were no poppies, we had a great drive and camping location at the "Californian RV Resort" in Acton, CA. Too bad there were only poppies on the side of the road.

 We also went on a short hike around "Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park". Nice little park only about seven miles from the poppy reserve. Worth a quick stop.

I thought I would also post a link to our RV Park reviews.

We have found our travel mascot, and will be posting his pic soon.

Keep on RVing.

368 weeks remaining....

Well it's been a good few weeks of planning. Got some boxes down from the garage for the wife to purge, and we're planning a weekend trip to Joshua Tree National Park. JTNP is one of my favorite places to visit. There is something about the barren desert that calls to me. Maybe it's the bright stars at night with little to no light pollution. In a few weeks we will also be visiting the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve (SNR) to see all the poppies bloom. I have never been and am very excited. Look on my vacation blog in a few weeks for all the pictures.

On another note, I have been working hard at not spending money on "stuff" and am feeling really good about it. I was going to get an Apple Watch but decided to continue on the path of being debt free. Seeing my credit card debt fall by 50% over the last year has been an uplifting experience. Not only for being debt free but learning better spending habits and knowing I will be able to live on a fixed retirement budget when the time comes.

Did I mention we have applied for our passports and will be visiting Glacier National Park and Waterton National Park in Canada this fall? Very excited!

Until next time,

Keep On RVing!