Donna and I are cursed with a restless spirit. We just can't seem to stay in one place very long.
Fortunately, our daughter, Courtney, does not seem to have inherited that restlessness from us. She and her husband Michael (and our grandson Alexander) live in Michael's hometown surrounded by Michael's family. They seem quite content there, and I'm happy for them. I think they will be there for years to come.
Donna and I, on the other hand, seem condemned to wander from place to place every few years. But we've seen a lot of the world that way.
My father was an educator, and as he climbed the ranks from classroom teacher to principal to superintendent, we moved around. So, I spent much of my childhood roaming among small towns of central and eastern Texas (Fairfield, Mexia, Rosebud, Elgin, and back to Fairfield). I guess I can blame Dad for my restless spirit.
After graduating high school, I attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. I loved it there so much that I stayed on for an additional 2 years as an assistant instructor while working on my Master's. If SHSU had offered a doctorate in my field, I probably would have found some way to stay on a bit longer. It was in Huntsville that Donna and I met and married. Once I had my MA degree in hand, Donna and I headed to far West Texas, out past Lubbock, to the small town of Olton where I began my teaching career in earnest. We often blame that move for the start of our restlessness. While in Huntsville (Sam Houston), we were near both our families and we were content, but once we moved, we seemed to just keep on moving.
Over the years, we've gone from Olton to Saudi Arabia, to Wellman, Texas (near Lubbock), back to Saudi Arabia, to Jacksonville, Texas (near Tyler), to Ozona, Texas, (near San Angelo) to Midland, Texas, to Longview and Kilgore Texas, and back to West Texas once again to San Angelo. We seem to keep criss-crossing the state. Now we're pulling up stakes again, and we have that old excitement we had when we were just two young kids venturing out to the unknown.
I'm not sure what we're looking for. We take something from each place we live. Doing so really makes it harder to find a place to settle. When we go to East Texas, we find ourselves missing the big sky, wide open spaces, and low humidity of West Texas. When we're in West Texas, we find ourselves missing the colors of fall and spring that East Texas enjoys, as well as those drenching rains. Wherever we are, we find ourselves longing for something we've enjoyed some other place. The grass always seems greener on the other side of that fence, you know.
I don't know if we will ever be happy in one place. We may wander this planet until we drop dead from old age or exhaustion. The trip so far surely has been great, though.
This blog follows Keith and Donna Cameron as they enjoy retirement. 01/24/05
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Planning the Trip
How do you plan a trip like the one we are about to take?
Well, it ain't easy.
Until you actually sit down and make preparations for such a trip, you don't realize all the details that are involved.
Mail is a top priority. There are mail forwarding services out there, including one offered by Good Sam, the RV travel club Donna and I belong to. However, we've opted to let our daughter handle our mail for us. We recently rented a postal box in her town, and we will have all our mail forwarded there. We bought a printer/copier/scanner for her to use. When she receives anything that requires our attention, she will scan it and send it to us electronically. On rare occasions, she may need to forward mail to us. But we hope to do everything electronically. Since most commercial RV parks today have WiFi, we should be connected during most of our travels.
We've set up auto payment on all regular bills (insurance, storage, mobile phones, etc.). And we manage as much of our personal affairs as possible electronically. So the important items should be taken care of.
Still, there are those unexpected mailings you receive. Perhaps it is an invoice from a lab where blood work was done, or maybe the IRS decides to audit you, or you get a jury summons. These are the things it is difficult to plan for, but our daughter will get these items and pass them along to us as needed.
We've secured storage for our household goods. In fact, we've already started moving items there. When we made the move to San Angelo, we down-sized considerably. We sold all of our bulky items, such as a 7-foot tall, 3-piece entertainment center that weighed much more than I want to remember. All of the items we have now are much smaller and much more manageable. And we are continuing to down-size. I've donated a number of boxes of books that I've been lugging all over the state from my college days. If you've read much of my blog, you know I love books. Until recently, I just couldn't bring myself to give those books up, but now I'm happy to do so. And if I want to read a book I've recently given away, I'll just find a library and read away.
We've notified all utilities of our cut-off date, and we've cancelled all subscriptions.
One of the things you might not think about until you actually need it is medical care. Where do we go for medical care while on the road? Well, in a true emergency, I'll head for the nearest ER. But I'd like to keep medical care within my network to hold costs down. So, as we decide on an area we want to visit, I go to our insurance web site to find all the in-network medical facilities in that area. I list all contact information, do a print screen of the map location, and print this info. We'll keep this in the truck handy for any emergencies. We can then just enter the info in our GPS and get to help as quickly as possible.
Our Tundra is due for inspection and registration in January. What do I do if I'm out of state at that time? I guess I need to look into that. There are all sorts of details like that must be considered.
I know items will pop up from time to time, and we'll deal with them as they arise. Nothing is insurmountable. It is certainly easier to do this kind of traveling than it was 20, 10, or even 5 years ago.
Well, it ain't easy.
Until you actually sit down and make preparations for such a trip, you don't realize all the details that are involved.
Mail is a top priority. There are mail forwarding services out there, including one offered by Good Sam, the RV travel club Donna and I belong to. However, we've opted to let our daughter handle our mail for us. We recently rented a postal box in her town, and we will have all our mail forwarded there. We bought a printer/copier/scanner for her to use. When she receives anything that requires our attention, she will scan it and send it to us electronically. On rare occasions, she may need to forward mail to us. But we hope to do everything electronically. Since most commercial RV parks today have WiFi, we should be connected during most of our travels.
We've set up auto payment on all regular bills (insurance, storage, mobile phones, etc.). And we manage as much of our personal affairs as possible electronically. So the important items should be taken care of.
Still, there are those unexpected mailings you receive. Perhaps it is an invoice from a lab where blood work was done, or maybe the IRS decides to audit you, or you get a jury summons. These are the things it is difficult to plan for, but our daughter will get these items and pass them along to us as needed.
We've secured storage for our household goods. In fact, we've already started moving items there. When we made the move to San Angelo, we down-sized considerably. We sold all of our bulky items, such as a 7-foot tall, 3-piece entertainment center that weighed much more than I want to remember. All of the items we have now are much smaller and much more manageable. And we are continuing to down-size. I've donated a number of boxes of books that I've been lugging all over the state from my college days. If you've read much of my blog, you know I love books. Until recently, I just couldn't bring myself to give those books up, but now I'm happy to do so. And if I want to read a book I've recently given away, I'll just find a library and read away.
We've notified all utilities of our cut-off date, and we've cancelled all subscriptions.
One of the things you might not think about until you actually need it is medical care. Where do we go for medical care while on the road? Well, in a true emergency, I'll head for the nearest ER. But I'd like to keep medical care within my network to hold costs down. So, as we decide on an area we want to visit, I go to our insurance web site to find all the in-network medical facilities in that area. I list all contact information, do a print screen of the map location, and print this info. We'll keep this in the truck handy for any emergencies. We can then just enter the info in our GPS and get to help as quickly as possible.
Our Tundra is due for inspection and registration in January. What do I do if I'm out of state at that time? I guess I need to look into that. There are all sorts of details like that must be considered.
I know items will pop up from time to time, and we'll deal with them as they arise. Nothing is insurmountable. It is certainly easier to do this kind of traveling than it was 20, 10, or even 5 years ago.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Flight of the Gypsies
Every time I look at a map, I see another place I want to go, so it's difficult to make plans and stick to them. At this time, though, here is what we're considering for our upcoming trip.
After closing on the house, we'll make a run to East Texas for a final visit with family. My brother and his fiance live in Ft. Worth, so that will be our first stop. After a few days there, we'll go to Shreveport/Bossier City for a final visit to "the boats". From there, we head to Conroe, just west of Cut and Shoot and Donna's hometown.
When we went to Conroe in late May, we left our trailer there. We knew we'd be returning, and found it cheaper to store the trailer for 2 months than to lug it back to San Angelo and then back to Conroe. Also, we had a bit of damage on the trailer bracket. I've ordered parts and will make the repair when we return to Conroe. We'll also spend some time visiting Donna's family and taking care of some business there.
Donna also has a half-sister in the Livingston area, so we plan a stay at Lake Livingston State Park. Donna can visit her sister and fish, and we can do some hiking.
From there, we work our way back across the state. We have some final medical appointments in mid-August in San Angelo, and we will want to spend several days in the Big Spring area making a final visit to our daughter, our grandson, and our son-in-law.
After that, we become gypsy's, going where we want and staying as long as we want.
It will be the latter days of August then, and we'll still be in Texas, so it will be hot. And since we will be in West Texas, we won't have much shade. It's hard to cool a travel trailer in full sun. We hope to see Caprock Canyons and Palo Duro Canyon State Parks at this time and do a bit of hiking. Following those stops, we'll head towards Santa Fe and northern New Mexico and try to escape the heat until autumn starts moving in. From there, we'd like to journey into southern Utah and see some of the National Parks there, such as Canyonlands, Arches, and Zion.
By this time, October will be upon us, and cooler weather should be approaching. We don't want to be in a cold climate in a travel trailer, so we'll probably work our way south, perhaps to Las Vegas or Laughlin, Nevada.
One plan we discussed at length prior to retirement was to move around over the country once we retired. We would move someplace like Flagstaff, Arizona, for a year or two and rent an apartment. We'd then see everything of interest within half a day's drive, then move on down the road to a new location. By doing this, we'd really get to see the country. That is still in the back of our minds, and as we travel we may consider it at some point in the future.
But for now, we simply plan to head down the highway, perhaps taking the road less traveled, and see as many interesting places as we can. I hope you'll come along with us; I think it will be an interesting trip.
After closing on the house, we'll make a run to East Texas for a final visit with family. My brother and his fiance live in Ft. Worth, so that will be our first stop. After a few days there, we'll go to Shreveport/Bossier City for a final visit to "the boats". From there, we head to Conroe, just west of Cut and Shoot and Donna's hometown.
When we went to Conroe in late May, we left our trailer there. We knew we'd be returning, and found it cheaper to store the trailer for 2 months than to lug it back to San Angelo and then back to Conroe. Also, we had a bit of damage on the trailer bracket. I've ordered parts and will make the repair when we return to Conroe. We'll also spend some time visiting Donna's family and taking care of some business there.
Donna also has a half-sister in the Livingston area, so we plan a stay at Lake Livingston State Park. Donna can visit her sister and fish, and we can do some hiking.
From there, we work our way back across the state. We have some final medical appointments in mid-August in San Angelo, and we will want to spend several days in the Big Spring area making a final visit to our daughter, our grandson, and our son-in-law.
After that, we become gypsy's, going where we want and staying as long as we want.
It will be the latter days of August then, and we'll still be in Texas, so it will be hot. And since we will be in West Texas, we won't have much shade. It's hard to cool a travel trailer in full sun. We hope to see Caprock Canyons and Palo Duro Canyon State Parks at this time and do a bit of hiking. Following those stops, we'll head towards Santa Fe and northern New Mexico and try to escape the heat until autumn starts moving in. From there, we'd like to journey into southern Utah and see some of the National Parks there, such as Canyonlands, Arches, and Zion.
By this time, October will be upon us, and cooler weather should be approaching. We don't want to be in a cold climate in a travel trailer, so we'll probably work our way south, perhaps to Las Vegas or Laughlin, Nevada.
One plan we discussed at length prior to retirement was to move around over the country once we retired. We would move someplace like Flagstaff, Arizona, for a year or two and rent an apartment. We'd then see everything of interest within half a day's drive, then move on down the road to a new location. By doing this, we'd really get to see the country. That is still in the back of our minds, and as we travel we may consider it at some point in the future.
But for now, we simply plan to head down the highway, perhaps taking the road less traveled, and see as many interesting places as we can. I hope you'll come along with us; I think it will be an interesting trip.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
The Gypsy Life
Now we've gone and done it . . .
We've sold our home, and we have no place to go. We're homeless.
But let me back up and start at the beginning.
We put our house on the market in early May, signed a contract in early June, and will officially close on July 23. We really didn't expect it to happen so quickly. And we have no intention at this time to look for another house.
When we first put our house on the market, we considered moving to Conroe, which is Donna's home town. I like Conroe, and have strong feelings for it since I've been in and out of that town for the 35 years I've been married to Donna. But after a visit there in late May, I'm just not ready to make that move yet. Conroe is a busy, busy place, and it is going by leaps and bounds. It really feels like North Houston to me. After living in West Texas and various rural areas most of my adult life, I'm just not ready for that type of ant bed activity.
About the time we retired a year and a half ago, we toyed with the idea of selling our house and just packing everything up and traveling in our travel trailer for a while. I just couldn't bring myself to do it at that time.
We've made the plunge now, though.
After a house-clearing garage sale in late July, we'll put what remains in storage and then hit the road in our travel trailer. I don't plan to spend the rest of our lives living this way, but I do plan to spend the next several months doing this. We still have good health, so now is the best chance we'll ever have to see some of this great country.
And you can be sure that I'll be sharing our travels in this blog, so please make plans to ride along with us.
In the weeks to come, I'll outline our plans and share our pre-trip preparations. But remember, we're really living the gypsy life now, so our plans can change at any time. If we come to a road that looks interesting, chances are we'll take it and see where it goes. Life is an adventure, and you only get one shot at it, so make it count.
Happy trails to you all.
We've sold our home, and we have no place to go. We're homeless.
But let me back up and start at the beginning.
We put our house on the market in early May, signed a contract in early June, and will officially close on July 23. We really didn't expect it to happen so quickly. And we have no intention at this time to look for another house.
When we first put our house on the market, we considered moving to Conroe, which is Donna's home town. I like Conroe, and have strong feelings for it since I've been in and out of that town for the 35 years I've been married to Donna. But after a visit there in late May, I'm just not ready to make that move yet. Conroe is a busy, busy place, and it is going by leaps and bounds. It really feels like North Houston to me. After living in West Texas and various rural areas most of my adult life, I'm just not ready for that type of ant bed activity.
About the time we retired a year and a half ago, we toyed with the idea of selling our house and just packing everything up and traveling in our travel trailer for a while. I just couldn't bring myself to do it at that time.
We've made the plunge now, though.
After a house-clearing garage sale in late July, we'll put what remains in storage and then hit the road in our travel trailer. I don't plan to spend the rest of our lives living this way, but I do plan to spend the next several months doing this. We still have good health, so now is the best chance we'll ever have to see some of this great country.
And you can be sure that I'll be sharing our travels in this blog, so please make plans to ride along with us.
In the weeks to come, I'll outline our plans and share our pre-trip preparations. But remember, we're really living the gypsy life now, so our plans can change at any time. If we come to a road that looks interesting, chances are we'll take it and see where it goes. Life is an adventure, and you only get one shot at it, so make it count.
Happy trails to you all.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Star Gazing
My daughter and grandson are visiting for a few days. Son-in-law had to stay home and work, and I think he's enjoying the solitude at home. All of them will be here for the Fourth of July.
We always try to find something to do when they visit. Last night, we ventured out to the Angelo State University Planetarium to enjoy The Cowboy Astronomer. Told from the point of view of a cowboy on the open plains of the West, the show guided us through some basic constellations and the legends behind them. I've enjoyed watching the stars all my life, but frankly, I've never been able to see the images in the stars that many of them are named for, such as Orion the Hunter and Leo the Lion. But I do enjoy searching the skies for the Pleiades, Cassiopeia, and other easily recognizable constellations.
After the show, we came home and sat out back for a while, gazing at the darkening skies. There was quite a bit of air traffic, and we watched the floating dots of light criss-cross the skies. Soon the Big Dipper was visible, and it led us to the North Star and Leo the Lion.
When the kids come back in July, we may go back to the Planetarium. There is a show called Oasis in Space that Donna wants to see, and it is playing July 5. It takes viewers on a journey through the universe, with a look at each of the planets.
Sounds good.
We always try to find something to do when they visit. Last night, we ventured out to the Angelo State University Planetarium to enjoy The Cowboy Astronomer. Told from the point of view of a cowboy on the open plains of the West, the show guided us through some basic constellations and the legends behind them. I've enjoyed watching the stars all my life, but frankly, I've never been able to see the images in the stars that many of them are named for, such as Orion the Hunter and Leo the Lion. But I do enjoy searching the skies for the Pleiades, Cassiopeia, and other easily recognizable constellations.
After the show, we came home and sat out back for a while, gazing at the darkening skies. There was quite a bit of air traffic, and we watched the floating dots of light criss-cross the skies. Soon the Big Dipper was visible, and it led us to the North Star and Leo the Lion.
When the kids come back in July, we may go back to the Planetarium. There is a show called Oasis in Space that Donna wants to see, and it is playing July 5. It takes viewers on a journey through the universe, with a look at each of the planets.
Sounds good.
Monday, June 18, 2012
There's a Story There
I don't watch many sporting events. I can't remember the last time I watched the Super Bowl, and I've never cared for professional basketball. I'll watch baseball a little bit, but only if the team I'm following is doing well. I do enjoy college football, but only when a Texas team is playing. For the most part, I simply don't want to spend much time watching other people doing; I'd rather be doing myself.
But I do enjoy watching professional golf. I'll watch some soccer during the World Cup. And I really enjoy the Olympics. I think what I like about these events is that they develop over a compressed period of time, and as a result, there are lots of stories that come out. At the last summer Olympics, for example, one of the big stories that developed over the course of the games was Michael Phelps and his pursuit of Olympic history.
I just finished watching the U.S. Open Golf Championship, and this thing had lots of stories. The Open is televised almost in its entirety from start to finish. Since I'm retired, I'm able to watch all of it. I'll admit that I did miss some of it on Thursday and Friday, but I watched all of it on the weekend.
This Open was really about youth. The tournament began with the story of Andy Zhang, believed to be the youngest golfer ever to play the open. He is a mere 14 years old. Unfortunately, young Andy did not make the cut, so he did not play on the weekend. Another story of youth was young Beau Hossler, a 17 year old about to begin his senior year in high school. He made the cut and was actually in contention for the tournament until he began giving away strokes on the final round. But for the first 3 rounds, he was exciting to watch.
The ultimate youth story concerns the young man who came from behind to actually win the U.S. Open, young Webb Simpson. Playing professionally since 2008, this 26-year old graduate of Wake Forest played under par the final two rounds to sneak up on and overtake the leaders. He is one of a number of "young guns" who are currently dominating the pro tour.
Other stories surfaced as well. When Tiger Woods played well Thursday and Friday, speculation was that Tiger was back and that he would dominate the field. And although Tiger began to fade early Saturday, he was still the talk of the tournament until he completely dissolved early in the final round. And then there is the story of Jim Furyk, the man who had the championship in his hands, only to let it slip away in the final 3 holes. Normally reliable and cool under pressure, Furyk ended his round with several unforced errors. At 42, this may have been his last opportunity to challenge for the tournament.
The U.S. Open is normally one of the most challenging tests in golf, and this was certainly the case this weekend. And perhaps that was the real story of this tournament. The winner limped away with a 1 over par for the tournament, and every player knew that he had been tested. Many, of course, failed that test, and will spend the next days and weeks assessing their play and how to improve their games.
The real winner was professional golf, for I believe in the days to come, we will see improved play from the survivors of the 2012 U.S. Open Championship.
But I do enjoy watching professional golf. I'll watch some soccer during the World Cup. And I really enjoy the Olympics. I think what I like about these events is that they develop over a compressed period of time, and as a result, there are lots of stories that come out. At the last summer Olympics, for example, one of the big stories that developed over the course of the games was Michael Phelps and his pursuit of Olympic history.
I just finished watching the U.S. Open Golf Championship, and this thing had lots of stories. The Open is televised almost in its entirety from start to finish. Since I'm retired, I'm able to watch all of it. I'll admit that I did miss some of it on Thursday and Friday, but I watched all of it on the weekend.
This Open was really about youth. The tournament began with the story of Andy Zhang, believed to be the youngest golfer ever to play the open. He is a mere 14 years old. Unfortunately, young Andy did not make the cut, so he did not play on the weekend. Another story of youth was young Beau Hossler, a 17 year old about to begin his senior year in high school. He made the cut and was actually in contention for the tournament until he began giving away strokes on the final round. But for the first 3 rounds, he was exciting to watch.
The ultimate youth story concerns the young man who came from behind to actually win the U.S. Open, young Webb Simpson. Playing professionally since 2008, this 26-year old graduate of Wake Forest played under par the final two rounds to sneak up on and overtake the leaders. He is one of a number of "young guns" who are currently dominating the pro tour.
Other stories surfaced as well. When Tiger Woods played well Thursday and Friday, speculation was that Tiger was back and that he would dominate the field. And although Tiger began to fade early Saturday, he was still the talk of the tournament until he completely dissolved early in the final round. And then there is the story of Jim Furyk, the man who had the championship in his hands, only to let it slip away in the final 3 holes. Normally reliable and cool under pressure, Furyk ended his round with several unforced errors. At 42, this may have been his last opportunity to challenge for the tournament.
The U.S. Open is normally one of the most challenging tests in golf, and this was certainly the case this weekend. And perhaps that was the real story of this tournament. The winner limped away with a 1 over par for the tournament, and every player knew that he had been tested. Many, of course, failed that test, and will spend the next days and weeks assessing their play and how to improve their games.
The real winner was professional golf, for I believe in the days to come, we will see improved play from the survivors of the 2012 U.S. Open Championship.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Becky's New Car
Donna and I watched Becky's New Car at Angelo Civic Theater a few nights ago. It was a witty and clever comedy, and the performances by the actors/actresses were quite good.
Becky's New Car, written by Steven Dietz, follows the chance happenings of Becky Foster, a middle-aged woman who realizes that, at least for the duration of the play, she wants a new life, which is symbolized by a new car. Her 26-year old son is a professional student living in her basement, and he contributes nothing to the household. Her husband, although a good man, is caught in the routine of middle-aged life and is content with its trappings. Longing to flee her mundane existence, her yearning is awakened by an elderly man who happens into the car dealership where she works.Caught up in events, she begins living a double-life, unaware that her two lives are more connected that she realizes.
I found the dialogue to be very clever. But two unique features of the play really stand out.
From the very beginning, the protagonist, Becky Foster, interacts with the audience. Initially, she talks to the audience much like the Stage Manager in Thornton Wilder's Our Town. As the play progresses, she does more than talk to the audience -- she actually interacts with them. Several times during the play, for example, audience members were invited onto the stage to help Becky. Depending on the audience, such interactions can be quite amusing.
The stage design was also interesting. There are 4 settings for the play: Becky's car, her cubicle at work, her living room, and the terrace at the home of an acquaintance. What makes the setting unique is that all 4 settings are on stage simultaneously. Spot lights trained on each set show where the action is. Humor arises when Becky directs theater personnel where to train the lights.
Becky's New Car, written by Steven Dietz, follows the chance happenings of Becky Foster, a middle-aged woman who realizes that, at least for the duration of the play, she wants a new life, which is symbolized by a new car. Her 26-year old son is a professional student living in her basement, and he contributes nothing to the household. Her husband, although a good man, is caught in the routine of middle-aged life and is content with its trappings. Longing to flee her mundane existence, her yearning is awakened by an elderly man who happens into the car dealership where she works.Caught up in events, she begins living a double-life, unaware that her two lives are more connected that she realizes.
I found the dialogue to be very clever. But two unique features of the play really stand out.
From the very beginning, the protagonist, Becky Foster, interacts with the audience. Initially, she talks to the audience much like the Stage Manager in Thornton Wilder's Our Town. As the play progresses, she does more than talk to the audience -- she actually interacts with them. Several times during the play, for example, audience members were invited onto the stage to help Becky. Depending on the audience, such interactions can be quite amusing.
The stage design was also interesting. There are 4 settings for the play: Becky's car, her cubicle at work, her living room, and the terrace at the home of an acquaintance. What makes the setting unique is that all 4 settings are on stage simultaneously. Spot lights trained on each set show where the action is. Humor arises when Becky directs theater personnel where to train the lights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)