Departure Postponed

Well we have had a couple setbacks.
1) Bill's mom's cancer has returned.   We are waiting for results of her PET Scan.  Monday at 1:30.  Hopefully not devastating news.
 2) Granddaughter is getting a CT scan to determine what a mass in her lung is (sitting in waiting room now),
3) took van to get oil change and checked out the last time before taking off and find that the tires didn't pass tread test so we are having new tires put on Monday am.

Okay, I am trying to stay positive.  I don't want to spend the winter in Illinois again but family comes first.

Also, we were headed to New Orleans first and then on to Pensacola area .  They are expecting severe storms possible tornado.  I would prefer to miss that.  So I am looking at this delay as a blessing.

 Hopefully, better weather and good test results will see us off on Monday afternoon.  

Update: We are almost there!

When Friends Creek Park closed 10/31/2014, we moved to Weldon Springs to wait it out to the day of Bill's retirement. December 19, 2014 is the last day of work for him. We have decided to wait until the day after Christmas to leave. GRANDKIDS! If we have to be here until the 19th what is one more week in Illinois winter! Yiks! We wanted to spend Christmas with the kids and grandkids. Unfortunately, winter has come early this year. Yes, that would be our luck. First problem, We have so much moisture on the inside of the windows, so we went out and bought a dehumidifier. Second problem, we have a frozen pipe. Thank goodness not in the motorhome. It is the water pipe in the ground. So, we went out and got heat tape, insulation and a heater sitting inside a barrel over the pipe. Yea, we have water again. Third problem, the furnace regulator went out. Late night calls to Four Winds RV, Thanks Pete, Justin and Danny. Justin came out and fixed us up and we have a furnace again. Can't say thank you enough, man it was freezing cold that night. Next, the regular hosts have changed their minds and have decided to return again next year. I'm bummed, we were "Planning" to host at Weldon Springs next year. Oh well, I understanding their reasoning and can't blame them at all. Someone ask me, " Are you ready to give up on this idea yet?". My answer, "ABSOLUTELY NOT"! We expanded our search and have accepted a hosting position for next season. A little further but still within distance to spend quality time with our kids and grandkids, and still within driving distance for me to finish work. I guess that means I have to decide on a date. Haven't pulled that trigger yet, but I will. As they say, one door closes another door opens. I'm beginning to understand what so many fulltimers say in all the blogs I read: RVer's plans are like jello!! We can hardly wait!!!!! Bring on December 26, 2014. We are headed south!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rene & Bill

Plan is in action

Things are moving along. Furniture is almost gone. Date to move into motorhome is March 1, 2014. We were hoping to have a hosting position for the season (March through October) at one of two local parks. Doesn't look like that is going to come through. We might get one month but that could be it. Time will tell. So we are falling back on Plan B. We have found a reasonably priced park a little further away but closer to our younger son. We are planning on staying there until DH's retirement date of December 19, 2014. As we get closer, I am starting to question, "Is this the right thing to do?" "Is this dream really possible?" I read blog after blog trying to make sure we cover everything. Seems odd, I have dreamed about this for years and it is coming true and now my panic sets in. Then I remind myself, life is too short, what is life without an adventure. I have been a responsible planner for far too many years. This is our chance to live life and take chances.

2013 flew by.  Didn't get to do near enough traveling or camping.  Houses went up for sale, moved one son, still working on moving the second son.  We are almost finished downsizing.  We plan on moving into the motorhome by the end of March 2014.

Busy year, but we are so much closer to living the dream of fulltime.

We did host a local campground for two months in 2013.  We hope to host the entire season in 2014 in another local campground.  That will help finances tremendously.

Bill's retirement date is December 19, 2014.
My retirement date is still up in the air.

I hope I can start blogging a little more frequently soon, hopefully with travel stories.


Still wannabe's,  moving closer and closer to the fulltime dream.

Bill & Rene

Busy Summer

Since we picked up our new motorhome in April 2012, we have been on the go as much as possible.  We spent 44 nights in the motorhome.  Not nearly as many as we would like to have had.                               
We have had some family setbacks this summer; but we pick up family, dust them off and get them back on their feet.

We did take a trip out east this summer.  We visited Gettysburg, hiked parts of the Appalachian trail, visited several state parks in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.  The remainder of our summer was spent visiting state parks throughout Illinois, Missouri and Indiana.

We spend as much time as we can with our four grandchildren.  They are growing so fast.  11, 3, 3, and 1.  I have to admit, the grandchildren are our biggest hesitation in our plan to go fulltime. We are looking at all options.

I haven't had time to really figure out this blogging stuff.  My hope is spending time on Geek's on Tour site to train and learn blogger and picaso over the winter this year.  We will see.  Meanwhile, I will keep reading and learning from all of you out there on the road.

Wish we were leaving this Illinois winter, but that time will come.     Paradise is parked and stored for the winter.

Wannabes in the planning stage

Please bare with me, this is my first attempt at blogging. We will see how this goes. I have read for several years and still read many RV blogs. Hubby and I are preparing to go fulltime. Our target date for take off is March 1, 2015. We have learned so much from reading RV blogs, I would like to thank you all for your time and efforts of sharing your experiences. We hope to meet many of you on the road.