Drift Creek Falls

Yesterday, in honor of my birthday, Cooper and I went to Drift Creek Falls. The turnoff is about 8 miles east of Lincoln City, Or on Hwy 18, then south up a narrow winding road another 9 miles to the trail head parking lot. It's an easy 1-1/4 mile hike and the grand finale is an awesome suspension bridge. I've been told that it's the largest suspension bridge in Oregon or Washington. The walkway is 2-1/2 feet wide and looking down 100 feet to the creek and the 75 foot waterfall cascading down the cliff into the pool below is a spectacular sight to behold.

After crossing the bridge you can walk another 1/4 mile down to the river, which we did. We sat on some boulders overlooking the waterfall and shared a peanut butter sandwich. Cooper couldn't help but get his feet wet in the water. He slipped and fell once and you could see the fear on his puppy face, thinking he was going to drown! But he made it out, getting us both muddy in the process!

I'm really glad we made the trip. Afterward we drove into Lincoln City with the intent to walk on the beach but by then the weather had changed to cool and windy with a heavy mist in the air. We did walk down to the water's edge but then I wimped out and headed back to the warm car! We drove home after that.

It was a grand birthday!

Dream Home

I resolve to be a better blogger!

On May 11th, I bought a 2003 Gulfstream BTouring Cruiser, fully loaded, thanks to the very kind and helpful lady I bought it from. I took my dad with me to California and we checked it out together. He seemed impressed and that was good enough for me, as I consider him to be the Motorhome expert in our family.

Once I wired the money, which took much longer than anticipated, we were off for our first night at the local campground. No hookups, but what did I care? I didn't know any better anyway. It was great fun as far as I was concerned!

I took a shower in the campground facility and had to pay $.75 for very little water pressure, but it still felt good because it was a hot day and I felt sticky. The next night we stayed outside of Grants Pass, Or and had electric & water so I got a few lessons in how to properly hook up at the campsite.

The motorhome, which I've name Ellie after Eleanor Roosevelt, is very easy to drive and I'm getting more used to it as time goes on. It's my desire to travel, site-seeing along the way and occasionally do some workamping. Since I've never workamped before and I am traveling solo I really don't know how easy or hard it will be to secure a job. I love following other bloggers who are doing it - they are my motivation and inspiration to keep on going!

Onward Ho!

Sold!

Changes are in my life! I sold the house and then I quit my job! AND - it all happened in the last week and a half. I close on the house in two weeks. It's been a whirwind and I've hardly taken it in yet.

I watched an episode of Oprah last night and Suzie Orman was on - I should have stayed away because they went on and on about how bad the economy is, how many people are out of work and in debt, and here I am doing what I'm doing, voluntarily! I choose to remain optimistic and full of hope about the future. Change can be a good thing but the most important thing, that even Suzie recommended, is ACTION! So - action it is!

I listed my house on Friday night and by Saturday morning it was sold. Although I sold the house for full price I still stand to loose money when all is tallied up at the end. No matter - I refuse to be frozen in place where I am - It's time for change. I'm excited to enter a new chapter in my life.

One thing Suzie said yesterday I will take to heart is this:

"Do not look back at what you "had". Instead look at what you currently "have" in your life" (and be grateful). I look to all the road warriors out there who are living their dreams - they are my inspiration and role models!

The pursuit of a motorhome

I'm learning the process of buying a motorhome. For me, it's a learning process to be sure as I don't seem to make decisions lightly or quickly!

I don't have a lot of money to spare on a nice motorhome, even though I'd like a brand new fancy one with lots of storage and all the bells and whistles! I've been looking at the class B+ (that seems to be the new lingo for a smaller, more aerodynamic class C) and most of them are expensive. The one I like the most costs more than $100K and it's only 23 feet of living space! Lately I've been looking at the more reasonable BT Cruisers and so far it's only been online - I've yet to see one in person. But what I've seen online looks impressive and the price tag is right. I found one on eBay and I've been emailing the dealer back and forth. I probably won't buy this one, as I'm leery of buying sight unseen but the process of asking questions has been a real learning experience. And thanks to my dad for leading me into asking the "right" questions! I always look forward to what the dealer has to say in reply to my emails!

I've been making charts and comparing specs - it's all time consuming and confusing and if I just had loads of money and oozed confidence I wouldn't care so much.

Jamie Hall, one full-timer I admire, once said that no decision is a wrong decision because you can just make a different one down the road if you need to. Whatever decision you make is going to be the right one at the time - later on, you can make a different decision if you need to and that will be right as well.

But think of what you'll learn and experience in the process! That's the best decision of all - just move - take those steps necessary in pursuing your dream and the rest will follow......

"The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step"

Chocolate & Wine

I live in wine country. Yesterday was Valentine's Day. A day for wine and chocolate - what could be more perfectly paired than that? Therefore, eight of us headed for a favorite winery called The Four Graces in Dundee, Or for excellent wine paired with hand crafted chocolates by confectionairre Carrie Wong. We were not to be disappointed. As soon as we walked onto the patio we were handed a wine glass and a package of six chocolate truffles. Each one was paired with a complementary wine and each one was extraordinary and sinfully delicious. The eight of us soon migrated to the outdoor fireplace seating area and spent a few hours sipping wine, tasting chocolate, meeting new people and enjoying a beautiful Oregon day in wine country.

It was a perfect Valentine's Day!

Getting It Right

I went to a seminar for my work once where we were required to take a test to discover what kind of work personality we had. I was certain that I would be a "Get Along" type. After all, I seem to be the ultimate "people pleaser." I was wrong. Instead I tested out to be a "Get It Right" personality. In hindsight I think that nailed me to a tee.


I always seem to think if I can just "get it right" then everything will fall into place. Those that I love, the society I live in, the world as a whole, will be as I want because I've worked so hard to make it so. Let me tell you, it doesn't work. It didn't work when my kids were teenagers. I worked hard as a parent to get it right. Trouble is, I never had any definite convictions because my getting it right always depended on someone else's opinion, whether it was my parents, my spouse, my church, my friends, books I read, counselors I saw. Most contradicted each other. No wonder my children were confused and rebelled. I was confused!


I always thought if I could just get my marriage right, then I'd live happily ever after. Again I was wrong. Deep seated fears on my behalf were largely at fault in the demise of my marriage. Disappointment, resentment, guilt were at the core and I had a hard time accepting that I didn't even know who I was or what I wanted. I had a hard time accepting that my partner wasn't right (perfect). Who can live up to that, I ask.


Recently, I've come to realize that financially I thought I could get it right by living within my means, buying a house I could afford, living without debt (yes, without), contributing the maximum to my IRA every year and then retiring by the time I was 55. That all went by the wayside in 2008 when I saw my retirement savings fall by almost half of what it used to be. Now....I'm over 50, so in reality, if I worked another 10 years until retirement age, I doubt I will have recouped the savings I once had. And that is so depressing and discouraging to me. And I'm angry and disheartened about it all because it's not right - not at all. Don't even get me started!


And then my epiphany:

I can never predict the future!!


I can never "get it right" because I don't have the power to control the universe! Wow!! So why keep trying to get it right? It never works out the way I think it will anyway. Therefore, I'm going to quit trying.


From now on I refuse to work at any job that I hate just because it affords me an income. From now on, I refuse to live apart from those that I love just because others may think they know better. From now on, I refuse to put off my dreams just because it's written somewhere that I should wait until the right retirement age of 65 or 70. I'm not going to depend on doing everything right according to others. I'm going to live for today - not put it off until tomorrow out of fear that it's not the right time, or the right place, or the right person, or whatever.......I'm going to do what I think is right, not what others think is right for me.


Maybe I'll finally "get it right" after all!

Jogging

Five days a week I get up at 4am and go jogging with my dogs. It's really hard to drag myself out of bed that early, get dressed, and hit the streets. My dogs never have a problem with it however. They are always excited and ready to go, no matter what time it is. The puppy, Cooper, had a hard time initially. After all, it was winter, dark and cold, and he was a puppy - who wouldn't have a problem with it? We tried. I'd jog about 10 feet and he'd put the breaks on, balking at this new routine. Therefore, it became easy for me to stay home, have a few cups of coffee, log onto the Internet. It was quickly formed habit and one that was hard to break once I was in it. I liked those early mornings at home, where it was warm and quiet. Cooper was sleepy and well-behaved for a change! The problem with it was that no one got any exercise that way. I became more lazy, Cooper harnessed more pent up energy. So a few weeks ago, we hit the streets once again. It must have been a New Year's Resolution that drove me to it! Nah, if the truth were told, it was really just my side-kick guilt that's to blame!

Cooper's older now and he's a great jogging dog - will jog right beside me - doesn't even break a sweat! The older lab, who's 10 now, stays home until the last mile. We jog back by the house, after having gone about 2 miles and get the older dog and then she goes with us for the last mile. Hey, it's hard when you have arthritis - after all, she's 70 in human years - I hope I'm not still jogging at 4am when I'm 70!

I like being out when everyone else is asleep. It's quiet. There aren't any cars on the road yet. Usually the only person I see is the girl that delivers the morning papers. As I jog along, with my dog by my side, I'm feeling blessed that I have my health, my two good feet, a safe, well lit neighborhood. Soon, I'm home again and the routine of the normal work week kick into gear - no time for thought or reflection - no time for quiet peacefulness - at least until the alarm goes off at 4am the next day. Then it's starts again.......