Happiest Place on Earth

Recently I went to Disneyland. For me, it's always been a land of creativity & magic...a place where dreams come true, a place where you can always feel like a child with all the wonderment and excitement that comes with being in such a magical place. I've never even considered that someone would actually hate Disneyland. Does it depend on how and where you were raised as a child? Does it depend on whether or not you had a happy childhood? Maybe it does. After all, my memories of Sunday night with Disney and Disneyland are filled with the magic, the romanticism, the creativity, the dreams of childhood. If I grew up without all that, would I still feel the same about Disneyland? I really hope I would. I hope it's the core of who I am inside and not my background and how I was raised.

To me, it's not just about your past....it's about all that can be in the future. It's about believing in magic & innocence & fairytales and that life is a good place. For a time, while walking the streets of Disneyland, I can believe in all that. Don't we need a magical & happy place we can go to from time to time?

I know that Disneyland is crowded and that there can be cranky children (and adults) all around me. I know that Disneyland can be an expensive place. I know that I can stand in line 60 minutes for a 3 minute ride. I know all that. But for me, right in the middle of Aneheim, outside of Los Angeles, California sits a few acres of "magic" and "wonder" and "fantasy" and for a little piece of time, Disneyland transports me to a place of innocence, fairytales, wide-eyed wonder, and most importantly, childlike laughter.

California

It's too bad that California has so many people and high taxes because the state is beautiful and the weather isn't too bad either.

I just returned from a week of traveling through the state and sorry to say it was not in the motorhome, it was in the car. Gas mileage was great at 26 mpg but the lodging was very high, maybe because I was traveling on a high volume holiday week. In my mind, if you pay even $50 per night for a campsite it's better than the $200 per night for a hotel, and not some grand hotel either....try Best Western, Holiday Inn. Okay, maybe it's the fact that I was in San Francisco and Monterey - that might have something to do with it but still. I could afford to pay for more gas if my lodging was less AND I would be able to sleep in my own bed every night, eat my own cooking. Next time maybe I'll plan ahead and make a few campsite reservations or better yet, I think September might be a fabulous time to view the lovely state of California. There are a lot of places still unexplored. Hum....the wheels are turning.....

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!