One year ago from the moment I'm writing this, Boris and I were beginning a marathon flight across the Pacific on the first day of our holiday trip down under.
Tonight, as we reflected on how thrilled we were as we embarked on that big trip, I asked a contemplative question:
"Imagine if someone had walked down the aisle on that flight and said to us 'This time next year the two of you will be planning your fulltiming adventures in your new RV.' What would we have said?"
"What the heck is fulltiming?" Boris answered. To which we added in unison: "Whatd'ya mean 'our new RV'? You must be talking to the wrong couple!"
What a difference a year makes, indeed. Are we ever looking forward to next year!
Saving Lives
We received an interesting call tonight from Natasha's mom. It started something like this.
"Just wanted to let you two know you saved our lives," mom said.
Say what?
She went on to remind us that, once upon a time, we had given them a carbon monoxide detector. It's been so long ago, in fact, that we had forgotten. Turns out that long ago gifted and since forgotten monitor started beeping at 5:30 this morning. It got them up and paying attention. They switched off the furnace, opened a window and made a call to the furnace repairman. He showed up and took measurements. The furnace was pumping out the toxic gasses. By end of day, a new furnace and AC were installed and all was well.
As winter chill sets in across our land, we want to remind everyone to check their carbon monoxide detectors. You could save a life...or two.
"Just wanted to let you two know you saved our lives," mom said.
Say what?
She went on to remind us that, once upon a time, we had given them a carbon monoxide detector. It's been so long ago, in fact, that we had forgotten. Turns out that long ago gifted and since forgotten monitor started beeping at 5:30 this morning. It got them up and paying attention. They switched off the furnace, opened a window and made a call to the furnace repairman. He showed up and took measurements. The furnace was pumping out the toxic gasses. By end of day, a new furnace and AC were installed and all was well.
As winter chill sets in across our land, we want to remind everyone to check their carbon monoxide detectors. You could save a life...or two.
Jealous
I was on a call this afternoon when our receptionist interrupted and said, "Boris is on the line for you." She made it sound like it was urgent. I put my call on hold for a moment and took Boris' call.
"Guess what?" he said. "I'm sitting in Bullwinkle!"
That's it. It's official. We're losing it! He because he was compelled to visit our RV in the middle of the afternoon, and me because I was jealous that he was there and I was not. OK, and he one more time because he had to call and tell me about it.
Turns out he took advantage of a scheduled appointment nearby Bullwinkle's storage spot to drop off our bolsters and just make sure everything was OK with the moose. With the engine purring and the captain enjoying a mid-afternoon visit, all was well.
Did I mention I was REALLY jealous?
"Guess what?" he said. "I'm sitting in Bullwinkle!"
That's it. It's official. We're losing it! He because he was compelled to visit our RV in the middle of the afternoon, and me because I was jealous that he was there and I was not. OK, and he one more time because he had to call and tell me about it.
Turns out he took advantage of a scheduled appointment nearby Bullwinkle's storage spot to drop off our bolsters and just make sure everything was OK with the moose. With the engine purring and the captain enjoying a mid-afternoon visit, all was well.
Did I mention I was REALLY jealous?
Storage Plans
You know what you get when you have a couple of future fulltimers emotionally disconnected from their work? Plans that start moving!
This weekend we've formulated our plan for storing the stuff we can't part with. There won't be too much: china, crystal, a few books, some artwork and - of course - the mixer and my notions. Our plan is to arrange for a PODS container to be delivered at our house and moved to a family member's house in Kansas City. Once it gets there, we'll fly to KC, transport our goods to a small self-storage unit, visit awhile and fly back to get our house sold and have our "escape sale".
With family in Kansas City, we plan to pass that way several times during our fulltiming adventures. And, when it comes time to settle down, we're planning on finding a stick house in or around the Kansas City area. Plus, self-storage there is a fraction of what it costs in the Bay Area. Family members have offered to store stuff at their houses, but it's a small price to pay and just feels cleaner this way.
While talking to the good folks at PODS, they let us know it'll take 8 business days to get our stuff from here to there. And, of course, they were eager to schedule our pickup date. We said we'd think about it. And, we did.
Right now, we're looking at having our empty POD delivered here on January 30th and sending it on its way February 2nd. We'll meet it in Kansas City for President's Day weekend.
We haven't made a reservation just yet. But, just having those dates penciled in on our calendar takes us one very exciting step closer to our fulltiming dream!
This weekend we've formulated our plan for storing the stuff we can't part with. There won't be too much: china, crystal, a few books, some artwork and - of course - the mixer and my notions. Our plan is to arrange for a PODS container to be delivered at our house and moved to a family member's house in Kansas City. Once it gets there, we'll fly to KC, transport our goods to a small self-storage unit, visit awhile and fly back to get our house sold and have our "escape sale".
With family in Kansas City, we plan to pass that way several times during our fulltiming adventures. And, when it comes time to settle down, we're planning on finding a stick house in or around the Kansas City area. Plus, self-storage there is a fraction of what it costs in the Bay Area. Family members have offered to store stuff at their houses, but it's a small price to pay and just feels cleaner this way.
While talking to the good folks at PODS, they let us know it'll take 8 business days to get our stuff from here to there. And, of course, they were eager to schedule our pickup date. We said we'd think about it. And, we did.
Right now, we're looking at having our empty POD delivered here on January 30th and sending it on its way February 2nd. We'll meet it in Kansas City for President's Day weekend.
We haven't made a reservation just yet. But, just having those dates penciled in on our calendar takes us one very exciting step closer to our fulltiming dream!
Bolstered
An interesting package arrived at my office today. It was odd shaped and wrapped in yards of plastic. The mail carrier was so hesitant that she actually left it outside our office door. A co-worker and I spotted it and wondered what it was. With my co-worker expressing concern that it might be a bomb, I picked it up and took a look.
"It's mine," I declared and headed off to unwrap the blob. What I found was what I had been waiting for - two custom made bolsters and their fabric covers. It was two more purchases designed to make life as soon-to-be fulltimers much easier.
The purpose of each bolster is distinctively different. The smallest is designed to wedge into Bullwinkle's passenger side footwell and keep our kitties from playing hide-n-seek in there. It's perfect.
The other bolster is designed to solve a much more common problem. Our mobile bed is a "short queen", which means it's the same width as a regular queen-size bed but it's five inches shorter. Neither of us is height challenged, so this short mattress is, well, really short. So, we ordered a bolster that is the width and height of the mattress and adds the missing five inches to the length. When we're underway, it'll sit on top of the bed like a big pillow. And, when we're setup, we'll put it between the headboard and mattress and make up a bed that's just right for us.
Found them at Knox Foam. A few measurements, a couple of clicks, a credit card and you're done.
We can't wait to try them out!
"It's mine," I declared and headed off to unwrap the blob. What I found was what I had been waiting for - two custom made bolsters and their fabric covers. It was two more purchases designed to make life as soon-to-be fulltimers much easier.
The purpose of each bolster is distinctively different. The smallest is designed to wedge into Bullwinkle's passenger side footwell and keep our kitties from playing hide-n-seek in there. It's perfect.
The other bolster is designed to solve a much more common problem. Our mobile bed is a "short queen", which means it's the same width as a regular queen-size bed but it's five inches shorter. Neither of us is height challenged, so this short mattress is, well, really short. So, we ordered a bolster that is the width and height of the mattress and adds the missing five inches to the length. When we're underway, it'll sit on top of the bed like a big pillow. And, when we're setup, we'll put it between the headboard and mattress and make up a bed that's just right for us.
Found them at Knox Foam. A few measurements, a couple of clicks, a credit card and you're done.
We can't wait to try them out!
A Second Disconnect
Faithful readers, remember back in September when I said I Quit? Yes, that was the fateful day that I emotionally disconnected from my job and committed to moving forward to our dream of fulltiming.
Well, Boris had a similar epiphany today. Again, the details don't matter. The bottom line is that today he emotionally disconnected from his job, too.
Yahoo!
There is something wonderful about this day. Today we are both free to pursue our dream. Today we are both free of the emotional web of the place we call work.
From here, we can do anything.
Stay tuned!
Well, Boris had a similar epiphany today. Again, the details don't matter. The bottom line is that today he emotionally disconnected from his job, too.
Yahoo!
There is something wonderful about this day. Today we are both free to pursue our dream. Today we are both free of the emotional web of the place we call work.
From here, we can do anything.
Stay tuned!
Note to Self
Next time we're in Palm Springs, remember to bring: (1) golf clubs, and (2) the Jeep.
Our maiden voyage to Palm Springs is winding down. Tomorrow, we're hitting the road early and heading north. Bummer.
Our last full day in the Coachella Valley was sunny and warm. We put the top down on the Mustang and headed out to the desert for some geocaching. We'll post details of our trip at Bullwinkle's Place when we have a chance. It was a great outing in a cache-rich land. Had we had our jeep, though, we could've easily collected many more and had gobs more fun. Already we're planning a day of caching down here with Rocky as soon as we can. It'll be great fun.
The other must do the next time we venture this way is to pack our golf clubs. We're not big golfers, mind you. But, we do own clubs. Once upon a time - long ago and far away - we golfed just about every week. One of us liked it more than the other. (One of us had lofty aspirations to join the LPGA once upon a time.) Our interest in the game has faded since moving to the Bay Area. But, being here in the sun and warm winter temps with about a billion golf courses within a short drive, it could be easy to be bitten once again by the golfing bug.
Next time!
Our maiden voyage to Palm Springs is winding down. Tomorrow, we're hitting the road early and heading north. Bummer.
Our last full day in the Coachella Valley was sunny and warm. We put the top down on the Mustang and headed out to the desert for some geocaching. We'll post details of our trip at Bullwinkle's Place when we have a chance. It was a great outing in a cache-rich land. Had we had our jeep, though, we could've easily collected many more and had gobs more fun. Already we're planning a day of caching down here with Rocky as soon as we can. It'll be great fun.
The other must do the next time we venture this way is to pack our golf clubs. We're not big golfers, mind you. But, we do own clubs. Once upon a time - long ago and far away - we golfed just about every week. One of us liked it more than the other. (One of us had lofty aspirations to join the LPGA once upon a time.) Our interest in the game has faded since moving to the Bay Area. But, being here in the sun and warm winter temps with about a billion golf courses within a short drive, it could be easy to be bitten once again by the golfing bug.
Next time!
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