That has been the phrase of the day. Dozens of times we've found ourselves saying it to each other.
"We're getting there."
That short little phrase is a sign of progress. Without a doubt. It's been a week since we signed on the dotted line and got the keys to this place. Since then we've been busy cleaning, moving, unpacking, shopping and assembling.
Yep. We've done a lot of assembling.
Lots.
Slowly but surely, we're adjusting to life in a stick and bricks home.
We're here to tell you, there's a lot to love!
Since the moment the cable guy left, I have been soaking up all of the uber-high-speed internet I can.
It's been awhile. I've really, really missed it!
As the principal after-dinner dishwasher in our household, I have also fallen in love with our dishwasher. It rocks! This is the time of the evening when I used to find myself washing dishes. Now, I'm blogging. Love it!
One more thing. Let's talk about water pressure.
Whoosh! It really rocks to have some. It's so nice to be able to know you've rinsed the shampoo out of your hair...in seconds!
And we haven't had to give a second thought to dumping any tanks.
Of course, if we had a dollar for every time we've tried to use the non-existant foot pedal on the toilet, we'd have a big pile of bills. Thankfully, we've sustained no injuries as a result. But, we have come close.
Speaking of the toilet, of which we now have two, we bought a dozen rolls of extra thick, super quilted, ultra soft toilet paper.
Absolute bliss! Plus, we had plenty of room to store the extra rolls!
And, talk about room! Have we told you about our refrigerator? It's HUGE! We made a run to Walmart this afternoon and lingered, actually lingered, in the frozen food section!
There's no doubt about it. These first days, we're enjoying the little things. The lawn. Tons of space. A garage. A real basement, with concrete walls and everything.
That said, we're living amongst cardboard boxes, empty rooms and a very long to-do list. Our kitchen table and chairs are yet to be delivered. Shopping has become our fulltime job.
It's a bit crazy.
But, tonight, we're enjoying a glass of wine, TV and some internet time in the comfort of our family room. It's the room that's most furnished, thanks to our most productive shopping sessions, and it's the most peaceful.
Dare I say, it's starting to feel like home.
Yep. We're getting there.
Our Last Night
Today was one of those busy days that could pass by in a flash if we let it. But, we're taking a moment to pause and celebrate an important milestone. This is our last night as fulltime RVers.
Of course, I haven't checked the Fulltime RVers Bible for an official ruling on this. But, we consider this our last night because tomorrow night will be the first night we spend in our new home. We've been working hard the last couple of days to get things set up there and settle in. Truth is, it'll be awhile before the dust settles. But, we've reached a point where we need to gather our things and our cats and sleep there. With that, we'll be home.
We'll have lots to say about this in a future post once we've had some time to pause and reflect. Here are today's words of wisdom to future fulltimers packing up their belongings for storage: Think about what you might need first when you settle in to your new spot. We gave this absolutely no thought, because we were focused on getting things out of one house and into another. I spent half of today searching for everyday dishes that, as it turns out, I think I gave away. See what I mean? Meanwhile, I have boxes of crystal and china to use. Go figure.
With more to say soon, I'll focus on what is in our minds and hearts on this gorgeous night after nearly four years on the road.
This has been one hell of a ride. We wouldn't trade it for anything.
We are filled with gratitude for all of the people who helped us get on the road, the folks we met (and those special few we lost) along the way, and the people who have helped and are helping making this amazing transition to life as Anytime RVers. To each of you, we say "Thank You". We could not have made this journey without you.
We have a few more posts to come to wrap this thing up. So, stay tuned.
For now, all is well. Cheers!
Of course, I haven't checked the Fulltime RVers Bible for an official ruling on this. But, we consider this our last night because tomorrow night will be the first night we spend in our new home. We've been working hard the last couple of days to get things set up there and settle in. Truth is, it'll be awhile before the dust settles. But, we've reached a point where we need to gather our things and our cats and sleep there. With that, we'll be home.
We'll have lots to say about this in a future post once we've had some time to pause and reflect. Here are today's words of wisdom to future fulltimers packing up their belongings for storage: Think about what you might need first when you settle in to your new spot. We gave this absolutely no thought, because we were focused on getting things out of one house and into another. I spent half of today searching for everyday dishes that, as it turns out, I think I gave away. See what I mean? Meanwhile, I have boxes of crystal and china to use. Go figure.
With more to say soon, I'll focus on what is in our minds and hearts on this gorgeous night after nearly four years on the road.
This has been one hell of a ride. We wouldn't trade it for anything.
We are filled with gratitude for all of the people who helped us get on the road, the folks we met (and those special few we lost) along the way, and the people who have helped and are helping making this amazing transition to life as Anytime RVers. To each of you, we say "Thank You". We could not have made this journey without you.
We have a few more posts to come to wrap this thing up. So, stay tuned.
For now, all is well. Cheers!
Shopping!
I never knew we could spend money so fast!
But, we sure can!
We're here to tell ya, setting up a household from essentially scratch involves a whole lotta shopping. Just this week we've purchased TVs, DVD, phones, sound stuff, a sofa, chair and recliner. That and a bunch of other stuff, plus the few things we have in storage, are all planned to show up on our doorstep next week.
Say it with me now.
Cha-Ching!
And, really, we're just getting started!
We knew this would be a pricey proposition. And, yes, we planned for it. But, for a couple of frugal types like us this has been a real head spinner!
Besides super shopping, we've been uber-busy with family stuff. It's been crazy. In fact, we're having to squeeze in the shopping when we can. Late this afternoon we drove by our very-soon-to-be house. It's sitting there, just waiting for us. Everything is set for us to get the keys on Monday.
"It looks peaceful," Paul said as we looked longingly at our future home.
I couldn't agree more.
And, we can't wait.
You see, even with lots more shopping to do, our house is already becoming a haven.
We really need it.
But, we sure can!
We're here to tell ya, setting up a household from essentially scratch involves a whole lotta shopping. Just this week we've purchased TVs, DVD, phones, sound stuff, a sofa, chair and recliner. That and a bunch of other stuff, plus the few things we have in storage, are all planned to show up on our doorstep next week.
Say it with me now.
Cha-Ching!
And, really, we're just getting started!
We knew this would be a pricey proposition. And, yes, we planned for it. But, for a couple of frugal types like us this has been a real head spinner!
Besides super shopping, we've been uber-busy with family stuff. It's been crazy. In fact, we're having to squeeze in the shopping when we can. Late this afternoon we drove by our very-soon-to-be house. It's sitting there, just waiting for us. Everything is set for us to get the keys on Monday.
"It looks peaceful," Paul said as we looked longingly at our future home.
I couldn't agree more.
And, we can't wait.
You see, even with lots more shopping to do, our house is already becoming a haven.
We really need it.
Putting The "Recreation" Back in RVing
The house stuff is moving ahead quite nicely. Basically, we've cleared all the hurdles. We're just waiting for our closing date later this month. With the green light glowing, we've scheduled delivery of our itty bitty POD container, found a place for the moose to park, and ordered all kinds of furniture. We're gaining on our goal of being able to comfortably sleep, eat and watch TV as soon as possible after closing.
That's progress!
In our spare time, we've made some inquiries into local RVing clubs. As members of the national Winnebago Itasca Travelers, the Winnie owners club, we are eager to make introduction to our local and state WIT members. We have such fond memories of outings with our Winnie friends in California, we look forward to making connections like that here in our hometown.
After exchanging a few emails, we had made connections with the local and state clubs. Several folks from both groups extended warm welcomes. They shared their schedules of upcoming events. They have outings planned to popular state parks, lakes and one place in the Texas panhandle we've been wanting to visit.
It sounds fun.
As we perused the calendar of upcoming events with both clubs, we recalled the days when we would escape life in our sticks-n-bricks for a few days with our RVing brethren.
It was truly recreational.
After nearly four years of living in an RV, we realize we miss the "recreation" in RVing. It's tons of fun, but living in this house on wheels has simply become a way of life. As much as we love it, it's just not the same as getting away with friends once a month or so for a few days of camping.
It sure sounds like fun.
We can't wait!
That's progress!
In our spare time, we've made some inquiries into local RVing clubs. As members of the national Winnebago Itasca Travelers, the Winnie owners club, we are eager to make introduction to our local and state WIT members. We have such fond memories of outings with our Winnie friends in California, we look forward to making connections like that here in our hometown.
After exchanging a few emails, we had made connections with the local and state clubs. Several folks from both groups extended warm welcomes. They shared their schedules of upcoming events. They have outings planned to popular state parks, lakes and one place in the Texas panhandle we've been wanting to visit.
It sounds fun.
As we perused the calendar of upcoming events with both clubs, we recalled the days when we would escape life in our sticks-n-bricks for a few days with our RVing brethren.
It was truly recreational.
After nearly four years of living in an RV, we realize we miss the "recreation" in RVing. It's tons of fun, but living in this house on wheels has simply become a way of life. As much as we love it, it's just not the same as getting away with friends once a month or so for a few days of camping.
It sure sounds like fun.
We can't wait!
Back to Craigslist
Four years ago we were knee deep in Craigslist. We were photographing and listing many of our belongings for what turned out to be immediate sale. Of course, there were items that were duds. But, overall, we unloaded a bunch of stuff quickly and easily on this nifty little website.
Fast forward four years and we are back at Craigslist again. But, this time it's different.
We're buying.
I've been cruising Craigslist Kansas City for awhile now. I just wanted to get a sense of what is available here. Hardgoods are a plenty. So, I've been focusing on finding things for our master and guest room and tables for our family room.
Yesterday, I spotted a nifty master bedroom set. King size. Simple styling. Espresso finish. Five pieces. A real bargain.
Splendid.
I fired off an email to inquire if the set, which had been posted a week and half ago, was still available. I added that it would be a couple of weeks before we would be able to pick the set up should we decide it was for us. I gave the seller the opportunity to give us a pass.
Instead, she said it was perfect. They were selling their bedroom set to prepare for the arrival of a set from her parents, which was scheduled to arrive in mid-June. She was more than happy to wait a few weeks for us to take delivery. We scheduled a time for us to take a look this afternoon.
We made the pilgrimage to the western suburbs, to the land of great big houses and itty bitty lawns. It made my stomach turn. But, we weren't there to buy a house. We were there to shop for furniture. We pulled up in the steep driveway and rang the bell.
The cute little couple introduced themselves. She was wearing a Kansas t-shirt, which provided an ice breaker about our shared alma maters. We made polite conversation with the strangers. With the ice appropriately broken, we finally went upstairs.
The furniture was fine. Beautiful. Ten years old with a hardly noticeable scratch or dent or two. It would definitely work. Paul shot them an offer and they countered. Within a minute we had all agreed on a price that was exactly what we all probably originally intended. It's quite a game.
We left them a deposit and went on our way. We'll be back in a couple of weeks to take delivery. Meanwhile, we know this young couple is experiencing the same joy we did four years ago. They've realized that Craigslist is a great place to sell stuff.
Lucky for us, now we know it's also a great place to buy.
Fast forward four years and we are back at Craigslist again. But, this time it's different.
We're buying.
I've been cruising Craigslist Kansas City for awhile now. I just wanted to get a sense of what is available here. Hardgoods are a plenty. So, I've been focusing on finding things for our master and guest room and tables for our family room.
Yesterday, I spotted a nifty master bedroom set. King size. Simple styling. Espresso finish. Five pieces. A real bargain.
Splendid.
I fired off an email to inquire if the set, which had been posted a week and half ago, was still available. I added that it would be a couple of weeks before we would be able to pick the set up should we decide it was for us. I gave the seller the opportunity to give us a pass.
Instead, she said it was perfect. They were selling their bedroom set to prepare for the arrival of a set from her parents, which was scheduled to arrive in mid-June. She was more than happy to wait a few weeks for us to take delivery. We scheduled a time for us to take a look this afternoon.
We made the pilgrimage to the western suburbs, to the land of great big houses and itty bitty lawns. It made my stomach turn. But, we weren't there to buy a house. We were there to shop for furniture. We pulled up in the steep driveway and rang the bell.
The cute little couple introduced themselves. She was wearing a Kansas t-shirt, which provided an ice breaker about our shared alma maters. We made polite conversation with the strangers. With the ice appropriately broken, we finally went upstairs.
The furniture was fine. Beautiful. Ten years old with a hardly noticeable scratch or dent or two. It would definitely work. Paul shot them an offer and they countered. Within a minute we had all agreed on a price that was exactly what we all probably originally intended. It's quite a game.
We left them a deposit and went on our way. We'll be back in a couple of weeks to take delivery. Meanwhile, we know this young couple is experiencing the same joy we did four years ago. They've realized that Craigslist is a great place to sell stuff.
Lucky for us, now we know it's also a great place to buy.
Say What?
Did we really say we bought a house?
Oh yeah! We did!
Technically, we haven't bought it just yet. We made an offer, which has been accepted. We're currently in escrow. (And, that's such an exciting place to be!)
So, what's up? What prompted these two nomads to cough up the cash for a 2,100-square-foot split level in the 'burbs? Perhaps the best way to explain what's up is to answer a few questions.
Oh yeah! We did!
Technically, we haven't bought it just yet. We made an offer, which has been accepted. We're currently in escrow. (And, that's such an exciting place to be!)
So, what's up? What prompted these two nomads to cough up the cash for a 2,100-square-foot split level in the 'burbs? Perhaps the best way to explain what's up is to answer a few questions.
Q. So, you're hangin' up the keys. Are you sad about that?
A. We're not the least bit sad. We're excited!
Unlike our marriage, fulltime RVing was never a "forever" gig for us. From the beginning, our plan was to live on the road for "a year or two, perhaps as long as three." It's been almost four. We were overdue! As we close the chapter of our lives that was lived on the road, we're moving on to a chapter where we'll be reconnecting with our old hometown in a brand new way.
And, while Bullwinkle's keys will soon be hanging on a nifty rack in our new house, they won't stay there long. We're thrilled to be making the move from fulltime RVers to "anytime" RVers! We're already planning round-trip excursions from here.
Q. Are you sorry fulltime RVing didn't work out for you?
A. Didn't work out? We're closing in on four years of this amazing lifestyle. If fulltiming hadn't worked out for us we would have known (and stopped) long, long ago. We've loved it!
We feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to do this crazy thing. We've explored so many stunning places, met so many wonderful people and made lots of new friends. What's not to like? We hoped it would be the journey of a lifetime. It has exceeded our expectations.
Q. Then, why are you stopping?
A. The short answer is we couldn't muster the energy to drive across West Texas for a third time.
But, that's not really it. While we were lacking enthusiasm to head west, we both felt some kind of gravitational pull back to Kansas City. We've made dozens of trips in and out of our old hometown since we left here 13 years ago, yet we'd never felt this kind of powerful tug.
We were being called home.
No one asked us to do it. We just knew this is where we wanted to be. And, when you just know, you go. As soon as the snow cleared, we pointed the moose north. Our energy and enthusiasm returned instantly. It was clear we were on the right path.
Just as they had when we left Oakland to hit the road, things fell into place. On extremely short notice, our home park had a spot for us for exactly a month. That provided us a window of opportunity to find the perfect house at the perfect time at a perfect price, just as real estate prices began to percolate. We didn't want to miss the best real estate market in years. And, by the looks of things, we didn't.
It feels like it was all meant to be. As much as we have loved our life on the road, we have found something else we love even more.
Q. Why Kansas City?
A. We have a list of reasons! The bottom line is the easiest place for us to call home is also the best. We resisted returning to the place we lived for the first four decades of our lives because it was so familiar and comfortable. Turns out that after a decade living in California and four years of exploring new places on the road, familiar and comfortable are exactly what we want. Kansas City is home!
In our travels, we looked at real estate in some of our favorite towns. Whenever we got remotely serious about purchasing a home, we got antsy. We'd think of our old hometown and couldn't imagine not living there.
While we have no desire to return to the workaholic lives we lived here before, we do have plans to do a little work. Paul has maintained relationships with a handful of financial planning/investment management clients while we've been on the road. Having a home base provides an opportunity to grow that into a small business, which we've always wanted to do. And, Kansas City is the best place for us to do that. We're both eager to see Paul busy!
Besides being a place where a bunch of our family and friends live, Kansas City is centrally located. We can point Bullwinkle in any direction from here and be somewhere fun in a day or two. We can't wait!
Q. What about Bullwinkle?
A. Well, today, he's getting his annual chassis service. Tomorrow, we're heading off to southwest Missouri to visit extended family. Next week he'll bring us back to Kansas City and, if everything works as planned, we'll close escrow by the end of the month. Near the top of our "to-do" list is finding a safe, secure and sheltered spot for Bullwinkle to call home. But, he won't stay there long. After we get settled in, we'll be off together on some Summer adventures.
Bullwinkle is like a member of our family. So, we're sticking together! He'll get more rest than he's been used to. But, after traveling over 30,000 miles, he certainly deserves it! We feel fortunate to have such a comfortable (and movable) second home!
Q. What about your new home?
A. All systems are go with this deal, but we don't want to jinx anything. It's tough to type with my fingers crossed, but I'll say it's cute, comfortable and just the right size for two people and two cats who have been living in 400 square feet. It's a 35-year-old house that's been redone inside and out. It's almost like new, but it's sitting on a lovely lot in a well-established neighborhood we know and love. And, of course, it has a long, level driveway. Bullwinkle won't live there, but he'll be a frequent visitor!
Q. What about your blog?
A. As our fulltiming adventures come to a close, we'll wrap up things here at The Great RV Escape. We pledged long ago that we'd share our story from beginning to end. So, we shall. As exciting as all of the preparations for life on the road were, we're here to tell you that transitioning from "fulltimers" to "anytimers" is an exciting adventure! And, it's all part of the process. We want to capture it all. And, we hope our complete story helps somebody who finds their way to these pages someday.
Bullwinkle's Travels will continue, of course. We'll share our "anytimer" adventures there. Of course, that poor, neglected blog is so out-of-date, it's going to take some serious dusting off and updating. I'm on it!
Q. What's next?
A. Suddenly, we have LOTS to do! We'll keep you posted.
An Eventful Month
I can't believe a month has passed since our last post. And, what a month it's been!
When we last touched base we were in Kansas City waiting for Spring to arrive.
Fast forward a month. We're still in Kansas City. And, we're still waiting for Spring. In fact, tonight's forecast calls for temps of the record breaking variety.
We're not talking about a heat wave, folks.
So, what are a couple of native Kansas Citians to do while waiting for things to warm up around here?
Here's a rundown.
We've spent much of our collective energy tending to Paul's Dad, who has had a bit of a health scare. He's doing much better, thankfully. We're so glad we've been here to support him. (And so is he!)
My Dad celebrated a big birthday. We're so happy he was on the planet to mark this milestone and we were with him to celebrate.
Just after the party, I caught the big bummer of a respiratory bug that's been going around. Two totally listless weeks were a complete blur, followed by a week-and-a-half of a nagging cough. I'm pleased to report that I have recovered. But, for a while there Paul was simply bouncing from one invalid to another. (Yes, he IS a saint.)
I spent much of my sick time watching the NCAA men's basketball tournament, which was entertaining until the regional semis. With our beloved Jayhawks out of the mix, and my bracket completely busted, my annual overdose of college basketball came to an abrupt end. Withdrawal has been a little rough, but I've managed.
We have caught up with other family and friends, which has been great fun. We always enjoy our time in our old hometown.
Yep. It's been a busy month. But, it's all good.
Oh yeah. There's one more thing.
We bought a house.
More soon!
When we last touched base we were in Kansas City waiting for Spring to arrive.
Fast forward a month. We're still in Kansas City. And, we're still waiting for Spring. In fact, tonight's forecast calls for temps of the record breaking variety.
We're not talking about a heat wave, folks.
So, what are a couple of native Kansas Citians to do while waiting for things to warm up around here?
Here's a rundown.
We've spent much of our collective energy tending to Paul's Dad, who has had a bit of a health scare. He's doing much better, thankfully. We're so glad we've been here to support him. (And so is he!)
My Dad celebrated a big birthday. We're so happy he was on the planet to mark this milestone and we were with him to celebrate.
Just after the party, I caught the big bummer of a respiratory bug that's been going around. Two totally listless weeks were a complete blur, followed by a week-and-a-half of a nagging cough. I'm pleased to report that I have recovered. But, for a while there Paul was simply bouncing from one invalid to another. (Yes, he IS a saint.)
I spent much of my sick time watching the NCAA men's basketball tournament, which was entertaining until the regional semis. With our beloved Jayhawks out of the mix, and my bracket completely busted, my annual overdose of college basketball came to an abrupt end. Withdrawal has been a little rough, but I've managed.
We have caught up with other family and friends, which has been great fun. We always enjoy our time in our old hometown.
Yep. It's been a busy month. But, it's all good.
Oh yeah. There's one more thing.
We bought a house.
More soon!
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