Tag Archives: Alcan Highway

GETTING READY…..

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I have spent the whole winter, five months, in San Diego. This is an unusual event for me. Usually, I arrive in the fall and head for the desert in January.

This year, I changed it and chose to stay in “the City,” so I could be close by to help a good friend, Tina. Her husband and partner of over forty years died in early December. I have decided that even if it is at times difficult for me, I want to help those I care about, through the initial phases of grief. Grief is such a personal journey, and it can be a very lonely one as well. I don’t want those I know to tackle it alone.

It has been an interesting experience for me. I have confronted some long-standing issues of my own grieving process in helping to support Tina. I also recognize how far I have come. It has been a healing and growing experience, and I am so glad I stayed to offer support. We have developed a strong and hopefully lasting friendship.

I left my home by the bay in early March. I am housesitting for a friend who is traveling in Mexico. I have this beautiful, large home to enjoy. I was here about five years ago; at the previous stay, they had chickens, but not now. It feels like a retreat, and I am blessed.

I am getting ready to travel, and at the end of this month, I drive north to Washington State to visit friends before meeting my traveling peeps for the summer. Where am I going? I am going to Alaska. This is a trip I have wanted to do since I bought EmmyLou, my tiny home on wheels. I know things can change. Hopefully, this is the year.

I will meet up with two others and their canine companions in Canada, and together, we will loosely caravan to the forty-ninth state. When venturing into the wild country, having a few others with whom to travel feels good. I hope we will become friends along the way.

The van is getting the Mercedes once over so that the engine and all things Mercedes are in shape and ready to go. The next step will be a five-day stop in Santa Barbara, California, so EmmyLou can visit the RV doctor and get her and my house in order.

My friend Tina will be traveling with me to Santa Barbara. This trip will be about people in small doses, followed by much-needed time alone.

Alcan Highway

I meet my Alaska-bound traveling companions at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Then, the adventure begins. Traveling the TransLabrador Highway last year has given me the confidence to try Alaska. My rig was in good shape, and she sailed through the week in the backcountry. This year will be less stressful as I will have people to fall back on most of the time. As I said, this will be a loose caravan. Nobody is tied to the other people. My kind of trip.

Alaska means so many things to me. Adventure, Wildlife, Friends (in Anchorage and Juneau), and more. I am ready to get into exploring mode.

After five months of stability, I am ready to put my foot on the pedal and find new places to explore and meet new people. Please come along for the adventure. It will be fun; my camera will be working overtime to capture this adventure.

Come along for the ride. You are always welcome.

Today, I am thankful for my adventurous spirit.

House For Sale, Adventure Awaits

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imagesA while ago I mentioned in one of my posts that my goal for 2016 was to fix up the house and get it on the market.

Guess what I am in the middle of? Yes, you guessed it. I am in the middle of completing  some major interior and exterior projects on my house. Last week I had a cracked slab repaired, a new sidewalk with drainage on both sides installed, and a new driveway put in. It looks snazzy.

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Driveway drying

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My new sidewalk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is more to come. I have to get some drywall work done and then the interior will be painted. I am hoping to complete this by the middle of March and then if all things go according to plan the house will go  on the market.

Here is what I know about this process so far. It is stressful. It can be very stressful, at times. I feel that I have done pretty well dealing with the stress of it all. Oh wait I almost forgot I am getting over a cold but that is not stress related (who am I kidding). Every once in a while my not so favorite friend, anxiety, rears it’s ugly head. I try to remind myself that I am halfway through the repair and fixing up thing. It helps that Barbara, my friend and realtor is willing to listen to me. She asks the right questions too.

Once the house sells I head straight into the unknown. I am not planning to buy or rent another place immediately. I am going to sell most of my belongings, put the rest in storage and Elsie and I will live in my Roadtrek RV for the next year. If I really like it I may stay in it longer. If I don’t like it I may not stay a year. This is my plan at present.

stress-article-2015Moving into my Roadtrek is way more challenging to my stress level than getting the house ready for sale. When I was younger, I would pick up on a whim, pack and move. Sometimes I had no idea where I would end up. I am sure there was stress and anxiety with those moves too. I have found, as I have gotten older, moving has become harder and harder. Now I am want to move out of traditional housing entirely. What????

Since Jim’s death selling the house has always been in the back of my mind. It has nothing to do with our life together in our home. If it did I would stay here forever. This is what occurs when one finds oneself in a good and filling relationship. Creating a fresh start is important to me. I find that if I have to start over, I want to start somewhere fresh and in a place that is mine to create.

My problem with finding a home and space that is just mine is, I don’t where it is. I have been on two long trips and I thought each one would help me define where I want to live. I have learned some important things by traveling, yet where I want to live is still a mystery. Here is what I know:

  • I will not live east of the Rocky Mountains again-unless my family needed me. I love the wide open spaces of the west. I love all the mountains and the broad forever vistas. When I first moved to the Rocky Mountains in the 1970’s I never looked east again.
  • I have ruled out two thirds of the country. That’s good.
  • The Pacific Coast is amazing. I love camping and traveling it. I have found that I have been inexplicably drawn to the Pacific since Jim’s ashes went to sea.
  • I don’t mind some humidity. The humidity back east and in the south is overwhelming.
  • I love the lack of bugs in the west. I will put up with mosquitos and those pesky ants. But I don’t have to clean the front end off my vehicles after I drive them once.
  • There is something amazing to me regarding the fact that on any given day, year round, I can walk out of my house and go exploring. I don’t usually have to wait until the weather clears.
  • My car stays in good shape forever.
  • I have good friends all over the country and beyond. I have very good, loving and supportive friends in San Diego. Their support, caring and love would make it very hard for me to leave. All my friends have gone above the call in helping me during the last 3+ years.

Here is what I don’t know:

  • Where Do I Want to Live??????

Until I know more of what I want,  I don’t think I will buy. I may rent, after the year in my RV. I plan to keep an open mind and let in all possibilities.

Miss Elsie and I are going to become the traveling duo. Where do I travel to first? Maybe the photo below will shed some light on this question.IMG_2569

Yep that is right. I am pondering the Alcan Highway later in the spring, depending on the sale of the house. I have a lovely friend, Cat, who has a fifth wheel who wants to caravan with me. I am feeling the slight undertones of excitement. We would make a good team, me and Miss Elsie, Cat and her two dogs, Dory and Bodhi.

2016 continues to be an interesting year. I promise I will keep you up to date as the mystery of this year unfolds.

And the Adventure Continues.