Wednesday, September 17, 2008
More packing
DUH! The light went on, finally. I spent a big part of the afternoon carefully wrapping & padding all my photos in frames - large, medium and small ones. At last I wondered, "Why am I saving all these frames? I will probably never again have a 3 bedroom house again, and there are way too many to fit in a small apartment." So I unpacked them all and took most of the pictures out of frames. I now have a stack of pictures that I can probably keep in the RV. Now to figure out what to do with the frames, and hope the auctioneer will take them off my hands. This is slow going, for sure.
Packing & Storage
I just went and rented a storage space in a climate controlled facility, and bought 10 each of small, medium and large packing cartons. I've packed one box and realize what a job I have ahead of me! One of the problems is that the rear hatch on my Jeep has a broken lock so I can't open it, meaning I have to put the cartons in through the rear doors which are much narrower. I'll have to go through the same ordeal unloading. Also, I will have to pack boxes for an undetermined length of time as well as those for items I will transfer to the RV (when I finally get it). Hope I have room in the storage compartment.
I don't know if it's my age or what, but it sure isn't as easy as it used to be.
gypsy
I don't know if it's my age or what, but it sure isn't as easy as it used to be.
gypsy
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Moving is a pain!
I am trying to sort out and pack some of the contents of my house, but have made very little headway. I drove to a storage facility nearby that is climate controlled and wanted to see some of the units and buy some packing boxes. The office was unstaffed at the time, so I will need to go back. I bought a few plastic storage containers at WalMart, but filled those in a hurry and you can't even tell that I did anything. As of right now I don't see how I can possibly be out in approx. 11 days. I will have to move everything to storage and then if and when I find an RV, will move some of it into the RV. Waah, waah, waah!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Some "back issues"
I thought I would post a couple of items from my trip.
Fri., Aug. 29(late): I should have known better than to rely on Mapquest for directions. I could have at least cross checked with AAA or Google maps. I knew as soon as I exited I-40 that I was in for trouble, and at about 2:30 am at that! I pulled off on a road where I saw an Exxon sign, but the station was closed. A car was parked near the pumps, engine idling and parking lights on. I had no choice but to lock up my Jeep and go ask for directions. I could have cried with relief when the driver rolled down the window and I saw that he and his passenger were wearing US Army uniforms. They consulted their GPS for what seemed like a long time (I was really lost), and then told me to follow them and they would take me to the station. I couldn't believe how far away I was, but they finally signaled where I should turn and I made it with about 20 minutes to spare. God bless the US Army! (When I told my oldest son this story he yelled at me for getting out of my car; he jokingly said "those guys weren't in the Army - they were dressed like military but were up to something". I said "Honey, they have the same haircut as you and they called me "Ma'am."
Sat., Aug. 30: I was disappointed that I didn't feel like doing much of anything while in DC today, but I was totally exhausted from the night before, so I spent most of the time just people-watching at Union Station. I finally boarded the train for Chicago and began to unwind in my sleeper car.
Sun, Aug. 31: I kept waking up last night with the lurching of the train, but it was wonderful to have a bed to sleep in and a good breakfast in the dining car.
Mon, Sep. 1: Happy Labor Day! I got out my new laptop last night and discovered that this train has no wi-fi. I was all set to update the blog but it will have to wait. I stepped off the train for some fresh air in Denver and got right back on because of the heavy smell of stale cigarette smoke. The conductor announces the stops where people can take a quick smoke break, but warns if anyone is caught smoking on the train they will be dropped off at the next stop. I've heard that they stick to this rule.
There are LOTS of RV's on the roads that sometimes parallel the train tracks. It's amazing the distinctions I can make when I see them now, as opposed to a few months ago when I just knew them all as "RV".
Tues. Sep 2: Yesterday the Rockies were awesome and today we will see the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada. My real favorite, however, will always be the lovely Appalachians.
Wed. Sep. 4: Left Sac yesterday morning after a wonderful and fun week with family and friends, and of course, the wedding of my son, Steven. The train had to detour through Feather River Canyon rather than by the Donner Pass, Reno, etc. It was a beautiful area and I intend to go back someday in my RV. There were a number of delays that set us back several hours from schedule, and it is almost certain that we will all miss our Chicago connections. I wish I could get home without delay as the closing for my house sale has been set up to the end of September, and that will not give me much time to clear everything out of the house. Not a thing I can do about it.
I finally arrived back in Greensboro on Sat night - actually Sunday morning at 1:30 pm. I didn't get home until about 4:00 and really felt exhausted, especially when I started to panic at all the things I need to do. My heart started pounding and I felt like my blood was racing! I probably could have called the paramedics but really hated to do that, as I had just picked up the dogs earlier at the kennel and they were stressed enough. So I took an aspirin, another dose of my blood pressure medicine, brought the phone to lay on the bedside table just "in case" and tried to relax my way out of it. I eventually was able to get back up but was so tired - what I really needed was a good night's sleep. I feel pretty good today except I know the pressure is really going to mount in the coming days. I've spent a big part of the day emptying a bookcase in the spare bedroom, making stacks to save in storage, take with me, or dispose of. I'm now down to working on the photos & albums, but I have so many loose photos I may have to sort them at a later date. Tomorrow I will go and try to find a place that sells moving boxes so that I can start packing everything up. It will all come together, eventually.
Fri., Aug. 29(late): I should have known better than to rely on Mapquest for directions. I could have at least cross checked with AAA or Google maps. I knew as soon as I exited I-40 that I was in for trouble, and at about 2:30 am at that! I pulled off on a road where I saw an Exxon sign, but the station was closed. A car was parked near the pumps, engine idling and parking lights on. I had no choice but to lock up my Jeep and go ask for directions. I could have cried with relief when the driver rolled down the window and I saw that he and his passenger were wearing US Army uniforms. They consulted their GPS for what seemed like a long time (I was really lost), and then told me to follow them and they would take me to the station. I couldn't believe how far away I was, but they finally signaled where I should turn and I made it with about 20 minutes to spare. God bless the US Army! (When I told my oldest son this story he yelled at me for getting out of my car; he jokingly said "those guys weren't in the Army - they were dressed like military but were up to something". I said "Honey, they have the same haircut as you and they called me "Ma'am."
Sat., Aug. 30: I was disappointed that I didn't feel like doing much of anything while in DC today, but I was totally exhausted from the night before, so I spent most of the time just people-watching at Union Station. I finally boarded the train for Chicago and began to unwind in my sleeper car.
Sun, Aug. 31: I kept waking up last night with the lurching of the train, but it was wonderful to have a bed to sleep in and a good breakfast in the dining car.
Mon, Sep. 1: Happy Labor Day! I got out my new laptop last night and discovered that this train has no wi-fi. I was all set to update the blog but it will have to wait. I stepped off the train for some fresh air in Denver and got right back on because of the heavy smell of stale cigarette smoke. The conductor announces the stops where people can take a quick smoke break, but warns if anyone is caught smoking on the train they will be dropped off at the next stop. I've heard that they stick to this rule.
There are LOTS of RV's on the roads that sometimes parallel the train tracks. It's amazing the distinctions I can make when I see them now, as opposed to a few months ago when I just knew them all as "RV".
Tues. Sep 2: Yesterday the Rockies were awesome and today we will see the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada. My real favorite, however, will always be the lovely Appalachians.
Wed. Sep. 4: Left Sac yesterday morning after a wonderful and fun week with family and friends, and of course, the wedding of my son, Steven. The train had to detour through Feather River Canyon rather than by the Donner Pass, Reno, etc. It was a beautiful area and I intend to go back someday in my RV. There were a number of delays that set us back several hours from schedule, and it is almost certain that we will all miss our Chicago connections. I wish I could get home without delay as the closing for my house sale has been set up to the end of September, and that will not give me much time to clear everything out of the house. Not a thing I can do about it.
I finally arrived back in Greensboro on Sat night - actually Sunday morning at 1:30 pm. I didn't get home until about 4:00 and really felt exhausted, especially when I started to panic at all the things I need to do. My heart started pounding and I felt like my blood was racing! I probably could have called the paramedics but really hated to do that, as I had just picked up the dogs earlier at the kennel and they were stressed enough. So I took an aspirin, another dose of my blood pressure medicine, brought the phone to lay on the bedside table just "in case" and tried to relax my way out of it. I eventually was able to get back up but was so tired - what I really needed was a good night's sleep. I feel pretty good today except I know the pressure is really going to mount in the coming days. I've spent a big part of the day emptying a bookcase in the spare bedroom, making stacks to save in storage, take with me, or dispose of. I'm now down to working on the photos & albums, but I have so many loose photos I may have to sort them at a later date. Tomorrow I will go and try to find a place that sells moving boxes so that I can start packing everything up. It will all come together, eventually.
Pictures added
I've added a few pictures I took while in California. I may change some of them when I get the actual wedding photos back, as I'd like to show my kids with their spouses. My oldest son and his wife Sandy have since added a new addition to their family - Justin, who was born Sep. 13. Mike now has 2 sons, Joshua & Justin; Jeannie & her husband Donald have two daughters, Ara & Autumn, Steve and Megan, the wedding couple, are working on it as we speak, and Joe and his wife Sarah have a daughter Alyssa. They had twins a few years ago, but their daughter, Reese, was stillborn, and son, Owen, lived for 7 months. It still hurts to think about his passing.
I also figured out how to add a list of blogs I'm following. So far I've only added three, but have patience - the list is very long and I will eventually get them all posted. I will probably be back later with an additional post for today, but for now I need to go pick up my mail at the post office.
I also figured out how to add a list of blogs I'm following. So far I've only added three, but have patience - the list is very long and I will eventually get them all posted. I will probably be back later with an additional post for today, but for now I need to go pick up my mail at the post office.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Back in North Carolina
I arrived in Greensboro early this morning and managed to drive all the way home to Asheville without any problems except for trying to find a gas station open in the early morning hours. I had just about 1/8 of a tank (or less) before starting "up the mountain" from the Piedmont of NC, which is about 10 miles of very steep and winding highway. I found a Love station open and at their price, only pumped $10 worth (3.99/gal). Here in the Asheville area it is cheaper, so I'll fill up today. I arrived home, got my luggage in, and got to bed around 4:30 am. The phone woke me up at 8:30 am but I got to it too late, so ended up making coffee and did some pre-moving chores - taking the rest of the pictures off the walls, shredding papers, etc.
My real estate agent is to call me today with more details of the inspections. Everything came through with flying colors, except that FHA requires a structural engineer's inspection. Of course, he had to list something, so he stated several things that were to be done. I had read the email about it while at the Amtrak station in Chicago, so I was forewarned. I called the agent and she said there was a "way around it". I told her I wasn't going to pay a cent more to have anything done (since I'm paying a relatively large amt for their closing costs, which are way overstated but it's a legal way to allow them to borrow the full amt., so I'm told). I have also decided I don't have the time or energy to make arrangements for anything that needs to be done (FHA wants a written estimate for the work). So if the buyers and/or their agent want to take complete care of it, the sale still stands; otherwise, I'll be delaying my new life for another month or so, if I can find another buyer. I'm adamant about not paying any more. I feel sorry for the buyers though, which is why I agreed to the original deal. My four kids all own their own homes and a couple of them sweated out the financing/qualifying end of it, so I empathize with them and am willing to help--up to a point.
I am really getting panic-stricken about whether I'll be able to find a 5th wheel & tow vehicle, what I will do with all my stuff (looks like storage at this point), and whether or not I can handle the RV by myself. I hope no one tells me I can't do it, but I will allow myself a few fears and doubts. I'm also balking at giving up my furniture, because I know I won't be able to travel that many more years and worry about what I will do when I have to give it up. I sure don't want to live in a furnished place.
It will all work out. I did go to a couple of places in Rancho Cordova, CA while waiting for Costco to open. The papers are full of articles on how RVs are going dirt cheap now, but do you think I could get the attention of a salesperson? One man did tell me I was in the service area and where the sale RVs were, but I could never find it and wandered the premises looking for how to get there including going inside where the staff was scurrying about and passed me as if I was invisible. The RV mfrs might add a lot of fluff to their products to please the ladies, but that doesn't translate to selling to a woman. Just my opinion - y'all can correct me if I'm wrong, but I've experienced this situation for years when trying to buy things such as a car stereo, etc. Let me stop to look at a washing machine and salespeople are all over me!
I had a wonderful time in California, but the train trip back was part terrific and part nightmare. We were over 6 hrs late arriving in Chicago and miss our connections, so amtrak had to bus all of us to hotels, which of course were at least 1/2 hr drive away even in the middle of the night. Then they forgot all about ordering the bus to pick us up the next morning. I am just grateful that the trip out was as stress free as it could be, the wedding was perfect, and I was able to keep a relatively calm attitude through all the problems of the return trip. Not all passengers felt that way though. I'm still happy I didn't have to deal with airports, flight delays, security crap, crowded and cramped seats, no food, and all the problems of air travel. I'd take the train any day over flying, but I really prefer the flexibility of driving which will be even better having my own home/motel with me everywhere I go.
gypsy
My real estate agent is to call me today with more details of the inspections. Everything came through with flying colors, except that FHA requires a structural engineer's inspection. Of course, he had to list something, so he stated several things that were to be done. I had read the email about it while at the Amtrak station in Chicago, so I was forewarned. I called the agent and she said there was a "way around it". I told her I wasn't going to pay a cent more to have anything done (since I'm paying a relatively large amt for their closing costs, which are way overstated but it's a legal way to allow them to borrow the full amt., so I'm told). I have also decided I don't have the time or energy to make arrangements for anything that needs to be done (FHA wants a written estimate for the work). So if the buyers and/or their agent want to take complete care of it, the sale still stands; otherwise, I'll be delaying my new life for another month or so, if I can find another buyer. I'm adamant about not paying any more. I feel sorry for the buyers though, which is why I agreed to the original deal. My four kids all own their own homes and a couple of them sweated out the financing/qualifying end of it, so I empathize with them and am willing to help--up to a point.
I am really getting panic-stricken about whether I'll be able to find a 5th wheel & tow vehicle, what I will do with all my stuff (looks like storage at this point), and whether or not I can handle the RV by myself. I hope no one tells me I can't do it, but I will allow myself a few fears and doubts. I'm also balking at giving up my furniture, because I know I won't be able to travel that many more years and worry about what I will do when I have to give it up. I sure don't want to live in a furnished place.
It will all work out. I did go to a couple of places in Rancho Cordova, CA while waiting for Costco to open. The papers are full of articles on how RVs are going dirt cheap now, but do you think I could get the attention of a salesperson? One man did tell me I was in the service area and where the sale RVs were, but I could never find it and wandered the premises looking for how to get there including going inside where the staff was scurrying about and passed me as if I was invisible. The RV mfrs might add a lot of fluff to their products to please the ladies, but that doesn't translate to selling to a woman. Just my opinion - y'all can correct me if I'm wrong, but I've experienced this situation for years when trying to buy things such as a car stereo, etc. Let me stop to look at a washing machine and salespeople are all over me!
I had a wonderful time in California, but the train trip back was part terrific and part nightmare. We were over 6 hrs late arriving in Chicago and miss our connections, so amtrak had to bus all of us to hotels, which of course were at least 1/2 hr drive away even in the middle of the night. Then they forgot all about ordering the bus to pick us up the next morning. I am just grateful that the trip out was as stress free as it could be, the wedding was perfect, and I was able to keep a relatively calm attitude through all the problems of the return trip. Not all passengers felt that way though. I'm still happy I didn't have to deal with airports, flight delays, security crap, crowded and cramped seats, no food, and all the problems of air travel. I'd take the train any day over flying, but I really prefer the flexibility of driving which will be even better having my own home/motel with me everywhere I go.
gypsy
Saturday, September 6, 2008
From the Golden State
I didn't have wi-fi on the train so I couldn't post every day, although I did keep a written account of my journey. I am now in California, and just back from the rehearsal dinner - tomorrow is the wedding, and I'm looking forward to it.
On my 1st day in California I got an email from my real estate agent informing me that the closing date on the sale of my house is set for the end of September, rather than the end of October. That means that when I get back home I will have about two weeks to dispose of everything in my house! Then after closing I will be in a real rush to buy an RV and tow vehicle. I'm here until Tuesday and will be back the following weekend. What a trip I've had an I hope to get the account of some of it online soon.
See ya...
On my 1st day in California I got an email from my real estate agent informing me that the closing date on the sale of my house is set for the end of September, rather than the end of October. That means that when I get back home I will have about two weeks to dispose of everything in my house! Then after closing I will be in a real rush to buy an RV and tow vehicle. I'm here until Tuesday and will be back the following weekend. What a trip I've had an I hope to get the account of some of it online soon.
See ya...
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