Saturday, July 16, 2011

Hard Work

The first 43 days of retirement have been a lot of hard work. If your thinking about moving...think hard. Reducing of a lifetime of acquiring, leaving a 2400 sq ft home and going to 1800 then dragging it all 1300 miles away is not something I wish to repeat.

I was lucky and sold my WA home with ease - didn't run an ad or hire a Realtor. My next door neighbor heard I was looking to sell - and bought it! A bit of negotiation and my home of 14 years is no longer mine. Yes, part of me is feeling sadness, I loved that house. I also love being out from under the cost and responsibility and nearly an acre of lawn.

Left for AZ with a loaded truck (26 feet) pulling my car. I drove my husband's SUV. Here is the view I had for most of the trip.

The drive was easy enough. We managed to get "lost" once or twice getting back on the freeway. There was also the rapidly vanishing deisel which turned out to be failed o-rings on the fuel lines. Called in for emergency aid at 5:30 am in Weed CA. Lost 3 hours waiting for repairs. The young man who came to help was a delight and very proud of his town. For good reason.

Scenery through WA, OR, and CA is spectacular. It was interesting to drive along the routes I had previously seen only from the air - a new perspective.
Here is Mt Shasta.

Mountains of the north are like beautiful women wearing their best green dresses. Here in the south desert the ladies are naked, proudly displaying their curves and bones. I love them all.

Been here in AZ unpacking and settling for 3 days, having arrived Tuesday early evening. I really did bring way too much stuff! Did I need 10 boxes of books? I thought so. Wasn't ready to part with these old friends.

Haven't been doing any flying as Path is still in WA awaiting my return. Luke AFB is a few air miles away from my new winter home so I get several air shows each day as fighter jets come and go. People in parking lots wonder whats wrong with me when I stop and look up. To them, the sound of roaring jet engines is old hat. I wonder if I too, will quit watching them...nah.

Well, it's 6:00 am, a beautiful 78 degrees and I must get some work done before the summer heat kicks in. Just a few more days and retirement will truly begin. Back to WA to live in my fifth wheel, and do whatever I please for days and days.