A Year in Review

With 2017 and Peterborough in the review mirror, I realize just how much our life changed last year. When 2017 began, we were still living in a stick and brick home, we owned a business and we were still making our plan to hit the road. Then, something happened and it all changed. Accelerating our plan to move into Waldo full time a year ahead of schedule required quite a lot of work. First, had to decide what we wanted to keep and what needed to go, then we had to get rid of all our belongings that weren’t going with us…

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One of our many yard sales

We had to get the house ready to sell. Clean, paint, new flooring…

unfinished

kitchen cabinets

And, of course, the we had to wait for the weather to warm up…

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Sometimes, you just have to take a break!

Then, there was all the work we needed to do to Waldo before we could leave. My favorite “upgrade” was our new curtains…

Curtain A
What do you do with family photos?
Curtain B
You turn them into iron-ons and make curtains!

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We said goodbye to family and friends…

the family

goodbye

Finally, Florida bound…

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By far, the biggest improvement we had to do was get a new roof. We decided Florida was where we should get that done. The benefit of being able to stay with my dad while the repair was done, made the decision an easy one…

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Steve began to adjust to not going to work every day…

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It was July before we truly ready to hit the road. We had a job waiting for us in Texas and it was time to go…

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Our first meal living full time in Waldo.

And then, our new temporary home in Texas…

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The next 5 months seemingly flew by, bringing us to December and the impending new year.

How things can change in 12 months! From this view…

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To this view…

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From using wood for winter heat…

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To using wood for camp fires…

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It’s been a year of major changes, all for the better. We’ve visited beautiful places and made some wonderful new friends. It means so much to me to have you along on our journey. Thank you.

May 2018 be your best year yet!

Goodbye Wind Point Park

When we first arrived at Wind Point Park, we had no idea what to expect. We had a basic idea of our job descriptions but we were stepping into unknown territory. Our initial commitment was 3 months. We said, “Beyond that, we’ll stay as long as it is mutually beneficial.” Time passed quickly. We made new friends. People who truly impacted our lives. To be quite honest, we also met some people we weren’t terribly fond of, but, let’s face it that happens everywhere. Our overall experience was a happy one.

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And we got to see some really cool things…

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Our daily visitors
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The Texas Eiffel Tower
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The Salt Palace in Grand Saline
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The wine festival in Grapevine
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The Texas State Fair
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The Grapeland Safari
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A night with the Marcus Linsdsey Band
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Turkey Drag 2017

When we set out on this new adventure, it was never our intent to find a happy place and call it home (at least not yet). Each place we stay is meant to be a visit. There are far too many places to see to put down new roots.

We decided to leave on Dec. 19th, a little over 5 months after we arrived. The week before we left, was filled with evenings with our new friends.  Dinner with Ivan and Josie…Dinner with Jerry and Janelle…Dinner with Scott and Reja…Dinner with Nancy…Hugs and well wishes from so many people…and our final campfire…

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Before we left, we walked over to see Meda. She is a long term lease holder who moved in a few months ago. She had just gotten her smoker and we wanted to see it…

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Is that cool or what!

Nancy gave us an early Christmas present…

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In case you are wondering, the “dog butt” is a leash holder. The “Where’s Waldo” candy bar was perfect!

The morning of the 19th was rainy and miserable for packing up…

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Thank you Josie for taking the picture

Despite the rain, lots of people stopped by for a final farewell…

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My apologies to Jerry and Janelle, we didn’t get a picture with you, but your homemade road snacks were awesome!

I haven’t come close to mentioning everyone who made our time at Wind Point Park so memorable.

A part of us will stay in Lone Oak with all of you…

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And I painted a reminder, in case you do start to forget us…

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A special “Thank you” to the park owner, Ryan, for giving us our workamping start.

Next stop…Galveston!

The Joke’s On Me

With hopes of making progress, on March 26th, we moved Waldo from its concrete pad near the garage to our driveway. There are still several Waldo projects we need to complete (replacing the microwave/convection oven for one). With Waldo in the driveway, we can plug into shore power (aka the house). Now, I can use power tools without needing a 100′ extension cord. Great! Let the projects begin…

Not so fast!!!! On the 28th, some snowbird friends called and asked if they could park their rig in our driveway for a few days. They are returning from work camping at Ocala National Forest for the winter and the campground they are heading to won’t be ready for them until April 1st. “No problem!” I said, thinking we could just put Waldo back on the concrete until they leave. Ut oh, dead batteries. Waldo isn’t going anywhere! Our friends arrived and were able to back down our long driveway and park next to Waldo. This wasn’t ideal, but we could work with it…

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We spent the evening catching up on their adventures and sharing our own work camping plans. Then Mother Nature decided Old Man Winter had not wreaked enough havoc on us this year! The forecast was calling for a FOOT of snow! Are you kidding me?!?!?!? This has to be an April Fool’s joke right?!?!?!? Nope – no joke…

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By the time it stopped snowing, we had close to a foot of wet, heavy snow! And, for the icing on the cake – our snowblower crapped out and our plow driver broke down before he could plow our driveway! I promise, I am not making this up!

Sunday dawned with bright blue skies and promises of temperatures reaching into the 50’s. Armed with shovels, snow brooms and the neighbor’s snowblower we began to dig out…

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We finally got the driveway cleared enough for them to get on their way and I’d be willing to bet, they won’t ever come back to New England quite so early.

Instead of getting to work on Waldo, I decided to take in some sun…

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Yes, that is a weight bench and Yes I know I’m laying on it wrong!

Maybe my next post can be full of the progress we are making!