Tanya is back home! She had been in MD/DC for the last 2 months with work related items and spending time with her daughter. She flew into Atlanta and now we begin our winter travels which are much slower than the summer travels so not as much posting expected.
A late flight and we parked in a Walmart close to the airport resulting in "the dreaded knock on the door" apparently, we did not see the no overnight parking sign. This is not my first time getting the knock, but it certainly has been a very long time. So off down the road to another Walmart that the security guard recommended.
The next morning, we go to Waffle House since Tanya has not had one in 2 months! A favorite for both of us Waffle House is inexpensive flavorful breakfast staple that we frequent before and during our travels. This pic is unique, never before have I seen Disney characters or any other pic's on the wall in a Waffle House, always they have pic's of the early days of Waffle House staff.
Then as we roll down I85 South we see a sign for FDR Little White House, OK turn baby, off on an impulse trip! 2 lane roading again, we love it. 40 mile each way detour is just dandy for us.
We had toured FDR home and Presidential Library in Hyde Park, NY and it is interesting that in NY it was largely about his growing up years in the house and his presidency in the library. Here it was about the people he knew here in Georgia. Very nice to have done both places and identifying that it takes many parts to equal the whole person. That can apply to everyone!
We booked a COE site nearby and after checking the weather to see a warm front holding for a few more days, we decided to extend. Very nice to be at a lakeside with electric and AC.
I woke at 4am (not unusual) surf the internet and found that there is a Lunar Eclipse this morning! Wow, we are on the border for EST and CST so I go outside and WOW!
I woke Tanya right away, did you know she goes outside naked to see it! My wife sure does keep me surprised.
Took a scooter ride to Roanoke, AL 80 miles round trip. The GPS listed interesting things to see.
Zoom into the sign on top, Tater may have been these peoples name but it means potato to me and my Honey sure likes her potatoes!
A gas station/coffee shop shaped like an elephant
Here in West Point, GA or Lanet, AL - they are actually one city in two different states, a cemetery has a Doll House.
Ahhh tomorrow we leave this relaxing place and head to Florida to pick up the mail.
Taking our time traveling we stay over in Dothan, Al. We always keep a close watch on the weather and it pays off today for Hurricane Leona coming up from the east has Dothan predicted to have heavy rain while our destination (90 miles) will be spared. Instead of chillin around the camp in the morning we leave out right away for this long trip. Laying over in a dispersed campsite on Eglin Air Force Base we ride out the Hurricane. It is now just a tropical storm and we are just outside its impact.
Collecting our mail, renew vehicle registrations and simply poking around Crestview, FL feels like we are "home". Which is in fact true for this is my registered legal residence. Tanya still has a home in MD so we are a couple with dual residences for legal purposes but residents of the USA at heart and practice.
Veterans Day and there are many restaurants that provide free or reduced meals for veterans. We have never participated in this in the past so it was fun to have a meal and the recognition from the staff for being a military veteran. Breakfast at Denny's (Grand Slam) and lunch at TGI Fridays (6 oz steak) I am stuffed and pass on dinner! Later on Monday the Golden Corral provides an outstanding feast too!
Now that the weather has cleared, we move east along the Florida Panhandle, stopping in Blountstown, FL (my last name) we find a few interesting photos. My brother had researched the family name a little bit and felt that some distant relatives had been here.
Tallahassee, FL staying at one of the lodges we belong to and we are the only ones here, we have not seen very many snowbirds yet this year and are beginning to think they are much farther south than we are right now. Of course, there are the others who wait until after the holidays to go south, so we will see more later, I am sure.
I had lost my membership card last week for the other lodge that we belong to, I had emailed them and requested confirmation of being in good standing so that we can have a replacement made. Now that I have that response, I go to a lodge here in Tallahassee and YES, they created a new membership card for me! Ha, this is important for us for we often stay at lodges because we feel safe parking in cities this way and always enjoy the comradery with fellow lodge members.
Just poking around to see unique things in the area.
Tomorrow another weather front hits here with a lot of rain and dropping temperatures, so we are going farther east to Ocala, FL where I planned to have new shoes (tires) on the motorcycle put on. Not only is it time, but we are going to be in Key West for much of the winter and the roads there have some coral in them and can be slick when wet.
Last July I had posted a comment in Facebook about travelers whose spouse or partner is remote working and does not have the opportunity to roam during the workday like the retired partner. Good discussion followed and later I receive an email from a journalist that wanted to write an article for Escapees Magazine on the subject. The Nov/Dec Escapees Magazine carries this article. Woo Hoo, our comments are in the magazine article! I then asked the writer about copy write laws and since it is a membership only magazine, I could not repost the entire article only the portion that concerned us. So, if you are an escapee's member look up the magazine to see the other two couple comments in the article.
The secret is out: you don’t have to be retired to full-time RV. More people than ever are earning a living on the road and, eventually, some of these full-time RVers are rolling right into retirement while they’re still traveling. It’s a milestone that can shape up differently for everyone, especially RVing couples. But what happens if one person wants or needs to stop working, and the other is still employed by choice or necessity? Keep reading and you’ll learn how Escapees and Xscapers couples, who have different retirement paths, are making it work.
Tom and Tanya Blount #155120
As a retired director of engineering for a hospital construction firm, Tom (age 65) was ready to enjoy a new non-working life before Tanya was ready. Originally from Maryland, the couple got together seven years ago. Each had been RVing separately for about 30 years and leaped into full-time RVing in 2017. Since then, Tanya (age 50) continues working full-time at a remote online job, but the hours she puts in doesn’t pose any real problems as they travel around in their 24-ft. Leisure Travel van.
“In my journal (http://tomandtanyarvtravel.blogspot.com/) you can see that she does get to enjoy the traveling life,” says Tom. Part travelogue, part writing therapy, Tom enjoys documenting their travels both together and apart. Although he isn’t resentful that Tanya stays home working while he’s out playing, he admits to feeling “a little loss of companionship in sharing experiences.” There are times he wishes he could connect with other couples like them. To bring Tanya into the conversation about his adventures, the couple often returns to his favorite locations and experiences so she can enjoy them, too.
In a perfect world, they would both be retired and spend their days together. But the Blounts know this is not a perfect world, so they enjoy the ongoing full-timing journey as it is now. “Life is short, enjoy as much as you can, as often as you can,” says Tom. “Not everyone has the same interests or hobbies, so couples can even take separate vacations and that’s okay, too. This arrangement is not as uncommon as expected.”
“Along the way, occasional issues crop up when one wants to be a tourist and the other cannot, but they manage to work it out”.
Escapees Magazine Nov/Dec 2022
Wow, I am so pleased that the writer did not misconstrue or misquote our comments, I feel it accurately reflects the topic that even though we are not both retired we can enjoy life together while full timing on the road.
Update, the Ocala motorcycle shop had supply chain delays, so we go east to a lodge on Merritt Island to enjoy Thanksgiving with fellow lodge members. Here it is the middle of November, and I am ridding the scooter around Cape Canaveral 70 - 75-degree weather!
We were able to see 2 of 4 (2 were delayed) rocket launches at Cape Canaveral during our 2 weeks stay. We have written of watching rocket launches before for we enjoy this area so much and come back every winter here.
The shoes (tires) for the motorcycle finally arrived and as soon as we finished this we get a call from grandson in Louisiana needing help moving the kayak trailer back to his dad's house in SC. Luckily there was a campground that allowed us to leave the motorcycle trailer in the parking lot and we head off for a 2,000-mile loop to help move the kayak trailer. The campground we were headed to in Key West allowed us to postpone arrival for 1 week, so we now had the time to do this.
Ugh, pushing allot of miles days after day reminds me of my working years and taking vacation while pressed for time. I am so glad I am retired and not running the Rat Race anymore. Going slowly along stopping anywhere and anytime you like is so much better than racing along to get as much in what little time you have for vacation.
Dinner in Louisiana with grandkids, cool restaurant
We have been discussing purchasing a winter home somewhere for the future, no hurry to do this for we do not know where we would like to settle down at. Nearly everywhere we visit has something that makes it enjoyable for at least some of the year. Knowing that cold winters are definitely not for us, we concentrate on southern locations primarily. South Florida has the most interest for the water sports available. We have never explored the southwest coast before and are now touring around Fort Meyers, Sarasota, Port Charlotte. Also, we had learned that tomato farms in southwest Florida!
Hurricane Ian had hit these areas earlier this year and there are still homes with blue tarps on the roof, discarded furnishings alongside the road waiting for pickup. Talking to a local who said that the storm surge had pushed water up the rivers and creeks creating massive flooding. This is a serious issue for our interests for we would be gone much of the year traveling and if our home was to be flooded it would definitely be full of mold by the time we returned. Hmm, perhaps the best option is to get raw land, or a "tear down" home then build a pole barn where we can store things and park under when we are here. Right now, this is the best option for us. But the issue remains - what part of the country should we settle?
Using Zillow and filtering so the possibility of what interest us we drive around the area to see the area. LaBelle, FL is really interesting. It is along the Intracoastal Waterway inland enough that hurricane winds are lessened. Several RV Parks obviously frequented by snowbirds. Right in the region of farmlands including tomato farms. One person told us that winter is the best time to grow tomatoes for the summer is just too hot. Hmmm this is right up our alley!
Along the way we visited Soloman's Castle, an individual built his home in the style of a castle out of recycled materials and entirely by himself. The tour of the home was very good for they had 6 1/2 feet of water from Hurricane Ian and had recently finished cleaning up and available for tour. The water was so high for they are alongside a small river that the storm surge had backed up in. So many metal or wood sculptures the man made, as the guide showed each one there were many humorous stories to go along with them. Great tour, a must if you are in the area.
Staying 2 nights at a casino in Immokalee, FL we visited Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch. Nice, restored buildings and farming implements with descriptions. The visitor building had static displays of local buildings and area growth from the original Seminole Indians and area development through time. Well thought out and displayed. I discussed with the visitor center personnel, and they are reaching out to locals to see if anyone can show us how tomato production is done. I do not expect much more than a discussion and not an actual tour, hope this works out Tanya would be very happy to talk tomatoes with other people!
Traveling from the mainland to Key West and sights along the way we find a railroad track complete with crossing barriers that has obviously been abandoned for quite some time. Note the tracks run right into a wall of trees!
Here's the famous fiberglass lobster.
Tanya browses the shops yet leaves with memories and a smile.
We arrive in Key West Naval station to check in and learn the way longer term campers do things here. I've already met several people and chat about RV life.
Time to start a new page about winter in the Keys.
