11 Years – Enough!

Some folks put a bumper sticker on their car that says, “I’m not a native Texan, but I got here as fast as I could.”

That does not fit me!

It’s tough leaving good friends – David and Bea – David and Tammy – Mike and Patty. But I’m sure we’ll keep in touch – even though I don’t do Christmas cards! There are other folks I’ll miss too, but they’re not as close. 

San Antonio – I loved the winters and detested the summers.  95ºF (35ºC) or more from May to September and humidity that just drenched ya!  Typically the summer temps were 95º to 104º in the late afternoon and it was still 88º at 2am.  The low occurred just before dawn and was frequently in the 75º to 78º range.  So a 20º to 25º night-day difference was typical.
These temps made it easy to move from air conditioned house to air conditioned car to air conditioned work to air conditioned grocery to air conditioned restaurant and then back to your air conditioned house.

No more $300 (or more) monthly electrical bills in the summer for me.  I’m finding or traveling to a climate where the days are warm but the nights are pleasantly cool.  Then in winter I’ll bundle up and throw another log on the fire.

Finally, selling 8607 also completely closes an 11-year period of living in a suburb of a HUGE city.  Having a house – no matter how convenient – too close to a freeway and the international airport and thus suffering constant noise and dirt.

I know I should never say never – but I am confident that I will never again live so close to a freeway or a major airport.  I will not suffer the noise or pollution.  Additionally, I am also confident that, while I may visit Texas at some point in the future, I’ll not live in a house in Texas again.

Been There Done That and now it’s Good-Bye Texas!

Wi-Fi - Yeah!

Traveling as I am and updating this blog requires I find free wi-fi.  I've got no other way to do it.

So here in Springerville Arizona at the Casa Malpais RV Park, I have a strong wi-fi signal sitting here in the RV.

So I've saved several and we'll do a mass post tonight and tomorrow.

Vacating 8607

Well… The final move out of 8607 happened more or less as planned.  Minor glitches – but those things part of living I suppose.

I left SA on Friday May 25th and was on the road by 11 from 8607.

Stopping for gas for the U-Haul I ran into the first of several “for your protection” limitations on how much gasoline you can pump at one time - $100 worth.  Here in SA that was about 29 gallons.  Other places the price was higher and therefore the gallons less.  Doesn’t take a calculator to figure that a $100 worth of gasoline does not take a loaded U-Haul very far when the truck gets about 6 miles to the gallon.

Nice scenery – if you call the west Texas desert nice. But what I had not realized was that from about Junction (http://goo.gl/maps/aqhP) west to the summit outside Sierra Blanca (http://goo.gl/maps/VhAV) that the road – even though it looks level – actually gains a couple dozen feet per mile.  I don’t remember the exact elevation at the summit, but I found it interesting that a seemingly flat and level looking road was actually going up significantly.

There were some nasty winds on Saturday as I went across southern New Mexico and on into Arizona.  20-25 steady with gusts to 40-50 was the forecast.  And I believe it!  That U-Haul was rockin’ and rollin’ side-to-side.  Makes for a tense day driving a rig that has super-loose steering that throws the truck around every time a significant bump or pot hole was hit.

And speaking of road conditions – I’m spoiled by the roads here in Texas.  In comparison to Arizona and California roads the Texas roads are as smooth as glass.  I can see the effects of AZ and CA being broke – their roads are in very poor condition.

But I always find the scenery in Arizona to be interesting.  Would love to someday be in this rocky area at sunrise to catch the interplay of rocks and shadows.

Not much else of note happened on the drive – SOSDD* mostly.

Unloaded lots at Jeremiah’s place – stuff he can use immediately or tools that he can use whenever.

There’s some things in a storage unit – WOW are they expensive! – that will have some disposition within 18 or so months.  Either they go to my new abode or sold.

Had a great time with the grands – got to see both Trevor and Garrett play baseball.  Kinsley was all over me, loving and snugglin.  Ain't she a cutie!

Colton was a bit more reserved than other visits – but since we’ll be seeing the grands a bit more often I expect that will change too.

The next post will detail the joys of the house sale process.  I look forward to putting all that behind me.

*Same Old Shit Different Day

Why?

Not a total stranger - but nothing more than an acquaintance really, asked "Why?"

Why are you doing this?  This sell most stuff, get the rest to the son's place and then ride off on the motorcycle?

'It's an adventure' wasn't the sort of answer he was wanting.   So, I really didn't know how to answer and the conversation went on from there.  And in the intervening months I've not seen the guy again.  I'm not going back to find him now that I've found the answer.

On this blog - 40on2 - the author told me the answer of why I'm doing this.  I've highlighted the really relevant paragraph.

"Shoot For No Regrets

 

I've spent a lot of time lately visiting my mother who just turned 90 years old.  She lives now at an assisted living residence, or as we used to say "the old folks home."  

Mom’s had a good life, is well loved by her family, and she and my dad traveled quite a lot over the 64 years they were married. 

I like to ask the people I meet at the retirement place about their life and give them a chance to talk.  Often no one really talks to them or asks them much of anything beyond the banal “How are you feeling today?”  

A few, like “Smitty,” who was part of the Anzio landing in WWII, or the very talkative lady who doesn't remember much but remembers performing on Broadway in the 50's, have had pretty amazing lives.  They DID things and saw things that became a part of them, and they remember those things.  And their kids and grandkids and great-grandkids might even remember someday. 

Sadly, most have no great stories, none beyond the fact that they worked and raised kids who hate to visit them now, or worse.  A few wrinkled faces sometimes look regretful about their lack of adventures.  That regretful look is painful to see because there is no way to undo it and they seem know they could have done things, could have had adventures, but didn't.

I believe that long time motorcycle riders have the spirit to do more than merely live.  Try not to be one of those who regrets what they did not do."

 

So... I'm doing the 'no regrets' thing and I'm also gonna have some stories to tell 25 years from now when I can no longer sit astride the bike and go have another wonderful day riding.

Everyone Needs Goals and Purpose

I had not noticed it until lunchtime today, an odd bit of behavior that is.

I’ve been living in San Antonio for 11 years now, since May of 2001.  In that time I’ve found some favorite places to eat.  Some have been and gone, some have remained.

Those that are still around have been getting a visit from me over the past couple months – since it was certain that I would not remain in SA, but move on to other places and other experiences.

So… at lunch I visited another of the favorite restaurants that are local only.  Slurping the great strawberry milkshake I realized that will be part of my quest for the next years – finding other places that make a great milkshake!

It gives my life purpose!

Another Checklist Tick-off

Princess Wu (left) and Genghis Khan have gone on to a new home with new folks to love ‘em.

In a way I’m sad to see them go as they helped me through the darkest hours of early 2011.

In a way I’m happy to see them go as they were starting to be a pain in the ass with their teenager-esk behavior of late.

But… It’s a necessary step toward my being able to move forward.

And I feel really really good with their new ‘parents’ Doug and Lori.  Nice folks with obvious compassion for animals.

The kids are in good hands.

Another Checkmark

I've got the bank check - he's got the car.

Sad in one way - happy in another.

Bye-bye!

2003 VW Jetta TDI

Time To Grow – Again

Bri and I were having a discussion where I was telling her about an epiphany I’d had in the middle of the night.  In just a few weeks I will be homeless – by choice.  We talked about how the unknown and unfamiliar is always scary.

Yeah, I know.  I’ve got the truck and trailer and I’m traveling by choice so in a way I am not really homeless.

But in reality I will be.  I’ll have no fixed address.  No ‘roof’ that I will return to when the travel is over.  Since getting out of the Navy in January of 1978 I have provided a fixed place to call home – rented from a landlord or from the mortgage company – for me and family.  In a few weeks that phase of life will be over – or at least on a lengthy hiatus. 

As Bri wrote in a follow-up email – “Although all this is scary, on the other hand I am convinced you are full of curiosity and anticipation to see new things.  Now your time has come, you had to wait so long for it.  And to live some time as a nomad will bring you so much positive experiences.  Time to 'grow' again."

Smart, insightful lady, my Bridget.

Another Step Closer

Working on getting all my ducks in a row for the June launch of "My Summer Vacation".

Picked up the trailer this morning.

Working on the next steps.

Truck and trailer combination in Texas ranch country.

Clever Animals

We humans are clever animals.  I write this in an aluminum tube speeding westerly at 35,000 feet.  Below I watched the light snakes – car headlights following the twists and turns in the roads – as their drivers and passengers started their work week by driving dozens of miles into the city environs to earn enough lucre to afford to live so far out in the country for their ‘quality’ of life.

Some ‘quality’ – 60 to 90 minutes in pack after pack of cars, all regulated by arbitrary traffic signals so that from on high they look like slowly moving dashes with occasional individual blobs of light between.

___   ..  .       ___     .  .    ___   …        ..    ___

At least 5 days – for some of these poor sods, 5½ or 6 days are needed to just keep up with the rest of the pack, let alone get ahead.  I can’t help but wonder at what level of the corporate hierarchy these moving lights reside?

(click pic to enlarge)

Now we try to outrace the coming dawn, but man cannot easily do this for the sun comes inexorably over the horizon to cast its light upon the land – and for the 2^nd of April its unseasonal heat too.

 

April 1^st and I had to turn the AC on last night to cool and dehumidify the house so I could actually sleep comfortably.  And the skeptics say there is no climate change happening.  Ostriches with their proverbial heads in the sand – or lacking sand, up their behinds.

As the plane moves further west the lights of civilization spread out – obviously few people live here – and I’ll bet they don’t commute into a city.  Most likely their work is right where they live – or close by at least.  Some might call these folks ‘real’ people as opposed to those city dwellers further east – and especially way further west!

But these folks live on the land and appreciate its vagaries and moods.  Those city folks – probably not so much as they commute from their air conditioned homes to their air conditioned offices in their air conditioned cars. 

Now, I will not turn off the AC when it’s needed, but this summer I hope – by riding the MC numerous times and essentially living in a mobile home so small that I’m going to have to be outside in my ‘living room’ – to get a bit more in touch with the variable nature of Mother Gaia.  I look forward to this opportunity.

All this thought as Southwest flight 711 in a Boeing 737 rose from the runway at SAT – San Antonio International Airport.  Over the 11 years I’ve lived in SA I’ve probably flown out of the airport three dozen times – give or take a few.  If my plans run true, this one was the last time out.  One more time in and then I may return to SA a time or three in the future, but this will be the last flight out.

I suppose I could say that the day I was laid off began a new chapter in my life, But the shock of that event took several weeks to work its way out of my consciousness.  Nebulous plans swirled about, misty and hazy things – long term goals and other concepts.  But those weren’t real.  Today, flying to Las Vegas to pay for my next few months transportation is a real event, more concrete – at least in my mind.  Life really is changing.  Stay tuned as the pace will quicken for some weeks before it’s all resolved.

Fluidity

Plans are an amazing human phenomenon.

We make 'em and swear that we're gonna follow 'em.

Maybe the first few steps in the plan go just as - well, you planned.

Then there's a variance - or six, thus "The best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry"

Back in an earlier post there was the general idea of divesting myself of 40 years of accumulated manly-man tool 'stuff' and then selling this house and moving on to an apartment to await next year so I could move to Gran Canaria and live happily ever after with Bridget.

Well, that last part is still in the plans - but the rest - we've met the enemy and he is me.

So here's the modification...

As I post this I’m in the middle of selling the house and a significant portion of a 40-year collection of ‘stuff’. Winnowing out what goes and what I keep versus what the son gets – and he’s gonna get a lot of stuff, tools and family memorabilia.

But in a few weeks I’ll be pared down to the true essentials and the son’s stuff. By late May I’ll load all that into a U-Haul and tote it to him in Sacramento. I’m planning to not leave anything behind here in Texas – except my ‘official’ residence for driver’s license and vehicle plates etc. After delivery I’ll fly back to SA.

The plan is for me to buy a small camp trailer (focused on a used one of these - Aliner - The original A-frame travel trailer or perhaps one of these Chalet folding travel trailers.

I’ll tow that behind a long-bed F150 pickup. I purchased a 2005 F150 fancy XL off of eBay on 3/29. Flying to Vegas on Monday 4/2 to pay and drive it back!



The Boulevard will go up a ‘Big Boy aluminum MC ramp’ (Big Boy Motorcycle Loading Ramps ) into the bed of the pickup where it will nestle nicely as we move our ‘home’ from place to place.

So in mid-June I’ll grab what’s left and head back to California, meeting the son and three grandsons in the eastern Sierra’s for a week’s camping.

All this means that by the 7th of July I’m gonna be ready to travel! The idea is to travel 50 to 350 miles in a day with the whole rig. Stay out in the boondocks if possible or find an inexpensive campground and park the whole rig. Stay in some sort of a campground if I’m gonna be riding for a smidgeon of security for the truck and trailer.

Being a native Washingtonian I’m going to go visit the family graveyard and see some old childhood haunts, knowing full well that they’re not as I remember. Visit some still living relatives, as I’ll probably not see them again – at least in this lifetime.

On the MC touring days I’ll unload the MC and ride whatever nearby twisty’s there are whether that takes a day or two. Then I’ll load’em up, wash, rinse and repeat. Don’t have to be at any one place at any time so the schedule can be adjusted as necessary as long as I meet the end date in September to be back in Sacramento.

For some folks this may seem like way too much regimented planning and not enough go-with-the-flow. But this sort of general planning seems to me to outline an idyllic summer holiday.

We'll assess how this plan survives when we meet the 'enemy' of the road.
 

Things

Books.  Clothes.  Tools.  Pots and pans.  Knives.  Frozen food.  Furniture.  Computer gear.  Personal papers.

Just Stuff. 

Moving on from being in one location for years to a new location is an exercise in evaluating the stuff that accumulates as one lives in one place for years.

What is important and what is not?  Hurrumph.  It was all important once.  Now?

How does one sort the stuff that has been life? 

Old directions.  Old hobbies.  Old learning.

That's a perfectly wonderful winter coat, but do I need a heavy winter coat if I do not intend to live in the snow and cold?

All those mundane objects are relatively easy to deal with, but tools.  Tools have been my life - professionally and personally.

Oh, the machinist tools are easy-ish.  Don't need the micrometers and such.  The 3/4" heavy-duty socket set is a no-brainer.  The years and years of accumulated nuts and bolts are gonna go too.  But all these tools going out of my life is like losing an old friend that was always there when needed.

Too much stuff.  Too many memories.  Too little time for a proper goodbye.