What A Year 2013 Was

For us 2013 has been one of many changes, with many different highlights. After a slow start to the year in the home sale arena, no showings by the realtor,  we listed our home of 20 years for sale by owner in April. On April 30th as we moved the rv to our seasonal site at Maplewoods Campground in Johnson VT we received a phone call to show the house that day. With high hopes of a sale by the end of summer we moved into our rv on May 1st, within days we had an accepted offer on the house. This led to some crazy days in May and June getting ready for late June closing and the beginning of my new job at the campground. As soon as the closing was over Dave asked for and was granted a six month winter leave of absence.

From this

 

to this

Our summer was spent living in our new home, spending time with old friends and making new friends, we also came out of the closet and into the blogging world. By the time the end of September came around we were ready to hit the road.







After visiting a number of state parks in NY, OH and IN we arrived in IL the early part of October. We had a great visit with my folks who also got their home in VT sold this year, it was also great catching up with some local family we hadn't seen in a few years. It was then up to WI to camp with friends we hadn't seen in 18 years, thanks Mark & Nancy for a great time. With cold weather bearing down on us we headed west, a few days of back to back driving found us in KS enjoying one of their beautiful state parks. With cold weather still in the forecast we arrived in Colorado Springs a week earlier than planned, this allowed us to spend Halloween with our son Tom, his girlfriend Krystal and my brother Andy and his family. Again trying to escape the cold weather we headed to NM where we spent a few weeks enjoying some beautiful state parks. It was the onto AZ where we spent a week in Tucson doing a lot of tourist things and enjoying some warm weather. It was then onto Phoenix where we enjoyed Thanksgiving with our son David and his wife Laura.

Wyalusing State Park-WI

      Some of our favorite campsites

Cheyenne Mountain State Park-CO

Elephant Butte State Park-NM

December 7th we were found us in our worst situation we've ever found ourselves in while traveling, you can read about it here. We found some nice TX state parks on our way to the Gulf Coast, from one we made a side trip to San Antonio to visit the riverwalk decked out for the holidays. By middle of December we had finally made it to the Gulf Coast where we found a gem of an rv park, reservations for a longer stay are already made for next winter.

Gulf Waters RV Resort-TX

We have enjoyed being on the road but in some respects wish we didn't have to go back to VT, but it will plump up the coffers and allow us to head out again next winter. If we weren't heading back we could slow down in stay places longer but there is always the sense that we need to be moving - albeit slowly . We've towed the rv almost 5000 miles and it will be almost another 3000 by the time we land in VT the end of April. We are grateful that we have been able to get out VT for the winter and for the first time in many years Dave isn't suffering from SAD, by now I'd have been tiptoeing around and looking forward to his work days.Now he's whistling and enjoying the days even the rainy cooler ones we've had recently.

one of my favorite sunset pictures

Between our travels and the blog we've made lots of new friends this year, we'd like to thank all of you who have found their way to our blog for your friendship and advice.To our friends back in VT we can't wait to see you but please get rid of the cold and snow before 4/29.

What a year is was, can't wait to see what's in store for 2014.

Until next time...