(07-15-2026 02:11 PM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  I gotta tell you, I am envious! I truly hope you have the time of your life doing this, whether that means enjoying your solitude or partying like it's 1999. I am also keeping you in my prayers and sending you a mental medallion for St. Christopher.

Thanks, brother. TBH, I'm looking forward to 3 things, at least:

1. Solitude. Until now, I have only lived alone about 3 months, when I was much much younger, had an apartment in Germantown, back when it was cool, and I was single.

Now I'm about 50-something years older, and I prefer solitude. I've already seen and heard all I need to hear from strangers, unless I initiate it, lol.

No partying for me. More like pouring a Jack and Coke, sitting outside my RV, and listening to the coyotes howl.

2. At my age, seeing and experiencing things I have never seen or done before. And trust me, that takes some doing, since I've been fortunate to live one helluva fun life.

Not to mention, next month, I will have been retired 28 years. Not counting a 4 year stint in the Navy, I have now been retired more years than I ever worked.

When I was putting this plan together in my head, after my wife passed away, I tried to think of things I would still like to do that I somehow missed so far. National parks out west were the big things, plus Niagara Falls, Cooperstown and Gettysburg, plus a few more Civil War sites.

Then I had to figure out the best way to do that, and that's when I first got the idea about an RV. I finally saw the one I like in person on Monday in Tupelo. Small to be living in full time, but I'll be moving around a lot, seeing new places and doing new things, so what's not to love?

3. Cooking full time for myself. My wife did all the cooking, until she got so sick about 4 years ago, and since then, I mostly just put things together for us to eat.

But now I'm thinking it would be fun to learn to cook a bit for one, and keep myself entertained at the same time. I may even find a cooking class or 4 to attend somewhere.

So the thought of all those things makes me happy, and I bet I'll think of a few more as I get this train rolling soon. Closing is scheduled for no later than Aug 14, so I'm now down to just a month or less before launch. Fingers crossed that things go well between now and then.