D-day is getting here fast!

[mizdeb]

Shame on me as usual I have been MIA for a long time, but I do come and read posts. Have spent these last months getting my life settled after the move and construction just in time to start planning the next phase of my life..

Retirement day is set for August 16th and departure day is August 28th. I know some of you have heard the news on Facebook but I have been rather quiet about it on my own page. After next week I will post more info there.

I didn't want to shout it to the world until I gave my notice at work which I plan to do on July 8 giving them 6 weeks to decided what they want to do regarding my job. I have a job in the activities dept at Quail Run, Arizona City for the winter and am taking almost two months to get there by way of Florida. Planning to see old friends (one I haven't seen in 43 years) and hopefully meet many of you along the way.

All those fears I had when the house sold are long behind me now I am just freaking about 3600 miles driving alone with just Duncan to talk to. I keep saying over and over I can do this, Yes I Can!

Spent this morning going through the linens in the camper and replacing some things from the house. I am also trying to decide how much in the way of spices, baking supplies and food I should plan to take from home before I turn the kids loose in the pantry. Right now I am planning to be gone 10 - 12 months so don't think it a good idea to leave things here in freezer. Any thoughts from those who have been there, done that.

I have also heard or been told to plan on 14 sets of clothes and a medium jacket for the two weeks do winter in AZ. I am also thinking two pairs of dress pants and one skirt with a couple of jackets. Am I over thinking this?

Suggestions welcome.
Deb

[grammynmaggie]

Hi MzDeb ....I am kinda a newbe here...a couple gtg's under my belt but have thought a lot what I will need to take when I get on the road...I am short sleeve and shorts girl, think I would need a couple weeks worth...that would be under things too...I plan on taking small amount of food stuff ...I can always stop and buy more...in fact I could not carry with me all I would need for more than a few weeks...So glad your trip is up coming...mine will be awhile...but gtg's are great
have a good day and stay safe..oh as far as good clothes go...if the need arises I will buy a pair of good slacks and top when I would need them...

[BirdbyBird]

When dealing with the cold weather in the winter that hits but doesn't stay long even in places like FL, many of us work with layers rather than multiple jackets. Just be sure that medium jacket has room under it for the layer/s you might need. I have no recommendation for how much clothing to pack, other than to mention that I take too much.

I am much more apt to wear pants multiple days when on the road or just hanging around campgrounds. The muddy paw prints fade as they dry and are hardly noticeable the next day!

I try to take one pair of dress black pants. Hey, they are black, with different nice tops it isn't as if we care what the fashion police score us if someone should happen to actually notice that those are the same black pants you wore how many weeks/months ago!

Take waht you can fit in the rig and what you feel comfortable wearing. Experience will tell you when to leave a bag at Goodwill or when to pick up those items that you think might be more comfortable in the weather and region you travel too.

[Acadianmom]

I probably bring enough clothes to stay a month when I'm just going for a long weekend. My son and I can go on the same trip and he has a backpack. I know some don't like to go to the laundry mats but for some reason a bunch of dirty clothes hanging around bothers me more. At home I do a load of clothes almost every other day so guess it's just habit. I have a long sleeve denim shirt that always stays in my motor home that I can use for a lite jacket. If I think it will be cold I bring a polar fleece jacket and my coat that can be worn as a rain coat or over the jacket.

I wouldn't go off and leave food in a freezer for that amount of time. That could be a real mess.

Read Carolb's posts about her trip across the country with the mini gtg's. Let the ones along your route know you are coming. After all the gabbing at the gtg's a couple of days of quiet might be nice.

Martha

[BarbaraRose]

You can pick up pretty much anything anywhere, that you need along the way. Walmarts are everywhere!
For me, I wear everything I own until I have nothing left that is clean, before finally doing 6 loads of laundry. So when I travel, I bring just a few outfits that are interchangeable. Less clothes = less laundry. (That plan may go out the window when I do finally get a TT/RV tho. )

PS> Congrats on your retirement and new life on the road!

[snowball]

Congratulations Deb...bet you can't wait
take what you normally used in a given day if you only use it
once in awhile but you know you will use it and have room for it take it as well
but if it's something you can't remember the last time you used it get rid of it and when ....
you need it you can kick yourself then...isn't that what always happens don't ever use
it then get rid of it and a day or two later you think wish I'd not gotten rid of that could use
it right now!!!
Clothes I go two weeks then have to do laundry
and I probably have way more than I need but heck I might want it right? so do what you
have space for...
sheila

[Bethers]

I was at Quail Run last winter. Lots of good people there, including the manager, Brenda. If you want any info - pm me. I didn't work in activities - was in housekeeping, by choice. You'll be more tied to the place in activities.

You want clothes you can mix and match and layer. I always have sweats for cold days. It's not how many outfits you need - but how many pairs of underwear - cuz you don't want to be forced to do laundry every day. I actually do undies and stuff often by hand in my rig ... but still want enough to get me through 2 weeks, even if most often I do laundry weekly. And yes, you will learn you'll wear most everything (pants, tops) twice, sometimes three times - unless you get them DIRTY.

[JudyJB]

I mostly wear shorts and t-shirts, and am full-timing, so I have enough underwear and shorts for two weeks, plus a couple dozen shirts. I also have three pairs of long pants and a couple of long-sleeved shirts for cold days. I try to do laundry every 7-10 days, but it is sometimes hard to find a convenient Laundromat, hence the two weeks worth of clothing. I have a thin nylon jacket that folds into a small packet, a pull-over sweatshirt, and a sweatshirt zippered jacket, and that does me for cool weather.

I have occasionally worn things twice, especially when I thought there was a laundry and found out there wasn't or the only machine in the campground was broken.

One tip--those little detergent packets are really easy to carry. They are lightweight and I tuck just what I need for a laundry trip into a zip lock bag so nothing to bring back to the motorhome. Much more convenient than bottles of liquid!! I use two in a load.

[bluepinecones]

Just wanted to add another congratulations and second the suggestion to take advantage of the member map to locate people you might like to meet along the way.

[CricketSail]

Does anyone use those little bucket hand washers? I can wear my stuff for days, except for underware. I wash that daily in sink basins or whatever when I'm on extended trips.

[Acadianmom]

Another good soap to carry in an RV are the little sheets. I forget who makes them but I think they call them 3 in 1. It has soap, fabric softener and I think the 3rd thing is for the dryer. They were hard to find for a while but I see them often at Walmart now.

Martha

[JudyJB]

I used to use the Purex sheets, but could not find them. (Had to look them up because I couldn't remember name either.) Guess they are still available.

One thing you can do with the sheets is cut them in half or even fourths for washing things in the sink. I used to do that when I was traveling and staying in hotels.