Vermont Country Store

[LegalLady]

Hi ladies! I've been away for a while. Got a new computer and have been working out the kinks. Weather in New England is very un-summer-like - cool, rainy, humid (ok, humid is summer-like and I don't like it!). This past weekend, I finally had a slice of time to myself, so I revved up the 'ole "Escape Pod" and took a little road trip to Vermont.

Visited the original Vermont Country Store in Weston VT. Fascinating place. Bought a couple of things I been looking for forever, especially those old aluminum ice cube trays with the gidget you pull up to release the cubes, remember them?

So I meandered along and stayed in Jamaica State Park,in the town of...Jamaica! Very nice park, clean rest rooms, but no electricity. Turns out none of the state parks in VT have electricity. So there I was with computer in hand (having stopped at the Verizon Wireless store before I left to get the broadband access software installed in the new computer and the service turned on), ready to have a great evening surfing the net, but, it was not to be. So I read a book instead which was just as much fun.

Next day, I poked along, stopped at another, much smaller, country store, bought a pair of earrings and admired some beautifully converted sweatshirts made into casual jackets. Alas, no size big enough for me, but that's okay because I sew and can do it myself if I can find the book about converting sweatshirts - heck, I might even have it!! I'll have to look at home and if not, keep an eye out for it. I had not previously been tempted to do this project, but these jackets were beautiful and I could see would be quite simple to do. So I want to try it.

Then went to Wilmington VT at the base of Snow Mtn (skiied there many years ago with DH) and visited a large quilt store. Bought some fat quarters and a design to make a little wallet, big enough to hold a couple of credit cards and some money. Also bought a kit to make a matching little purse.

Then decided to head home rather than stay out another night. For sure, I wasn't staying out in VT state parks, since I wanted electricity! I could have stayed in a MA state park (which I [i]think[i] have electricity but you can be sure I will verify first), but the day was too showery, so decided to head on home instead.

All in all, a very nice time, and a chance to play a little in my "Pod."

[AlmostThere]

Hi, Leslie!
So good to hear from you and about your little adventure in the Pod! What fun! Do you ever take pictures? I'd be really interested in anything from your part of the US as it's not an area I'm well versed about. I agree having electric at the CG is a must, or it would be for me, and also being able to get online.

As I"m getting very antsy to get my "B", (or B+), have been trying to figure out my budget to see if I could possibliy swing it. Has anyone ever actually sat down and written out a budget?? Very confusing in that I have no idea what to budget for everyday living, like food, clothing, gifts, or even co-pay on Dr visits etc. I'm almost tempted to cash in one of my investments but think I ran that by my finance guy before and after taxes I'd be giving most of the income back to Uncle Sam. So my whine continues...

Take care!

[VickieP]

IMHO,

#1 Advice from a man

#2 Bet Finance guy doesn't RV and thinks a slide out has something to do with baseball.

#3 If you knew you were going to die April 14, 2010,(day before tax due date) would you still worry about how much of it went to Uncle Sam and how much you got to enjoy the last 9 months?

#4 Leslie, sorry to jack your thread.

Make your own decisions with whatever you're comfortable with, but it would be a shame to go from "Almost there" to "Didn't quite make it" . Don't want to offend anyone, I guess I don't see dying as all that bad a thing, but I believe in living too. Like I said IMHO! I've been accused to being so tight with money that I squeak!

[Cedar518]

Ahhhh Vickie, you speak words of wisdom. Good job.

Leslie,... are you coming to the Adirondacks in August?

And to all of you,.... a Honda 2000 generator will be your best friend! I bought one two years ago and have never regretted it. Many state campgrounds are lovely,... large sites, wooded,... beautiful. Or they are on lakes,... so don't let the lack of power scare you off and cause you to miss some wonderful experiences.

Leonora,... keep on dreaming and getting closer to your goal. Remember you can always get a second opinion on the finances. And,.. what is that investment earning right now? Might be a gift to yourself to cash in and live your dream,...

(now back to read Vickie's philosophy again,.... yes!)

[retiredhappy]

I agree with Vicki. My motto: Do it now in case you die tomorrow. Life is so short and you need to enjoy today.

[avalen]

Love Vickies philosphy and Leslie is so good to hear from you. Glad your enjoying
your "pod"

[LegalLady]

Take pictures??? What a concept!! Of course I can take pictures, but I never think to do it! Thanks for this reminder and I will try to start snapping some pics to share.

Do it now because you might die tomorrow. This should be a motto we all should live by. I haven't had any time to play lately, between lousy weather and having to take my weekly turn taking care of my dad. But I grabbed the slot that opened up and was determined to do something with it. It felt great to get out and poke around. I'm going to do it again at the next opportunity.

Cedar, give me the details about Adirondacks in August. I think I can make it and would like to try.

I too have a generator, but was reluctant to fire it up just for the computer because it would have disturbed my neighbors. But I could not live without it - just knowing it's there and I could use it if I had to gives me a great feeling of security. When I haven't used it for a while, I usually "exercise" it while I'm driving down the road, since it doesn't bother anybody then.

[Paulette]

Lenora, for a really good budget example, try going to RV-Dreams.com. The couple there were very thorough when first planning to full time, and you might be able to get some insight there for what to budget for the different things you mentioned.

Just a thought.

[Nasoosie]

YES, Leslie! Sure would be good to meet you up here in August! I will email you the info about my August GTG. So glad you got the chance to get out and about for a while...I can't wait to do the same. MA is not that far from me up here. Even if it rains for this event, I now have a massive shelter set up for us all to stay dry.

As Cedar said, that Honda 2000 generator is wonderful for camping in spots with no electricity, and it's light enough for me to be able to carry it to wherever I want it. Also very quiet when running. When I am at Bluegrass festivals, I run it in the morning to charge my batteries and use the microwave for my 'insti' heat-up breakfasts, then I run it at night to charge the batteries again so I can watch TV (12 volt TV) all night long. I can keep the generator in the bed of my pickup, locked in with a cable for safety, pull it once, plug in my trailer, and off I go! I leave the tonneau cover open, and even right next to it, you have to strain to hear that it's running. I don't think I could run my AC with it, but I hate AC anyway! I know you can buy another one and hook them together and they can run anything you would ever need. Much easier to carry two smaller gens than one huge one that weighs about as much as an elephant! I have a Yahama that is like that.....too heavy for me to move around. So I keep it on the porch for winters should the power go out.

[rvgrammy1953]

Okay...here I am trying to get things set for the trip for July, but had to chime in here.....

Leslie....OMG!!....You visited my favorite catalog store!!! Have lots of stuff I've (and my Dad) ordered from the Vermont Country Store.....Evening in Paris perfume,.....1 1/2 qt. crock pot (just right for the 2 of us)......a 1 egg poacher....and other items....love that stuff that they have.....hope to get there someday....

Lenora....about budgets and full-timing.......there is lots of advise and examples out there to study.....we planned and set a dead line for starting our "full-timing" life.....then just did it!!! We pay bills and live on about $3000/month....life is too short not to live your dream......JMO......

We also bought a generator for those times boondocking and state parks....

All righty.....I'm done....

[Pooker]

Leslie -

I adore the general store and is Jamaica State Park the one that you have to cross over a river bridge to get to? I've been to a lot of VT parks and know I've been to this one, but it was years ago and I can't remember which was which. In any case, I sure do miss camping in Vermont and Maine.

Sorry about all the rain you have been getting. We could use some here. With all the advances in technologies, wouldn't you think someone would figure out how to transport water from areas with too much to areas that are arid? Heck, the ancient Romans used aquaducts. We should be able to improve on that!

A double WooHoo to you for your outing. Ya gotta squeeze in more of those!

Pooker

[Liz]

Just do it, Lenora! Don't wait until you're too old or too sick. Budgets are individual, and you'll figure out yours. For example, if you want elec. hookups every night, you'll pay more than if you dry camp. I usually look for hookups at least once a week, but like to boondock as much as possible. (Having a generator makes it possible to do more often) If you carry your own groceries and fix your own meals, you'll spend way less than if you eat out a lot. If you drive only a short ways and camp awhile, you'll spend less on gas than if you drive many miles a day.

Are you looking to full time? If I would sell my house in FL and full time, my expenses would be way less...it's expensive to maintain a house and an rv lifestyle at the same time. This summer I'm paying a yard guy and a pool guy big bucks to maintain the outside while no one is there to enjoy it, plus keeping the ac on so everything doesn't mildew inside.

So, as others have said, if it's what you want to do, you should do it.

[AlmostThere]

Thanks Paulette for the website. I"ll check it out.
Liz, you said it. It's expensive to own a home and an RV and although I love RVing, I don't love it to the point where I'd sell my home. And no I do not want to fulltime. I'll figure this out eventually. I can hear the frustration in some of your posts.

[OutandAbout]

Lenora, instead of looking at a B, which we all know are expensive, how about looking into something towable instead. A unit like Cedars would be a good choice as it could possibly fit into your garage, when not in use and would eliminate an extra storage fee as well. Would you be able to tow with your present vehicle? We get frustrated because we want you to get out and enjoy the lifestyle now and not wait until it might be too late.

Sorry for the hijack. The trip the the VT country store and SPs sounded wonderful. I'm glad you were able to get some me time.

Linda

[AlmostThere]

Leslie, sorry, too, about hijacking your thread.
Linda, yes, all those things I've considered at one time or another.
#1 Only room in my one car garage for my car and I won't give up parking it inside with our weather. Also the door height is only 7 ft.
#2 Don't want to tow anything. Been there, done that, from a pop up to a 5th wheel.
#3 Would feel safer RVing alone in a MH . Use to own a 1980 TransVan, which they now would classify as a class B. We drove it to Alaska when we moved there from Illinois, and I drove it up there for a family vehicle as well for years, so I'm quite comfortable with that size again. Hence my search.