TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO GO!!

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING ALL!!

Yep, I got my offer from the school board yesterday, and, even though it was only 3/5ths of what I had hoped for, I consider myself lucky that I got offered $3,000 to retire at the end of this school year! I called the retirement system, and, as it's being called an incentive, (even though I haven't taught full-time at this school for 17 years) it will be included in the average of my final 5 years of teaching. Whichever amount turns out to be the greater-- the average of my final 5 years plus the 3,000, or the average of my final 3 years WITHOUT the 3,000-- is what will be used to compute my pension income. Either way, I should be able to now pay off my newly-indebted credit card that paid my income taxes that I owed this year, to both the state and the feds. That will again allow me to have all my cards paid off. Unfortunately, my large loan which is my biggest monthly expense, will take another 10 months to get paid off. I can stay here until it gets frigid in the fall/early winter, and substitute teach for as many days as I can do, and then haul my TT and me and Molly south to FL! Meanwhile, I will also (possibly, depending on the price gas get up to) be able to have some freedom to go to GTGs in the fall this year!

SO-----freedom is just about 2 and a half months away! (Or eternal scrimping, whichever!) I will have my brand new truck, my two-year-old trailer, and whatever I can haul with me, and clean credit cards for emergencies. I think I can do it and stay off the homeless lists!

Dawn is breaking here, at about 25 degrees, so I turned on my furnace out here in the trailer to warm it up a bit for my electric heater. Coffee is hot----blueberry with French vanilla creamer this morning! Joplin's Bobby McGee is going through my head this morning-----"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to do----" I need to change that to "Freedom's just another phase I've worked for all my life...!"

Off to my doc appointments today, and then back here to do some planning!

SIGH!

[relaxing101]

Awesome, Soos! Now the fun begins!! Enjoy!!

Bonnie

[BirdbyBird]

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music!... Doing happy dances here in Ohio for you!

[Cedar518]

yeehaw,... we'll dance around the campfire this summer!

[Paulette]

Congrats Soos...you've earned it!

[bikerchic777]

YEE HAWWW, SOOS! !! So happy foryou! Now maybe more of us can have the pleasure of meeting you! Hope your finger is mending.

I have been missing the morning coffee It would take too long to catch you up on everything, but luckily my new girlfriend, Barbie, has been helping me with that! Thanks, Barbie! Had a beautiful drive yesterday down the WI side of the Mississippi. Roads sucked big time, tho! Surprised I still have my fillings! !! Made it to Pikes Peak SP in NE IA, only to find they didn't turn on the water yet! Had to quick find another cg before the offices closed for the day. Found one close, in Prairie Du Chien, WI. The girl in the office waited for me. Still gotta love these small towns! Had a bit of a fiasco hooking up. The hookups are at the rear of the site, so after leveling and hooking up, I had to unhook, move over, and rehook! Forgot how far forward my connections are. Just another lesson learned...check to see if the hoses reach before leveling! I didn't bring my regular hose so borrowed one from the office so I could flush my clogged and full black tank. Thank God I bought a flusher at Camping World! Took awhile, but it sure felt good to have empty tanks and full hookups again!!! I think I'm the only one here. Only sound are birds and the noisy trains that shake Myrtle when they blaze by. Off for my morning walk with Rags. With no one around, I'm letting him go off leash and he's loving that! Think I'll head for near Dubuque so I can ride on the Heritage bike trail there that I love! With the bluffs and a river it looks like you're in the mts. It was an old RR so only 1% grade...easy ride. Will check in later.

Barbie. ..I fell asleep while trying to post on the campfire last night.Hope you get to post some pics from the mini golf. Your pics are cut in half for me too. Maybe shrink them first. Missing you already!!!

[mitch5252]

..

Soos, CONGRATULATIONS! Just think, you can do this every night, if you want...



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[Bethers]

Congrats, Soos! If you need help being frugal, just talk to me I think I'm at the top of that list. And it's well worth it for the freedom I have.

How long are you in PdC, Sue? My sister lives there? If you stay another day - I'll see if she can come say hi. She doesn't rv, but is a fixture in that town. LOL I say that - she was a major city girl who I worried when she left the big city areas to move to an even smaller town in WI where I was at the time - you drove past it if you came down 35. Now she and my bil live in PdC and are part of everything. They were just named volunteers for the year there for one of their volunteer activities - and even got recognized by the state (or are about to - my time frame could be off).

And 35 is in bad shape? That's surprising. That road is usually kept in great shape. Hope you kept your eyes watching the river and trees - you would see eagle's nests and eagles. Anyway, let me know if you'll still be in PdC another day or so - if so will see if my sis can gtg with you.

[retiredhappy]

Congrats Soos. You've earned. Are you thinking about workamping to help with the finances? Start crossing off those days on the calendar.

[VickieP]

Great news, Soos!!!! Onward to the GTG's!

[mitch5252]

Great news, Soos!!!! Onward to the GTG's!

with Recipe in hand...

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[mtngal]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Soos!!!!!!!!!!! I am sooooo happy for you!!!! And I bet you are never going to regret making the decision to go now. Looking forward to your adventures!!!!!

[Echo]

GOOD MORNING SISTAHS!!!

YAY! WOOHOO! WTG! Soos that is awesome news to read the very first thing I opened up! I am so happy and excited for you!!! Can't wait to read of your adventures!!!

Bikerchic777, Linda. If your heading into Iowa be sure to look Trudy up! She sounds super neat. She is one that I'm really looking forward to meeting one day.

Yep we are in "Page Lake Powell Campground" where we stayed last year. Have a nice tent site with water/electric and close to the bathrooms. AND one of the bigger shade trees too. It covers part of the screen house and really cuts down on the heat n brightness so that we can see the laptop screens. Nothing much exciting or wild happening here. Had to go into Flagstaff, 2hrs away to do some banking. Closest BOA around. Seen a few shops down there that we would like to check out but will have to wait until we are back working then on our 2 off days take a run down to snoop around.

Going to WalMart which is just down the road to get groceries for the week. And TODAY is the day we buy a grill. I am heartily sick and tired of wanting one and putting it off. I had wanted a Coleman Roadtrip Grill but have changed my mind. Now want a Weber Q 100. But for now that one can wait, we are gonna pick up a $30 or $40 cheapie one for now.

The poor little screenhouse we bought "here" last year will be tossed when we break camp to go to Kanab. It cost $35 last year I think? And is only a year old but was well worth the money we spent on it. It has given good service keeping the sun, rain and wind (with the tarps) off of us and needs to be retired. It has holes worn in the roof where the leg connectors are and we have to use a tent fly over it. It's been really windy here for the past two days so it's still taking some more beating. Poor thing!

Othere than that it's just "same old", same old for us. Really looking forward to finding an RV that we can afford for this coming winter season. Camping/living in the tents for the past 6 months has really cemented the desire to get one sooner that we had really planned. Living this way has had it's high points but it's had it's low points too!

Hope everyone has a super great day and be sure to stay safe!

Love to all

[OutandAbout]

YIPEEEEE Soos, That is great news. So much fun planning to do now, time will fly by. Bet your dr. appts will be good too, with not having to wonder about retirement. Double plus. Same old same old here. Take care everyone. Linda

[bluepinecones]

Soos - I am so excited for you!!!! Have been sending positive vibes your way all winter for this to happen. I cannot top Mitch's cartoon otherwise I've have posted a dancing photo for you.

Echo - Glad you found a camping site that is more comfortable. When do you report to work at the lodge?