Warning.... Pity Party in Progress!!

Have you ever noticed how there are some people in the world that seem to delight on another persons misfortune.  They make themselves feel better by belittling or putting down someone else.  They seem to suck the air and energy out of the room just by entering.  I have a confession to make..... I let just such a person turn my world upside down. I have spent the last 5 days fussing and fuming and as a result of the actions of another person.  My blood pressure is sky high.... I have a horrid head ache.

In my last post I said that I have gotten to a place in my life that I don't need anyone else to agree with me or validate my decisions.  I guess I the universe felt a need to smack me one and not so gently point out the error of my thinking.

Disagree with my thinking,  Disagree with my actions. Talk with me and maybe we will both learn something. But please don't discredit me or what I have dedicated my entire adult life too.
 


Yep, I gave my power away to someone else.
I'm taking back my power..... so there!

Thanks for listening and letting me vent....I have work to do, places to go!

Living Solo

A Dream Deferred.... Not a pretty picture.

 Many things can defer dreams....poor health, lack of resources, feelings of family responsibilities, decisions made long ago or finding ourselves living solo, just to name a few.  There are many  ways my dreams have been deferred and I am exploring them one at a time.  As long as they go unexamined they maintain a power to derail my new dreams.  

I have also changed and refined dreams as I have traveled through life.   I have not found it necessary to reach a mandatory or satisfactory level of completion of each dream.  I have learned from each dream, and tho a change of course may have resulted, that change often lead to a another path and certainly has led to new growth.

Recently I was talking with a friend of many years about my plans for upcoming RV travel.  Her husband died a few years ago and she recently went on a trip with another friend of ours.  While she had a fabulous time on the trip she had an experience that shadowed her ideas of what would be possible for her in the future regarding travel.  Her travel companion didn't want to go on a tour from the cruise ship so she went on the tour by herself.  She was miserable.  Instead of enjoying the sights she watched the other couples on the cruise and felt as if she were drowning in feelings of loneliness.  She expressed to me she could never travel alone.

I am past the point in my life where I need approval for my decisions.  I no longer need someone to make the same decisions that I have made to validate me.  I also realize what brings me happiness and joy may not be what makes others happy.  But this conversation did start the wheels turning and I gave her words a great deal of thought.


Life has brought me to a place where I travel a solo path.  I live life without a partner to share the sunset, the serenity of a mountain meadow or the magnificence of the breaking surf.   I dreamed of retirement years full of travel, rambling across our countryside taking in the sights and experiencing the culture and essence of each community.  This was and is my dream.  I am solo whether I live in a house with a foundation or one with wheels.  The bigger question for me is how do I want to spend my time. Do I want the familiarity and security of my predictable life in my house with foundations or do I want to honor my adventurous spirit and explore my world with the new challenges the come with a gypsy lifestyle on wheels.    I have learned to embrace my life, enjoy the moments and dream new dreams. Cast aside the guy ropes.... Ship ahoy! 

It wasn't always this way.  When newly single, I too dreaded and avoided all experiences that I had shared with a partner, the reminders were too great.  The feelings of loss too overwhelming. I felt all of my dreams were gone. The life of travel and and adventure had evaporated.  But slowly, I realized that my dreams could be altered.  I've read blogs of solo women who have dreamed their own dream, researched how to make it happen and then gone for it!. They have found many different ways to realize their dreams.

Lives change.
Dreams change and life goes in different directions than I could even imagine.
The really important thing is for each one of us to live OUR own dream.
For most of us that just takes a while to figure out!

What happens to a dream deferred? 

 By Langston Hughes

Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--
And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Snow, Heat and Fun

I awoke this morning to a shout out to Spokane Washington on Good Morning America.  They were commenting on our snow fall.   Yep, we had snow!!  Not record setting in my book but pretty just the same.  So here I am.... dreaming of desert winters, welcoming a white winter.  

I am grateful that I have the luxury to not spend a great deal of time outdoors.
I have great viewing windows to this splendid winter wonderland.

More
   Snow
       Coming






Today the furnace was installed.  Wow, warmth at a much lower cost!!
I can get excited about that!  I'm sure the future buyer of my house will too!

New Natural Gas Furnace 95.5 Efficient

 I think I can get excited about that!

Now this is my idea of Snow Fun....

Will someone park my trailer?

Oh, Oh, This is going to cost me!

 

So, I've had snow, heat, and fun!  I hope you had a great day too! 

          

The Lazy RV Chef

Have I ever mentioned that I am a lazy chef?  Oh, yes, sometimes I am an inspired cook.  But, at other times I definitely am a very lazy cook.  At times it matches my mood.  A grey mood, leads to times when I just can't think of a thing to fix.  At other times I thrive on fixing new recipes and trying new foods or techniques.

Since, I have been planning my getaway, I have been exploring cooking techniques that are effective for RV cooking.  If you are new to my blog you will want to check out my Thermal Cooker.  http://avintagerollingstone.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-comes-early.html  I am loving my Saratoga Thermal Cooker and it fits perfectly for my kind of RV living.

I like breakfast, but I don't always like to cook breakfast.  I often would be happy with just coffee in the morning but by 10:00 or 11:00 will have the coffee jitters and would eat just about anything, including all kinds of things not good for my body.

Last month I found another way to make oatmeal on a blog.
      http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal
This way to fix oatmeal has been around for a long time.  Some people call it summer porridge or cold oatmeal.  I just call it yummy!

First of all, there is no cooking involved.
Second, it is made the night before, perfect for the lazy cook!
Lastly, there are all kinds of yummy flavors.


The blog has all kinds of yummy flavors to experiment with to help get you started.  I have found several favorites.  It also shows step by step recipes with wonderful pictures.

ch-ch-ch-CHIA seeds.  I have included chia seeds in my refrigerator oatmeal and they are wonderful and good for you!.  I ordered the seeds from amazon.   Here is some info about Chia seeds:

• have more Omega 3 fatty acids than flax seed (important for heart health)
• are the richest non-marine whole food source of Omega-3 (better than salmon)
• absorb 10 times their weight in water and transform into a gel-like substance--great for athletes for maintaining hydration and helps with weight loss by making you feel full longer
• are as high in protein as quinoa

I have also ordered the PB2 and it will be wonderful for boondocking as it will not go rancid in higher heat
       (What is PB2? I recently discovered this amazing powdered peanut butter. It's simply peanut butter with 85% of the fat removed. With all of the flavor and protein of regular peanut butter, PB2 is recommended as a great way to reduce calories in all of your favorite peanut butter recipes. It's available at some Whole Foods and health food stores, and on Amazon, click here. )

 
 When I've first been to the grocery store and have lots of fresh fruits to use I certainly use them in these recipes.  I have also found the single serving portions of fruit that require no refrigeration to be perfect for making this no-cook oatmeal.  How perfect for stretching the menu when boondocking. 

I adore the chocolate banana with swirls of peanut butter in it.....I call it Chunky Monkey.
Can you say dessert for breakfast!
I love the raspberry made with my homemade raspberry jam and the Chunky Applesauce with Cinnamon.
And the latest I've created is, Pumpkin Pie Oh My, made with canned pumpkin and the powdered peanut butter.

I can't wait to create some new concoctions to try.

I know it's not rocket science but it fits perfect in my RV style of living.

 

Simplify

A friend of mine posted her one word for the year 2013. I was intrigued by the thought one word could capture the essence for a whole year.   It seemed to fit for the life changes I am undergoing at this time. So I wanted to know more.

From the One Word website: "If you’re like most people, each January goes something like this: You choose a problematic behavior that has plagued you for years and vow to reverse it. In fact, you can probably think of two or three undesirable habits—make that four or five. Thus begins the litany of imperfections to be perfected commonly known as “New Year’s Resolutions.” All of which are typically off your radar by February.

“My One Word” is an experiment designed to move you beyond this cycle. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD.  This process provides clarity by taking all your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single focus. Just one word that centers on your character and creates a vision for your future."

My one word came to me easily...... simplify. In fact the transformation has already begun.

 Here is what vocabulary.com had to say about simplify.

To simplify something is to make it less complex and easier to understand. When you simplify, you make things clearer.  Since simple things have less parts or complexity, when you simplify, you're eliminating the clutter and reducing something to its essence.

I have been completely focused on moving to the RV.  What I'm realizing is, it's really about simplifying my life and world.  It doesn't matter how far I travel or when.  It is about being peaceful in my world this one day.  I crave a simple world.

Bingo..... Simplify it is!!   What would your word be???

 

We have Gas...

Today was one of the colder days of the year. 

And yup, the power company arrives to extend my gas line from across the road and connect it to my house.  I was still plodding around in my jammies and slippers when the door bell rang but I was excited to see them.


Five different vehicles arrived to do the work so it has been an entertaining day to say the least.  I course was concerned that the ground was to frozen, but I needed have worried.

 

 They brought big equipment to dig the holes required at the street and the house foundation provided enough warmth to heat the ground at the new meter site.

 

 

  Once they had the holes on both ends dug it wasn't necessary to dig a trench line for the pipe as equipment bored  from one hole under the street and under the yard to the hole by the house.  This part actually only took a few minutes.

   The prep work and clean up of course took longer. 

 Doesn't it always take the most time.

The big equipment tamped down the frozen earth.  It was a house shaking process.







When they were done this is what the previously dug hole looked like.  It is amazing.  In the spring the grass will resume growing in this spot without any assistance from me.  I love when a plan comes together.

 

Here is the finished product

Next step will be to have the electric furnace replaced with the new gas furnace.

I sure do enjoy watching other people work!!

And the best part is the five hours of work by 6 people cost me.....   $ 0.

Mighty fine day.

Snowball Gathering Speed or A Snowball Chance in Hell?

 Snowball Gathering Speed or A Snowballs Chance in Hell? 

Many people start the New Year making resolutions that are quickly forgotten and ignored.  So rather than resolutions I am focusing on goals.  I know, just semantics, but goals are things I work toward not just an end results.

Yep, my number one goal is to sell my house and hit the road... Are you getting tired of me saying that???  (Yet I'm still here!!)  I am making progress but it is a bigger job than this body has been able to muster! I was certainly siderailed by the broken leg but I'm feeling stronger every day. 

I just want to restate it here to remind myself that I am going to leave this house and begin my travel adventures and it THIS is the year!! 

 Here is what I have done

• Massive de-cluttering (Read donate/ give away/ through away)
• Huge garage sale (I probably won't do that again!)
• Found homes for most of the farm animals (one horse, 2 donkeys left)
• Traveled in longer periods of time exploring new areas in the northwest
•  Continue to learn every thing I can about
• BLOGGED 66 entries!!

I have never had the discipline to even keep a diary longer than a few days.  I am so excited that I have managed to be faithful to the blog.  I realize that it is due to you the readers and the comments that you have left for me that have encouraged me to continue along the path and live my dreams.

Thank-you SO much for your support and following my ramblings!

Here is some of the things I will be focusing on till I'm out of here

• I will be continuing the de-cluttering  until I am out of here!
• Staging rooms for the selling process, as the listing the house is the next step.
• Sell some larger items via Craigs List
• Continue to improve condition of house

I am having several larger items done to the house in the next couple of weeks as a step to enhance the saleability of the house.  Next week I'm having  a natural gas line installed.  Then comes a new natural gas furnace.  The furnace was delivered last week and will be installed once the line is in.

A plumber to fix some minor plumbing issues.

An electrician to update a couple of fixtures and electrical issues. 

Continue weekly trips to the dump and donation piles. 

 Snow ball Gathering Speed or A Snowball Chance in Hell?  You decide.