Monday, March 30, 2020

Hunkered Down Typing


How does one write a blog post after how many years? I am at home. Tonight starts a government stay put order for the next couple of weeks. So, I will be home tomorrow just like I have been since my retirement February 29th. I am into week four of said golden years.
Before my retirement, when I was not at home, many asked me, “so, what are your big plans?” Hmmm..... Big Plans? Plans and they have to be big? That question seemed a bit daunting and in the middle of the night, there its nasty head surfaced – I started losing sleep. I did not want to be weird, I should come up with something. After all I needed an answer that made me not look like some kind of weirdo, I need something that made me look intentional, retirement worthy! It did not take to long but after some thinking and scrambling for a plan...a big plan...I remembered that I have always kind of wanted to travel across the United States. It was not a deep heart felt goal just something I thought about now and then. It was just an idea. I figured that was as good of a big plan as most. So, over Christmas break I bought a well used minivan with 122,000 miles on it. That purchase was after considering, hoteling – to expensive, tenting – to much work, couch surfing...as my relatives called it Mennoniting across America. The trouble with that last idea, I am not a Mennonite. So, I came up with the van idea. Like all of my great plans, there is never a down side.

So here I come YouTube – Pinterest – Google – and deep thoughts. A minivan camper build out! How fun will that be? Needless to say I got excited. I soon realized I was way more excited about a van build out than the actual trip. Five days went by, I got no more than 2 hours sleep each night. My brain would not stop spinning. Two weeks went by, I got on the scale and I had lost 11 lbs – Yikes!!! Am I sick? Or could I really be that excited? Just to be sure I wasn't sick I pounded ice cream for the next few days and to my relief I gained back three pounds. Yahoo....I am healthy!!!

I am just about finished with the build out and now here I sit with this Shelter in Place thing and no where to go. What's a fellow to do? I guess I can show you some pictures of my work.


   Slide out bed frame



  Couch and Bed

  Cabinet for clothes and storage

Kitchen area

  Table - lifts out, folds up and stores under bed

7 comments:

Betty said...

Welcome back, Grayquill. Hope you're planning to stay awhile.

Arkansas Patti said...

Wow, what a nice surprise in my reading list today. Welcome back my friend.
That is quite a rig you have made for yourself and with gas so cheap you could really travel. Don't think there are any parks open now but there is always a Walmart parking lot when the day's travel is over. Remember, it is the journey, not the destination that is important.
Take care and keep blogging.

S. Susan Deborah said...

Hi GQ, it was lovely to see you on my blog and here I am to check on you. You have written after six years. It is quite difficult for me to write consistently but I do manage here and there. So yes, I'm around. And welcommmeee back GQ.

We have been on a lockdown since the 22nd and the scenario is bad here. Hope this virus soon passes.

Many congratulations on the van - hope you make some nice trips. Take care.

Joy always,
Susan

Choco said...

Wecome back Gq. You are so talented! When you do take your trip, please come back here an update us with pictures. Take care

Choco said...

Wecome back Gq. You are so talented! When you do take your trip, please come back here an update us with pictures. Take care

Blunt Edges said...

Been ages since I was on these shores. And it's a pleasure to read your musings again.
Nice work with the van. Hope the trip does happen.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

You stirred my own love of traveling with this post, GQ. It's now 21 months later, and I'm wondering if you've been able to get out and enjoy the fruits of your labor yet. There is so much to see in this great country, and I confess to a degree of envy as you plan the travels ahead of you. Do post an update soon!!