This Too Can Happen To YOU!

If you are not one of the folks who chose to come into this lifestyle with a nest egg and some steady source of income, you too can be put into this position. We are out of cash…out of food but the big difference from yesterday is we have our faith and hope restored and the only thing that changed was our attitudes.

Even though many people could not live this way, we do okay with it because of the many places and people we have met and would not have unless we made this move. Today we may be strapped financially but all of this usually changes in a moment and then we are driving down the road smiling at all the new and exciting adventures ahead for us. But it takes a certain amount of courage to be able to do this lifestyle on a wing and a prayer as we do it. So take this into consideration when you are making your decisions about living your life on the road without any income but what you earn through work because it can be difficult at times but for us, these days beat any good days we had in the stationary life.

Birthday Breakdown

Being out here and having to find work all the time that fits into our schedule is not always easy, but then again, neither was the stationary lifestyle for us. We have our good and bad times, we have written before that there are times when we are riding the gravy train and then other times we are barely scraping by. Our plans fell through for the work we had planned here in Phoenix because our Jeep died which started an avalanche of feelings that we began sinking into this “poor us” attitude. Not very appealing at all but it is what it is.

We gave ourselves permission to break down and cry. It was my birthday and for over two years now our days are spent without our daughter and grandson…not even a phone call because she is still carrying a grudge for an argument that happened so long ago…she has chosen never to accept my apology and this is out of my control so I have put it into God‘s hands and he is taking his sweet time in doing anything about it. Then to make things worse…we are out of food…out of cash…and almost out of hope. We had a prospect to buy our Jeep, which we need to sell, and when that fell through…we lost it.

But this time instead of giving ourselves the positive approach that we usually give ourselves…we chose to allow ourselves to wallow in our self-pity and we threw a pity party for ourselves all day long. We cried…we spewed…we cursed…we laughed…and that is how it went for most of the day. Went to sleep without any hope…any dreams…any belief…just pain…but we awoke as we usually do with an attitude of a brand new day! Things always have a way of working out and we know this too shall pass!

Advantages of Boondocking

Our month was up at the RV Park so we are now boondocking in the desert for a few days before we head to PIR to boondock for a few more days at the race track. Not always a good thing for us since our rig is limited but we are bound and determined to do it more often.

We have always thought one of the greatest benefits to boondocking is that it is free but last night we found other advantages for doing it as well. Being away from the harsh lighting that is usually very bright in parking lots, parks or campgrounds was a welcomed treat last night. Also, watching the coyotes and javelinas in the moonlight was breathtaking but then to listen to the nearby sounds of them throughout the night was spectacular.

We spent the morning picking up the litter in the desert around us to give back what we are receiving from being able to boondock here. We know that we are intimately connected with all things and we each have the power to affect our world and live more consciously by doing as much as we can every day. Something we are learning by accepting the 29 Day Giving Challenge

Phoenix Has Not Been Kind

As usual we came here with high hopes but then life gave us challenges but the big difference is how we are handling these issues this time.

We lined up different work for the winter in Phoenix and had a few weeks of down time before starting but we made the most of it. But then when training was to begin, the Jeep had different ideas. We have been so lucky thus far with the mechanics on both vehicles…if and when they have ever previously broken down…it was during the times we had a steady money flow…this time was the total opposite. So, now onto our next adventure.

Since we have most of the race tracks for next year lined up for work and we would not be needing the Jeep as much, we have decided to let her go. Financially, it is the right decision, the cost of keeping it for the next year compared to the use just does not calculate. If for the next year it does not work out, we will either get another smaller vehicle or as we have been contemplating getting a pair of motorcycles instead. In the meantime, we can get more use on our bicycles and get into shape at the same time. Just a little adjustment to the type of work we need to find for now and future work, but that also seems to be falling into place as well.

Life certainly has a way of working itself out once we learned to take deep breaths and just flow with it.

Stop Focusing on Fixing Ourselves & Start Living

It is true that too much of anything can hurt more than not. We have been constantly focusing on “fixing” ourselves…making sure we meditate every day, read our scriptures, speak the words…on and on and on. Well, we finally realized that by focusing so much of our time on changing who we are, we actually lost ourselves. By constantly doing what the books and others say to do ALL the time has not allowed us to just live our lives and be us…exactly the way we are right now…this has caused us to miss out on some pretty terrific days. Too much of anything is too much, there should always be a balance for everything, including the good things and now that we have found that balance, life seems to be taking care of itself and we are free to be all that we can and have ever imagined.

As usual it has been very rough being here in Phoenix, so we have made the decision that this will be our last year wintering here. In the future, we will pass through to take care of our vehicle registrations and attend the race at PIR as we are headed elsewhere to spend the winter. The only thing keeping us here this year is we have already secured what seems to be some really fun work but we are planning to leave much earlier than usual because we are ready to move on with our lives and let the past go.

Phoenix was our home, but now our home is with us all the time in our hearts. Being truly alive now more than we have been in a very long time, stepping back, enjoying every moment and having the time of our lives.

Shooting Pool Once Again

It had been years since we both shot pool and since we are on idle time for a few more weeks we went to the game room and had so much fun. We do agree that it is just like riding a bike…some things in life you just don’t forget. All the magic for both of us came back as we shot pool, laughed and talked about when we first met. Our skills were still pretty good but we never knew we were so intense during play, we remembered how competitive we use to be but we no longer are…or so we thought before we seen these photos…maybe it’s just deep concentration.





When your life takes a different path…many things that were everyday happenings…have to change. Once we chose to quit smoking, other things had to go as well. Our alcohol assumption and many of the activities that went along with that entire drinking era like billiards, darts, and many of our friends had become just another activity that needed to change. The good thing about it is that it has been years since we quit smoking and now certain activities no longer bring out the reaction to smoking, such as shooting pool. We were able to have a fantastic time and not once having any desire for a cigarette…this is progress and really proves that people and situations can and do change.

What is Truly Important to You

Dreaming is something that is done all the time…making them come true is doing what needs to be done. If you find yourself not going after your dream…stop and truly ask yourself is it really what you want. When it is truly what you want, nothing or nobody will be able to stop you from attaining it. There will always be obstacles in your way but if you really want something bad enough those obstacles turn into challenges that help you grow enough so that you can go further toward your dream.

This is why you have to continuously ask yourself when you are going after what you might believe to be your dream if it really is after all your heart’s desire. On a daily basis, we tweak our lifestyle because what we thought we wanted isn’t always what we really want so we change and move forward.

When life sends us challenges, we are now open to understanding that there are always messages in each of those challenges and until we receive, truly receive those messages they will continue to resurface. We now get it and choose to take those challenging messages and create a path that takes us to our next journey, the journey of truly living our dreams with every breath we take.

Our Lives Taking an Entirely Different Turn

Not only are we on the journey of our lives traveling around the country…taking in every mile and loving every moment but we are also on the spiritual journey. Lately, this part of our journey has been taking on some very new approaches and helping us realize what and where we are headed.

Nothing seems to be going on for us here in Phoenix any longer, we thought that we would always come back here and we might have under different circumstances but time has changed things and we no longer feel as if this is where we want to spend that much time anymore. The weather is a big factor but after much research, we concluded that we could find the same sort of weather elsewhere here in the west. After attending PIR in November and taking care of some personal business, instead of hanging out here, we are moving onward to other work we have lined up.

Life always has a way of changing things when you continue living in the moment and always flowing with it. This we are learning more everyday and truly enjoying how when we give up our control and allow life to just happen for us…everything works out for the best for everyone involved.

We found this great website for our spiritual journey that we are able to be inundated with the positive aspects in life where we can become all that we are meant to become during our journey’s, both the inner and outer ones we continuously go on every moment. Check it out when you get a moment and as usual thank you for all of your comments, we truly appreciate knowing that we are helping others in their quests as well as our own!

Relax…Are You Kidding Me?

We spent yesterday visiting friends…old and new…shopping and eating at one of our favorite places (Pioneer Restaurant) that serve, the best, all you can eat, Fish & Chips. Had a great day finding some great deals and loads of fun visiting with folks we haven’t seen in quite awhile.

Now this morning the panic is setting in…we have been here now for a week and even though we are paid up for at least a month and having several jobs lined up here and there we still have a tendency to think that if we are not working or doing something we will perish.

When does this feeling of always having to do something disappear…or does it? The “what if’s” continue deep inside our heads asking…more like demanding answers…answers to questions that usually never happen.

So for today, we will continue to relax, have some fun and understand that our lifestyle has changed us completely. The heat broke and it is actually a cool, crisp day in the desert and this is the time we will take in a deep breath of fresh air, smile and know that everything will and always does work out once we began to live in this moment and allow it to take place without trying to constantly force an outcome.

“Life is as special as you choose to make it!”

Spending Some Time in Phoenix

Wintering here is always a good choice…but we will not get here this early in the season ever again…temperatures have been reaching over 100 degrees…with the weather forecasts hardly changing…sunny and hot every day. We have been here a few days and have not…no kidding…have not turned on our water heater for showers and dishes. The water coming out of either the hot or cold faucets is so warm that a shower is not even refreshing.

We won’t be staying put in one campground for too long this winter since we have several different work opportunities that warrant our moving around the area…not so bad since we really do love change. As for now we are back at the Pioneer RV Park located in the northern part of Phoenix off of I-17 and has always been our favorite park in this area. Construction on the Interstate is still never-ending and on Sunday night a little after nine they did a dynamite blast…wow did that freak us out! Imagine sitting in your rig…watching television and boom-boom-pop-pop-crackle-crackle lighting up the area and then smoke bellowing over your rig…that is how close we were to this blast. We actually called 911 because we thought it was a tremendous accident on the Interstate but later found out after talking to a resident that this was planned…we just weren’t informed. That was definitely an exciting evening.

We have been swimming every day due to the heat and of course our air conditioner has been on most of the day, but it has been cooling a bit in the evenings…enough for opened windows with the fans on and last night we even turned the fans off but left the windows opened. A cool down is suppose to be arriving this weekend…days in the 80’s and nights into the 60’s…what a relief!

Our inner journey is coming along much better than we had ever anticipated, especially now being here in Phoenix and none of the old feelings are surfacing. The feelings we always carried with us while in the same area as “family” has always been, well less than positive but because of all the soul searching we have done in recent years all of this has changed. Our new lifestyle has been much more than just our physical travels, it has given us the opportunity to reach deep within ourselves and begin traveling down some very different roads. We now have the love, confidence and admiration for ourselves that we can hold our heads high and enjoy every moment of our lives…both the good and not so good. We are now living our lives from the truth of who we truly are, not what we have always believed ourselves to be. It has been the best few years of our lives and now having all this knowledge and learning more every day, we can now see our future journeys to be even more than we ever imagined. Life continues to get better every moment of every day and for this we are internally grateful!

Happy Birthday Mom

This photo was taken in 1999 with my grandson, Austin...a simpler and happier time!

Celebration…is how we choose to spend this day. My mom had some wonderful gifts that she shared with this world during her time here and this can be written by each person that ever shared any time with her. Yes, as her daughter it was challenging to say the least but as so many of my friends and total strangers that met her repeatedly announced just how pleasant she was to be around…I always knew there was more to her than what I could see as her daughter.

She had a very kind heart…one that would give her last dollar to you if you asked. She was always tough and stood strong during any crisis and could always be counted on to lend an ear but you also had to be open to listen to her advice because she loved giving it to anybody and everybody. Her advice was not always what you wanted to hear but it was usually right on target…she lived a life that gave her the right to give advice of what not to do with your life. Her life had not always given her an easy way out but no matter what bumps the world gave her…she came out the other side much wiser and stronger than I could ever imagine she could be.

The one thing that finally broke her was losing her baby son…even though he was over 40, he was still her baby and when he died…the sparkle in her eyes went out. She survived just over a year after his death but within that last year of her life…I found that person that everyone else spoke about. We spent many moments talking and sharing our life’s experiences with one another as if we had never spoken before. There was a difference about her that I hold dear every moment of every day now and that is how I know she is with me today and wanting us to celebrate her life.

She is with us on our new journey and each time we go after yet another of our dreams…she is there applauding us for finally doing what she always wanted to do but never took the time to go after. During our travels…she is there creating a safety zone around us and we know she will always be there for us spiritually…anytime we need her…just as she was before she moved on.

The Cool Pines in Williams, Arizona

We did not want to drive into Phoenix in the heat of the day so we opted to hang out in Williams…a crisp, chilly afternoon. We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park …what a great park it is with all the amenities…using our Camp Club USA card we only paid $22...what a fantastic deal!


We took the shuttle that takes you anywhere on the premises of the Railway to Max & Thelma’s but they were closed until dinner so we walked a few short blocks to Pine Country Restaurant…the food was good but the pies were the BEST! If you are ever in the area…please do yourself a favor and try this place out.

Check out our Zee Map for the full reviews for both of these places.

I didn’t want to leave because the weather was fabulous, just wanted to hang out and enjoy this really beautiful area but Jerry wanted to head to Phoenix and get settled in so we left in the morning to beat the heat and got us a site for a month at this point in our journey…this may change since we are receiving many offers to go elsewhere. For now we are taking one day at a time…enjoying the moment and having the time of our lives!

A Day of Mishaps Or Miracles…You Decide

When we are traveling we have a flow that we get into in the morning so we can get unhooked and on the road…this morning we were not in the flow at all. “Did he really ask me to rinse the black tank while I was brushing my teeth?” Instead of allowing it to fester, boil and then ruin our entire day…we chose to let it go and just have a good laugh over it.

The rest of Texas was flat…and I-40 had major construction and was so rough between Tucumcari and Santa Rosa in New Mexico. Our plan was to stop for the day in Santa Rosa but our exit was closed and the next one was under so much construction, we decided to move forward. Our plan was to then head straight to the Sky City Casino which was going to be our next day stop.

Shortly after we left Santa Rosa the “NOISE” began…quietly at first…my impression was the belt needed more dressing or needed to be tightened. We pulled into the next rest area where Jerry then proceeded to take off all the stuff in the way and tightened up the belt…in his opinion it was not really loose enough to be causing the noise and he was right as we pulled out of the rest area…immediately the noise came back and was getting LOUDER! We pulled into the next exit which was the Clines Corners exit…a major truck stop. We pulled into an area where Jerry could check it out…he now determined as I drove it and he walked beside it that it was something to do with our right front tire…OH NO…of course we thought the worst. Out came the never before used hydraulic jack we purchased last year…up went the front end…off came the tire…turn…squeal…turn…louder squeal…then…plop…this piece of tar fell out. It was lodged in and stuck on the shield, rubbing against the rotor.

For the rest of the day we had a smooth drive through the mountains…also nice to see them again…through Albuquerque, New Mexico…having to readjust our driving since waiting until the last minute for fuel could be dangerous out west because stations are further apart than back east.


We arrived at Sky City Casino RV Park…not impressed…the park is new…still under construction in areas…nice but overpriced at $28 for a FHU…Casino was small and smoky…Huwaka Restaurant’s buffet located inside the casino was terrible, overpriced and food was dry and not a wide assortment…thank goodness we hit a few jackpots or it would have been a total bust.

Out of Oklahoma and Into Texas

Oklahoma is an absolutely beautiful scenery State with plenty of Indian land and casinos…besides being hilly with lots of red dirt it is also very clean.

Driving into Texas was a bit different…flat…but plenty of roadside attractions…
“Cadillac Row”…we were a bit disappointed…with all the hype about it being a driving hazard and may need to be removed is just not a factor…it is far enough from the road that unless you were looking for it would not be a distraction at all. There is also the
“Largest Cross” in the western hemisphere and the “Leaning Tower” in Britter USA.


We seen plenty of RV Parks but many of them were empty and many advertised having storm/tornado shelters…not too comforting for us and definitely not a feature we look for in our travels, so we continued to drive a little over 200 miles…stopping at Amarillo Ranch RV Park in Amarillo, Texas…a nice, “feel like home” kind of park to do some laundry.

Gas prices continue to fluctuate…right now they are at $3.29 unleaded and $3.79 diesel.

One More Night In Oklahoma

All the errands we had to do took up so much time, we decided to drive a short distance…we found another Casino that offered FHU for free so we called it a day. This stay was at the Lucky Star Casino located in Concho, Oklahoma…they had about 7 or 8 sites and were FHU. All we needed to do was check in with security and they asked that we do not leave our rig to go sightseeing elsewhere…which was fine for us but may be a factor for others.

The casino was small and had a different kind of set up…all the machines were in rows…which made it a bit inconvenient in walking through and checking them out. Once again they paid us back for all we put into…including lunch…again…hard to complain.

They had a restaurant and a deli but no buffet, the restaurant had a bar atmosphere. Our server was a beautiful young lady who looked a lot like our daughter…she had a wild hairstyle with streaks and wonderfully different coloring…the most beautiful bright smile and eyes that lit up the room…she had a sassy attitude and took care of us just like our daughter use to do…she treated us to their specialty desert…Strawberry Shortcake on Fry Bread…it…like our entire lunch was scrumptious.

There is a bit of a difference with the casinos in Oklahoma…even though they refer to them as RV Parks…the bright lights make it a bit hard to get a good nights sleep…you need to be self-contained since they do not offer any services beyond the hookups…many do allow you to use the Hotels amenities that are located away from the park but for the most part you will need to be able to take care of your personal needs in your own rig.

We can’t complain…our time in Oklahoma did not cost us anything at all…free camping…free entertainment…free meals…free gas…couldn’t ask for anything more.

Moving Through Oklahoma

When we left the Downstream Casino we did not want to get on the toll road so we had to enter Kansas for a few miles then back into Oklahoma. It was also time for us to head south to connect with I-40 for our western route so we chose US-69...terrible choice…without a doubt the roughest…toughest…bounciest…road we have ever been on…didn’t get better until after Muskogee…once on I-40, the ride became tolerable again.

We arrived at the best Casino we have ever been at before…the Fire Lake Grand Casino. Everything about it was inviting…free water and electric hook up site with a nearby dump station (is located right next to the semi trucks but was not a real annoyance)…$10 free play each…free drink station with ice cream included…great buffet with some really unique choices…service was exceptional in every department. It’s the small touches in life that make the entire adventure wonderfully special!

Didn’t want to leave but we needed to move on…had errands to take care of so traveling was on the light side. Our levelers would not go down…lights flicked and then went out totally so we needed to have them looked at but unfortunately the Camping World we went to along with a few other RV Repair Shops in the area were backed up and could not even look at us for a few days. Jerry thinks it’s a fuse but he has checked all that he knows there to be but until we get to another Camping World we will be a bit bouncier.

Be sure to check out our Zee Map for further reviews!

Imagine Our Dream Life…

Really picture it…every detail…every feeling…attitude…vision it…hear it…taste it…feel it…live it. This was a lesson we read this morning and the funny thing is, as I looked around feeling it from my heart…I realized…we are living it. Oh sure, a nicer, more comfortable rig would be nice…a bigger bank account would certainly be great to have but to be able to see and enjoy a different backyard almost every morning and looking over at the man I love so much just peacefully enjoying the drive…my goodness…we are living our dream. Through it all…the hard times…the easy times…the lean times…the plentiful times…the good weather…the bad weather…the good times…the bad times…doing it all with love and sheer delight in our hearts.

We will never stop dreaming and we hope that each life we touch continues to do the same thing. Living this lifestyle has changed us in so many ways and have made us better people and allowed us to meet so many wonderful people. Thank you for all of our many friends we meet daily and being able to share it all with you has been the greatest part of all.

Sightseeing the Gateway Arch

We had a grand time! We decided not to attempt to drive our Jeep over the river since traffic, construction and road closures due to the overflowing Mississippi River but the walk across was too much so we took the MetroLink. It was like riding one of the best roller coasters ever…the speed was exhilarating…the power was stimulating…the view was spectacular over the Mississippi River. The walk to the Gateway Arch was short and safe…many security was visible throughout our sightseeing day trip.

There is a slight delay entering the Arch due to going through a metal detector and search that made us feel even safer. My anxiety and fear of heights got the best of me but it would not ruin Jerry’s opportunity to “Go To The Top” of the Arch. He took the camera and took some really marvelous photos…what a view…he felt so ecstatic for the rest of the day.

While he was going up…I shopped…then we both went through the museum which we found very educational…it had all the information that you could ever want about this very historical area. Be sure to check out Our Photos for all of our photos of our day of sight seeing.

We had lunch at Show-Me’s…located in the Laclede’s Landing area…a restaurant with the same kind of ambiance as Hooter’s…with great food. Laclede’s Landing is a local area that has cobblestone roads and just a great atmosphere about it.

A Few Days Through Illinois

We now have perfect weather ahead for the next 10 days at least…thank you Mother Nature! Since leaving Hickory Lake CG…we have been in the cold, rain, damp and just uninviting weather…but now this is how we love to travel. Except of course when we encountered the terribly rough roads…wide loads…traffic…construction…through the lower end of Chicago. The last time through this area we took the Interstates with a few deviations through Chicago, so this time we opted to stay clear of the entire area but it wasn’t any easier but we are here now.

We arrived at Empress Casino and found the Oasis RV Park right next to it without a problem…the office was closed even though it was in the middle of the day, so we just hooked up and checked in at the Hotel Desk as many of the Casinos do. The area is huge…a hotel…casino and the RV Park….which stays open until the end of October or when “the water freezes”, whichever comes first as one security guard informed us.

We drove all Interstate from Joliet into East Saint Louis…with only one wrong turn while attempting to find our Exit 2A…it was suppose to be on the left but we got to the left too early and ended up on another Interstate…caught ourselves on two wheels making turns (a little exaggeration, but only a little)…finally found the Casino Queen RV Park and got settled in.

Had a fun time at the Casino that claims to have the loosest slots in the country…we won as usual but we still think the loosest Casino was the Dakota Magic in North Dakota but this one does come close. The buffet was really good with a wide variety and special touches…the workers were absolutely accommodating…very classy place and the best of all is there is “No Smoking” except for in designated areas. It was really nice to have no smoke in our faces and finding ashes everywhere on the machines as we have lately at other Casinos. It is so nice to be non-smokers!

Coming tomorrow…our day sightseeing the Gateway Arch!

If you have to control anything today…let it be your own thoughts and actions.

RV/MH Museum in Elkhart, Indiana & More

It was drizzly and cloudy when we left Monday morning…remained the same for most of the drive into Elkhart, Indiana…mostly roads less traveled that were great ones. We did some of our necessary chores…cleaned the rig…laundry…drying out as much as possible. During the drive we were so wet on the roof that water began pouring into areas that we had not expected but all is well now that we have dried up some…Tuesday turned into a fabulous weather day…sunny…warm and clear skies.

Checked out the Hart City “RV Park” (term used really loosely)…we were not comfortable at all. It was a gravel parking lot with hookups…no security…nobody there and not in the best of neighborhoods. Drove a few extra miles back to a KOA in Middlebury, Indiana where we knew our rig would be safe when we went sightseeing and it was just a few dollars more. At Hart City they were asking $25 and at the KOA we paid $27...well worth it for a little piece of mind.


The RV/MH Museumwas pretty cool…it made me realize that if for so many years people chose to camp with so much less than we currently have today that I am once again done feeling sorry for ourselves that we do not have the rig of our dreams...WHO CARES…we are doing what we love and if anybody else doesn’t like it or looks down on us…well it’s their problem because we are having the time of our lives. The museum cost is $8 adult / $6 Senior / $3 Children, we had a coupon from a flyer at the KOA Campground that we used so we only paid $6 each. There are photos uploaded at our Picasa webpage, check them out!

We are in Amish Country which gives us another perspective on life…they have their own ideals about life and we respect that and we would never try to tell them they are doing it wrong. We enjoy learning from others, especially the people that choose to be so different from the leading pack as we are doing now.


"Indigo on Seventeen"...we stopped for lunch at a very "posh" restaurant...spent more on lunch then we usually do for dinner but we wanted to try something new and different...this place was just that...see our review for more.


Ike’s Effects Felt As Far As Indiana...campground underwater on Saint Joseph River…rain for more than 3 days has caused many rivers to rise…this one will not be fully crested for a few more days…we will have left the area by then. This is so amazing to see…knowing what these people must be experiencing…a prayer and our thoughts go out to each and everyone that was affected by Ike.


Fun at the Museum ...Having fun wherever we go is part of our new lifestyle…no worries…just good times!