"Like the Pine Trees Lining a Winding Road...

...I got a name, I got a name." Her name is .. drum roll, please... Serenity. "Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?" Now we just have to name the truck.

In case you didn't know the first quote is Jim Croce and the second Lionel Richie.

Today has been amazing, like the whole day was an epiphany. "Signs, signs every where signs.." (Five Man Electrical Band). It really seems like God and/or the universe is telling me it's OK, go, get out, get a workcampimg job, be free, don't hold back any longer, if you wait until everything is perfect and all ducks are in a row you'll never go, go, dang it, just go!

Guess I was just in a singin' mood.  :-)

(Little update) I know this says "Posted by Todd and Carrie". I, Carrie, sometimes forget to sign out of our main account, sorry.

Hitch Itch

Oh my gosh, we do have hitch itch bad but we have things we have to get done first. On the very positive side, I do want to see this beautiful lake in the spring and summer (as long as temps don't reach 110° again)!

I was worn out today at the office thinking I've been doing the same things, looking out the same windows for eight years now, God it's hard to keep my eyes open. I'm trying so hard at work to make it easy for the person who replaces me so concentrating hard keeps me awake. Putting comments in Excel worksheets and adding difficult formulas and macros because s/he will have so much more to think about. Customer service is #1 and they have to be so organized. Tooting my own horn I guess but I will be impossible to replace. I swear I wish the owners would retire and shut the place down instead of selling it like they plan to, they even have the buyer.

On another note, we've met really, super nice people here. The kind you can really count on. This campground had terrible water problems and Todd and other campers fixed it the best they could. We do have water and we're getting the pressure worked out here, in the trailer, very thankful. One of the campers offered a gallon of water if we needed it (when water was off), which I thought was amazing but our tank was full, "thank you so much anyway!".

We've met people who have been here from days to twenty one years! A lot of people stay here years, I don't know how. When it's freezing and windy here it feels like a window is slightly opened. Trying to stay for 239 more days. Please wish us luck!

First Week in the RV

We're so happy to be here! We've met super great full time RVers and love not listening to upstairs neighbors like in the apartment.

Seems like if something could go wrong it did but maybe it did for good reason. We've especially learned RVing in freezing weather isn't for us. As soon as the propane furnace turns off it's very cold in here so we're going through a lot of propane, about twenty-five gallons in a week and a half. The little electric space heaters try but can't keep it warm enough in here.

I'm no stranger to the high price of propane. When I had my adorable little 1,152 square foot house in the country the only thing that used propane was the heater and the propane bills averaged $2,000 a month for three months. Of course I had to buy a new electric HVAC unit I'll be paying on for many, many years.

There's something wrong with the water flow to the campsite we're in so we're using the water hook-up from the next (vacant, of course!) campsite so Todd went and bought a longer hose and it isn't insulated. He did insulate the one we thought we could use but now if it's going to freeze he goes out and unhooks and empties it out after one morning we had to thaw it out in the bath tub! Efforts to make it to work by 9:00 for me has been futile all week long!

So, we moved our take off date up to Saturday, November 30th, 2013 at noon. We're hoping spring weather gets here soon and my job hires someone full time so I can train them. We have a lot we want to add to the TT like solar panels and a 100 gallon water tank. We'll need a sway stabilizer too then off to warmer weather forever!

The Truck

Well, even though it was inspected before T bought it, it had problems that were undetectable. Engine problems that no one could really pinpoint exactly. T knew he wanted to get rid of it, was drinking gas and dirtying oil like no one's business - T and the truck, just kidding. He had already put new tires, shocks, a bad ass hitch and other things on for towing but that isn't the point of this post.

The point is, he's such a good man. The thought crossed our minds, we could sell it knowing something is wrong, the thought crossed quickly and was out of there. We knew we lost a lot of money and we don't have it to lose but T put a craigslist ad up, explaining that we don't know what's wrong but something is and it might need a new engine. People answered not even reading the whole ad and Todd told them "it could need a new engine". It wasn't looking good and then someone replied "I had the same truck, loved it, wrecked it, saved the engine, I have the engine for it! Would like to talk about the trade you mentioned, I have a Suburban"! Oh my

gosh, just what T wanted!

The truck traded was so cool but rough ridin' for me. We drove only a couple of hours and my back was stiff. The young man who traded was perfect for it. In his twenties, I'm sure he will enjoy four weeelin' in it!

We were redneck royalty for a minute and loved it!

And since it was an even trade we don't have to pay taxes again, just the 15 bucks or so to transfer the title.

Here She Is...

Toad Carrier?

Miss America!

OK, she doesn't really have a name yet and we don't have a toad, obviously. Except the one who lived in the plant on the porch until s/he grew up and moved on. I think s/he was a frog, anyway...

One time I wanted to show Todd what I had done with the blog template on his laptop, so I mistyped "toodandcarrierv" into google and up popped "toad carrier"! We laughed and we still think of ourselves as Toad Carrier. Is that her name? If she doesn't get one soon it will be.

You can see she laid on her side but she's up Baby! Trying to get her cleaned up as we only have a few days left until we're all one no matter what our names are. :-) There's kitty litter in the window sills but that's fine, I'll get it out. Todd has been working hard on getting TC ready to live in, we only have a few days left!.

The kitchen faucet leaked, the thermostat was gone, fridge didn't work, and the water pressure was crazy pathetic. He's doing it and I've gotten some cleaning done, but have been sick. Better now and we have apartment inspection tomorrow, no sweat, I always leave them better then I found them.

Front Yard

Oh yeah! Here's our view from the front door (as opposed to the back door that doesn't exist).

I've been meaning to write more as we sell off everything and why we're doing this but am just so busy. I can't wait for the day I'm not and can take a breath. I know T feels the same. Soon, soon.

We Bought Our Truck and Travel Trailer

We got a 2003 Chevy Silverado and a 2011 Freedom Express travel trailer, YAY!  The travel trailer has been wrecked so it's in the shop for repairs and we should have it in about two weeks. We're putting in our two month notice that we're moving out of the apartment today and will have the TT in storage while Todd customizes it some. We want a tankless water heater and he'll take out three of the bunk beds and put in a closet for me.

Then we'll pull it to the campground here in Hendersonville, TN and live in it for about a year so we can pay down some debt. The campground site is only $350 per month and has full hook-ups.

Happy and safe travels to all! :-)

Poetry in Motion

From the first night we slept together
Under desert stars,
I knew we'd always be close.
Waking the next morning
I felt so comforted being surrounded by you,
So big and strong.
We explored the country together
(And such fun we had)
From sea to shining sea.
You took me places
I never thought I could be.
We came to know each other so well.
You'll always be in my fondest memories.
We belong to each other.
I love you!
My freedom!
My confidant!
My ride!
My van!
My beautiful Iron Butterfly!

In 1995 I bought a 1975 Dodge van and camped from northern California to South Carolina. I had so much fun in Memphis on the way that I went back after only a couple of days in SC, wrote this silly poem in about five minutes, and stayed for seven years. I moved here, Hendersonville, TN, ten years ago, really thinking I'd stay forever. Naa, why stay when we can go?! Countdown to "go" is still estimated at five months.

Todd has done a great job of selling a lot of things on Craigslist including my violin! Thanks Baby!

He says he probably won't post until we're on the road so it looks like for now it's just "she said".   :)