tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post7550349528223803500..comments2024-03-25T14:06:37.254-07:00Comments on On the Road Abode: Trading a zip code for a toad: 143 Days Until Christmas, and Then.......Jodee Gravelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-50121631580404386472014-08-27T08:03:04.806-07:002014-08-27T08:03:04.806-07:00The 12 month marker is a huge milestone! Every mo...The 12 month marker is a huge milestone! Every month from now on will be the "last" one before you launch. Next week you'll start your last September - congrats!!<br />Christmas ornaments carry so many wonderful memories - keeping those most precious is a must for me :-).Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-72823522233711025912014-08-27T07:37:36.166-07:002014-08-27T07:37:36.166-07:00I also have a countdown going in my mind, and on a...I also have a countdown going in my mind, and on a stickie I have posted to my computer - it now says "12 months" and it used to say "14 months." <br /><br />Last winter I decided to get rid of my Christmas stuff, all but the very few ornaments that really meant something to me or connected me with my childhood. And it felt good. But I can imagine how difficult that is. (And don't worry, no judging.) Good luck on climbing up and over that VISA mountain and being debt free by next February!Terrihttp://www.chasingsimpledreams.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-91093932616904983892014-08-06T14:12:37.381-07:002014-08-06T14:12:37.381-07:00Indeed! What a great surprise - the best gift eve...Indeed! What a great surprise - the best gift ever :-).Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-47160254991690933662014-08-06T10:20:47.920-07:002014-08-06T10:20:47.920-07:00Ron and I have been empty nesters for 5 years now....Ron and I have been empty nesters for 5 years now. We're in California, our son is in Oklahoma and our daughter & SIL are in Maryland. Three years ago, our son totally surprised us a week before Christmas. He took leave (he's in the Air Force), had his best friend pick him up from the airport and rang our door bell at 11PM!! THAT was the best Christmas present-getting to spend time with Alex! Family is all we need!! Rene https://www.blogger.com/profile/12780561678301320661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-42285511632813312662014-08-05T09:00:41.105-07:002014-08-05T09:00:41.105-07:00See! I love that you're already excited about...See! I love that you're already excited about making new traditions :-). I'm thinking I'll have to have some kind of real tree as well - it's that smell! Maybe even decorated branches I get from a tree lot would do the trick. So happy you guys are out there already - safe travels :-).Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-90968468756101764322014-08-05T08:23:59.753-07:002014-08-05T08:23:59.753-07:00I'm with you, those "lasts" were imp...I'm with you, those "lasts" were important and very exciting. I can't believe were already here! Christmas will be different, but in a good way. Like others, we will look forward to different areas. I brought a small ceramic tree, and one special ornament. That's it. Our special tree topper angel is safely packed away back home. We're thinking of getting a small real tree and then plant it before we leave. I've heard others say they go back later and it makes them happy to see the tree growing. We will be in Florida this year and that will be a big change from the mountains. Looking forward to it and flying the kids out! My parents and siblings may even come, how fun!DebbieMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098946439067724168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-61579576505061709702014-08-04T08:59:39.027-07:002014-08-04T08:59:39.027-07:00I think it would be the best gift ever to have all...I think it would be the best gift ever to have all of us together in a completely new area - if we can get all six of them there is will be amazing :-)!! Absolutely have to take a few holiday touches for the new home.Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-87238800658415871122014-08-04T06:26:36.650-07:002014-08-04T06:26:36.650-07:00Jodee, your idea about finding an RV park with cab...Jodee, your idea about finding an RV park with cabins or the like is a great idea. The RV park we are in has cabins and I was just making comment how convenient they are for RVers visiting with non RVer family/friends. Do bring a small collection to decorate your RV at Christmas time!<br /><br />MauraMaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13409923557583721223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-20935951437801427042014-08-03T20:04:38.269-07:002014-08-03T20:04:38.269-07:00Smart! I think we will really enjoy celebrating th...Smart! I think we will really enjoy celebrating the holidays in different regions - participating in new traditions. We're already looking at places with RV parking and rental cabins for all the boys to "join us" next year :-)))). I agree that the freedom from gifting will be a welcome change.Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-61142295464188075312014-08-03T19:30:13.504-07:002014-08-03T19:30:13.504-07:00We stopped all the spending on unnecessary gifts m...We stopped all the spending on unnecessary gifts many years ago and took a family vacation to FL. It was such a huge relief to finally enjoy the holiday without constantly trying create gifts of unwanted and unneeded items. We never looked back. Our largest and only tub in the MH is for Christmas decorations. I love that I can decorate in under an hour and make the MH very Christmasy. It all comes undone even faster. It is very cool celebrating in different areas of the country, also. Everyone does it differently. We just need to be near an airport for our daughter to visit. I do believe you will enjoy the less pressure:)John and Pam (ohtheplacestheygo.wordpress.com)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10853924678665624403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-56243283066731004792014-08-03T18:19:57.805-07:002014-08-03T18:19:57.805-07:00Last Christmas everything we received was for our ...Last Christmas everything we received was for our life on the road. They are in a storage container awaiting their new home :-). I do love the idea of making new traditions - our kids' lives are so different from ours at the same age that I think we will follow their lead.Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-59484938410569263822014-08-03T18:18:00.107-07:002014-08-03T18:18:00.107-07:00Hmmmm, maybe grow tomatoes on a frame in a small b...Hmmmm, maybe grow tomatoes on a frame in a small bucket...then turn it over, put lights on it and it's a Christmas tree? Maybe not :-). I'll definitely hold on to those things with family memories, keeping them at a friend's house for now.Jodee Gravelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247098923871155546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-34420225886400569772014-08-03T17:21:39.751-07:002014-08-03T17:21:39.751-07:00Making new traditions in new places is fun too! We...Making new traditions in new places is fun too! We even stopped exchanging Christmas gifts with family at least a year before we sold the house...new traditions...we don't need "stuff" and no one else does either really. A good family get together is all the gift we need. Metamorphosis Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07637866156639686101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035932613092671755.post-15982548557943626572014-08-03T15:10:39.291-07:002014-08-03T15:10:39.291-07:00I just LOVE that santa on the roof of the RV. Don...I just LOVE that santa on the roof of the RV. Don't know where you found it but it is PERFECT. Even after 4 years on the road there are some things about S&B that I miss. Not enough to go back mind you but growing fresh tomatoes, my local library and Christmas in the farmhouse are things I wish I could have kept. Do be careful not to disappear things that you may one day wish you had kept. That's what small storage facilities are for. You can always weed them out later once you are absolutely positive it's no loss for them to go. We cut our big holiday spending down long ago so it fits in the RV very well but I just haven't been able to get that fresh Christmas tree in the door. :-)Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.com