Downsizing...Will it Ever End???

I hit a wall a few days ago and I've just been spinning my wheels.  At least that's what it seems like.  I've done a bit here and a bit there, but it doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere.  However, the trips to Home2Home, Goodwill and the stack of packed boxes in the garage contradicts that.  My office is driving me crazy.  The piles of paper don't seem to be going down and I'm so tired of sorting, scanning and shredding.  Now I truly understand how wonderful drawers are.  With the desk that had the drawers being gone, there's no place for lots and lots of stuff and I keep looking at it and wondering what to do with it.  Donate it?...toss it???...what???  

Then there's the projects that comes out of nowhere.  I was looking out of my office window and noticed that something seemed to be dying...

Those are wooden blinds...not bars.  That side of the house is ignored because there's no access to the backyard and it's the forgotten side.  When I made my way back there this is what I saw...

It appears my neighbor had a tree trimmed...

and guess where a bunch of it landed?  Right...in my yard.  So I got out my reciprocating saw and cut it up small enough to fit into my yard waste bin...

Not a very good fit, but at least it's on it's way out.  

Some days it feels like this is taking too long and other days I don't think I have enough time to get everything done.  Some days I wonder if I've gone crazy and question what I'm doing.  10 days and I should be on the road.

I seem to have acquired ADHD.  I run from here to there, get a small bit accomplished and take off on something else without finishing anything.  My attention span isn't.  It's lucky I've been able to sit here long enough to write a post.  In fact, I've been sitting here too long and I must go do something else!!!

I have new followers and I'll acknowledge you individually when I can sit for a longer period of time.  In the meantime, thanks for joining me on my journey.  The one where I truly hit the road in about 10 days.

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana

Hardest Donation to Date

I kept telling myself "it's just furniture, it's just furniture," and it was still hard.  Today the folks at Home2Home picked up a desk and two dressers.  I was back and forth about whether to include the dressers but as part of my downsizing I went through with it.  The less I have, the less I'll be tied down...and it was still hard.  

I've been packing up the kitchen and that has not been a fun project.  I found myself picking something up and then putting it down on the other side of the kitchen instead of in a box.  When I called Carissa at Home2Home to see what time the guys would be here today, she said it would probably be after lunch.  Last time they were here they arrived shortly after 10AM.  So, I bit the bullet and packed the kitchen.  I'm done except for the seasonings.  I'm trying to separate what goes on Olivia and what needs to be packed which means leaving boxes hanging around.  As I pack them I've been putting them in the garage, but not what's going in Olivia.  I'm getting close to the limit for my "minimum" move and I'm hoping to stay in that range to keep the price down.  

I can't find my mifi.  I thought I took it with me to Olivia yesterday.  I was just there hanging up my new curtains and I couldn't find it.  I've looked from one end to the other in my SUV and it isn't there either.  I'm going to take a deep breath, not panic and will it to show up.  

When I was at Olivia I opened the closet door and my propane alarm went off.  I tried it a number of times and it happened each time.  Nothing was turned on inside and I went outside and turned the propane off.  I'm hoping that was just a fluke and won't continue.  That would not be fun.  

I called a friend in the middle of my meltdown after the furniture was picked up.  We're going to meet at Applebee's for dinner.  I'm looking forward to it.

That's it for today.

Jeana

Getting Hung Up on the Craziest Things

Things have been going along fairly smoothly, until yesterday, and my hang up had to do with a telephone number and Corning Ware.  I kid you not.  

I called AT&T to see if it's possible to hang onto my landline phone number. See, it's been in the family for 40+ years and even though only one person I know uses it, well, you never know.  So, yes, for the price of $24.95 + taxes I can keep it.  I have to ask myself if it's worth $300+ a year to hang onto a phone number nobody uses, me included, since I'll be on the road.

As for the Corning Ware...come on, an issue with Corning Ware?  Yep, it kind of surprises me too.   My mom has/d so much Corning Ware and I rarely use it.  Sounds kind of like the phone, doesn't it?  I know I don't want any, or much, of it in Olivia because I don't want it rattling around making noise.  While I'm not crazy about plastic, in a motorhome I think it's a lot quieter.  Plastic is also lighter.  But, I'm ignoring the dilemma.  What is it with the Corning Ware?  I don't have to get rid of it...there's another option...I can pack it and take it with me in the moving van.  OK, I think that's what I'll do.  Phew, I'm glad that's taken care of.

I spent most of last night playing on my iPad, downloading free books and checking out the RVing apps I have.  I did buy one though.  J.A. Jance's latest...Fatal Error.  Like me, she has a Seattle/Tucson connection.  She spends part of her time in Seattle and part of her time in Tucson.  I've read all of her books and I'm a big fan.  

As for the books I...is it uploaded or downloaded...whatever I did with them, I plan on reading library books as long as I can.  I was one of the last to get a cell phone (now the landline dilemma makes sense) and I think I'll be one of the last to read books on an iPad.  I got them just in case.  Just in case I'm in the middle of nowhere, with not a library in sight, and no books. Horrifying thought.  I always have a book with me.  If I don't I start to go through withdrawal and I can't have that.  Now I'm covered, unless I don't have my iPad with me.  Since I don't have it with me all the time that could be a problem.  But since I'll put it in Olivia...the middle of nowhere thing shouldn't be a problem.  Because I'll be in the middle of nowhere, in Olivia, with my iPad.

I think I'm going to put you out of your misery and quit writing.  Maybe I mean to put me out of my misery.  Whichever it is, I'm signing off.  

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana

The Countdown Has Started...20 Days Until I Hit the Road

Yikes...where has the time gone...only 20 days to go.  I'm feeling a few different emotions...excitement...fear...wonderment (as in what the heck am I doing?)...just to name a few.  There's no turning back since my house is leased for a year.  And I don't want to turn back.  I'm going to "feel the fear" and do it anyway.  

More reasons to go...I turned the heat on in my house today...I'm sitting here with layers on and half gloves because my fingers are so cold.  I got my portable heater out and turned it on.  And it's only in the 60s outside. The damp chill is back in the air and that's what I want to get away from. I'm definitely heading for warmer weather.

I've written in the past about how much I dislike brown.  Some of the window coverings in Olivia are brown and gold and something else...

This would never have been my choice of fabric for covering anything. Fortunately, they only cover the windows in the sleeping area above the cab, so they're not too noticeable.  However, they are to me because I'm so anti-brown, but no longer...

I made these to replace the above and I like the color much better.

Walking through Sears this morning I came upon the perfect size iron for the small ironing board I bought not too long ago...

It's definitely smaller than the one I have now and takes up a lot less space...

and, I think, will be the perfect size for an RV.  


I was going to say that yesterday was a wipe out for getting anything done towards my move when I realized that I made the curtains!!  How I almost forgot that I don't know.  I do know that when I was finished that I vegged out and played on my iPad.  I'm sure glad that I got it.  One of the things I did was join Passport America while scanning over 3,000 travel apps of which I downloaded three.  


After I read what I've written, I asked myself "where's the enthusiasm?"  I'm not noticing it.  Then I remembered the huge weather change we've had and I think that's affected my mood.  We haven't seen the sun for four or five days and I'm impacted pretty severely when I don't get my sun.  Hence, moving to Arizona.  I think it's supposed to get back up in the 70s for a couple days and that will help.  


Before I sign off I'd like to welcome a new follower, Sunny, whose blog is named...changing lanes....  She's a fairly new widow and plans on RVing, like the rest of us.  Thanks for joining me on my journey.  


Sunshine please,


Jeana
  

I Can't Think of an Appropriate Title Tonight

I think either I'm brain dead or my energy just drained out of me.  Too much going on, but changes are a coming.  Among lots of other things I spent yesterday and today sanding and painting baseboards in my living and dining rooms.  Since I removed the carpeting, the fact that the baseboards hadn't been painted where the carpet had been stood out like a sore thumb.  Like the rest of the house it took two coats of paint, in addition to sanding them smooth, but I think I'm finished painting.  Hallelujah.  

I really appreciate all the comments on my last post...thanks.  Today I called another moving company that will pick up packed boxes to see what their rates are.  To them, what I have so far is considered a minimum move.  I can add 25 more medium boxes and the price stays the same.  Oh, the price...try $2,361.52 less than the other guys!!!!!!  They'll pick up my stuff and deliver it to Tucson and store it for a month.  It will cost less to ship my stuff than put it in storage for a year.  How cool is that.  They wanted a $100 deposit and the other guys wanted over $500.  When I called them today to cancel they offered me a discount to not cancel.  I told them that the issue was the size of container I'd have to use and it's just too big for what I have to move.  I should get my money back next week.  The movers are scheduled to come to my house October 7th.  That means I'm going to be a real RVr pretty soon and not just on paper, or post/blog, rather.  Scary and exciting.  

Long story short, I found a transporter for my SUV.   They'll come to my house to pick it up and hold it in Tucson if they should get there before I do. I get a 10% discount because I'm a senior.  There are certainly some perks to getting older.  

I had another load of merchandise to take to my new favorite place, Home2Home, yesterday.  I decided to turn on a different street to get there and found a new Habitat for Humanity store that opened recently.  The timing is perfect because I had some doors in my house I'd removed that I didn't know what to do with.  I also had a couple cans of paint I ended up not liking, so I took them there today.  

I had a couple items from Home Depot to return but I couldn't find the receipts.  It's a bit messy in my office as I'm sorting through stuff, but I decided to go and see what happened without the receipts.  I was thinking that maybe I'd get an in store credit.  I didn't know this, but because I used my debit card to purchase them a receipt wasn't necessary.  They just clicked on the bar code and I got a refund straight to my account.  

I think things are starting to fall into place and that's a good feeling.  Stay tuned for further updates.  

Missing the sunshine,

Jeana

I'm Seriously Irritated with PODS

I mentioned in a previous post that I marked my garage floor with what I thought were the two sizes of PODS available so that maybe I could go to a smaller size and save some money.  I think they're quite expensive.  I called them today to confirm that because it's looking like I can go from the 8x8x16 to the 8x8x12.  This is where my irritation comes in.  There's another size, 8x8x7.  The only sizes for long distance are 8x8x16 or 8x8x7. It feels like a set up to me.  And maybe it feels like a set up because I'm so tired.  

I woke up at 2 AM this morning and couldn't go back to sleep.  I've been packing since 7:30 AM and I've packed for 10 hours today.  There were some breaks to play solitaire, mahjong, and spider solitaire on my iPad and a run to the store for chips.  I. am. exhausted.  

Because I am exhausted I know I shouldn't be making any major decisions. However, I'm thinking that maybe I should just put my stuff in storage up here and deal with it later.  I can put as much as possible in Olivia and then the remaining stuff I think I "have" to have in my SUV.  I can pack it to the gills, provided I figure out how to get it to Tucson.  

Does anyone know if I can pack my SUV to the gills and then have it transported?  Is that asking for trouble, i.e, my stuff disappears between here and there?  

I'm going to make this a short post tonight since I'm so tired.  I'm also sun deprived.  Our three week summer has ended and I haven't seen any sun for three days.  I noticed last night that my solar lights outside aren't working because there hasn't been any sun and it was really dark in my yard.  I missed the lights.  I also have cold hands again and I put my wool slippers on a bit ago because my feet were so cold.  This is not good.  No wonder I'm going to Tucson.  

I just called the dealer where I bought my SUV and asked about transporting it to Tucson.  I'll have an answer and price within 24 hours.  I also found out that I won't be able to have any personal possessions in it.  


Maybe I could rent a small trailer to pull behind Olivia and put extra stuff in, or, I can just do with what fits in Olivia.  What a concept!!  After all, I'm supposed to be downsizing.  And I am, I am and I think I'm doing a great job.  




Missing the sun,


Jeana

Downsizing...I'm Really Getting Into It

Here he is...my new grandson...

Kelton John, born 9/10/11 @ 9:40 PM
7 lbs 13 oz, 20.6"

So far, this is the only picture I have of him.  I imagine it's the first of many, at least I hope so.  

I'm learning something interesting...the more I get rid of, the more I want to get rid of.  I'm sort of going from "haven't seen this for two years...toss it," to "haven't seen it for two days...toss it."  Well, not  quite that dramatic, but close.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I lined out the two PODS sizes in my garage.  So far, I don't even have the smaller one filled and I'm running out of stuff.  I have two chairs...

that will go with me because I like them so much (they rock and swivel), but that's it for furniture.  I want to eventually get them refinished because under the throw I have on them, they look like this...

and I don't like it at all.  I can see one of these chairs replacing the two chairs in the motorhome in San Diego that I'm so interested in...

  

Then my dog would be able to lie down in front of a window and look outside, almost like at home!!

Once again I'm looking for someone to drive my Volvo to Tucson.  My friend called me Saturday night to let me know that the Sheriff where her dad lives in California called to inform her that her dad had committed suicide two days ealier.  Needless, to say, Nancy is somewhat of a basket case and is heading for California tomorrow.  She doesn't know how long she'll be there, so she let me know I need to find someone else to drive my SUV to Tucson. I hope that "third times a charm" will work here.  If so, that means I'm two down and one to go. I sent an email to a niece I've been estranged from, asking her to go with me, for pay, of course.  She gets back tonight from the East coast, so maybe I'll know some time this week.

Today I've been scanning pictures into my computer.  I thought I was finished but I found a whole lot more that needed to be scanned, so that's what I've been doing all afternoon.  I needed a break because it's not the most enjoyable job.  

I've been so busy the past couple days that I haven't had any time to play with my iPad.   I have all the recommended apps to check out and I haven't had time.  Soon.  Before I hit the road, for sure.

Back to scanning.

Jeana

My First Grandchild was Born Today...9/10/11

I thought buying a new iPad made this week special, but the birth of my grandson topped that by a mile.   I'm so excited to finally be a grandmother, but I won't get to meet him until Spring when I fly to Germany.  My son, Jason, and his wife, Melanie, want to have him to themselves and I understand.  They both have to go back to work (Air Force) pretty quickly, so I get it.  My son only gets 10 days off, Melanie more.  I think because she had to have a C-section she might get even more time off now.  His name is Kelton John and he weighed 7 lbs 13 oz.  He hadn't been measured when I talked to my son, so I don't have that info.  I don't have pictures yet either, but my son will send them when he can.  In the past 30+ hours he's had 1/2 hour sleep so he might have crashed by now.  I can wait for the pictures.  

I've had a great time with my iPad and I love it.  Thanks for the suggestions on what Apps to get.  I'll have to figure out how to find them then download them.  When I go click on the Apps icon about 5,000+ are available for travel and 18,000+ for games.  It will take forever to find them, if that's where they're located.  

I got kind of frustrated when I was downloading some apps. After the app was downloaded (or is it uploaded???) I'd end up back at page 1 when the app I just down/uploaded was on page 20.  It didn't happen all the time but enough that I got fairly frustrated.  I realize I'm on a learning curve so I'll keep practicing.

Kate and Mike, my renters, were by again today and I'm so glad they're going to be in my house.  I have such a good feeling about them.  From the way they were talking today, I get the impression that my yard is going to look a whole lot better when they're done with it.  That's good.

The more I go through stuff in the house, the easier I'm finding it to get rid of more and more.   I'm going to give myself a year in a motorhome to decide if I want to continue or get back into a house.  Because I'm leaning that way I'm realizing that a lot of stuff I was planning on taking won't fit on a motorhome and why leave it in storage?  Home2Home is going to keep loving me because they'll be the recipients of what I don't take.  

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana

I Bought an iPad Today

I went and got a pedicure this morning and the lady working on my feet was talking to the lady next to her about getting an iPad.  She was going to get one today, right after she finished my pedicure.  The other lady already has one and was explaining it to me.  I liked what I heard.  Now that I have it I wonder why it took me so long to get one.  I love it.  

I HAVE A REQUEST...would you let me now which apps you use on your iPad or iPhone that helps when you're on the road?  I've heard about a lot of them but I never wrote the info down because I didn't have one.  Instead of reinventing the wheel, because you already have, I'd really appreciate the info. Thanks. 

Now I'm going to go back and play with my iPad.  I'm so glad I've already gotten mifi because I can work on my iPad in my backyard.  My house is too hot until later tonight so I don't want to be inside.

Sorry this is so short but I want to go play with my new toy.

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana

77 on the 7th...Followers, That Is

Seven is my favorite number.  Today, September 7th, I now have 77 followers.  Nan and John are my latest followers.  It doesn't look like you have  your own blog so I can't put a plug in for it. Welcome to my journey as I prepare to hit the open road in Olivia, my Winnebago View next month and head for Tucson.    

It took about twenty minutes this morning to go from this...

to this...

There is some serious downsizing going on in my house.  In addition to the inside of the house, I climbed up a ladder to check out the storage over the garage.  The three suitcases and Christmas decoration boxes were easy to deal with, however, I think I need to go through the Christmas boxes to see what I don't need.  

Then there's the rest of the storage area...

Would you believe a box of encyclopedia's!!  Remember them, back before the internet???   The white contraption next to the box is the thing that enables you to hang by your ankles.  I don't know what they're called, but they're still around.  I'm not even going to try to get that down by myself. As it is, I'm on the top step and that's too scary for me.  (I searched the website and the contraption is called an inversion table.)

On the other side of the attic is this brass tray from Morocco...

Notice that it's too wide for the opening.  I suppose if I angled it up I could get it down, but remember, I'm on the top step of the ladder and not feeling very safe. I have to hang onto something so I only have one hand to work with, so it isn't going to be easy.  


I don't normally write my posts this early in the day (2:22 PM), so I don't know why I'm doing it today.  I have work to do, things to pack, stuff to sort through, important decisions to make.  I have three weeks to get it done. Wow, three weeks.  I don't know where the time has gone.  Gotta go...work to do.


Loving the sunshine,


Jeana

Might Be More Than You Want To Know About My Bowling Balls

Last Saturday I went and bought an aluminum trough...

I bought it so that I can put my bowling balls in it.  I figured it would be the sturdiest way for moving them to Tucson.  I had an extra piece of wood, so I decided it would probably be better if I lined the bottom of the trough with some wood that I cut, sort of to size...

I inherited a sabre saw from my dad and I really enjoy using it, so cutting a piece of wood was kind of fun.  

This is how they've been stored in my garage since before the moving sale...

I sure didn't want anyone running off with any of my bowling balls...they can be hard to find.  

This is how they're stored now...

all twenty-one of them.  That doesn't include the fourteen that have been transformed into yard art...

they won't fit.  So, either I cut down how many bowling balls I take with me, or I get another trough.  Or, maybe I come up with a different hobby.  

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana

Quiet Labor Day

It was a very quiet day today.  I worked out with my trainer first thing this morning and then I took some planters to a friend. We went to our favorite nursery where I returned a planter I bought recently.  This is not the time to be buying anything, except food, when I'm downsizing, so I returned it. Then we went to lunch and polished it off with white chocolate mousse at TCBY. TCBY white chocolate mousse is my favorite and I haven't had any for years. The last time was in Tucson and I haven't lived there for five years.  This one opened recently across the street from my favorite nursery. When we go to this nursery we go north across the street for stir fry for lunch and then east across another street for TCBY frozen yogurt.   Perfect positioning.   

There is one item I bought recently that I won't be returning...

Yes, an ironing board (the little blue one on top of the big one).  I still iron and found this at a fabric store and it's a great size for storing...

I particularly like the iron rest.

I made sure that Home2Home will be open tomorrow before I put the items back in my SUV so I can drop them off.  Having had to take them out once, doing that over and over again is not something I want to keep doing.  They were supposed to pick my furniture up today but I changed it to Wednesday.  

I can sure feel Fall in the air even though we hit 80〫today.  Yesterday was hot and humid and today was perfect.  Maybe today was perfect because I didn't do much of anything and didn't get overheated.  

I'm aware that I'm really grasping for something to say and I'm not finding anything.  So, I'm going to stop for today.


Loving the sunshine,


Jeana

Goodwill Turned Down an Item

Before I talk about Goodwill, I want to welcome two new followers:  Tanya who appears to not have a blog and Jammin' Along.  After 14 years in Arizona, they've returned to Spokane, WA and I don't envy you this winter.  I graduated from high school in Spokane and my in-laws lived there, so I know Spokane pretty well.

Now to Goodwill.  I had a wrought iron shelf thingy, in decent shape, that's been in my garage.  I don't have a picture of it because I don't want to unload it from my SUV because I'm bound and determined to find someone who wants it.  They had actually unloaded it, placed it off to the side, when another man came up and said they wouldn't be able to sell.  I doubt that it wouldn't sell, but what could I do.  So, I still have it.  I have a friend I'm taking something else to tomorrow and she might take it.

When I got home I moved stuff around in my garage and drew lines on the floor for the two sizes that PODS offers.  I'm going to start stacking stuff in that area to see if I can go with the smaller size.  Right now, I'm scheduled to get the 8x8x16' POD, but I think there's a 12' and that's the size I'd like to go with.  My reasoning is that it's probably cheaper.  I need to check that out and if it is, that's the way I want to go.  

I had an aha moment about 2:00 AM a couple days ago and acted on it yesterday.  My aha was to ask my friend Nancy if she and her husband would be interested in a road trip, with Ray, her husband driving my Volvo to Tucson.  First she said yes, then he did too!!!  I'm so relieved.  I'm starting to get excited about this whole move now that things seem to be falling into place.  

Nancy and Ray are the friends I went to Las Vegas with and they joined me when I was house sitting in California.  They're interested in finding a 55+ community and driving to Tucson with me will give them a chance to check out what Tucson has to offer .  I've told them about a couple communities down there, plus the large retirement community in Green Valley.  

My next door neighbor came over to talk to me while I was out in my garage and she ended up buying a couple shelf units.  I hadn't decided if I was going to take them with me and when she said she could use them at her school, I sold them to her for $10.  I'm really getting into the swing of downsizing and it's feeling great!!  

I talked to the RV salesman in San Diego today that I dealt with last year when I found the Class A that has a floor plan that I'd really like to have. I told him that I was still interested in it and when I'd be moving to Tucson. He said that most of the people buying RVs now are buying smaller ones instead of the larger ones.  Hopefully, that trend will continue until I get to the dealership.  


I finally figured out how to upload pictures from the dealership in San Diego so now I can show you what I like so much about this motorhome...

View from living room

Separate dining room

Walk through bathroom from bedroom
and dining room

Kitchen across from dining room table

I first saw this floor plan about four years ago and I knew then that this was the floor plan I wanted.  I like how the dining room is separated from the living room.  I also like that the bathroom can be entered from the bedroom or the dining room.  This is also the vehicle with the four windows on the side, which is where I got the  name for my blog.  This is a much higher end vehicle than the first one I looked at..it's a Magellan by Thor.  I can see me in it and I feel so excited when I look at the pictures that I just tingle.   I've already put out to the universe that this RV is mine...please join me so it's there when I go to San Diego in October.  

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana

  

Unnecessary Rushing

I packed up my SUV last night to take another load of stuff to Home2Home today.  After reading some of the comments on yesterday's post, I decided to follow the suggestions and take pictures of my mother's paintings.  I leave early on Friday to go work out with my trainer, so I was in a rush.  I had to unpack them, take pictures, then repack them.  I managed to do it and get to the gym on time. In fact, I beat my trainer, who proceeded to set off the alarm when she arrived, so her day didn't have a great start.  

After the work out I went to Home2Home and they were closed, even though they're supposed to be open on Friday.  I was so frustrated because my plans for the day were ruined.  I was going to go home and load up a bunch of boxes to take to Goodwill after dropping off the stuff at Home2Home, but my SUV's still loaded.  I was so irritated I almost took it to Goodwill but that's not what I want.  What I will take to Goodwill is mostly items from the garage and not what Home2Home is looking for.  So, tomorrow morning I'll unload the Home2Home items, put in the Goodwill items and get rid of something.  

I talked to my property manager and the people I met the other night are definitely going to lease my house!!!  I'm so glad.  According to my property manager, they think I'm wonderful, I think they're wonderful, so we're happy all around.  They're in California for Labor Day and will get the signed lease back to my property manager on Tuesday.  If I remember correctly, the lease will start 10/24/11.  Kate, the lady of the couple leasing my place, just finished her dissertation for her master's degree having to do with wine. She's graduating in France so they'll be leaving for France soon.  How cool is that? 

When I went outside to water my new grass this morning, I noticed that someone had driven over it...

And then there were some foot steps in it.  They weren't there last night so I'm wondering when and why.  Since I forgot to water before I left this morning it probably happened while I was gone.  I still wonder why.  

It's looking pretty good, the grass that is...

The rest of my yard looks terrible, because, except for the new grass, I don't water my grass.  I live in the Seattle area, we have lots of rain, mostly, and it will come back.  It will save me a lot of $$$, except for the new grass.  I'm pleased that it's coming up so well.  Our weather has really helped.  

I thought I'd mentioned this, but apparently not.  I went and looked at previous posts so that I don't repeat myself.  Anyway, I recently hopped onto the website of the RV dealership in San Diego that had/has a motorhome with a floor plan I really, really like/want.  The motorhome is still there!!!  Oh, be still, my heart.  I'm so excited that it's still there...that means...what?  That's what I'm trying to decide.  


OK, I sent an email to the salesman I corresponded with last year.  If I don't hear back from him I'll call him tomorrow.  Again, what does that mean?  It means that I need to decide what I truly want to do and I'm thinking I'm going to bite the bullet and say I will full-time for a year, then decide if I want to keep doing it.  If I get the motorhome in San Diego, full-timing would be a breeze and I'd be in a motorhome with a floor plan I love.  Plus, I wouldn't be sleeping over a cab because I'd have a bedroom in the back!!! I have lots to think about.


Before I close, I want to welcome my new follower:  casa de nwlambear, also from the Pacific Northwest, but a bit further north than I am.  Thanks for joining me for my ride.  


Loving the sunshine,


Jeana

I've Caught the Downsizing Bug

I mentioned in my last post that I found an organization that doesn't sell what's given to them, but gives it to needy people in the community I live in. I packed my SUV and delivered a ton of stuff today...

While the lady and I were unloading my SUV (I feel so pretentious when I say SUV, but that's what it is). I mentioned that I have furniture that I'd like to donate and do they pick up.  The answer was the one I wanted...yes...they do pick up.  So, this is where the downsizing bug comes in and now I want to get rid of all of it.  I also know that's not going to happen because there are some things I want to keep...tools...bowling balls to be turned into yard art...a box of Hummels...a box of silver (silverware and the like)...printers...yard art...to name a few.  I don't know if it will be enough to justify the PODS price.  I'm still working that one out.  

I'm starting to see noticeable signs of progress.  Today I broke down two shelving units in the garage...

In fact, the garage is starting to look empty and that's a good thing.  My SUV is full again with stuff I'm going to take to Home2Home tomorrow, the place I've been writing about.  

One side of the garage has stuff earmarked for Goodwill and there's not that much.  I took a load there right after my moving sale.  I figured I'd better do that before any of the stuff made it's way back into the house.

Home2Home also takes pictures, so I'm taking my mom's oil paintings.  I must have 20 pictures she painted.  It's been tough trying to decide what to do with them...you know...feeling guilty at the thought of not hanging onto them.  She did a nice job, but they're not my style.  When I was loading them into my car I looked at each one and then I found one that really appealed to me...

I don't know how I missed this one before, but I did.  Fortunately, I found it before it was too late and it's going to Tucson with me.  Now I don't feel guilty.

Monday the people from Home2Home are coming to pick up the couch and loveseat, coffee table, end table, dining room table, and six dining room chairs.  They won't take the buffet because it's too big.  At least I have that worked out with the people leasing the house.  Now I won't have to deal with it for a year.  

The next thing I'll schedule for them to pick up will be the dressers and desks.  I have two chairs in the family room that swivel and rock, which I really like, so I think I'll keep them.  

I swear, I'm going to get down to the bare minimum and stay that way so that my son won't have to go through this in 30 or so years.  

Loving the sunshine,

Jeana