Today we learned a new function for our Blog....I THINK...:-)

I really shouldn't say WE. It was actually Mike who learned how to add a slide show. But it wasn't easy. It took a long time to figure it out and then when we wanted to add photo's to the existing slide show that wasn't so easy either. The purpose of this Blog is to keep our family and friends informed of our retirement travels so I hope we get better at adding this feature. Right now you're seeing pictures of our family that we enjoy but when we begin traveling we hope to show you where we are and what we're doing. Oh by the way----59 days till retirement!!!!!

How many days......??????

I wouldn't want anyone to think we are OVERLY excited BUT last night we were talking and I told Mike we have 73 days till the BIG day. Well he said "But I want to know how many of those days I'll actually be working." So I got the 2009 calender and he only has 50 WORKING days left. He liked that number but for me I'll stick to the (as of today :-) ) 72 days figure. Yep, just 72 days until we can sleep as late as we want , do whatever we want, go wherever we choose, WHENEVER we want. Ah, that's the key--whenever, whatever. So what will we do???? Beside the mundane get this house & yard in shape, the exciting travel plans etc. we've talked about learning to dance (yes, you heard it here first folks), Spanish lessons, Dutch Oven cooking, walking, making mini movies of our dogs because we KNOW some of their antic's could win the $10,000 prize, spending more time with our kids, grand kids and family, I want to publish a book with pictures of all the beautiful areas we see, the unusual maybe even the bizarre, heck it's my book I can put what I want in it. As you see we'll be pretty busy.

This is a test.....

I just added the email addresses of friends and family that I think will like to keep track of what we're doing. Lets see if it works. Please post a comment if you get notified. Thanks!!

Woohoooo......................

It's official!!!!! Mike received his letter Saturday stating his retirement is effective Feb. 28, 2009. We are so excited!!!! 56 is a pretty cool age to be able to retire. It just goes to prove the sacrifices we've made over the years have paid off. When the letter came we were so surprised because all the paperwork said notification would be in January. It's great no longer having to wonder and worry about it. Now we can make real plans. 73 days.......ahhhh....how sweet it is. :-)

84 days....maybe........:-(

Well, I must address an issue that I keep ignoring, whether we will REALLY be able to retire. We want to retire but the final decision is in the hands of the Post Office. Mike is a Letter Carrier and they have been offered early retirement with no penalty, IF you meet certain requirements. The first set he meets, the next determining factor is to make sure the individual PO isn't short handed. That's the part we have no control over and is it really the individual PO or is it a countywide shortage they are talking about??? No one has really explained. So we dream and worry until Jan., 2009. THE LETTER is supposed to arrive between the 6th and the 30th. Man that's a long time to wait to find out. Being the mature person that I am, I've decided I will throw a big temper tantrum if the letter says sorry Charlie. I'm sure that will help. :-) I don't know what Mike will do. Maybe he'll join me. Ha,ha!!

Well according to my countdown clock we have 87 days till retirement. We are so excited but do have concerns about the economy since we aren't independently wealthy. Since we KNOW we can pay our monthly expenses but aren't sure about our "play/fun" money we've decided sitting & talking is waaay better than going to work each day. I think we'll be fine, Mike is a money worrier but we live rather simple lives now and will continue to into retirement. RVing has many forms and fashions but for now we plan to take trips of 4-12 week duration in our Class B, Roadtrek. Our first trip will be down the coast of NC to Savannah, Ga where our Son & DIL live and are expecting a baby girl on April 1. After that we must take the brag book down to show my Mother in St. Petersburg, Fl. Then we'll head back to NC leisurely (ahhhh no more time clocks to punch) to show off the pictures of Kaleigh Ann to her 2 Aunts and their families. By then it will be summer and Mike has many jobs he wants to do around our house plus I've heard both daughters have jobs for Dad. :-)

My very first one......

Thank you, Catherine! We retire Feb. 28, 2009 and plan to travel in our Roadtrek. This blog should help our family and friends keep track of us. Follow along as we take the road less traveled.

A blog - for the retirees... by Catherine

To Mom and Dad,

This is your first post (and yes, it was important for me to steal your thunder). You have 100 days to figure out how to post to your blog. Good luck!

C-