The Beginning - August 28, 2014

Today is the first day of my excellent adventure . . . sort of. I've left my job with some misgivings: like, am I making a mistake; this is a scary proposition; these are good people, I'm going to miss them; etc.

However, this is a choice I have made. Saturday afternoon I plan on hitching up my truck to the trailer and on Sunday I will hit the road (at least as far as Fresno). I've been asked why Fresno. Mostly because it is close to both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and it is cheaper than staying closer to either Yosemite or Sequoia.

I got my Canon Pro-100 yesterday and the thing is HUGE! The instructions say "two people should move it". Oh, well. Only one old lady. I'm still not sure where it is going to sit, but as I travel, I'll figure it out.

I've loved being at Eddo's since June (but full time since July 1) because it is quiet - well the wind does make a whole lot of noise most nights. The road closest to the Antioch bridge is possibly the worst road on the face of the planet - even worse than some dirt roads I've been on. The other direction isn't as bad, but is narrow - since the road is on the top of the levee. The people here are really nice. Talking to some of the other residents has been nice, but since the neighbors on either side of me have both left in the middle of the day while I was at work, I thought maybe my deodorant wasn't strong enough.

 My trailer is that tiny little speck in the middle of the picture. The trailer is nestled under the trees, so I'm not sure what the top of the trailer looks like, what with the birds and all!

This is a picture of the slough leading to Eddos. I took the picture at sunset, with Mt. Diablo in the back and the Antioch Bridge in the middle. The wind was blowing quite vigorously, but it didn't seem to hurt the picture. I will miss seeing this once I head east - Nevada and Utah are not known for their rivers (except the Green River/Lake Powell area of Southern Utah).

I'm going to miss California (for a while, anyway) and will have to resist the urge to return. I have every other time I've left.

So the question I am asked is why? My answer is usually along the lines of "this is something I have wanted to do for the last 35 years" but that isn't all. I watched my mother sit around waiting to die from the day she retired. I paid for a weekend in Yosemite for my mother and father and they never did anything but sit at home, watch TV and go to church. Thinking back on things, I don't even remember my mother being happy, or laughing or enjoying life. I don't want to be like that. I am lazy (well known fact) but I don't want to sit around waiting to die, dreaming of visiting places, doing things, meeting people. So, this trip.

I never learned how to be friends with others. For my parents, if they didn't go to our church, they weren't good enough to be friends. So we never had anyone over, except for my sister's birthday parties (school friends and neighbor kids). I am endeavoring to meet people and trying to learn how to be friends.

BTW, Margie - thanks for your help and being a friend. Loved going to the movies with you and being on the Grand Jury that year was a truly wonderful learning experience!