CasperBob

Kirk, I hear you brother. I80 is not much fun in the summer and no fun at all in the winter. I too share in those type memories of traveling west on I80.

Thanks Skeet. My sister and brother in law decided to come visit a month earlier than the original plan, they will be here tomorrow, and the downstairs bath is not quite done. At least the floor is down and the toilet is set for those middle of the night nature calls, lol. And my DW loaded up my truck this past Saturday with everything that didn't sell at the garage sales and took it to a local charity that supports the local homeless shelter. So things are slowly moving along.

My wife and I will be in class of 19. Been a long road for us, as we had hoped to be part of the class of 17, then 18... What was it someone once said? Oh yeah, "Right in the middle of all my plans life happened." Living in Casper Wyoming housing market is greatly affected by the energy economy, so class of 17 became the class of 18 for us. Then we decided what any sane person would do. We thought we would tackle a "few" remodeling projects while the economy was down so as to get a bit more out of the stick & bricks when the real estate market came back strong. Having been a contractor for a number of years a few decades ago, I should have known my remodeling projects would turn into a complete renovation of our home. Haha, what was I thinking?! While my wife and I have been married for only 3 years, just celebrated number 3 on Aug. 1st, we both grew up tent camping and RVing. Between the two of us we have owned truck campers, (not practical for us old folks in the middle of the night, lol), popup tent campers, travel trailers, and we currently own a 32' 5th wheel. Originally we had planned on a bigger truck, possibly a class 8 singled out and a 40+ foot 5th wheel toy hauler as we both own motorcycles and are involved in a motorcycle ministry. But now with my aging mother-in-law living with us and having pulled our current 5th wheel many miles in windy Wyoming and watching the dogs tail wag up to a foot, we've decided to move to a class A pusher pulling our small motorcycle trailer. Kirk, I'm sure you remember the Wyoming wind having lived in Cheyenne all those years. During the eclipse last year we met a bunch of the Bluebird Wanderlodge owners. I fell in love with those vintage birds. My wife said ok as long as it has a slide, so I guess I'll compromise on that. We'll see when the time gets closer who wins the persuasion game, lol. Anyway, we have had a couple of major garage sales, gotten rid of a lot of stuff, will finish up the last of the remodeling projects this winter and hope to have the house on the market by April. Needless to say, we are getting very excited. Hope to see some of you out there on the road.

Wow, I can understand why you guys would be a bit scared. While we don't have any children younger than 27, the health ins. issue can be a big concern to those of us who are pre-Medicare. Currently my health ins. is fully covered by my employer, but it was ridiculous to cover my wife on our group plan with my employer. We found a faith based ins. plan through our pastors for my wife. But still, to cover both of us for 2-3 years for me and 4-5 years for my wife puts a big dent in the monthly budget. Still excited though.

Looks like we will be joining the class of 2018. Wanted to make it this year, but a slow real estate market in our part of Wyoming and too many remodeling projects, my old contractor days coming out in me, moved things out to 2018. We've already sold much of the furniture, had garage sales, donated a LOT of stuff to some local charities. Getting close to just the necessities left in the sticks and bricks. But still have a shop full of construction tools and cabinet building/woodworking tools to move to the sons' houses. Still, it sure feels good to finally be letting go of all the stuff one accumulates over 4+ decades, lol, as many of you know. Will be ordering the new 5er toy hauler and tow rig, and selling the old 5er and pickup. Before my DW and I got married a year and a half ago I told her my plan to full time and her response was, "Let's go now!" When she said that I knew she was a keeper and the perfect match for me. So looks like we will be joining all of you fine folks to become part of the Class of 2018.