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In January 2003, I decided to start producing a periodic newsletter "Retirement Tips and RV Stuff". Below, you'll find a copy of the newsletters to date. If you'd like to get on the distribution for the next newsletter, send me email at rjhoffman@yahoo.com.
During the month, I keep notes on things of interest that I plan to put into the newsletter. Then I look them over and decide if there's a theme that would connect several for this opening blurb. This month, it looks like the theme is just that all of these events and discoveries are kind of representative of some characteristic of the USA. Thus the name above.
First topic is something I read in the travel section at ABCnews.com. It was talking about how all these Boomers are hitting the road in RVs across the USA, which we all already know about. But then, they noted that the age of the average RVer has dropped from 65 to 48 in the past 5 years. Now that's interesting! They go on to say that the average boomer debt is 95% of their annual income and that they're opting for motorhomes because they're cheaper than a beach-side summer home. I figured it was because of their love for travel, not because it was cheaper -- of course, the economical aspect is what prompted my Retire and Travel for $1000 a Month book, so I shouldn't be surprised. I guess we should expect to see the general complexion of both RVs and campgrounds to change somewhat over the next few years, so that they appeal more to the 48 crowd and less to the 65 crowd. I guess that means we'll be seeing less shuffleboard and bingo and more ... what? hmmm .. I dunno what 48-year olds do for comparable entertainment. Something more energetic, I guess. Check out the article at http://abcnews.go.com/sections/travel/DailyNews/rvs990727.html.
Next topic is something I read in the RV Traveler newsletter about how RVs saved the day during the recent big Eastern blackout. The newsletter asked for stories from readers, then posted them at http://www.rvtraveler.com/powerout.html -- there are some really innovative and inspirational ones there! Makes one feel good about being an RVer. The page includes articles not only about the blackout, but also about RVs being useful in ice storms, etc. I knew mine was useful whenever we've had a hurricane alert, but hadn't thought about these other situations. One point that came to me while reading the articles was the value of boondocking occasionally in your RV. Boondocking helps remind you of what you need in your RV for emergencies when there isn't any power, and lets you know how long you can live in the RV without power. I boondocked alot when I had the 5th wheel and know we could get by in it for about two weeks before we needed to dump tanks and replenish water, but I don't really know what the time frame is on the Class A that we have now. I'd expect it would be longer due to larger tanks, but will probably check it out someday soon. That's as good an excuse as any to go live in the desert for awhile .. LOL.
Third topic is just a short note about http://www.nps.gov/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm , the Old Faithful cam. Check it out! You can actually wait and see Old Faithful erupt approximately every 60 seconds. If you've never had the experience, it's worth your time to see it. If you already visited Old Faithful, you'll probably enjoy reliving the experience.
Lastly, a website a friend sent to me about the September 11th tragedy. I've seen several of these, but this one really is amazing. If you don't get chill-bumps (or goose-bumps or whatever you want to call them) stepping through the pictures on this site, I'd really be surprised. Don't get impatient as you go through all the quotations, the pictures are really worth waiting for. Check it out this fantastic website at http://www.fdnylodd.com/BloodofHeroes.html.
Well, that's it for the USA opening. Read on for notes on my latest site updates, an RV park on the featured website, reviews of an Alaska video and some poker books, and my Ramblings on ideas (yours and mine).
- In case you haven't noticed, I made some major revisions on my RetirementTips homepage. I got rid of all those brightly-colored buttons and replaced them with simple text links. I'd enjoy hearing your opinion on the new look!
- My RetirementTips homepage hitcount just passed 15,000 this month! I had planned to put a "famous visitor list" on the page, where I was going to name the visitors who hit the page on the 1000, 5000, 10000, and 15000 marks, but then decided against it. I missed one altogether and don't have much information about some of the others, so they'll just have to be satisfied with the note in the Guestbook. That's probably about as famous as they deserve ... LOL.
- I'm assuming all of you know that LOL means Laughing-Out-Loud. It's an internet acronym that seems better than saying haha or hehe. I use it so much that it's become like a real word to me ... LOL.
- For those of you who have already read Travel Log Chapter 52 "1000 Miles to Moss Hill", you need to go back and read the last paragraph that I added describing some neat collaboration that I did on the trip. It's at http://retirementtips.homestead.com/retirecurrent52.html.
- Did you know that when you go to buy ANYTHING from Amazon, if you use this link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970692811/retirementtip-20, I get a couple of dollars and it doesn't cost you anything? That's true! I didn't think you knew about that, so thought I'd stick it in somewhere (here).
- http://oceanviewrv.homestead.com/ is a site I did FREE for a friend a couple of years ago to advertise his great RV park that's right on the beach on A1A in Satellite Beach, Florida. He's got the FREE Homestead Preview service that allows you two pages, then puts ads and popups all over your pages, BUT the whole thing is FREE! Last I heard, they were still tickled with the site and getting good customer responses. If you'd like to see my futile attempt at poetry, go there and click "Park Pictures".
Here's a list of some interesting things, some of which will make me a few bucks if you need them and buy them here:
- Dream Lifestyles to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How to Get a Life By .... whatever .. you fill in the blank. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/dltg0005.html?11120
- Camp at Half of What Everyone Else is Paying! No home park, no monthly maintenance fees, no long-term obligation, just pay the small annual fee and camp for half-price. Check it out at http://www.passportamerica.com/default.asp?net_id=Rob40
- Dream Jobs to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How To Break Into ... whatever is your dream job. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/djtg0051.html?11120
- $50 Websites! Instead of the hundreds or even thousands charged by most, I've decided to build websites for $50. Why so cheap? -- I enjoy building them and I'm trying to build a business. If you or any acquaintances would like to have a presence on the world-wide internet, either for personal or business, check out my websites listed at http://www.robert-hoffman-consulting.com/
- Just watched the video Alaska By RV, by Bob and Judy Howen (NOT IN MY LIBRARY). It was a great video that really presented a clear picture of what to expect on the way to Alaska and after you get there. I really enjoyed it and learned quite a bit. The good news is that the scenery is just as fantastic as I expected and the people are just as friendly. The bad news is that, during the few months when the weather there is decent, a really large bunch of RVs go to Alaska. Also looks like things are rather expensive there -- definitely not a trip for the economy-minded. There were several shots of long lines of RVs meandering up the Alkan Highway. I've decided that I probably won't be making that trip anytime soon. To make your own decision, you can buy the video through Chuck Woodbury at http://216.211.136.6/howens.html.
- Read The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky. This book is referred to by several other authors as the ultimate poker book -- a must-read for the serious player. Well, I consider myself a reasonably serious player, but I found reading this book to be a real struggle. I managed to wade all the way through it, but don't feel like I got as much out of it as I have from some of the less-reknowned poker books that I've read. I plan to go back and reread it someday to see what I might have missed. If you're interested in reading the ultimate poker book, it's in the Library.
- Also read Caro's Book of Poker Tells by Mike Caro - Now here's a book worth reading! With clear words and great pictures, Caro tells you what to look for in your opponents to see if they are strong, weak, or bluffing. One of his main principles is that "strong means weak and weak means strong." I've seen this for years, but never really understood it. I've done it myself. Even the pros on the Travel Channel World Poker Tour put on a weak show when they're strong and a show of strength when they're weak -- not always, but more often then you'd expect from those who supposedly have read all the books. I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to play poker, or any other game in which you'd benefit from knowing what your opponents are thinking. Of the four poker books I've read in the last few weeks, this is the most beneficial and the easiest to understand. It's in the Library.
I have a theory about ideas and inventions. I think they're floating around out there in the "ether" and they bounce down and hit people at random. A specific idea may hit several people before it's acted upon, since many people just don't pay attention enough to know when they have a great idea or when opportunity is knocking. Many are too busy trying to handle their own lives and problems to worry about whether they could become famous, wealthy, or provide a real benefit to mankind with one of their ideas. If you're like me, you've had several ideas in your lifetime that you later saw someone make a million dollars from. For example, the invention of VisiCalc in 1979 is recognized as being the first spreadsheet program and the spreadsheet is often heralded as one of the major inventions in the 20th century. Hey, I was using a spreadsheet to do my budgets in 1970! Programmed it in FORTRAN on the UNIVAC 1108, but didn't know it was worth anything to anyone except me .. duh!
Well, I had an idea earlier this month -- what if I'd set up a website where people could describe their ideas for various things, then try to get those who could implement the ideas interested in the site? Well, I've learned in the last few years that any idea relating to websites has probably already been attempted, so I did some searches. Sure enough, there are several sites out there, mostly dealing with a limited scope of topics. One of the best is the Global Ideas Bank http://www.globalideasbank.org/ , which is advertised as "A Global Suggestion Box for socially innovative non-technological ideas and projects, with £1,000 UK sterling awards annually for the best ideas or projects submitted - Your Ideas Are Wanted!" -- got any ideas? It's also an interesting site to visit to see what ideas others are having. There are also several sites relating to specific scientific fields that purport to hook up scientists with implementors.
Not for the cynical: Well, here's one person who had a cutesy idea for cheering up people. There's a little bunny that's really worth checking out at http://www.wtv-zone.com/rie/unique/Tilt.swf if you have a few minutes. It's one of those things you send to a friend.
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Email rjhoffman@yahoo.com to sign up for the next newsletter, coming whenever I'm in the mood again.
Two biggies this month -- the new book I'm working on and the desert boondocking trip that Joyce and I are planning.
If there's anybody out there who hasn't yet read my first book "Retire and Travel for $1000 a Month" -- why not? It's FREE on my website. For those who have read it, you might be interested to learn that I'm making serious progress on my newest book "Retire and Travel - 20 Years Later." I've got four chapters completed (more or less) and have about four more to go (more or less). In it, I'll be telling all about how right/wrong I was with the retirement plan I offered in the first book, detailing lessons we've learned in 20 years of RVing since then, expanding on some of the topics presented on the Retirement Tips and RV Stuff website (like how to save on medical expenses, how much it takes to retire, etc.), and generally rambling on about my two favorite topics -- retiring and RVing. I also plan to do some philosophizing about how my generation "picked" the best time to live and some thoughts about the 4 phases of life. I'll have voluminous appendices on where/when to travel in the USA, latest results of the online Retirement Survey, and the best list of RVing links that you'll find anywhere (guaranteed!). Of course, one of the reasons I'm going on this way is that I'm trying to pique your interest so you'll jump in there and buy a copy for $10 when I publish in early 2004!
Almost forgot! While writing my book and compiling the survey results, I've hit upon two areas that need a little more input. If you wouldn't mind, take a minute and go to the home page (http://www.retirementtips.com/) and answer those two one-question mini-surveys that you'll find there.
The other biggie this month is that fact that I've convinced my wife Joyce (unless she backs out between now and December) to go with me to the desert and try some boondocking. This is somewhat surprising, since her initial reaction when I suggested it back in 1999 was "go where and do what?" She couldn't imagine why anyone would want to live in the desert without electricity or other comforts of home. I'm not sure what's changed, but she's now willing to try it out. I'm certainly not going to question her change of mind.
I guess this has kind of been in the back of my mind for a couple of months. I was rereading my last month's newsletter and noticed that I had talked about boondocking and mentioned that learning the boondocking limit on the new RV was "as good an excuse as any to go live in the desert for awhile." I'd really forgotten about that statement -- I had thought the idea just came to me a week or so ago. I was thinking about what to talk about in this newsletter and it occurred to me that I should suggest to you-all that it might be a good time to think about wandering out into the desert and spending time at the big Quartzsite party. The two months or so that I spent there in 1999-2000 (see travel log chapters 1-14) were some of the greatest camping and exploring adventures of my RVing life, so I often suggest to others that they really ought to give it a try. Not to mention, it's close to Las Vegas, which is a great place to spend New Year's Eve. Joyce and I are planning to do that, plus maybe even Christmas. Plans aren't quite solid yet, but you'll read about it in the travel log when it happens. I also hope to ask Joyce to write a chapter for my book, describing the trip and the boondocking experience from the viewpoint of a not-so-avid RVer. I'm thinking that might be of interest to any out there who aren't too sure about the whole idea of RVing and would like to hear some opinions from another who's not quite sure. Of course, I'm not sure what she might write (pro or con), but either way it would be an added plus for the book. Email her at luckylady1701@yahoo.com and tell her what a great idea you think this is ... LOL.
A side-effect of the Quartzsite trip will be that it'll be my first chance to really test out wi-fi as a method for accessing the internet on the road. I'll be putting those results on the wi-fi page: http://www.internetontheroad.com/IOTRallfunctions.html.
Read on for calendar quotes, notes on my latest site updates, a homeowner's association on the featured website, and my Ramblings on Shady Dell, spam, and Airstreams.
In August, I talked about the RV calendar that I'd gotten with great quotes and Trivia Challenges on each month. I included 3 months' worth of these in August, then forgot in September. To make sure I don't miss again, I'm putting them in a separate section. As planned, I'm going to put in 3 each month until I get caught up to the calendar in January 2004.
Here are the 3 for this month - April quote "Still round the corner, there may wait a new road or a secret gate." - J.R.R. Tolkein. Didn't you know Tolkein was an RVer? The Trivia Challenge "In what year was the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway started and how long did it take to complete?" -- answer in Ramblings below.
May quote "Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of travelling." - Margaret Lee Runbeck. Challenge : "What was declared the 36th National Monument by the National Park Service in 1932?"
June quote "Self-discovery is the secret ingredient that fuels daring." - Grace Lichtenstein. Challenge: "Which state was the last to be admitted into the continental Unites States and what was the year?"
- Well, how about that? I've made changes, some fairly major, to 6 of the websites that I maintain, but nothing to my own sites other than the addition of the two mini-surveys mentioned above. Don't forget to take a minute to go to http://www.retirementtips.com/ and answer those two one-question mini-surveys for me.
- I guess one of the major changes was my first attempt at building an "online store." If you want to check it out and offer your comments, go to: http://www.nostalgiagifts-online.com/. Feel free to buy something, if the mood strikes you.
- Oops! I was just reminded that I've fallen about three projects behind on Joyce's website. I just put one new one there and will do another asap. Go to http://www.fauxbyjoyce.com/ and click on Palm Bay Project. Look next week for Beach Condo Project and Door Project.
- Did you know that when you go to buy ANYTHING from Amazon and you use this link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970692811/retirementtip-20, I get a couple of dollars and it doesn't cost you anything? If you read last month's newsletter, I guess you knew that. Figured I'd remind you.
- http://www.falconslea.com/ is a site I do for the Falcons Lea Homeowner's Association in Ft. Lauderdale. If you live in a subdivision anywhere and don't have a website to publicize your bylaws, announce meetings, and send out alerts and notices, contact me and I'll build you one at a reasonable cost.
Here's a list of some interesting things, some of which will make me a few bucks if you need them and buy them here:
- Dream Lifestyles to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How to Get a Life By .... whatever .. you fill in the blank. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/dltg0005.html?11120
- Camp at Half of What Everyone Else is Paying! No home park, no monthly maintenance fees, no long-term obligation, just pay the small annual fee and camp for half-price. Check it out at http://www.passportamerica.com/default.asp?net_id=Rob40
- Dream Jobs to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How To Break Into ... whatever is your dream job. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/djtg0051.html?11120
- $50 Websites! Instead of the hundreds or even thousands charged by most, I've decided to build websites for $50. Why so cheap? -- I enjoy building them and I'm trying to build a business. If you or any acquaintances would like to have a presence on the world-wide internet, either for personal or business, check out my websites listed at http://www.robert-hoffman-consulting.com/
My ramblings this month are just that .. ramblings. I've got a list of several topics to ramble about and will just start off without worrying about any special ordering.
First off is Shady Dell -- ever heard of it? I actually saw it on TV once, but don't remember when. It's a little RV park that's been in Bisbee, Arizona since 1927. It's now "A sleek lineup of vintage aluminum travel trailers available for overnight or weekly rental. This collection includes a 1949 Airstream, 1950 Spartanette, 1950 Spartan Manor, 1954 Crown, and 1951 Royal Mansion among others." Well, good news! It's for sale! Check out http://www.svherald.com/articles/2003/09/25/news/news5.txt. To see pictures of the trailers and the park and other details, go to http://www.theshadydell.com/. Joyce and I have been to Bisbee and found it to be really nice little town. It's South of Tombstone, Arizona and is just full of neat gift shops, antique shops, and craft stores. If you're in the area, I strongly recommend paying Bisbee a visit. And if you're looking for a place to retire and have the dough to do it, go buy Shady Dell and we'll come see you sometime.
Speaking of vintage aluminum travel trailers, I know that several of you out there are Airstream enthusiasts. Well, if you're not already aware of it, here's a great site: http://www.airstreamphotos.com/photos/ that contains, guess what, photos of Airstreams.
Now let's talk about SPAM. I've heard recently about several people closing their email accounts and changing their addresses because they can't handle all the spam. I don't understand what I do differently, but I've had the same email accounts at Yahoo for at least 5 years and don't find spam to be a big problem. I do receive about 6 or 7 each day, most of which go into my Bulk Mail folder and can be deleted with a single mouse-click. I guess if you don't check your account for weeks at a time, that could obviously build up to hundreds very quickly, but if you don't check any more than that, you're not really using the email for communication. When the number starts to grow, I take the time to send those "unsubscribe" emails on several of them. Now I've heard the story of how sending those just helps them verify your address, but I don't believe that. I haven't kept close track, but I think that those that I've notified have stopped the emails. I've noticed that each spammer seems to send several each day, so if you stop them you stop several of the spams with one shot. I've not needed them, but you can also use filters that check for the word unsubscribe or opt-out to send large numbers of them straight to the trash. So I don't really see the problem. If you've got an account that's inundated with spam, send me the username and password and let me see if I can help you out. I'd enjoy the challenge.
TRIVIA ANSWERS: The Blue Ridge Parkway was started in 1935 and completed 52 years later in 1987! Amazing! The 36th National Monument is the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in Mosca, Colorado. The last state to be admitted was Arizona in 1912.
Well, I didn't know any .. did you?
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Email rjhoffman@yahoo.com to sign up for the next newsletter, coming whenever I'm in the mood again.
Same two biggies as last month -- the new book I'm working on and the desert boondocking trip that Joyce and I are planning.
Still making progress on the new book. Hope to have it ready early January. Look here and on the website for the announcement.
I could use some more inputs on my mini-surveys for the book. If you haven't yet, please take a minute and go to the home page (http://www.retirementtips.com/) and answer those two one-question mini-surveys that you'll find there.
Now, about that Arizona trip -- don't know if we're going or not. Many factors to consider, so we decided to go on the Texas, then decide whether to go on or return to Florida. Next newsletter will tell all. Right now, I'm just putting together a short newsletter, because we're in a rush, hurrying off to ... somewhere. We'll be at the Space and Rocket Center campground in Huntsville, Alabama later this week and next. Then on to Southern Comfort RV Park in Biloxi to try out our gambling skills again for a few days. Then to my son Ron's place North of Houston, Texas. Then on to ... ? We're in the midst of packing our warm clothes as I speak/type. Not sure why we're leaving sunny Florida, but that's one of the factors. Tune in later ...
Had my first wi-fi experience early this month, when we took a short trip to Ft. Lauderdale. The Paradise Island RV Resort there has a wi-fi hotspot and sells the connection device for $50. I bought one, paid my $3 for one day, then got online. Major speed improvement over phone modem! As I learn more about wi-fi, I'll be putting the information on my wi-fi page: http://www.internetontheroad.com/IOTRallfunctions.html. Incidentally, if you're in the Ft. Lauderdale area looking for a place to park, I recommend Paradise -- it's only a few blocks from I-95 and offers the Passport America discount.
Read on for calendar quotes, notes on my latest site updates, a shopping location on the featured website, and my Ramblings on whatever occurs to me between now and then.
Here are the 3 for this month - July quote "I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - Mark Twain. Ain't that the truth? Did you know that Twain smoked 22 cigars a day? Wow! The Trivia Challenge "When was the first gas pump installed in the United States?" -- answer in Ramblings below.
August quote "Now more than ever do I realize that I shall never be content with a sedentary life. And that I shall always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere." - Isabelle Eberhardt. Challenge : "What was the last place in the USA to be mapped?"
September quote "Travel is as much a passion as ambition or love." - Unknown. Challenge: "What is the world's largest living thing?"
- Go to http://www.retirementtips.com/ and click on America Views to see my latest collections of spiffy USA photos. The two newest categories are Campsites and Roads. It's true -- I decided that roads are one of the more exciting aspects of scenery and travel, so dedicated a page to great roads that I've travelled.
- Check http://www.fauxbyjoyce.com/ and click on Beach Condo Project and Door Project for Joyce's latest creations.
- Did you know that when you go to buy ANYTHING from Amazon and you use this link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970692811/retirementtip-20, I get a couple of dollars and it doesn't cost you anything? If you read last month's newsletter, I guess you knew that. Figured I'd remind you.
- http://www.railroadandgaines.com is a website I built to highlight a great little shopping and strolling area at Railroad Avenue and Gaines Street in Tallahassee, Florida. It's part of the historic All Saint's Neighborhood, an area of a few square blocks packed with old houses, neat shops, and friendly natives. If you find yourself in Tallahassee with nothing critical to do, check out the area -- I think you'll find it worth the trip.
Here's a list of some interesting things, some of which will make me a few bucks if you need them and buy them here:
- Dream Lifestyles to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How to Get a Life By .... whatever .. you fill in the blank. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/dltg0005.html?11120
- Camp at Half of What Everyone Else is Paying! No home park, no monthly maintenance fees, no long-term obligation, just pay the small annual fee and camp for half-price. Check it out at http://www.passportamerica.com/default.asp?net_id=Rob40
- Dream Jobs to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How To Break Into ... whatever is your dream job. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/djtg0051.html?11120
- $50 Websites! Instead of the hundreds or even thousands charged by most, I've decided to build websites for $50. Why so cheap? -- I enjoy building them and I'm trying to build a business. If you or any acquaintances would like to have a presence on the world-wide internet, either for personal or business, check out my websites listed at http://www.robert-hoffman-consulting.com/
Wouldn't you know it? Last month I put that sassy little statement in about how I wasn't bothered by SPAM -- shortly after that, I began noticing a significant increase in SPAM, both in my Bulk Folder (where Yahoo Mail is supposed to route the SPAM email) and in my Inbox (where no SPAM is supposed to occur). It's almost as if someone took it as a challenge and immediately added my email names to all of the SPAM distributions. I haven't had time to try to attack the problem, but will use some of those techniques I mentioned last month and see if I can get them down to a reasonable number again. More on that later ...
How about a little rambling about cellphones? I guess you've all heard about the new law that you can now change cell companies and keep your same number -- allows you to shop around just a little better than you formerly could. What many people apparently haven't heard of are the national cell plans -- those that allow you to call long-distance free from anywhere to anywhere. If you have an RV and plan to travel much in the future, be sure your cell plan is national. I've met several people recently who thought they had one, but then found out that the only free long distance was from their home area to anywhere else. As soon as they leave their home area, they can no longer use their cellphone because it's way too expensive. Considering long distance charges plus roaming charges, you'll find yourself paying a dollar or more per minute. Check your cell plan before you travel! Also, some plans advertise free long distance, but then bill you for roaming charges whenever you're out of range of their towers -- like Sprint PCS.
TRIVIA ANSWERS: The first gas pump was installed in 1906. The remote Kaiparowits Plateau, encompassing 1.7 million rugged acres in southern Utah was the last place mapped in the USA. The largest living thing is a giant Sequoia tree named General Sherman, which is 275 feet tall and made of 52,500 cubic feet of wood.
Well, once again I didn't know any .. did you?
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Email rjhoffman@yahoo.com to sign up for the next newsletter, coming whenever I'm in the mood again.
It's true! Casinos give you free drinks, sometimes free food like hot dogs, donuts, and cookies, and when you play for a couple of hours, they'll give you a free trip to their buffet. So you get fatter and your wallet gets thinner, but it's a great way to spend a few dollars.
On December 2nd, Joyce and I started out on our trip from our home in Florida to Arizona, where we'd join the 300,000 RVers who gather in Quartzsite every year to boondock, flea-market, and wander about the desert. Well, we didn't quite make it to Arizona. We had two stops with family, three with casinos, two at the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, and one in the middle of nowhere. We got as far West as Texas, then decided to turn around and head back to our warm spot in Florida. Got back the day before Christmas Eve.
We found it to be very cold in most places at this time of year, Joyce wasn't real sure about spending Christmas in the desert, and I decided that the only thing we'd miss by waiting until spring was the cold, the crowds, and the flea markets. Since I dislike all three of these, turning around seemed like the better idea. Maybe we'll try the Arizona trip again in April or so. You can read all about the trip in my Travel Log, Chapter 53. Also included is a blow-by-blow of my first-ever Texas Hold'Em Tournament! And ... a suggested detour from I-10, if you're planning a trip through Louisiana anytime soon.
At least, we travelled enough to gather a little more data for the upcoming book -- still planned for publication in January 2004. It may or may not have chapter by Joyce to express the RV non-enthusiast's point of view.
Hope you are all having a great holiday season! We celebrated Christmas three times with various branches of the family, and are planning to spend a fairly reserved New Year's Eve with friends at a nearby AFB Officer's Club. Not quite the exciting Las Vegas evening that we had planned, but probably much cheaper, warmer, and less stressful. Watching the terror alerts popping up relative to Las Vegas, I'm guessing we made a wise move by not going there -- no telling how factual the alerts are, but no point taking unnecessary chances. I'm still hoping that we can get out there in the Spring (when there are no major holidays) to see all the new attractions added since we last visited. The Paris is new, probably others that I'm not aware of, and I can't wait to show Joyce the murals in the Venetian.
The biggie of the month -- we caught Saddam Hussein! I say we, even though I had little to do with it, but everyone is saying "we caught him", so I guess I'll do the same. I put some pictures of his capture in my chapter 53.
Another biggie this month -- I decided that I needed a new digital camera, so went out to Walmart the day after Christmas and bought a Nikon 4300, 4 megapixel, 3x optical zoom, rechargeable Li-ion battery, easy USB interface digital camera. Wonder if I forgot anything. I spent about $100 more than I'd planned, but really wanted to get away from the AA batteries. Hopefully, you'll notice a marked improvement in my photos in future travel log chapters -- we shall see ...
Short note of interest: Thanks to Virgil Wulff, I've got a really neat link for you. If you recall the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and didn't understand it any better than I did, check out http://www.kubrick2001.com/2001.html -- it explains everything and is also quite entertaining!
Read on for calendar quotes, notes on my latest site updates, great info for RVers on the featured website, and wrapping up with my Ramblings on whatever occurs to me between now and then.
Here are the 3 for this month, then we're caught up when January 2004 arrives! - October quote "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin. The Trivia Challenge "What state was the first to be admitted to the Union after the original 13 colonies?" -- answer in Ramblings below.
November quote "A quiet road, a foggy day -- a mystery waiting at journey's end." - Ellen Stanton. Challenge : "Which state is the site of Valley Forge, Washington Crossing State Park, and Gettysburg National Military Park?"
December quote "Getting what you go after is success, but liking it while you are getting it is happiness." - Bertha Damon. Challenge: "What is the smallest capital in the U.S.?"
- Nothing significant new on RetirementTips.com, except the addition of Chapter 53.
- Check http://www.fauxbyjoyce.com/ and click on Tallahassee Project for Joyce's latest creation. The more observant of you will also notice an update to the Rockledge Project -- check out the Venetian Scene mural.
- Hey! Don't you guys ever buy any books? I'll bet they're cheaper on Amazon! I think my Amazon link has only been used once in the last year or so (other than my uses). Either you're using someone else's link, or your own, or you're not aware that you can help out a friend while not costing yourself anymore -- click http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970692811/retirementtip-20 to order books or anything from Amazon! You'll help me and not hurt yourself!
- http://www.internetontheroad.com is one of my own websites where I've tried to include everything I know about ways to get on the internet while you travel -- I advertise it as "50+ Ways to Get to the Internet When You're on the Road" and there are actually quite a few more than 50 now. I haven't counted recently. As WI-FI gets more prevalent, the entire website may become obsolete, but for now I think it's one of the best sources around for this type of information. I've checked out some of the books on the subject (that you pay for!) and they don't appear to have any new ideas that I've overlooked. Check it out if you're planning to travel and try to continue picking up email, etc. There may well be some things you should do before leaving that will make it much easier for you when you get out in the boondocks.
Here's a list of some interesting things, some of which will make me a few bucks if you need them and buy them here:
- Dream Lifestyles to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How to Get a Life By .... whatever .. you fill in the blank. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/dltg0005.html?11120
- Camp at Half of What Everyone Else is Paying! No home park, no monthly maintenance fees, no long-term obligation, just pay the small annual fee and camp for half-price. Check it out at http://www.passportamerica.com/default.asp?net_id=Rob40
- Dream Jobs to Go! Great electronic books for $12.95 that download to your computer immediately. All about How To Break Into ... whatever is your dream job. Check them out at http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/djtg0051.html?11120
- $50 Websites! Instead of the hundreds or even thousands charged by most, I've decided to build websites for $50. Why so cheap? -- I enjoy building them and I'm trying to build a business. If you or any acquaintances would like to have a presence on the world-wide internet, either for personal or business, check out my websites listed at http://www.robert-hoffman-consulting.com/
Well, I can't really think of anything worthwhile to ramble about this month. There are a few minor things I could whine about, but nothing really significant. I guess I'm just glad to have gotten through another year, can still do my thing on the internet, can afford to buy a new digital camera and pay cash, and don't have any major health problems here in my 62nd year. I'm glad the market is rising nicely, am not sure when to sell my tech stocks, am glad they caught Saddam, wish they would catch Osama, still enjoy all of Letterman's Saddam and Osama jokes, and hope the soldiers serving overseas in Iraq and other locations can return home soon.
I hope that 2004 brings further market growth, the capture of Osama, a stable government in Iraq, lower gasoline prices, a trip to Arizona in the Spring, and a winning ticket to a million or so in the lottery. But I'd settle for just two or three of those.
TRIVIA ANSWERS: Vermont was the first state admitted to the Union after the original 13 colonies. Pennsylvania is the site of Valley Forge, Washington Crossing State Park, and Gettysburg National Military Park. Montpelier, Vermont is the smallest state capital in the U.S.
Hey! I actually knew the last two!
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Email rjhoffman@yahoo.com to sign up for the next newsletter, coming whenever I'm in the mood again.
