Did you ever stop to think...?

Did you ever stop to think how much stuff you need to buy to make your life not only survivable but comfortable when you are planning to live semi-off the grid in a foreign country??? It's mind boggling! You need to think of what you will need to travel in (long trip down and short shopping trips); live in (temporarily and permanently); to survive (tools, water supply, ax, chain saw, fishing gear, etc); and to live comfortably (normal day-to-day stuff like eating, sleeping, washing, and just hanging around). I created a list quite a while ago and it keeps growing. Not that it's all expensive stuff but it's stuff that is easier to obtain here in the U.S. than in Central America. Later in this blog I'll be listing the minimum necessities for others who decide to retire and live like me. I might as well save others the stress of figuring it all out. I've been searching the web for info like that but haven't been able to find it in one place. So i'm searching on "living off the grid", "survival living", and key words like that. My son Richard gave me a couple of books on living off the grid. The books are a compilation of things people have sent in to a newsletter type publication. Some is common sense but others are pretty nifty time and/or environment savers that I'll incorporate myself. But...I never realized what it would take to retire in Belize until I sat down and started thinking about it. Now that time is getting short I have to start getting everything together. I bought a chain saw, air compressor and a 50cc scooter today at a flea market. My friend Stu saw them and called me so I met him there and started my quest to buy them. The money from selling my furniture is what I'm planning on using to equip myself. Today I spent $350 and got some very necessary items.

Finally...an empty house!

Well all the furniture is out of the house now. The last of it was picked up today. So from here on out I'm sleeping on an air mattress. I don't have a chair to sit on, a table to eat at, or a bed to sleep on. That just means that I'm getting closer to leaving here for Orlando. I have to stay until at least Friday 10/2 so that I can turn in my laptop, ID card, Corporate credit cards, etc to someone in my group before I head out. So I'm packing like a madman now and the kitchen eating area is full of packed boxes. I'm still downloading movies, audio books, and music to my almost full 1gig and 250meg HDs.

Anyone know where I can get a reasonably priced portable windmill that will power a fridge the A/C, and other electrical things? Not sure how many continuous amps I'll need though until I buy the RV. I want to cut costs as much as I can and being able to use the free wind in Belize will do that plus give me the electric that I need to be comfortable.

I stopped in a new pizza joint today, called ZPizza, after picking up my 6 shot Starbucks espresso with whipped cream. Met the owner, a nice guy from Sweden and we were talking about my upcoming adventure. He has a friend that lived in Costa Rica for 6 months and LOVED it. One more vote for somewhere other than Belize. So needless to say, I'll be checking out Costa Rica and Panama before I plant my garden...

Anyway...back to the pizza. Being born and raised in Chicago and living in NJ for 12 years I know good pizza. You can argue about which place has better if you want but I like them both because they are so different. Well ZPizza is a winner in Alpharetta. Too bad I found it with so little time left here. I got the 18' American with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes and onions. Man is it good!

Right after I stuffed in 2 pieces into me I got an invite from a friend and co-worker (Catherine Stultz and her husband, who is just home from Iraq) to come over for dinner. Breaded Talapia with all the trimmings. You know me and seafood (not the joke about the seafood diet). I never pass up a free meal, especially seafood! So it looks like there will be plenty of one of my favorite breakfast treats tomorrow...cold pizza! YUM!!!

Well not to bore you all anymore. I'll be back later as things progress.

Success!

I sold all the necessary furniture today! All that's left is 1 TV, a futon, and 1 small dresser. I can take them to Orlando when I go and sell them from there... Some of it won't be picked up for a week but that's no problem. They all gave me a large cash deposit. What a load off my my mind! Now all I have to do is pack the stuff that I'm keeping, or taking with me, and get ready to leave GA.

Another win!

I sold the bedroom set and 1 TV today. All I have left of import is the living room furniture, fridge, the washer & dryer, and 1 TV and I'll be able to leave GA! I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel! Now it's time to see if I can get a loan for a pick up truck and an RV and start looking for them.

My retirement luncheon went very well last Wednesday. We went to the Olive Garden and pigged out. We all had a great time. It was strange being the center of attention, mostly because I don't like being the center of attention, but also because I was the one retiring. I've been to plenty of other retirement functions but never my own...

Antsy to be on my way back to Orlando

I'm really antsy to be getting back to Orlando to make my final purchases and preparations to head west and south to start my new life. One thing that's put a wrinkle into moving so far away is that my daughter Nicole and I have resolved our differences cause by my marrying Maggie and are now back together. I grieved over losing contact with Nicole for those years. She had a daughter about 2 years ago (MY GRANDBABY!!!) whom I'm getting to finally know. So how do you move so far away when you have a munchkin in your life??? Well I guess I'll have to get up to Orlando more often than I thought and, who knows, maybe they'll make trips down to see me.

I'm getting good responses to my furniture sale. Hopefully it will all be gone by next Monday. I'm putting an ad in the Atlanta paper this week announcing an estate sale instead of just putting it on Craig's List. I do have people coming this week to look at the remaining stuff so maybe it won't be necessary... But I have to cover all my bases. The extra $$$ in my pocket will be a great help in buying the last of my necessaries for the move.

I'm really looking forward to heading west and south. I'm still tossed over whether to buy a pick up/suv and a dragger camper or an RV and drag a pick up/suv. While I still have time to mull it over I need to make the decision by the time I do get back to FL. I want to be on the road before the end of October. I'm really looking forward to visiting family and friends in TX and AZ! Watch for me to pull up in front of your houses!

Today is my retirement luncheon in Atlanta. Who would have ever think that I'd be retiring??? In my early working years I planned to retire at 55. Well, we all know what happens to most dreams like that. But at least it's only 4 years late and not 10 like most people. Having a younger brother die unexpectedly sure puts your like in perspective. You realize that you never know what's going to happen tomorrow so you may as well enjoy your life today. So that's one of the reasons that I finally made the decision to do it. I figure that I've worked long enough and deserve to relax and have some peace in my life. I won't be stagnant though. I plan to bring my tools with me and volunteer with some of the church groups that come down to build/repair schools, churches, clinics, etc. But, if I'm enjoying what I'm doing at the moment, or have other plans, I can tell them no not this time. Plus I'll be taking trips all over Central America and also camping in the Belize rain forest and mountains. My tent, a fishing pole, a couple of books, and a handful of cigars will always be packed and ready! Remember too that my welcome mat will always be out so come down and visit any time!

Getting rid of Alpharetta 2

Well I got all the furniture on Craig's list today and have gotten a few emails concerning things for sale. Hopefully the townhouse will begin emptying. Packing is going well and there is much less than I thought that has to be done. Hopefully the final 2 weeks of holiday will be just spent resting. I'm still waiting to hear from Rich to see if he got the time off so we can go camping the last week of my time off. I'm really looking forward to that and I'll be very disappointed if he can't come up. But if the weather continues like it has for the past couple of days camping is a moot point. I think I saw the ark float by yesterday...

Getting rid of Alpharetta GA

Starting today I have at least the next 2 weeks to sell off all the furniture and anything else I won't be needing in Belize and packing up the stuff I do. It seems like a daunting task but I think things will move right along. I'm taking tomorrow off though. My work week was awfully busy. As a matter of fact I didn't finish until after 8pm tonight. So tomorrow I'll rest up for the real work to come. I am doing one fun thing tomorrow though. Stu, DJ and I are going to Dixie Crossroads Speedway to watch some dirt track racing. The last time I was there a thunderstorm developed almost right over our heads. That was the end of the racing. At least the race card was almost finished.

I talked to my son Rich tonight and he is going to try and get the week of the 13th off and drive up so we can go camping in the north GA mountains. That will be fun and it will be nice to get away with him since I don't get much time with him because of his work schedule. Anyway...

Come Sunday all heck will break loose as I pack up the house and get the furniture pics on Craig's List. I already put the fridge on line but the only response I've gotten so far is from a scammer. I guess there are still some suckers out there that fall for that kind of crap. I told him where to deposit his bank draft.

There will still be time for my daily sit outside with my cigar and book so it won't be a total waste of vacation...