Day 277 - Mapping the future!

While there are a million little details that have be attended to when planning a move across country, the two things that require the most planning is: 

1.  Budget
2.  Mapping

Mapping the trip is going to have to come first as I will have to rent a truck.  Penske has the best rate by far! 

The cheapest way to rent a truck is by the week.  A flat weekly rate is going to be $781.30.  

That includes:

• $562.10 - 6 days of unlimited mileage on the truck
• $102.00 - a limited damage waiver of up to $60K damage on the truck
• $70.00 - the tow dolly for my Explorer, 
• $30.00 - the tow dolly insurance,
• $17.20 - tax and environmental impact fees

The problems I face with this set up are two-fold.  

1)  I have to load the truck early in the morning, get the truck on the dolly and arrive in Key West within 6 days.

2)  If I use a tow dolly, I have to have the drive shaft disconnected (after it gets on the dolly) and then have it re-attached when I arrive in Key West.

 

Now, the last time I drove to Key West, I had a blow out on the Florida Turnpike.  It turned out all right, everyone was safe and sound.  However, I did have a little bit of body damage and had a taillight broken out (which I got a ticket for in Big Pine Key). 

I went to the auto parts store in Key West to find a body guy who could fix my truck for the trip back and was told there was a 6 month wait!  I can't wait 6 months to get my truck back!

So, the adventure continues.  Now to find a mechanic who can re-attach the drive shaft.

Next comes the biggest expense of the trip - GAS!

I ran into a soldier at the gas station who was moving from Rhode Island to Southern California. He was driving the same length truck (22 ft.), pulling an SUV like mine on a towing dolly.  He said he was getting 8 miles to the gallon!  (that's a new post all by itself!)

So, for all of this, I'm going to get this! 

Courtesy of Chris Rehm (the Dream Maker)

I'm not worried, I got Zac Brown and Jimmy Buffett inspiring me today!

 So, to get you inspired, the lyrics are below!  SING IT LOUD!!!!!!!

Gonna put the the world away for a minute
Pretend I don't live in it
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away

Had sweet love but I lost it
She got too close so I fought her
Now I'm lost in the world trying to find me a better way

Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

Wrote a note said be back in a minute
Bought a boat and I sailed off in it
Don't think anybody gonna miss me anyway

Mind on a permanent vacation
The ocean is my only medication
Wishing my condition ain't ever gonna go away

Cause now im knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair

Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

This champagne shore washing over me
It's a sweet sweet life living by the salty sea
One day you could be as lost as me
Change you're geography
Maybe you might be

Knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

Come on in the water it's nice
Find yourself a little slice
Grab a backpack of lies
You never know until you try
When you lose yourself
You find the key to paradise

It's going to be soooooooooooooo worth it!

The Final Countdown

I woke up on Monday December 19, 2011 and I knew that today was going to be different. Just so I can wake up every morning with a smile on my face, my alarm is Margaritaville!

It was typical cold, wet, foggy, slick, overcast South Texas winter day and I wasn't having any of that. I'm driving to work, through endless traffic, sleepy drivers and fender-benders, listening to JB, singing at the top of my lungs 

"IT'S 5:00 SOMEWHERE"!

I finally make it to work and plop down in my cubicle that I call home 9 1/2 hours a day and christen the day with "The Daily KW Catechism" - the reading of The Key West Citizen!  My favorite part is the pulse of Key West, the"Citizen's Voice".  It never fails to make me laugh or cry, or laugh so hard I cry.

As I closed sermon for the day, I look over at the Rob O'Neals Key West Calendar and realize in less than two weeks I won't have a current calendar, and I better get on the ball and order one.  That was when I realized that instead of looking at Key West on the page of a calendar in 2012, I should be looking at the Key West beach on my way to work every morning next year.

So, I scrapped my morning sales calls and sat down and wrote down everything I need to do before I could move.  When I got to the bottom of the list, the page was completely full.  But the reality is the list was only ONE PAGE LONG!

It took me a week to go through the whole list, but everything is manageable, if I get on the ball, quit procrastinating and budget my time and money right. The first step is writing it all down.  If you can see it, you can believe it, you can achieve it. 

 

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN: 

279 days from today

October 1, 2012

I will be on my way to Key West! 

Join me for the adventure!

Epiphany!

Recently, I woke up whining...feeling sorry for my poor miserable life...poor me....

"I'm 50 years old and starting over, AGAIN".... no house, no career, no husband, no kids at home.... boooooo hoooooooo...

"I'm 50 years old and starting over, again"...boo hoo....

And then it hit me......"I'M 50 YEARS OLD AND I'M STARTING OVER!"  WooHooo!  I got a "Do Over" and I can do what ever I want!

Just this change of attitude made all the difference in the world. By the following week I had put my entire life on FAST FORWARD!

I think Jimmy Buffett had a little help in the matter!

 

So, come along for the ride!  It may get bumpy but I promise it's going to be an adventure!

Inspiring Minds Wanna Know!

For 1703 days I have been dreaming and planning to move to Key West.

I wake up every single morning to Jimmy Buffett as my alarm. 

That is a long time to hold on to the inspiration.  But I am the kind of person who doesn't let go of something once I've made a decision.  I've met too many people in my life who never even attempt to live their dreams - I am not one of them.


 So I...

And this is where I wanted to be...

Mile Marker 0, Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA Photographic Poster Print by Terry Eggers, 48x64

And while money can't buy happiness...


 
Sooooo, since I couldn't be there physically, I could be there mentally! 
I changed the color of my hair from Bright Auburn to Beachy Blond!

And while I will never give up my love for designer shoes...

I traded this...

For this!

And I traded this...












For a life of happiness on an island!  











Soooo, for all you beach lovers who need a little push, here are some words of inspiration to help you through the day...

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. -Harriet Tubman

Inspirational Key West Pic of the Day: 

Frozen Key Lime Pie on a Stick from Kermit's of Key West

                       

 

Yummmmmmmmmmm!