There seems to be some confusion about our plans for retirement because both my sis and friend Carolyn have questioned me about it in the past couple of day! Maybe I haven't been clear enough or the thoughts between Rick and me haven't been shared, but I thought I had.

Our plans are to sell our house in New Jersey in 2016 and move to the cabin for the "honeymoon" period of one year. In years past I have not been completely on board with living full-time at the cabin, but last year you all know that both Rick and I had an epiphany of sorts there. Our visit solidified the longing and desire to experience that kind of lifestyle. The cabin is special. Every year it weaves its spell but last year it spun a web so thick it was hard to leave. It will be interesting to see if this year's visit makes us feel the same way. (We are scheduled to leave on September 13th.)

After one year we will see what happens next. We don't have any clear plans except ideas running around rampant in our heads. We had thought at one point that we would buy Rick's parents' house in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but the timing is all wrong since it is for sale now. We don't want to be burdened with expenses of yet another house that we are not even able to live for another couple of years. So, that idea was put aside. Not to say that at some point we might settle down there anyway, but we don't know. At this point that is just one of the ideas and may not come to happen for many years, if at all.

Another idea we have is buying a slightly larger trailer than the L@dyBug and traveling around in the winter months when the cabin is not quite as hospitable. We also would love to take the Alaskan Highway one year with the RV (not in the winter!). In our travels perhaps a place that we visit will entice us to stay.

In any case, the cabin will be home base.

As much as I love New Jersey and many things about the East, I have to say that my heart is still in Colorado. I was so eager to move away and now I'm equally as eager to move back. Why? I can't tell you. Both RIck and I have started to retreat some in our heads. We're also doing things to get the house in the shape we want it to be in before we put it up for sale, such as our latest project of revamping our front porch with its cracked stairs and replacing the sidewalk in front. We are throwing things away, donating to GoodWill, packing up things we know we are not going to need for the next two years but want to go with us. (Most of our things that we plan on keeping will go into storage in Laramie until we decide where we want to be.) Our minds are on moving. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely there. 

We are looking forward to the future — whatever it holds!

Photo: One of my most favorite photos ever: Rick and Alex the Boo at the cabin.