ONE MORE DAY IN CAMBRIA

I can't believe the departure from Cambria is so very near! Just tomorrow (Sunday) to get it all together, not counting today because it's already scheduled to the ying yang and back.  The final unscheduled day to finish packing my bags for a year-long joueney or more is tomorrow, Sunday.  Progress so far, all my toiletries are in the front cosmetic bag on table (left), meds & misc in the 2nd bag on table, in the third are all my undies & socks.  Those will go in the check-in bag on right.  I have two other zipper containers for pants and tops. Coats, jackets, formal wear for ship will be folded over these zippered containers. Electronic, shoes, sleepwear, and cold-wear will be in carry-on roller bag. That's the plan, we'll see if it works.  lol lol Well laid plans ...

 Will leave on Monday (30th), first stop Visalia and visits with friends and family before going any further ...

UPDATED SCHEDULE Jan 16 - Nov 29

BRITAIN, EUROPE, CANADA
Updated Schedule  (last 5 are new)

JAN 16 - FEB 15  
Weymouth UK. - 30 days

FEB 15 - MAR 14
Winchester UK. - 30 days

MAR 14 - APR 13
Ryde, Isle of Wight UK - 30 days

APR 13 - MAY 13
Waterford IRE - 30 days

MAY 13 - JUN 12
Limerick IRE - 30 days

JUN 12 - JUL 4
Ashbourne IRE - 22 days

JUL 4 - AUG  3
Versailles FR - 30 days

AUG 3 - 27
Le Havre FR - 24 days

AUG 27 - SEP 4
Southampton UK - 7 days

SEP 4 - 11
QM2 Atlantic Crossing - 7 days

SEP 11 - 14
Brooklyn NY, Downtown - 4 days

SEP 14 - 21
Bangor ME - 7 days

SEP 21 - OCT 21
Clark’s Harbor, Nova Scotia - 30 days

OCT 21 - NOV 12
St John’s, Newfoundland - 22 days

NOV 13 - 29
Tempe AZ - 16 days

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY ... I’m off to the races!!! But now the crunch is on. You know about those last minute to-do lists and the unexpected hurdles that always appear ...well I’m working through that list.

First on the list was my High Blood Pressure meds ... three of them. Insurance wouldn’t pay meds for more than three months travel out of country. So I would have to go to a doctor in those countries to get new prescriptions when needed, pay cash. On a hunch and once again, I called pharmacy to see what they could do for me. My brilliant druggist made a suggestion ... get a year’s prescription here and pay out of pocket for bulk before I leave, which would at least eliminate costly doctors’ appointments and additional $$ while traveling. DONE!!! I love my druggist! But I wonder how much space that will take. And wonder if inspectors will think I’m dealing drugs. Interesting.

Second on my list ... the indicator light came on in the car yesterday, saying air in tire is low. So today will check that out and also get the car serviced this week before leaving.

And so on ....

FIRST GLITCH

Yes, the first glitch in well-laid plans.  The hotel on the cliffs is North-east Canada, north of Nova Scotia snd New Brunswick is changing hands and will close in October for the season. I was looking forward to that month of isolation to work on my book.  Well, it’s back to the drawing board, I may take a complete new direction for Sept 11 to November 13, that was the time slot for Canada. I arrive in New York on the 11th, end of QM2 Atlantic Crossing. This will be fun figuring it out. Need to stay in North America though for my stay in Phoenix in November.

I’ll keep you posted. Oh, by the way, only eight more days left in Cambria.

10 Days Left in Cambria

OMG!  The panic is setting in! Only ten more days, actually nine, to attend to all that’s left to do.  But the saving grace is I’ve got the whole world and a new life opening up to me on January 15, 2020! YES!!!!

When I arrive in England on January 16, all past and present stress and burdens will have  been lifted, after that only to be used fictitiously in my writings - Fodder for my characters, as always.  I feel lighter already, clearing out the muddles and baggage as I also clear out my apartment and files of clutter.

I was asked this week if persons in Cambria are in my novels, that people are guessing about certain characters, I had to laugh. Although Cambria is a ‘Peyton Place’ as all small towns are, it nor any of its people are in my novels.  There is one segment in the first book that I placed my main character’s stepmother Lee as owner of an art gallery in Cambria, and ‘Rachel O’Neill’ spends a couple weeks with ‘Lee’ while recovering the death of her birth mother. A chapter of reflection for Rachel mostly. No interaction with the populace. AND I have no desire to write about  Cambrians.

NOW, MY UPCOMING MEMOIR is a different situation ... of course since I’ve had two husbands and other ‘lovers’ here, you can expect to read about them in that tell-all. YES!!!!

15 DAYS LEFT IN CAMBRIA

WOW!  Weeks have turned into days. Only 15 days left in my apartment. Only seven oversized ornate pieces left to pack; am waiting on four larger tubs to arrive on Tuesday for those. I’ve ordered heavy duty large trash bags for pillows and a duvet, that will arrive on Tuesday too.  Other than the Capodimonte and porcelain lamps being wrapped with bubble wrap for storage, and things I’m using till the 30th, I’m finished packing for storage.  Filled eight tubs in the last two days. Oh, and the two jewelry armoires, I will put jewelry in ziplock bags and place into a tub.  So I’ll do that before the 27th -  UHaul Day when everything goes.  I’m happy to be ahead of schedule, which is great.

Have been watching a Netflix series this weekend - NORTH AND SOUTH - set in England. Soooo good!  Just ended. The entire month and a half, while packing, Netflix series have been playing in the background non-stop, but I would actually stop and watch them on breaks and in the evenings. I tried playing music while working, but didn’t do the trick. Now the end of preparation is near ... and I’ll be off on Dec 30, traveling for a year!  I can’t believe it’s actually happening, WOW!

20 DAYS LEFT IN CAMBRIA

I seem to be reflecting this afternoon, now that a load of 40 book boxes and another 16 grey 18 gal. containers have been taken to storage. It's moving right along, folks. Just twenty more days till I leave Cambria and all behind. But today my reflective mood or distraction (more like it) is challenging my thoughts, questioning myself.

Part of it could be my physicality today, feeling a bit off kilter. Napped and woke up to the taste of bile in my mouth. Happening often lately.  Maybe I'm lying down too soon after eating. Lying on the wrong side too, should be left side. Well I'm not going to dwell on it past this moment, just need to remember to lie on my left side for nap and at night. Happens at night sometimes too. Normally I can trace the uncomfortableness back to overeating or wrong combinations of food and drink. I'm sure my doc would say the same thing. "Rebecca, you're just getting older, and need to be aware of what you put into your stomach." Okay, doc, need to be more aware.

I began thinking today about the trains in Europe.  Getting on and off.  That can really be tricky, especially with my larger check-in bag and the carry-on bag, hefting both on and off trains. There's no problem flying because one is checked in. So I need to make sure my train tickets are scheduled to give me time between trains.  Direct routes are the best when I can get them. I have the TRAINLINE app on my phone, and when you buy your tickets they are there to show the conductor or trade for paper tickets at the stations. Have already purchased the UK tickets for my upcoming trip. The first one is from Weymouth to Winchester - direct route. So no worry there, don't have to meet a schedule for the next train. That's after I've been in Weymouth the first month and am ready to move on to Winchester.  After a month in Winchester I go to the Isle of Wight. So I've got a direct ticket to Portsmouth & Southsea station where I'll take a cab to the hovercraft ferry port and skim across to Isle of Wight, right to the town where I'm staying - Ryde.  Have already purchased a RT ferry ticket too. So that's the first three months.  Then it's a reversal of the ferry, after which I'll go to the airport in Southampton and fly to Ireland for the next three months. And of course when I travel around the countries, there'll be more trains, buses, taxis.  It's very easy. There's always a tourist office in the towns with schedules of tours and maps and transportation schedules.  AND there's always the Internet. Personally, I use the Internet mostly during my travels. However in the months before boarding the QM2 on Sept 4, I'll be spending much of my traveling time in my rooms writing my memoir. And that really is exciting. Have to have first draft ready by then, because while on the ship I'll be plugging in real-time thoughts and recollections ... as if I'm reminiscing about The Eight Husbands & Other Lovers during my eightieth birthday crossing of the Atlantic.

So when I have my doubts, not often, I remind myself what this trip means to me ... the freedom to live elsewhere and everywhere, new adventures and more experiences, new occasions and people, no restrictions, no interruptions ... just me and the unniverse and whatever is out there and the freedom to write whatever I want to.

And that sums it up rather perfectly. So we'll see how it goes in 2020 and whether or not I'll keep on truckin' in 2021, etc.

25 DAYS LEFT IN CAMBRIA

Now that's a bit scary - just 25 days till I'll vacate my cozy nest of three years ... moved into it the First of January 2017.  It was comfy and pleasurable while it lasted, my New York loft, I call it. But if you were to see it now, partly deserted with empty display cases, bubble wrap and grey totes being packed and stacked, empty book shelves ... well it's sort of sad looking.

The happy and exciting part is that I'm about to take a long journey around the world for as long as I can, two and three months in countries of my choice.  2020 will be England, Ireland, France, Eastern Canada. 2021 will be Italy, Spain, maybe some Baltic countries, and Switzerland. All revisits ... spending more time in them to get to know people and places, AND TO WRITE ABOUT THEM, YES!! 

All my furnishings and belongings stay in storage till I tire of traveling and my wanderings end, however many years it'll be - one, two, three, maybe more. So yes, the reality is setting in and it's only 25 days till I leave Cambria, and 15 more after that till I lift off to England.  Can't believe I'm actually doing it. 

 Linda Hainline, dear one, RIP, I'm going, I'm REALLY doing it. ❤️❤️❤️

30 DAYS LEFT IN CAMBRIA

It’s a bit startling that in 30 days I’ll be leaving Cambria to begin a new life elsewhere. As I’m bundled up in robe and stockings, and wrapped in my favorite blanket in front of the portable heater (very cold this morning), I’m making a mental inventory of what is left to do in December before my departure.  A lot!  But later today I plan to contact utilities, etc. to order Jan 1 as cut-off day. Wow, that’s an eye-opener that vacate day is very near. And 45 days till I lift-off to England and Europe for at least the next two years. Excitement all around!

33 DAYS MORE IN CAMBRIA

Here’s my adjusted 2020 schedule:

Dec 31, 2019 - Jan 8, 2020
VISALIA CA
(Jan 5, Day-trip to Camarillo)

Jan 8
LAS VEGAS, AZ

Jan 9 - 16
SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Jan 16 - Feb 15
WEYMOUTH UK

Feb 15 - Mar 14
WINCHESTER UK

Mar 14 - Apr 13
RYDE, ISLE OF WIGHT, UK

Apr 13 - May 13
WATERFORD, IRE

May 13 - Jun 12
LIMERICK, IRE

Jun 12 - Jul 4
ASHBOURNE, IRE

Jul 4 - Aug 3
VERSAILLES, FR

Aug 3 - Aug 27
LE HAVRE, FR

Aug 27 - Sep 4
SOUTHAMPTON UK

Sep 4 - 11 (80th Birthday)
QUEEN MARY 2
Atlantic Crossing to NYC

Sep 11 - 14
NYC

Sep 14 - Oct 14
CLORIDORME, CAN (north-eastern)

Oct 14 - Nov 13
MONTREAL, CAN

Nov 13 - 29
PHOENIX, AZ

More to come later ...

52 DAYS TO LIFT-OFF

Tonite, after an afternoon of bits and pieces and organizing my thoughts by making lists, and some packing for storage, I began placing things in my carry-on bag (eager to see how it all will fit): my new Apple MacBook Air,  twist pencils, lead, erasers, pens, slim pocket notebooks, Apple World plug adapters, other universal plug adapter, extra fuses, chargers ... so far so good.  My electronics are important to me, have to have it right since I'll be out of the states for almost a year. and I'm a stickler for organization.

My landlord came by today with a friend, looking to see what will need to be done to rent this place out after I leave on Jan 1.  He welcomes me to leave whatever furnishings I would like, he's thinking of renting it as a tourist accommodation. So I'm rethinking what furniture I will and will not haul to storage. That makes it much easier on me as well, and makes it easier for him to turn around. I have such a softspot in my heart for Alex, want to do all I can for him to be successful with this building ... whatever he wants to do with it. At his young age of 24, he's taken on a huge task.

So my time here is getting shorter ... and I'm becoming more and more excited everyday ... can't wait to board the plane in Salt Lake City for London!!!!  England is my first 3-month adventure. Second 3 months is Ireland, third is France, then on my 80th birthday, back across the Atlantic onboard the QM2 to NYC . Canada is after that. Makes me breathless to think about it. And all the while I'll be writing my memoir. How much more fun can it be? 👍👍👍

54 DAYS TO LIFT-OFF

39 more days in Cambria ... OMG! Comin’ ‘round fast!

Sorry I haven’t been on here as often as usual, it’s because I’m so damn busy with all there is to do with moving out of this apartment. The packing is therapeutic, I’m finding. Today I hit upon the revelation that for the duration of my over-seas travels I won’t be aggravated by all the tedious ‘to-do’ lists of everyday living here. That is a biggie for me. There’s nothing that gnaws on me most like having to tend to personal and every-day living matters: appointments, dates with people when I don’t really want to go, bills, cleaning, making up my day-bed everyday (difficult to do, can’t reach all corners), cooking, shopping for groceries, up and down the stairs, laundry, taking out the trash, and a host of other niggling items.  When I fly out of the USA on Jan 15, all of that disappears for however long I want - 1, 2, 3 years or more. I’ll be staying in places where most of the physical stuff is done for me, and I won’t have any bills or appointments not connected with my travels.  No commitments that aren’t travel oriented. I am so grateful that I’m able to do this, financially and physically, and even though it isn’t my original plan, I’m happy and excited about what it has become. And yes, I have the option of changing my mind at any time, or staying in one place longer than planned, or sticking to the schedule. It’s the freedom of doing what I want, when I want, without constraints and hindrances, that I love.  (Just a few of my packing thoughts today while packing crystal pieces - 5 bins/totes so far.)

58 DAYS TO LIFT-OFF

YES ... in 43 days I leave Cambria for Visalia, then to Salt Lake City when I take to the skies for England. YIPPEE!!! I’m feeling less anxious today. A little under the weather still, but two more bins are packed, 6 waiting to be removed now.  Today I ordered more packing supplies to be delivered, 25 book boxes from U-Haul and misc.items. Still pushing forward.  In fact I feel this will end up being my most organized move to date.  But that’s yet to be seen, when it’s over. Still much to be done.

I was thinking about the first leg (three months) of the year-long trip.  Three months in England - Weymouth, Winchester, Isle of Wight. A month in each place. Sounds exciting to me. I was having a discussion last evening about ‘is this trip a dream come true?” I was asked that. Although it isn’t what it started out to be - a permanent move to England - it’ll probably be more exciting since shifting gears doing it the way I am. We’ll see what happens. Who knows what each day will bring, and that’s how I’ll be treating it ... day by day. And it begins in 58 days!

60 DAYS TO LIFT- OFF

Forty-five days till I leave Cambria, sixty days till I leave the USA.  I’m Feeling a bit of anxiety today, even though I’ve packed the daily average of TWO BINS a day. Plus clearing out, or ‘culling’ as I call it. Today I also did some shredding of closed acct checkbooks and old address books, etc. So I’m okay, am making progress. But am still feeling anxiety. Sick to my stomach, which could be the crud remnants. Or maybe it’s just the other way around, anxiety and stress could be causing the sicklies.  Yep. Most likely. Stress causes sickness. Okay, breathe deeply, turn it all off - the trip, the packing, finances, Linda’s illness. All of it. I have to level myself out. Time to relax. A full night of thoughtlessness ought to do it. Mindless series binge-watching on Netflix, yes. And then some inspirational reading later while in a hot bath before bed and lights out. I feel like my character Jessica in MIDNIGHT IN VEGAS. Planning my night to the minute. Lololol.

DAY 4 - Packing Apartment

Yesterday ended well with six bins loaded and ready to go to storage. Kelly’s coming this morning with his trailer, but that’s to pick up my potted spruce tree and two potted climbing roses for Barbara Roche’s garden. Giving her first dibs on plants. She already has some of them. A couple items in my patio I’m keeping - the white bistro set, the wrought iron settee, but the rest I’m leaving for the next tenant.

It’s fast becoming a realization, this decision to move out of Cambria once again. Third time is the charm! Yes I’ve lived and moved away from here three times. This time I’ve had several false starts, and now it’s finally a reality.  Once the thought or desire is in the mind, the action follows. It is with me, that is. In fact I use the method ... think it, visualize it, believe it, act on it.  Almost everything I do, every decision, is carried out that way. Even my travels, of which there have been many.  This next will be my greatest travel achievement- 330 days on the road by land, sea, and air. At 80 years of age. And if I feel up to it, a second year around the world will follow to even more exotic places.

In the meantime, I’ve two books in my work-in-progress file - my memoir and another novel in my Rachel O’Neill series, and there will be a third book on this next year of traveling. This blog will be my journal of notes and memories for that book.

Now back to having my morning coffee  before I pack a few more bins.

Good Morning, World!

DAY 2 & 3 - Packing Apartment

YESTERDAY was a waste ... couldn’t pack, couldn’t do anything because of the sicklies, but can’t put off packing any longer.  I know I must do some each day, or it won’t be done in time. And I don’t trust anyone else to handle my treasures with care.

TODAY I am already on it ... have been downstairs to get two more bins and plan to start filling them this morning after I finish my coffee. I bought 32 bins through Amazon (delivered to my door) and will order more when needed. I figure 60 bins, at least. All the same size so they’ll stack neatly, all labeled. And of course will get book boxes from U-Haul, all same size. Will need to hire someone to pack the books for me. Any takers?

DAY 1 - Packing Collectibles

This is it ... tubs are here along with bubble wrap.  This afternoon I will start packing all my pretties. I’m not looking forward to the empty shelves and spaces as my time in Cambria decreases. I love to be surrounded by meaningful items and beauty,  many I’ve collected on my travels, many I’ve discovered in antique shops and markets, some were gifts, some were my mother’s and some from my grandmothers on each side. I’m happy I’ve taken photographs of it all, here and now. That’ll keep me company till I’m surrounded by them all once again in the future.

DAY SIX - Prep for Trip

How does one accumulate so many bits and pieces of junk and items that are not wanted?  I find that in top drawers of chests and desks it where it all goes, just to get out of sight, when if were trashed instead at the moment, it would not create extra work later. Bits and pieces! Cant stand those: nails, paperclips, xmas trim hangers, partial journals, travel pouches, little string bags,  cards, scraps, a plate hanger, travel documents of a Seabourne Medditeranean Cruise taken in Year 2000.  Just tackled a drawer with all that and more.in it. Its not all bad though, a few nice surprises along the way.

Stopping now ... Have an hour before I leave for Paso Robles - Walmart shopping, lunch, and then visiting Linda in her new Care facility Paso. Shes on liquid Morphine now, sleeps mostly, according to David (caregiver). Praying that she'll reach permanent sleep very soon, no more pain, no more waiting. Love her so much!

DAY FIVE - Comment/reflection

As I look around this apartment and the packing ahead of me the rest of this month and the next, I know time will fly as it usually does, and before I know it it'll be departure day from Cambria, California - January 1.  I've no fluctuating feelings about this move, I'm eager and excited  about the adventure of seeing new places every month, new experiences in four other countries in 2020. Then possibly in 2021 more countries to choose from: Scotland, England - for sure.  Additional first choices are Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland. Regardless, I am on a quest to see my favorite European countries once more before I choose another place to settle and live, whether it is in the USA or elsewhere. Just thinking of the choices I have before me. ❤️❤️❤️

DAY FIVE - Prep

Lovely day, it appears. I'm having a cup of coffee while British TV series FATHER BROWN is running. Taking a break after removing unwanted items from both these cabinets, mainly behind the closed doors ... 2 furniture pieces down, 4 to go, and its only 9:00 a.m.  Kitchen cabinets DONE!  What's left I'll pack and keep.

DAY FOUR - Prep

Washed all blankets etc this morning before packing next week. No more overnite visitors before I leave. Now will have lunch with Viv Goff to catch up on all plans, hers and mine. This afternoon back to culling.

Back from lunch ... had a lengthy conversation about my trip in 2020, and I'm even more certain that after the last two months (9/14 - 11/13) in Cloridorme (Gaspesie) and Montreal Quebec, I'll take the Nov 13-29 stay in Phoenix to decide if I will continue on another year with my travels, or settle somewhere.  But I'll decide at that time, end of 2020.  Will have the memoir completed by then, and will start writing another novel in 2021.

By the way ... Cloridorme has really drawn me to it ... am already envisioning myself there for a month ... way up in nowhere land!  Love it!  SEE MAP BELOW.

Will be staying there at the top red dot the first month in Canada, then back to Montreal the second month.  I'll be above New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  The hotel below on the left is where I'll be staying in Cloridorme.

I AM SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ALONE AND GO TO PLACES I WANT.  AND THIS IS AT THE END OF THE YEAR-LONG TRIP.  LOTS OF THINKING TIME.  YES!

DAY TWO & THREE - MORE CULLING

This week I am going through cabinets, display cases, drawers, closet and other spaces to collect items I don't want to keep, aren't important to me, are just clutter and junk. Am putting them in bags, easy for me to carry, and loading them into the car to take away.  Took one load to Morro Bay's Achievement House yesterday, done, gone!  I'm certainly glad I've been getting rid of stuff for the past three years, all along, or this would be an overwhelming move for me.  It will be hard enough as it is.

DAY ONE - Prep to leave in two months

Today was the first day of preparation to vacate my beautiful tiny nest, where I’ve lived the past three years. I moved in while remodeling and producing live theatre downstairs - stageplays and music gigs. This last August, I sold the property/buildings and have been renting back the apartment from the new landlord. (Also financed part of the mortgage for him.)  Just recently I made the decision to move out and store all my stuff in order to travel the world, or as much of it as I want to see. So today I began the actual process.

Today I cleared items from my closet that I won’t be keeping, don’t want. Tomorrow I’ll do the same with my cabinets, and will take it all to thrift stores, donations. I feel it’s important to start there and it makes packing easier with those items out of the way, rather than doing it while packing.  So the next few days ... this week ... I will be focusing on throw-aways and donations.

My itinerary of travel begins January 1, 2020.

Jan 1 - 8
VISALIA, CA

Jan 8 - 15
SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Jan 16 - Feb 15
WEYMOUTH UK

Feb 15 - Mar 14
WINCHESTER UK

Mar 14 - Apr 13
RYDE, ISLE OF WIGHT

Apr 13 - May 13
WATERFORD, IRE

May 13 - Jun 12
GALWAY, IRE

Jun 12 - Jul 4
ASHBOURNE, IRE

Jul 4 - Aug 3
VERSAILLES, FR

Aug 3 - Aug 27
LE HAVRE, FR

Aug 27 - Sep 4
SOUTHAMPTON UK

Sep 4 - 11
QUEEN MARY 2
Atlantic Crossing to NYC

Sep 14 - Oct 14
CLORIDORME, CAN

Oct 14 - Nov 13
MONTREAL, CAN

Nov 13 - 29
PHOENIX, AZ

More to come later ...-P