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So begins a new life

December 20, 2014

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Progress Report, RV, Uncategorized 30 Comments

There were times I didn’t think this day would ever come. I’ve finally made it. I’m in the RV and I’ve got the bed ready for sleeping. That is a good start on making this a home.
I had a sandwich for supper and now I’m listening to A Prairie Home Companion. There are a lot of things that need to find a home tomorrow and a lot of things that are still in storage. Some will come here and some will go to charity.
It’s been a long exciting and sometimes stressful day. I’m exhausted but happy.

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Finally

December 19, 2014

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Progress Report, RV 6 Comments

If I can get the rides I need, tomorrow is the big day. I’m picking up and moving into an RV. I’ll park it in a local RV park for a few weeks will I learn about it, move my things from storage, and try to make it homey.

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WOW!

November 17, 2014

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Evil plan, Progress Report, RV , , , , , 18 Comments

November 10, 2014 I became the proud owner of a 1999 Fleetwood Discovery. It is a 34′ diesel pusher.
I take possession of it the week of Thanksgiving. I’m excited and afraid.
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In one of her recent posts my dear friend Christy at The Blended Path Blog challenged her readers to write down a list of fears they might have about moving forward. Well I can handle that.

1. The unknown
2. Facing things alone
3. Mechanical problems
4. This is all a huge mistake
5. Leaving the people I love
6. Hurting the people I love
7. The logistics of bill paying, mail, dentists, doctors, prescriptions, tags, licenses,….
8. Money
9. Accidents
10. Being lonely

I think “the unknown” sums it up perfectly.

She also says, “as you breathe through that list, let each one go with a purposeful releasing breath. Know that you are safe, you are worthy, and you are loved. You do not always have to feel those things for them to be true.”
I’m going to give that a try. I can do it. I’m powered by excitement.




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Moving On

October 26, 2014

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Evil plan, Progress Report, RV , , , 16 Comments

On November 1, 2012 I posted my first blog about this adventure, 500 Days to a New Life.  Now, several months past 500 days, my house is selling on October 31st.  After the sell I’ll be purchasing an RV and transitioning into life as a full timer living on the road.

The Blended Path pulled this card for me.

She offered this interpretation.

Ok, What I’m getting from this – forget the book…I know what this is about. The angels want you to be peaceful – to me this card, for you at this time, is about rebuilding your life. The angels want you to know that you’re on the right path – things are falling into place. You are being active and faithful, and you are trusting as you should. The angels say you are easy – you are submissive to the will of fortune and loss in your life (not sure what they mean by that but you will understand at some level or they wouldn’t have said it). They say you are a man of God, that you know how and do hear the voice of spirit, and that you should continue to listen in the ways that work for you. I am seeing from this card a death of an old life and beautiful rebirth of your life, complete with beautiful creativity and art, colors, and a lot of love and healing energy (in the background colors). I am also feeling like you should pay attention to the gray area at the bottom of the card – I think that there may be “road blocks” – no pun intended – in actually getting the RV you want, but the angels say to be picky. It’s important that you not settle on the home you choose. And so that’s what I’m seeing here. The book says, “to blossom and bloom, the work must be done, through fire and ash our fortune comes.” It talks about flowers being born from seeds.

She was right on track for my life.  I love her and the reading. I will be picky.

I think it is auspicious the house sells on Halloween.  How sweet is that? It also auspicious that I will be homeless on November 1, 2014, two years since I began working in earnest on this transition.

It is a bit scary (perfect for Halloween too).  It’s outside my comfort zone.  It will be different on the road alone and the time frame for getting rid of the rest of my stuff is really short.

It seems like it is getting to be time to go though.  My friends and family here are deeply involved in their own adventures.  They will miss me, but will soon go back to doing what they do and loving who they love.

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Adventures with Re/Max

October 12, 2014

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Challenges , , , 11 Comments

Many of you are aware I’m selling my house and moving into a motor home.  My real estate agent is associated with Re/Max.   According to my realtor, a home inspector who had rescheduled twice, was finally coming to inspect my house Saturday October 11 from 1 – 4 pm.  She told me I shouldn’t be at the house while he was there.  I made plans for the day.

Belle and I meet at The Old Baker Farm for Western Cowboy Days. It was a hot and beautiful Alabama day.  We walked about, looked at farm animals, went on a hayride to and from the pumpkin patch, and each picked a pumpkin to take home.  Afterwards we went to Morgan Creek Winery for wine tasting and purchasing. This is what I brought home:  Blush, Red Mountain Red, Regal Red, and an Apple wine which isn’t listed on their website.  Fun times.

We split up and I was headed home when I realized the home inspector might still be there. It was 3:55 so I decided to stop and pick up a few groceries.  I got a few frozen items, some creamer, and some items for supper. When I arrived at 4:30 I was astonished to see a truck parked almost sideways in the drive.  I need to stop believing what she says. I figured the inspector wasn’t done and I would have to come back later. I drove back to town, threw away the melting frozen items (this is when I got really angry), and went out for supper. At 5:30 I drove back to the house.  He/she was still there.  At this point I went to Fermenter’s at the Rex and had a couple of beers.  Some friends showed up and we talked for several hours.

I had attempted to contact my realtor at 4:30 and then again at 5:30. I sent emails to her and copied them to Re/Max customer service. I like documentation.
Finally about 8:30 she responded and blamed the problem on my house, the buyers, and the inspector.  She just couldn’t understand why I was angry with her again.  Nothing had ever been her fault.
I got home around 9 and cleaned up a few little messes the inspector left for me. I’m sure I’ll find more as I do things around the house today.

I was unhappy with myself for getting angry. My feelings arise in me and aren’t caused by others.  It is a shadow I’m working on during this ‘sell the house adventure’.

So, here is my new self for this new day.
I forgive my agent.  I got up this morning and prayed for her as well as some others on my prayer list.  I also plan to contact a real estate attorney on Monday.  I think I may need someone in my corner.

This is a good day and I’m going to have fun. I hope you do too.
Peace, Love, and Light

Progress Report

May 29, 2014

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Evil plan, Progress Report 13 Comments

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men,
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
(The best laid schemes of Mice and Men
oft go awry….~ Robert Burns

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I’ve retired. My house is for sell but has yet to sell. The picture  above is things packed in the truck to carry away.  The one below is things I’ve put in a storage building.

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I;m running behind.  Things aren’t going as planned.  That is pretty normal.  As soon as this house sells I’m out of here.

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Positivity Week, Day 2

November 12, 2013

jr cline 500 Days, blog, Evil plan, Progress Report 7 Comments

Positivity Week, Day 2:  Looking To The Future

Focusing too much on the past or future is never a good thing. However, it is good to visualize what you want in life, what you want to achieve, something you want to happen even if it is just a simple vacation. For this day, let’s look to the future for a few minutes and share what good, positive things we want in the future.

It can be achieving your dream, buying a new house at a good price or even something you are really looking forward to next year. ~ Eden

The reason I created  Crackingmyegg was to chronicle my journey from a 35 hour a week  regular job working, living in a big house with a mortgage, two cars (at had four at one point during all this), do the same thing day in day out, rut living kind of guy, into a full time RVer.  An update on that evil plan fits right in with Eden’s second prompt.

377ish days ago I launched the 500 Days Project.  With 123 days left to go in that project I’m not sure I’m on track to succeed.   I’ve done a lot.  Most my ‘things’ are gone. Some that aren’t gone are spoken  for and will go when the time comes.   I still have a house.  Want to buy a beautiful home in rural Alabama?

It’s 200 days until ‘Drive Away Day’.   When I sell the house, I’ll use that money to purchase either a Class A or Class C motor-home, something in the 27’ to 30’ range with at least one slide.  I’m looking at used with 30,000 or fewer miles and a gas engine.  I’ve actually looked at a lot of motor-homes and I have learned quite a bit about them.
Here are a few:
500 Days: Progress Report 11.23.12
462 days to go

I’m fixing everything I can fix on my jeep.  It will be the towed vehicle.  I’m thinking about putting it on a trailer.  I’ll sell my pickup truck.  I’m using it as my primary vehicle right now to keep miles off the jeep.

I’ve set up one income stream and I am working on setting up another.  I’m working on getting online billing and banking running smoothly.  Snail mail is still a problem.  I have to address that.   I also have to figure out how to deal with my routine medical/dental care and BP meds on the road.

The yard is a mess but it’s better.  I need to do a little paining inside the house and a through cleaning is definitely in order.

All in all, I really do think I’ll make it one time and on budget!

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First Things First v4

October 9, 2013

jr cline 500 Days, Self help 10 Comments

I’ve tossed out the entire idea of weekly updates on this topic.  This topic  is too repetitive for that and I just can’t get my act together to do it weekly.

What have I done lately to enhance my existence?

Physical – I’m eating healthy foods for the most part.   Avoiding GMOs is still a challenge.   I’m working on it and trying to shop with that in mind.  I got an app, Shopnogmo, for my phone that was a little help.   There just aren’t a lot of shopping options in this area.  I don’t know that I can totally avoid GMOs here.
I got my annual flu shot.
As usual, I’ve been doing a lot of walking and the never ending yard work.   Christy, Jesse, and I have been on several excursions to play at the underwater bridge and other places.
I’ve started doing a few pushups each morning and I’m still laughing and dancing.  It’s difficult to do the pushups.  I forget to do them.
Probably the most important thing I’ve done is quit smoking.  I haven’t had a cigarette in almost a month.  Maybe I can make it this time.

Emotional – I hang out with people who I love and who love me while minimizing the negative influences in my day.
I have a difficult time dealing with other people’s anger when that anger is suddenly and unexpectedly directed at me.  My immediate response is to move away from them and set up emotional walls to protect myself from future attacks.   Probably isn’t the best approach, but it’s all I’ve got.  I was married to an angry woman for a long time.
I’m still trying to live mindfully with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Spiritual – I meditate, read encouraging information, pray, and play.  I’m still having fun with my daily practice of laughing meditation. ‘Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha, Ha’ How could that not be fun?
Greeting the day by clapping has evolved into clapping in celebration of life at other times during the day.  Another new thing is yelling. Sometimes life just feels too small and needs a good yell to my vision. It tends to surprise people and even unnerves a few.  This is a silly thing I picked up from television and I’m enjoying it.

Creative – The ‘second a day for 365 days’ video project is progressing. I still haven’t missed a day.  I’m over 152 days  It was close a few days ago though.  I had to get out of bed to record something.
I meet almost daily with my imagination and creativity gurus.
I went to the Birmingham Art Walk.   Seeing all those creative ideas was so inspiring.

I’ve decided to address 500 Days in these random ‘First Things First’ updates.

  • With 158 days left in this evil plan, I’m not sure I’m making appropriate progress.
  • Drive away day is June 1, 2014.
  • My office at work is about 3/4 cleaned out.  That has to be completed by the end of  May 2014.  I’ve about emptied out the file cabinets.  Whew!  What a job that has been.
  • I’m doing pretty good clearing out the inside of the house. I’ve boxed a lot and need to take it away.  I’ve started boxing up the things that move into the RV.
  • It’s still a hot mess, but I’ve made significant progress in the shop.   It is very slowly getting better.   Its hard for me to part with the tools I’ve collected over the years.  A basic toolbox is about all that is going on the road.
  • Prepping the house for sale……shaking head sadly…..that is kicking my butt.   I’ve made pretty good progress on parts of the yard.  I think I’ll have to hire some help for the most difficult areas.
  • I’m still looking for and learning about RVs.
  • Things are as they are supposed to be and I have faith all the pieces will come together when it is time.

Kudos to The Organic Sister. for this idea.

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First Things First v3
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Update 7-14: Helpful RVing Links

July 14, 2013

jr cline 500 Days, Evil plan, Planning, RV , , , 15 Comments

In my RV research, I’ve found some helpful blogs and websites.
(New items are green)

Dealers
Diamond RV
DeMontrond RV

Websites
Go RVing

Clubs
Family Motor Coach Association
Good Sam Club 

Publications
MotorHome Magazine

Apps
Allstays Camp and RV-Tent Camping to RV Parks

Blogs

Wheeling It

Technomads: Technology Enabled Nomads
Cherie & Chris post a lot of useful information about RVing particularly technology.

RV-Dreams
Howard and Linda’s site is dedicated to the use of RV’s in the pursuit of a dream lifestyle.

Winnie Views
Lynne and Millie’s adventures on the road.

Living In My Car
Jennifer and her child living out of  a van

NüRVer
The goal of NüRVers.com is to build our tribe in the RVing community. We’re here to share interests and ideas, discuss the benefits and hassles of working on the road, and to try to bring our worlds a little closer by holding spontaneous gatherings on occasion.

RV Lifestyle Experts
Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz’s website provides a wide variety of information on living the RV lifestyle.

Cheap RV Living and the sister site Cheap Green RV Living
Both sites focus on living inexpensively in an RV.

InterstellarOrchard
Go one step further with ‘take the road less traveled’ and create your own unique path. I write for those interested in RVing on more than just an occasional basis pre- retirement, and for anyone who dares to dream of a more fulfilling life.

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Searching for RVs
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Searching for RVs

July 3, 2013

jr cline 500 Days, Evil plan, RV , 7 Comments

Now and again, while searching for my RV, I run across something unique that changes what I would like.

This is one of those unique somethings.

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Peace out!

 

 

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