2/26/10 (Friday): Our big news is that my son, Mark, has accepted a job with Weta in Wellington, New Zealand. This is the company that produced Avatar (which you should go see if you haven't yet--teriffic movie!). They made the Lord of the Rings trilogy, too. Wellington looks like a gorgeous area to live. The cost of living is much more reasonable than where he now lives in California, they have good schools, and there are lots of outdoor activities to enjoy. Mark and Heather thought long and hard about this move and sought everyone's opinion. It will be hard to have them so far away, but it's just too big an opportunity to pass up. Here's a look at where they're moving: Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand. I'm going to go to CA in a week or so to help with packing and preparing their house for sale. I'm already anticipating my first trip to New Zealand for a visit!

Things aren't nearly as exciting here in Florida. Between the two of us, we're still making lots of trips to doctors. We fit in a few fun things in between times, like visits to Wiley's family and some fun outings with friends. We went to a local restaurant to celebrate Frank's birthday with a whole gang of folks from the campground. That was a nice change of pace.

And today we had breakfast with Frank and Nancy at DeLeon Springs State Park.It's a really neat spot with a gorgeous spring and an old sugar mill that now has a restaurant inside. The tables have griddles in them and you make your own pancakes.
It was too cold to swim or kayak in the spring, but we enjoyed it anyhow.
We made a brief stop on the way back at the Spring Garden Ranch Training Center. We watched the horses and sulkies go around the track a few times. There's a restaurant there, too that we might go to next time.Stay tuned!

2/20/10 (Saturday): We've finally got some nice weather here in Florida! It's sunny and about 72 degrees outside. We've had so much rain and cold for the past month that I had to keep checking to make sure no one had moved our RV while we were asleep!

Last weekend, my son and his family came down for a Disney World visit. They hit some of the worst of the cold and rain, but I think they had fun anyhow. I was thrilled to share a day at the Magic Kingdom with them. We had a blast, despite the cold.

Today Wiley and I went to Woodruff Wildlife Refuge and walked the dikes. Right off the bat we saw three otters cross the road and then swim around for a little bit. They were so close we could hear them calling to each other.

We also saw a baby gatorAnd lots of birdsThat's about the only fun things going on lately. We're finally seeing the end of the doctor's appointments--next week is the last of them until June. I finally relented and joined Facebook because it's easier to do than a blog. (Don't worry--I'm going to do both--Facebook is just convenient for quick updates.) I also got a new phone (the old one kept dropping calls because it was analog as well as digital). I was pleased to discover that I can still get a Coke discount as a retiree. I'm now completely up-to-date with access to the web and email wherever I go.

We're hoping to take the new camper out next weekend. Stay tuned for more great adventures!

2/11/10 (Thursday): Okay--it's been a long time. We've had LOTS of appointments and haven't been doing much that's interesting to blog about. Things are starting to look up, though.

Our biggest news is that we bought a little camper for short trips (and maybe for a trip to D.C. and Maine this summer). It's a tiny (18') travel trailer by Sunnybrook, the same company that made our 5th wheel. There's a little video tour on Youtube if you'd like to check it out. Sunnybrook Harmony. Isn't it cute?!

We've been to Ikea twice to fit it out with organizational items (hooks, shelves, drawers, etc.). If you've never been to an Ikea, you should check it out. It's really fun--very European and perfect for small spaces. Check it out online: Ikea.

Our first trip was three days at O'Leno State Park on the Santa Fe River. We took the kayaks, but it was rainy and cold and the river was very high, so we decided to visit the little town of Micanopy. It's very quaint and has lots of antique shops. We didn't buy anything, but we had a good time browsing.Wiley also did some fishing--natch!We'll be taking some more short trips around the Southeast, so hopefully I'll have more material to blog about. We're also starting to plan our summer travels. We're pretty sure we'll be going to Tennessee for some fossil hunting, then D.C./Maryland for visits with family and to tour Chincoteague and Assateague (check the web--it's a neat place). We'll wind our way up the East Coast to Maine and spend a month or two there.

Stay tuned--plenty more great adventures to come!