RETIREMENT !!

When I was little, my perception of retirement was "old" people sitting on their porch in rocking chairs without a care in the world.  My Grandparents did that alot!  Of course, I had no idea what went into getting there.

As I grew older, retirement was synonomous with, don't ever have to work again and not a care in the world.  It was alot of working years, children, older parents,and dreaming that we  finally realize our goal of retirement.

These last few weeks of filling out oodles of paperwork to ensure all the agencies, School District, Social Security, Medical Parts A, B  through XYZ, regular medical, dental and optical are all in sync with each other.  (Which they are NOT, unless you make sure all your paperwork is in with all dates that correspond, and all the I's are dotted and T's crossed.) Whew !

Now then, add to all this, we are leaving the area in the coldest, wettest April in recorded history to go East. 
West Yellowstone still has 3-4 ft. of  snow on the ground, with daytime temps running just above freezing and nightime temps running in the low teens.  BRRRR.  We are supposed to be there in a week or so to begin workamping. 

We made it all the way to Issaquah on I-90 when Norm noticed the Jeep, we are towing, is showing up on his passenger side mirrors.  This is a bad thing!  The tow bar had snapped a spring and wouldn't lock in the fixed position.  Okay !  No time to turn around so guess we drive the Jeep til we can get the towbar fixed.     

The drive to Missoula was long but the roads were dry, for the most part, and it was easy to get this far.  I was frankly amazed at how nice it was to be alone for all that time with the radio cranked  WAY up to my kind of tunes.  BLISS !!

Missoula did have some snow on the ground.  The weather report was for more snow sprinkles but not much sticking to the road.  We can do this.  Norm called the Montana DOT and they told him road conditions just East of Butte, MT. was compact snow and ice for about 50 miles.  I watched the blood drain from his face!  To add insult to injury they included the fact that the roads going South  to West Yellowstone were in the same if not in worse condition.  HMMMM.  What to do..what to do? 

Maybe we should bag all these plans.  Maybe this isn't where we need to be?  Nope... not taking any chances.  We'll turn around and head to the coast. 

The managers from  "Grizzly" called the next morning to see how we were doing.  Yeah...right !  They wanted  us to take our time getting there.  Some of the other couples were having weather related issues, too.  WOW !!  This was truly a gift !

Tonight, we are sitting outside, in 75* temps,  under our awning and in our canvas rocking chairs, and  looking as though we haven't a care in the world !   Maybe retirement won't be sooo bad after all !?!