Traveling Square Dancers: A Few Last Days with Relatives

Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Monday, August 3, 2009

A Few Last Days with Relatives

We spent Thursday through Sunday with granddaughter, Cassandra, in Muncie, assisting her with a move to a different apartment. Friday, the three of us relaxed in the campground (Big Oak), enjoying the chance to visit. Grandpa used his time to work on the chain he is carving for Cassie, also. On Saturday evening, the family pitched in and painted Cassie’s new bedroom, and moved all her items into the apartment.

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Sunday morning found us on the road northwesterly as we moved to Lakeville, south of South Bend, IN.

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As we passed through the small town of Wabash, we noticed an interesting sign (which I later checked out online). Wabash has the distinction of being the first electrically lit city in the world! Check out the website HERE.

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We joined Passport America this year for the first time, and are finding we are using it more than we thought we would. We found a Passport park in Lakeville, Beaver Ridge, which placed us only a few miles from son, Tom and Liesel. They joined us for lunch and the rest of the day. We don’t get to see them as often as we’d like, so it was great having a long afternoon for a leisurely walk and visit with them.

Monday we backtracked a bit, driving to Milford, where I have uncles and aunts.

Milford sits in the heart of Amish country, and the roadside scenes having you feeling that you’ve stepped backward in time.

We try to stop in Milford for a brief visit anytime we pass through northern Indiana. It’s always fun to touch base and reminisce with each relative. We didn’t have the chance to visit with any of the cousins this year, but were glad to get to see each of the aunts and uncles.

Howard and Mary Jean Vanlaningham