Actually, I look for this vacation to be the "lead-up" to months of impatience. We are "planning" on retiring the very early part of next July, so after spending two weeks amongst the mountains, I may find it hard to wait for July. However, Jo has said that if she finds work earlier, we'll retire earlier.
In one sense, July would be good because that would give me time to get the coach and water supply ready for winter. Colorado Springs would be ideal for us as we don't really want to do Denver. Jo is hoping that there are some Vo-Tech colleges in the area where she could go to teach computer related classes. She certainly is anxious to get out of the Information Technology management field. She has been promoted into the Division Director position here at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations and she isn't happy. Her position now deals more with numbers and technical issues rather than working with people, and she is a good people person, even though she has always said she was introverted.
Now, Mark.....just to spur you on a wee bit more, this is an image taken of sunset at Eleven Mile State Park out west of Colorado Springs back in 2008. Love the "silver lining" on the clouds.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 18th of September 2013 01:48:45 PM
Terry and Jo said
06:49 PM Sep 18, 2013
Jo and I are both in the stages of planning for two events. The first will be for our upcoming vacation to the Colorado Springs/Canon City/Cripple Creek area in Colorado to visit family. Both of Jo's sisters have now moved to that area. One week from this evening, we'll be renting a U-Haul trailer so we can pick up a 6' x 12' enclosed trailer. We'll leave early the next morning to go to Tulsa to pick up the last of the one sister's stuff and then head to Colorado Springs.
Then, we'll have two weeks of vacationing and visiting family in those three communities. (One family is our niece and nephew-in-law who purchase some land, including a "campground/RV park" in the Cripple Creek area. Not sure about that place yet as we've not seen it yet.) While in the area, we'll also be doing some "research."
The research is to look into employment and a place to live somewhere in that area. That is because Jo and I have decided to "retire" from our current jobs with the state of Oklahoma and move to Colorado. Jo figures that we need to be closer to family for a while. We'll still be working, partly because we aren't quite out of debt and partly because we really need to have something to do with ourselves until we can actually get to travel, which may still be a few years.
In both cases, I will be overjoyed with the prospect that we will be within "commuting distance" with views like this.
I have a hunch that my camera is going to be used quite extensively in the future.
Terry
WestWardHo said
06:57 PM Sep 18, 2013
All I can say is oh WOW and congratulations!!!
Sherry
MarkS said
07:15 PM Sep 18, 2013
Terry, its time to come out of the closet and admit that you can't quit working because you are addicted. You couldn't find a prettier place to move to, I spent six years in that area at space command HQ. Born and raised in Denver, the bad news is, taxwise, Colorado will suck you dry. Not a significant difference between Colorado and californicate.
Back in our tent and four wheel drive days we had two favorite places, Leadville, and ouray. History and scenery cannot be beat in these areas. Once when staying near Telluride we picked up vegetables and fruit that were picked that morning. The tomatoes, the melon, all made a great steak dinner unforgettable.
Damn you, Terry! I was doing just fine waiting for retirement until you brought this up. Now I have to get the truck mods made and the fifth wheel bought sooner than I expected!!!
NWescapee said
09:32 PM Sep 18, 2013
Terry & Jo - congrats! We love Colorado, in the 11 years we were in Dallas together we vacationed there 8 times, most of the time in August which is a great time of year to escape TX and enjoy Colorado.
We've also really enjoyed Mesa Verde and the Durango area, we were really surprised when we camped at Molas Pass in August and had our water freeze overnight back in our tent camping days. When we were packing for that trip Dale laughed when I packed our gloves and hats, standing around the campfire after a night of freezing temps he told me to go ahead and say "I told you so"!! We still laugh over that trip.
One thing we have learned about Colorado, especially after our stay the past 3 weeks, is that we need to expect the unexpected in that state! It's a beautiful state to call home.
Cindy T said
09:53 PM Sep 18, 2013
Woo Hoo!! That's very exciting! You are so right, your camera will be worn out here!
frayfl said
04:32 PM Sep 19, 2013
Good decision Terry,
We retired early from the state of Florida and went FT and have no regrets.
We spent last summer in the CO rockies and it was great to be away from the heat.
Wish you and Jo all the luck in your coming adventures.
Dennis
el Rojo and Pam said
09:45 PM Sep 19, 2013
Congrats Terry and Jo. We're getting closer to FT.
Actually, I look for this vacation to be the "lead-up" to months of impatience. We are "planning" on retiring the very early part of next July, so after spending two weeks amongst the mountains, I may find it hard to wait for July. However, Jo has said that if she finds work earlier, we'll retire earlier.
In one sense, July would be good because that would give me time to get the coach and water supply ready for winter. Colorado Springs would be ideal for us as we don't really want to do Denver. Jo is hoping that there are some Vo-Tech colleges in the area where she could go to teach computer related classes. She certainly is anxious to get out of the Information Technology management field. She has been promoted into the Division Director position here at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations and she isn't happy. Her position now deals more with numbers and technical issues rather than working with people, and she is a good people person, even though she has always said she was introverted.
Now, Mark.....just to spur you on a wee bit more, this is an image taken of sunset at Eleven Mile State Park out west of Colorado Springs back in 2008. Love the "silver lining" on the clouds.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 18th of September 2013 01:48:45 PM
Jo and I are both in the stages of planning for two events. The first will be for our upcoming vacation to the Colorado Springs/Canon City/Cripple Creek area in Colorado to visit family. Both of Jo's sisters have now moved to that area. One week from this evening, we'll be renting a U-Haul trailer so we can pick up a 6' x 12' enclosed trailer. We'll leave early the next morning to go to Tulsa to pick up the last of the one sister's stuff and then head to Colorado Springs.
Then, we'll have two weeks of vacationing and visiting family in those three communities. (One family is our niece and nephew-in-law who purchase some land, including a "campground/RV park" in the Cripple Creek area. Not sure about that place yet as we've not seen it yet.) While in the area, we'll also be doing some "research."
The research is to look into employment and a place to live somewhere in that area. That is because Jo and I have decided to "retire" from our current jobs with the state of Oklahoma and move to Colorado. Jo figures that we need to be closer to family for a while. We'll still be working, partly because we aren't quite out of debt and partly because we really need to have something to do with ourselves until we can actually get to travel, which may still be a few years.
In both cases, I will be overjoyed with the prospect that we will be within "commuting distance" with views like this.
I have a hunch that my camera is going to be used quite extensively in the future.
Terry
Sherry
Back in our tent and four wheel drive days we had two favorite places, Leadville, and ouray. History and scenery cannot be beat in these areas. Once when staying near Telluride we picked up vegetables and fruit that were picked that morning. The tomatoes, the melon, all made a great steak dinner unforgettable.
Damn you, Terry! I was doing just fine waiting for retirement until you brought this up. Now I have to get the truck mods made and the fifth wheel bought sooner than I expected!!!
We've also really enjoyed Mesa Verde and the Durango area, we were really surprised when we camped at Molas Pass in August and had our water freeze overnight back in our tent camping days. When we were packing for that trip Dale laughed when I packed our gloves and hats, standing around the campfire after a night of freezing temps he told me to go ahead and say "I told you so"!! We still laugh over that trip.
One thing we have learned about Colorado, especially after our stay the past 3 weeks, is that we need to expect the unexpected in that state! It's a beautiful state to call home.
Woo Hoo!! That's very exciting! You are so right, your camera will be worn out here!
We retired early from the state of Florida and went FT and have no regrets.
We spent last summer in the CO rockies and it was great to be away from the heat.
Wish you and Jo all the luck in your coming adventures.
Dennis