First Vacation in two plus years!

Sunday March 18, 2007

We finally pulled off a real vacation. After the trip to Kenosha for Stan's uncle's funeral, we headed to Gulf Shores, AL - checked in one week after we were supposed to check in, so I asked when we checked in if the unit was rented the week after we were leaving. NO, so I said, can't we start our month now, as I did buy travel insurance. The kid checking us in, and a gal that was training him - thought that sounded ok. (The "big shooter" was on the phone at the time).
They changed our dates, etc and after he got off the phone, he didn't think our travel insurance covered that, so I asked him to call the insurance company and check. He couldn't get thru - and I think he got sick of it - so ok'd the changes!!! YES!

Now we get our full month - but needed to make some changes on the other part of the trip. We had planned to go to Florida for 2 weeks and visit 5 different friends. Way too aggressive, packing and unpacking dragging shit in and out. So we decided to visit the people who live there year round - not the people who live here in the summer (we see them anyway). So we "cut"
3 visits out and went to 2 places. Bradenton for 4 days and The Villages for 3.

Back to Gulf Shores, we had a beautiful 2 bedroom condo over looking the Gulf, the weather was a little cool the first week. High's in the 50's (It was zero when we left Keno - so 50's felt pretty good) The next 3 weeks were in the high 60's lower 70's. Perfect. Stan golfed a lot, I walked the beach, and read 15 books from the library. Ate lots of seafood, did not walk enough, as I gained 5 lbs - too many fried oyster sandwiches!

Bradenton was ok - I am not real fond of the people we visited there (a childhood chum of Stan's and his wife). But the Villages was cool. HUGH retirement community - with lots of activities - we may end up there sometime in the future. Everyone rides around in golf carts. You can go to Wal-mart, Dr, hospital, dinner, shows, etc all in golf cart (we will have to put Bears logo on ours!)

The guy we visited in the Villages is getting married to another resident in July - her house is bigger than his, so he will be moving in with her. He plans to hang on to this place, so his kids can visit - we may be renting his 3 bedroom home next Jan 15 to Feb 15 and then go to Gulf Shores for a month Feb 15 - March 15 next year. When we are there, we plan to look at lots available with a realtor. Even if we never end up there, it should be a good investment. Plan to look at the most desirable lots available.

I guess that is all for now! WOW my first Blog!