Welcome to my second blog of this blog tour event. This is Let Life Begin by Jo Ann Wentzel! I hope you’re enjoying this RRBC Book and Blog Party. I have been delighted to meet so many of you by visiting your blogs or being visited on my own blog. We are so happy to be part of this event. I say we because my husband Dan, is my photograher for this blog. He does my website, helps with publicity and household chores so I have time to write. Sorry, for the brag but, he is vital to this enterprise. RRBC is a great book club and everyone should consider joining for author support and book exposure. Check for the rest of this month’s blog lineup here.
Just comment below to be entered for prizes. There will be three winners- $10 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of It Begins and Ends with Family and an autographed copy of Ultimate Betrayal.
This blog today comes to you from our little old motor home parked in Sumner Lake State Park in New Mexico. I highly recommend this state park if you love wildlife.Since here, we have seen deer, rabbits, coyotes, coyote pups and we believe three young raccoons. The deer were a group of three does and they tried to look in the door while my husband was having his coffee.We also have a pair of Hawks and one loves to fish. We have enjoyed several varieties of birds including Hummingbirds and a huge array of dragonflies in a multitude of colors.
This blog is dedicated to the new lifestyle we embraced when we retired to live in a little old RV on a full-time basis. Will explain a bit more about our decision and the great experiment in progress but first, a brief peak at my books.
Last blog post was all about me and my books so I will not bore you with much repetition. You certainly are welcome to revisit all that info here. After fostering and working with kids for decades I finally published a book about our experiences. The title is It Begins and Ends with Family. This book was first designed as a training tool for foster parents. It was put onto a CD-ROM and used as a way to get basic as well as some rather unique info to those doing this job. It has been published as an e-book and paperback. Read about it here and purchase your copy here.
The second book is my first novel and this book was a way of bringing to light the prevalence of child sex abuse. It is called Ultimate Betrayal. I felt compelled to write this as I saw too many broken kids. Though a disgusting topic, hope is given as good people fight evil. I used an ‘end time’ scenario and the feel is Sci-Fi and Dystopia but, told from a Christian point of view. This means I was careful in my examination using less graphic writing than some would believe possible. I hope I succeeded as in the old English mysteries where the violence is subtler and there is still time for the murderers to straighten the doilies before tea. Read about it here and purchase your copy here
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Let Life Begin
When we decided to retire we did it out of basic necessity. Though I had been working from home most of the past few years, my husband had still been involved in the daily grind. It was time. Most previous jobs we held were not high paying especially those working with at risk families. There was little opportunity for big savings accounts or retirement funds. With our age and health issues, we decided we could retire if we opted for a very simple, inexpensive lifestyle. We found a very economical way to live if which works well if you can enjoy pleasures of an uncomplicated daily existence.
Since we never had time to travel before, now was the time but, more slowly in small sips rather than large gulps. We wanted to travel. We also wished for those peaceful times to meditate and take stock of our lives and who we are at this moment in time. We enjoyed supplementing our education with opportunities to learn. We longed to increase time for spirituality and grow our faith. Most of all we were excited to experience total freedom.
April 1st of 2015 we made the move. There was a lot to learn and this is not like an endless vacation. After 17 months, we still love the lifestyle if not the speedily aging motor home. We hope to squeeze a little more time out of The Duck and then update to a newer old one and a larger small one. We travel with Jessie, a rescue dog of an Australian Cattle and probably Dachshund mix heritage.
Full time RV-ING gives me time to write and Dan time to take photographs which he does for my blogs now. It gives us both time to learn about technology which amazes us when we are not calling it bad names. So for this blog here is a small selection of photos to show you what we’re up to and what we have seen.
Enjoy a brief sampling! All photos are by Dan Wentzel
Wildlife: One of our biggest sources of enjoyment comes from observing wildlife. It is a daily learning experience.
Watching the Skies– We spend a great deal of time in New Mexico since that became our domicile state. One of the many things they have to offer are big beautiful skies, bluer than blue in the day and the blackest of blacks at night.
Attractions- We look for many free or inexpensive attractions. Funds are carefully regulated for an occasional splurge but, many enjoyable things are free or inexpensive. With the America the Beautiful pass and seeking out the local color and free entertainment, you can fill many hours for little money. Many museums and art galleries ask for a small donation. Towns offer free movies, concerts, bingo and celebrations that are more about having heart than large budgets.
Zoos- We find it hard to pass up a zoo with our passion for animals and thirst for knowledge.
Art and museums -another of our favorite pass times is viewing great art and museum displays.It is one of those things that feeds the soul and is a great bargain, lots of bang for your buck.
Local Celebrations – We love small towns. Even the struggling ones do great celebrations from three vehicle parades to everyone in town serving free cookies. It is the spirit of the people and the joy of a community that matters.
Campgrounds -We focus on state parks. Price is a factor, being close to nature, solitude and being free are bonuses. Here in New Mexico you can live for almost nothing if you buy an annual camping pass. There are many different types of places to camp including mountains, lakes and desserts each with their own special reason to stop there.
Memorials- Dan and I love to honor our veterans and current military in any way we can. We often make a point of visiting some memorial. We have several past and present military in our own family.
Local Color- Take in examples of local color such as these murals and how people beautify everything when they really care.
Beautiful Scenery- Probably most of his photos contain the sights of this gorgeous country that we are blessed to be traveling. God created a beautiful world and we try to appreciate it every day. Too many to include.
To get a better idea of the experiment and the places it takes us and the sights we get to see Dan, has created a page of photos for you to enjoy.
Thanks for all the kind words Bruce. Dan loves when people like the photos.Appreciate your visiting today.
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Lovely site, Jo Ann. The images you’ve shared are quite amazing. Best wishes to you.
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Thank you for the compliment. Dan has a pretty good eye when it comes to photos. I just like beautiful, moving and sights that touch you. Pretty sappy I guess. Thanks for stopping by.
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Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
One of the 8/26 stops for the RRBC book and blog party this month. I really enjoyed seeing all the pictures, Jo Ann. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim.
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Thanks for the comment and especially for the re-blog. Much appreciated.
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You are welcome, Jo Ann!
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What a wonderful life. I think RVing sounds like such fun. Best of luck with your travels!
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RVing is fun but, not every day is a vacation when you are full time. There are still necessary things to do. What we like best is the freedom to arrange those things at our convenience and no-one to report to like a job.That and all the beautiful things our country has to offer. Thanks for stopping.
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Hi JoAnn, I tried to post earlier on my phone but I don’t think it went through. I was traveling all day yesterday, but wanted to stop by for a minute. Your trips sound interesting and I like your hiking style 🙂
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Oh Lori please don’t concern yourself. You stopped by now and it is appreciated.Yes, my lifestyle was not too great for fitting in exercise before so now hiking, if I can call it that ,is slow pace, easy walks. Still enjoy it though.
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Hi, JoAnn, sorry I’m late but I am making my rounds to all the ones that I have missed. I enjoyed you sharing those photos and your life with us. It seems you’re living everyone’s dream (judging by all the comments). Hope you had a blast!
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Nonnie, glad you stopped by and enjoyed the photos. Dan has a good eye and it makes my RVing blog come to life. I have enjoyed all this month and feel lucky to be supported by so many great people.I am happy I joined this club. It does feel like family.
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Fantastic post and pics!
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Thanks for the kind words and stopping by.
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I’m only 41 and nowhere near retirement, but I’m super jealous and inspired by your adventurous spirits and the desire to put “the grind” behind you and see the world! I’d do it in a heartbeat. How incredible that you get to write from the road and share your husbands photos–awesome!
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Enjoy your productive years since they slow down when you do.We had to be more creative than some so we could retire and are doing it more cheaply. It is wonderful to do what you want when you want most of the time. It is not a vacation but, a very different lifestyle. You will get there one day too. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Jo Ann – I’ve been away from technology over the weekend and just found some time to catch up on the party stops I missed! I think retirement plans like yours are so liberating and fulfilling – topping up your heart and soul is so much more important than feeding your bank balance! 😀 Lovely pictures to remember some great times – you’ve cracked the lifestyle and them some! 🙂
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Thanks for all the kind words and making time to stop . Retirement like this has some great benefits though some days the lifestyle is not as convenient. We are enjoying it never the less. Dan will appreciate your liking his photos.
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I know I’m late but now that I’m safely back home in the USA with power and phone back up, I just wanted to stop in and lend my support anyway. Keep writing! Cheers! S.J. Francis
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We don’t mind anyone being late. Just appreciate your stopping by. Thanks for the encouragement and kind words.
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