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  Our secret shared . . .  
  We get a lot of questions and even some snide remarks about our extravagant travel habit.  The truth is - we travel cheap and we pay for it by being frugal and even cheap in some areas of our lives.  We stay out of stores, out of restaurants and we make a big effort not to ever waste groceries.  If I go to the store - I will find something to buy.  If I stay home, I never miss what I didn't buy :-)  

We pack our lunches, do our own ironing, housework and yard work.  We keep our thermostat at a reasonable temperature, we do maintenance instead of repairs and we take advantage of anything free - library books, concerts in the park and walks in the park (instead of gym memberships).

We occasionally have our extravagant moments - like beer at the Ranger game - but those times are few and far between.  Even when we travel we are selective (and wise) on money spent.  We will get up at 2:30 and drive to the airport instead of paying for a motel room.  I am the penny slot machine queen and love nothing better than the $3 blackjack table.  We seldom if ever eat airport food and we have no problem eating breakfast at McDonalds in Hawaii, Vegas or any other vacation spot.  If you've never taken a peanut butter sandwich in your carry-on., then you probably aren't frugal :-)

To us one day on the beach is worth 2 months of sandwiches for lunch.  But we also make good sandwiches, complete with lettuce, tomatoes, ham, cheese and of course peppers.  We aren't martyrs, just frugal. 

We spend a lot of time researching and pricing vacations and we know a good price vs a bargain.  Our vacation style is relax and enjoy.  We aren't interested in tours, fancy restaurants, excursions and such.  If our vacation includes meals - we do not pay extra to eat somewhere else.  And of course we are lucky that we can travel during off season because we have no kids at home. 

Our method isn't for everyone.  To some people eating out is pure enjoyment and ironing is nothing short of torture.  I don't understand their reasoning and they don't understand mine.  Hmmmm guess that is why we are called individuals. 

 
     
  Losing Memories  
 
Today everyone is worried about Alzheimers and other aging diseases that affect a person's memory, I have begun to worry about how we are losing memories by missing out on the chance to make those memories.

For those of us who grew up in simpler times we remember Saturday night dominoes, Monopoly or whatever gave we played around the kitchen table. We have the memory of shelling peas on the porch with our grandmother, mother, aunts, cousins and occasionally a neighbor or two.  Winter meant a jig saw puzzle and summer meant croquet or baseball in the back yard.

Family reunions were a big deal and valiant efforts were made to attend and "keep in touch."  Memories today are television? Maybe nintendo? Going to the mall? What will the child born in 2000 store in their memory bank when they think back to Saturday nights?

I wonder if we are losing our memories and it isn't caused by Alzheimers - it's caused by running too fast.
 

 

 

You get this day only once, don't waste it in misery.

 

If you teach your children nothing else - teach them

"choice is made = price is paid"

 

 

The Lord gives you the face you wear,

You choose the expression you wear.

 

If the people you are "hanging with" don't make you happy,

What the hell are you still doing there?

 

 
   

If you do not vote - - - -

SHUT UP!!