This post will be short both on photos and words. I just wanted to get something out since it’s been a while, but it will take me some time to collect my thoughts and download/edit my pics. Hopefully by next week.
We returned home on Monday after three and a half months on the road, visiting a few towns in Florida as well as Hilton Head, S.C. and Asheville, N.C. Although last years trip was good, this year was even better (no illness and poor weather like last year). The worst that happened was I sprained my ankle while playing pickleball, but hey, if you’re gonna do something like that, it comes with the territory.
I took surprisingly few photos with my dslr. I just didn’t feel like lugging it around all the time, and I think cell phones take pretty good photos anyway. I actually used my Canon the most while driving home through the Shenandoah Valley. It’s the first time we took that route because Asheville was our last stop and it just made sense. I’m so glad we got to see that part of the country. So pretty, and I’m hoping the shots aren’t blurry due to them being taken while driving around 65 mph. ;).
Some of you know that this year we went south not just to escape the cold weather and a change of scenery, but we’ve actually decided to possibly purchase a home somewhere else. I was hoping that when we returned we would have clarity on where we wanted to buy and what we wanted to buy, but we don’t. We most likely will be returning to North Carolina in a few weeks for a week or so, but this time it will be the Wilmington area. If we aren’t impressed, my guess is we will purchase something small, perhaps a condo or manufactured home, in Venice, Florida and be snowbirds.
In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing our thoughts about the places we’ve been to so far…what we liked about them and what we didn’t. If you’re nearing retirement and thinking of relocating, or you just like to be an arm chair traveler, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Now I’ve got a house to clean and laundry to do. You know, the fun stuff…
Emily says
Hi Doreen, Happy to hear you are safely home from your trip. Your trip sounds amazing, so glad you it was a good one. How exciting to hear you are relocating to another area. Sounds like you really like FL. It does take a while after a trip to edit and organize photos. I’m sure they will be worth the wait…….
Marilyn @ Pink Paper Cottage says
Happy you’re home safe and sound. What a LONG trip! Must have been a blast but I would be glad to be home again. Will be fun to see your pictures and to see where you’re thinking of moving! Take care… Marilyn
Kelly says
Wow! I’ve never taken a trip away from home for months like that. You’re so lucky to be able to do that. I bet you’ll be able to decide where you want to move to soon since you’ve traveled around so much! I live vicariously through you. I only travel to FL about once a year.
Jane says
Welcome home, my friend. I would probably under the covers by now and not move for 3 days! I can’t wait to hear about everything! I love the South, we did the Shenandoah route as well and I was speechless.
Looking forward to everything. Happy Easter!
Jane x
handmade by amalia says
Must be nice to be home after all your travels, even with the pile of laundry.
Happy Easter.
Amalia
xo
Rita C at Panoply says
Welcome home, and looking forward to your reviews. We’ve toyed with the idea, and our winter choice would be the Naples FL area, but Venice was just as beautiful. As the market is (still high in Naples), we’ve invested in our home right here for the time being. Happy Easter, Doreen.
Marsha says
Hi Doreen,
Welcome home….I am looking forward to seeing all of your pictures. I love the area that you traveled. We are contemplating the same issue of where to move as well, so perhaps we can compare notes. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this.
xoxoxo,
Marsha
Susan lawton says
Glad you had a nice trip Doreen! My mom has a condo in Venice, Florida so I know it well. I definitely would be interested to hear your thoughts on different places to have a secondhome in the south, so yes please share after you recharge.
AnnMarie says
Glad to hear you are home safely! At least you missed the last of the snow (hopefully) here. I think that is an exciting adventure…..to figure out where to find another home and settle. Being a snowbird sounds good too so you can have the best of both worlds. I don’t know if I could do without Fall or snow at Christmas 🙂
Jan Kibbe says
Welcome home! Looking forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming campouts and hearing all about your travels.
Pamela says
My neighbors have a winter home in Venice Florida. They are happy with that area.
tammy j says
welcome back nomad!
and thank you for this little hors d’oeuvre to tide us over.
can’t wait to see all your pictures. I love pictures!
especially of other people’s travels.
we once lived in the shenandoah valley and it’s beautiful.
but since you don’t have inner thermostat problems… and it would be a second home…
i’m seeing you as a beach kinda girl. and where the fisherman can fish in the ocean.
so venice? YUP! and you do seem to appreciate alligators.
LOLOL! not planning your life or anything. but…
XOXO♥
Kim says
Welcome home, Doreen! Can’t wait to hear what you think. My husband keeps saying that when the kids get up and out, so are we. I am kind of settled where we are, but it would be nice to escape the snow. 😉 Happy Easter!
Brenda Pruitt says
Glad you guys are safely home. Are you going to sell your cabin?
Brenda
Melanie says
Welcome home! Can’t wait to hear about your travels when you get a chance. I’ll be the armchair traveler for now. Hubby’s not retiring for another 8 years and so far, we have no plans to move.
Dewena says
I’m sure it’s good to be home in your comfy bed even with laundry to do. The clarity will come when the time is right. Or if it doesn’t, perhaps it means you’re not through nomad-ing?
So glad you had a good time on the road, Doreen!
Dewena
Cecilia says
Welcome home, Doreen! Sounds like a new adventure is on the horizon! Have a blessed Easter!
Mary - the boondocks blog says
It’s nice to have you back Doreen. I am not near retirement but I am getting tired of the inflated prices in the NYC area and would like to live a life where I don’t have to live so I can pay bills. So I will be paying great attention to your upcoming post. Happy Easter Doreen!
Vickie Kern says
I’m sure it’s hard to pick just one spot to purchase a second home when you’ve visited so many beautiful areas, Doreen. I hope you find some time to relax this weekend and I wish you a Happy Easter!
Poppy says
Sounds like you two had a whirlwind adventure, full of non-stop fun, great food and perhaps some fab finds(?) re: potential homes! Who knows, maybe, one day, during a spin cycle, your clarity will come and you’ll know exactly where you’ll want to set up house! Who said laundry wasn’t fun?!
Until then, looking forward to your pics of picks so far
Happy Easter!
xx
Jemma says
Good Morning Doreen,
Your enthusiasm, zest and quest for pursuing a life of passion, purpose and productivity are motivating as well as interesting. I am so very happy for you and eager to follow along in your journey.
Looking forward to your photographs, tips, and thoughts!
xxxx
Jemma
Carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Welcome home Lovie!!! So happy you’re back safe and sound. 😉 My Dad and step Mom just purchased a home in Arizona to be snow birds now too. My step Mom is a little younger than my Dad and she’ll be retiring this year. Guess who will have somewhere nice and warm to go during Spring break! 😛
Take your time getting settled back at time Babes. Have a great week! xoxo
Carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
time = home (duh)
Valerie says
Glad you are home Doreen. I know that you must be relieved. Sorry about your injury. We are working our hineys off at our farm. No vacay this Summer for us.
Cecilia says
I love visiting your neck of the woods in summer but I’d hate the winter. So, I hope you can figure out where to be for this next stage in life. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts. (I find myself using my cell phone for photos more and more too. So easy to use and almost always have it on me!)
Welcome home.
Karen@Beatrice Euphemie says
Hi Doreen, so glad you made it safely back and had a wonderful time! I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing all about your trip and what your future plans are. I’ve been to Florida – only to visit my FIL, but have never been to the Carolina’s or Georgia. I have heard it is very beautiful. Rest up – returning home always takes a while to readjust. Sending hugs xo Karen
Nancy says
The Shenandoah Valley is beautiful, and I could easily live there. Three and a half months is a long time to be on the road. We traveled for three weeks all around Oregon looking for a new home (we ended up building) and it just about did me in. Having a place to get away to over the winter months would be nice. A lot of people around here go to Arizona. Maybe sometime in the future we’ll do that. Glad you’re safely home.
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
It’s difficult when you can choose anywhere to find where to buy a home isn’t it? I hope you’ll have a sign at some point telling you “this is the place for us”!
Vicky Hunt says
Glad you made it home safely! I look forward to hearing more about your trip. I’m glad you had an even better year this time. And…pickleball! I have never heard of that. WIll have to Google that! LOL
Debbie - MountainMama says
Welcome back to the mountains, Doreen!! I look forward to hearing more on your travels – you’re doing all the homework for me to look back on someday!
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
Enjoy your catching up time back home 🙂
Julie says
Hi Doreen, I’m so glad that you and fisherman enjoy yourself so much on your winter vacations traveling around in the warmer parts. I wish you luck with your search for a new place.
Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.
julie
rue says
Welcome home, my friend 🙂
xo,
rue
susan says
So glad you had such a wonderful winter, Doreen. That’s a big decision ahead of you – whether to relocate permanently or become snowbirds. So many interesting places to live and I just know you’ll pick someplace wonderful.
Red Rose Alley says
What an interesting tree. I have a thing for the trees, so it caught my eye right away. It almost looks life-like. : )
What a wonderful trip you had, Doreen. I think purchasing something small and maybe downsizing is a good idea. It’s so hard to keep up all the work with a big house. But when you come across the right house, you’ll just know it. : )
~Sheri
Amy says
Welcome back, Doreen! Glad you are back home, safe and sound!