As Usual Time Eludes us because Life Happens

This past year has been a year of many personal ups & downs, several emergency room visits for family & close friends, hospital stays, several surgeries, family & personal health issues, parental medical & home decisions and more crisis than we would have wished--but hey life is what it is and we are feel blessed to have been able to meet each one as necessary. All this is to say our blog has not been updated for the above reasons, and we have had to take a look at what we can and cannot do at this point in our lives.

After 8 years of full-time RVing we are now looking at doing our travels & adventure when we can and as life as it is today permits. We aren't opposed to being part-timers, we only wish to continue to explore, discover, spend time with friends & family and enjoy life as it an folds for us.

Hawaii is one of our most "happiest" of places, although we'd be hard press to explain why to those that ask--it just is our peaceful center. We sunned ourselves, swam, snorkeled, ate the food we can't get anywhere else, enjoyed incredible sunsets, explored volcanoes & lava tubes, listen to the music that is only here, ate too much at a family luau, spent time enjoying everything "local" and truly just relaxed. Please share in enjoying our photos and in our special time.

Yummy Saimin--Dianne's comfort food!

View from our Lani

Breakfast on the beach

Hawaii Bound

Surgeries were successful, families are now in a good place and we decided to do a little RR and spoil ourselves.

Hawaii has always been one of our most happiest places to just kick back--so we hastily made plans and the trip was on!! Nine days in Oahu and a 7 day cruise on Pride of America around the Islands of Maui, Hawaii & Kauai. We loved it all, and really liked having a chance to a get a flavor of the Islands we had not been to before.

It appears knee surgery for Frank is very successful. Although, there were a few major bumps in the road, it seems that Frank feels his knee has totally recovered. He is able to walk, hike, climb, kneel and generally enjoy life as he had hoped!! Yeah--I wasn't so sure that this day would ever come, but yes Frank is back to his old self, without pain, without meds & without restraints:)

Summer in Oregon is truly beautiful, and a place we so enjoy spending quality time. Of course it doesn't hurt that we have a wonderful family & great friends who live here year around that we are able to spend special time with when we are in Oregon.

What a surprise, Boomer friends Ken & Bea and Gordon & Laura just happen to be in Oregon and willing to play all games Boomer:) Pegs & Jokers of course!

Cool Judy and Hubby Luke stop by for a visit

We so appreciate that Boomer friends from the road take the time to stop by for a more than a welcomed visit, when ever they are are traveling close by. Luke & Judy Rinehimer, who were parking at the Sherwood Elks, called and we were so happy to share a very tasty dinner with us at El Del Sol Mexico, in Tualatin, Oregon and catch up on their latest travels.

Alaska Finally

 We have always wanted to travel to Alaska via RV, but for so many unexpected reasons we were unable to make that trip as we had envisioned. Our very good & close friends Lisa & Larry invited us to do a cruise to Alaska in June, and we were happy to have a chance to at least get a small taste of the state that we had hope to spend more time in, but we are so happy to have experienced a very small piece of this amazing state.

• 

Anchored for Now in the NW

We have been traveling full-timing for almost 8 years, and have always returned to Oregon in the summers to be with our family and friends. This year we returned at the end of November and will be staying until...well, it seems we don't know until when. Frank must have a total knee replacement and Oregon is where his doctors and insurance will be able to make that happen. We have patiently been waiting for the scheduling of a date, and finally we have gotten it---March 19th is the big day! Of course there are several appointments that will happen both before and after, but we are grateful we finally know the when!

Interesting the weather has been more than accommodating--no not FL or AZ, but with little rain, dreary skies and only one day of almost snow. This week temps will be sunny and in the mid 50's, we are thankful for the mild winter weather.

Frank continues to focus on and building his 442 Olds project car while waiting for surgery, and Dianne feels blessed to be working very part-time in her field of international adoption. We certainly are not bored, but do miss the company of all things "boomer"! But we know there is a season for all things and although we may not understand the "season" at hand for us personally--we do know it it is only for "this season" and we are okay with whatever that means for us today.

This leaves us at odds on to proceed with our "traveling blog", since that is not what we will be doing for several months. I have no problem keeping those who would like to know what's going on current with updates on Frank, but would also like to convey and/or find what might be interesting/unique blogging subject themes as well.

Hey we have complained about not enough quiet time, and now this may give us all that allusive time:P

In non-travel mode--as we stay in the NW

This is our 1st winter in 8 years in Oregon. Each year we are either already gone or have left within a few days of the1st of January, but not this year. We are anchored here in Tigard at our son's home, downstairs in our little retreat that Frank has personalized to fit our needs. The weather has been fairly mild with only a few days of very light snow, and with less than a handful of rainy days.

A total knee replacement for Frank is on our agenda and finally we have a date, March 19th! Then there will be the 6-8 weeks of recovery and we are so looking forward to having this chapter in our lives behind us.

But in the meantime, as we all know so well, we only have the "present" and today that is here with family & close friends. It has given us unexpected opportunities to participate in our children's lives as needed. To spend time with each grandchild individually and discover & enjoy their unique personalities in this window of time in their and our lives. As well as spend quality time with longtime good friends, enjoying movies, plays, movies, dinners out & in, special events, hearing about their latest adventures and/or their personal sadness's, illnesses and being able to be with them at surgeries, celebrations, but more importantly being able to personally share in their lives 1st hand here.

As each of us knows there is a season for all things, and we know our season is here--but so miss being able to participate in those past experiences of years past.

Happy New Year--2012

We celebrated the New Year with good friends Larry & Lisa--fun, food and a sense that this year will unfold as a wonderment to each of us!!