Nine Days Left! Counting Down!

No pictures this time, just an update.  We had our garage sale yesterday, sent some thing back with Shan and Natalie who came to visit us this week, have loads of "stuff" to take to The Goodwill, sent books to Sean, the front yard is finished, the house is painted, the windows washed inside and out, people still coming to see the stuff we have listed on Craigslist, sold all the yarn on eBay, making trips to the storage facility, and started to load the RV.  On top of all this, we both came down with the flu (this downsizing is exhausting!). 

Although we haven't seen the article yet, we understand that we are in the May/June issue of the AARP Magazine under the title "Retired and Loving It."  At least 5 people who came to the garage sale mentioned seeing us in the magazine.  Now, if only our copy would arrive!

Only Three Weekends Left!!!

One thing we discovered in downsizing is that it is quite a process!  A decision has to be made with every single item in this house -- from a small soap dish to the large entertainment center!  Do we give it to one of the kids?  To the Goodwill?  Save it for a garage sale?  Or put it in storage -- just in case we may need it in the future?   Then again, why should be pay for monthly storage rental fees to save "stuff?"  For us, it comes down to this: items we received as gifts, we give back to the original giver; things the kids can use, we give to them; other things we sell on Craigslist or eBay (I am nearly finished selling all of my yarn on eBay); we plan on one more garage sale before we leave; and we put into storage boxes of photos (until we get around to scanning them into a computer), legal documents we are required to keep during a prescribed document retention period, and unique items that can't be replaced (the Jukebox that plays 45s, teak chairs imported from Scandinavia, art).  So, this past week we rented a storage area and have started to bring boxes of photos and documents to it. 

We work hard during the week trying to make this dream happen, but we take the time on the weekends to get together with friends.  This past weekend, our friend, Greg, drove down from Scotts Valley, CA, to join us for a couple of days.  We will miss entertaining at our house, something we love to do.  Of course we had to take him out for Sunday brunch at our favorite Cambria outdoor eating place -- Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill.  We will miss that place, but expect to come back many times in our travels.

Hey Greg, you were suppose to cover the "No Smoking" sign!

Just like last week with Jenny, we then took another walk on the Moonstone Beach walkway.

   

Greg & Jerry

Later, Jerry made a leg of lamb that Greg brought with him -- and we dined in style!

Leg of Lamb (with a buttermilk marinate) and Oven-Baked Rosemary Potatos!

Catching Up With Jenny

We are taking the few weekends we have left in Cambria to catch up with friends and family.  Last weekend it was Susan and family.  This weekend is was my friend, Jenny, who drove to Cambria from San Francisco to spend the weekend with us.  It is always nice to catch up with an old friend, and time between visits seems to disappear when we get together again.   It's as if we just left off from the last time we were together. 

Jenny taking a picture of me!

Gives Jerry another chance to use his kitchen for what will soon be one of the last times.  He made a great salmon dinner last night.

Then, today, we went out to our favorite Sunday brunch place - the Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill.

Jerry enjoying their famous Bloody Mary!

Afterwards, we took a walk on the boardwalk.  The flowers were out - the weather a bit overcast - but the view, hard to beat.

Jenny with the flowers! (Jerry said that they were weeds, but they look pretty.)

And just what memories does this old bench hold?

What a fun day!

Next visitor - friend, Greg from Scotts Valley, and at some point, Shan (son) and family, and any other family and friends who care to come to Cambria for old times sake before we leave.  Give us a call, we are down to our last month.

Great Family Weekend

All of us on the Fiscalini Ranch

Susan (daughter) and her husband (Raul) and three grandkids (Ivan, Samantha and Christian) spent the weekend with us in Cambria.  Gave Jerry a chance to cook for more than just two people.  Great eating!!

Samantha helping Jerry bake a cake.

Lots of chess playing - in fact, obsessed with chess - and watched the movie "Searching for Bobby Fisher"!  At least one game of chess was in progress nearly all the of the time (except for sleep, eating and walking on the Fiscalini Ranch).

Ivan and Raul are in serious competition!

Only one more month before we are finished with the house and are out of here for good.  Sold lots of knitting books and items on eBay last week.  Even sold all of my machine knitting equipment.  (RV living requires a bit of an adjustment -- it will be hand knitting for me going forward).  Jerry is almost finished with the new bathroom.  The painter is almost finished painting the house, and the landscape people have been working on the front of the house for the last 10 days.  It's all coming together!

Walking the Fiscalini Ranch in Cambria, CA

Just some scenes of people enjoying the Fiscalini Ranch -- a treasure in the midst of Cambria, California.  The walkway closest to the beach is .8 mile from one side to the other.  Locals usually run into people they know and, more often, friendly tourist or visitors to this area.  Lots of dogs. 

Even a bird needs its Ranch experience!

A couple of people sitting on a bench enjoying the peaceful ocean sounds and view.

This is the scene as you come to the north side of the Ranch, looking over at the Park Hill area.

Piedras Blancas Light Station - San Simeon, California

Yesterday we spent a few hours touring the Piedras Blancas Light Station.  This lighthouse is celebrating its 135th birthday (built in 1875, less than 10 years after the Civil War).  It is currently under the Bureau of Land Management.  Originally it stood 110 feet above mean high tide.  The current height today is 74 feet because the initial Fresnel lens (beacon) was removed in 1975 (and is on display in Cambria).  It was replaced with a modern beacon.  The lighthouse is open for public tours every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, weather permitting.  

The Piedras Blancas Light Station

Really old steps leading into the lighthouse.

Here we see pelicans flying along the coast near the lighthouse.

Just have to show you more of our beautiful coastline.

Avila Beach, California

We take one step forward and two back as more delays set in to slow our progress towards getting the house on the market.  We are not discouraged as we see the end of our house anchor in Cambria in sight.  

But, first, as we left to spent the weekend in Avila Beach for a photo shoot, the RV nearly didn't make it out of the mud that soaked the ground with all the rains we had recently.  Dug a deep hole that we figured we'd address when we got back.

Avila Beach is what California is all about.

Avila Beach (about 45 minutes south of Cambria)

Parked at Avila Beach

Just one other camper in our area.  

It rained off and on during the weekend.  Beautiful rainbow breaking through the clouds.

Pelicans everywhere!

After Avila Beach, we decided to spend the night in San Simeon State Park as we contemplated what to do about the large hole where the RV was to be parked by our house.  Bill and Jerry first laid some additional running boards to drive on.  Then, after many phone calls, Jerry finally got help filling in the hole with rock and other ground cover. 

Spreading rock over ground so we can park RV next to house.