On the first leg of our retirement journey, we bought an Airstream. That was not part of our original plan, but neither was retirement. A boat is on Bill’s list; he loves fishing, and that’s what brought us to The Keys in the first place. We will get a fishing boat, but first things first.
When your getaway becomes home
We had sold our business and our home and decided to move to Islamorada, Florida. For several years we had been snowbirds, starting with a few weeks, then a month, and eventually the winter. Our flat in Islamorada was our getaway, but now that it’s become our home, the Airstream is our getaway.
We live on the second floor of a mixed-use building we purchased about three years ago. It had been vacant for 15 years and needed everything, from new electricity, plumbing, air conditioning, and a total interior gut and renovation. The location is fantastic, right in the heart of the Village of Islamorada. We bought an Airstream that fits nicely in the back corner of the lot when we are not traveling, one of the benefits of this property. We plan to travel a lot.
Airstream Road Trips
We have several shorter trips planned to coincide with upcoming events this year starting with a family wedding in Vero Beach in early April.
Then, this summer, we hope to travel to see friends along the East Coast. We’re looking forward to a fun road trip from a horse farm in North Carolina to a park near College Park, Maryland, and an RV Park near New York City. With our Airstream, we can book an RV Park near friends, rather than imposing on them and overstaying our welcome.
We’re looking forward to spending the Summer of 2023 on the road traveling cross country. With advance planning, we hope to hit many of the National Parks.
Too old for Boondocking
Don’t worry; we won’t be roughing it much. We look for RV Parks with full hookups. That means water, sewer, and electricity. Cable is preferred and available at most of these parks. Boondocking takes you to some pretty awesome locations, but I need some amenities and services at this age. When I was a kid, we did go tent camping, and I thought bathing with Ivory soap in the lake was cool. Now I prefer a hot shower in my Airstream.
As we travel, I will post stories and reviews of the places we stay and the things we discover. Are there any Airstreamers among my readers? Please let me know, and maybe we’ll meet up on the road.
P.S. – One other advantage of owning an Airstream? If we ever have to evacuate due to a hurricane, we’re ready to go at a moment’s notice!