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A Life Less Ordinary

Category: Lifestyle (page 22 of 45)

Monthly Expenses – February 2020

March 11, 2020 / / 27 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

February was a good month and the cheapest one since April 2019. That makes two months in a row under $1,000. Let’s see how long we can keep this up. 🙂

We did spend a little bit of money on camping – happy to stay somewhere multiple nights in a row WITH smooth, groomed, comfortable grass. You know, the kind on which you walk barefoot and Maya relaxes bug-free, rolling around without picking up leaves, branches, needles, or burrs. The kind that is quite rare, especially boondocking. The surrounding area offered nice hiking trails as well.

Locks WMA near Fort McCoy – not a bad campground for a few dollars a night
Training Maya to run with a bike
(Wide) part of the Florida Trail – even the trails were grassy!
Canal next to the locks – the Florida Trail goes over it
Cute AND comfy!

Extra costs in February went to a new bike cover and the annual Massachusetts tax  for our van (both under “camper”) and to internet, propane, and dump stations in the “utilities” category. Our monthly AT& T internet (phone) bill is usually $35. Except, this amount actually gets paid every four weeks. Last month is where this caught up with us and we had to pay twice. Darn leap day!

Our shiny new bike bag – they seem to last about one year in the elements and cost $15 more than last year!

In Florida – as opposed to other states we have visited – it’s difficult to find free dump stations, so we look for the cheapest options. Once, we used a free one and decided to support this RV center’s “generosity” and buy their propane, not even researching the competition. Ha! It was the most expensive propane we ever bought in the US: $4 per gallon. In a way, we paid for this free dump and water fill-up as well.

We went to Lake Griffin State Park and paid the $5 entrance fee to dump. And go for a short walk.
The narrow boardwalk through the swamp was fun, but we could only do it so long with Maya.
Maya is tiny in comparison to this “second largest live oak tree in Florida”!

And, for the loyal expense report follower, who scrutinizes our monthly numbers: guess which category is missing in February? It’s something that was always present, but we really tried hard to keep it at zero this month (I cheated a tad by buying Mark a little bit as part of his birthday gift) …

February 2020 Overview:

Groceries:

Camper (fuel: $43; tax: $77; bike bag: $65):

Utilities (phone: $70; propane: $21; dump: $16):

Dining out:

Health & Fitness:

Drinking out:

Computer Software (Quicken):

Dog (supplies):

Gifts:

Camping:

Laundry:

Household:

 

TOTAL:

 

$270

$185

$107

$100

$34

$30

$25

$22

$21

$11

$5

$3

———

$ 813

Welcome Liesbet Collaert #wouldyourather by Jill Weatherholt

March 8, 2020 / / 0 Comments

On Friday, the lovely, kind, generous, and supportive blogger and romance author Jill Weatherholt invited me over on her site to participate in her fun and insightful #wouldyourather series. Check out our interview with her five unique yet tough questions and my less than ordinary answers!

Welcome Liesbet Collaert #wouldyourather

Today I’m excited to welcome friend, writer, blogger, photographer and world traveler, Liesbet Collaert. Many of you already enjoy reading about Liesbet’s nomadic lifestyle on her blog. If not, I encourage you to do so. Each visit is like taking a trip to a magical destination. She and her husband Mark are living a lifestyle that most could only dream of experiencing. Thanks so much for playing along, Liesbet!

Thank you, Jill, for featuring me on your lovely blog this week and for letting me play along in your entertaining Would You Rather series. I had a lot of fun participating!

Would you rather be able to freeze time or travel in time?

Travel in time. That way, I can keep going back to the moments I’d like to freeze and experience them over and over again. 😊 The main reason I’d like to travel in time (sometimes in the future to have a quick glance at the outcome of a decision in case it’s disastrous and I’d have to go back and change it, but most often to the past) is to investigate something that has always intrigued me. Choices.

I’m a firm believer that life is about choices and not about luck or following social norms. Yet, I wish I had the ability to experience different paths in this precious lifetime. My future, in general, can be left alone; each new day is exciting and promising. But when it comes to my past, I often wonder what would have happened if I picked the other direction at a split in the road. To be able to experience alternate paths would be most novel and satisfying to the curious mind!

Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the most intelligent?

Continue reading the post here.

Comments are closed on this page, but I’d love to read your thoughts – and your answers if you feel inclined – on Jill’s blog. Happy reading!

IWSG Writing Update March 2020 – Final Edits

March 4, 2020 / / 36 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For March, the question is: “Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence.

My answer to the question

In my current memoir, there are a lot of “red herrings”, or minor themes, mixed in with the main themes. One of them is the integration of Belgian expressions and customs. Of course, the differences between my American life (and culture) and my previous life in Belgium (and its traditions) could fill an entire book, so I had to cut back on this. As a result, I have deleted insights into the way I used to celebrate Christmas and New Years when growing up, for example.

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Happy Cows – A Walk in the Field

February 26, 2020 / / 51 Comments

Join us for one of our walks near the Lake Panasoffkee Water Management District (WMD) campground, where we stayed for ten days – without ever seeing the lake. 🙂 The cows occupied the field two days before we left.

Our free campground for ten days!

A walk through the cow field
The first time we passed this herd of cows, they were skittish and kept their distance.
The second time, curiosity got the better of the herd, especially two brave cows.
Look at the markings of this one: brindle, just like Maya.
Our path was blocked.

Oh, hello!

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St. Augustine – Almost Home

February 19, 2020 / / 54 Comments

I hinted on it in a recent blog post: in January, Mark, Maya, and I spent about two weeks – spread over multiple visits – in historic St. Augustine, Florida, in regards to a job. Our life would potentially take an entirely different turn here. Promising and exciting. Or, was the anticipation part of a mind trick? Something that sounded too good to be true? A case of me falling for the trap I usually avoid: expectation leads to disappointment?

Nights of Lights – St. Augustine was lit up from November 23rd, 2019 to February 2nd, 2020.
The Lichtner Museum by night
Along the waterfront
The fort at night
Parked on a driveway next to our amenities

While in town, we had access to electricity, bathrooms, showers, and laundry. Luxurious and easy! Our AT&T data plan works splendidly in St. Augustine, so I could continue my own projects. The neighborhood was a bit shady and the traffic and train noise were horrific, but we could walk into the cute downtown.

The Lichtner Museum by day
The Henry Flagler statue stands in front of Flagler College, formerly Ponce de Leon Hotel, built in 1887 by Henry Flagler and now a historic landmark.
Inside Flagler College
Flagler College grounds
Memorial Presbyterian Church, constructed in 1889
Meeting friends – Rob, Amy, and Rik – currently “stationed” in St. Augustine
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Solo Camping – The Joy of Being Me

February 12, 2020 / / 66 Comments

For the last five years, Mark needed to return to Massachusetts in January for doctor visits. Sometimes, I joined him. Not that I wanted to (who prefers to be in the Boston area in the middle of winter?) but because it was my only solution. Other times, I stayed at a house sit. This year, because of our lovely dog, there was no way out. Maya and I would remain in Zesty for those five days.

Mark and I have pretty much been together 24/7 since the day we became a couple in December 2004. Despite our compatibility, I’m quite independent and truly, utterly adore time alone. In the past, I treasured spurts of me-time on visits to Belgium (which didn’t happen in 2019), a few solo days in California, or evenings apart during Mark’s job at Amazon. Still, I’d never been alone in our camper van for more than 11 hours. So how did that work out last January?

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Monthly Expenses – January 2020

February 9, 2020 / / 35 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for the two of us. Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. Since June 2019 – we adopted Maya on June 4th – we have a dog section as well. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

In an upcoming blog, I’ll share a bit more about our January experiences in Florida, but for now, I’ll stick to expenses. Not a bad month at just under $1,000 but, as always, it was more than expected by the time we tallied everything.  One of our three “out of the ordinary” costs was Maya’s anti-itch medicine. Apoquel is a wonder drug, but at $1.75 per pill – Mark spent hours online to find this “deal”, if you buy 100 pills at once (usually prices hover around $2 per pill and higher at the vet) – it is pricey. Especially since Maya needs one pill a day. We discovered that CBD oil does not help with her physical discomfort.

Anything to get this sweetheart happy, healthy, comfortable!

Our other “extra” expenses were for camping and Mark’s bus transfers from/to Newburyport from Logan Airport. He used miles to get there from Jacksonville. Long-time readers know that we almost always boondock (camp for free) with Zesty. Since Mark had to fly to Boston for five days in January, I stayed at an established campground in Northern Florida – hence the camping expense for January. I have to admit that it was enjoyable. More about that later as well.

Under a bridge – between St. Augustine and Jacksonville
Walmart parking lot near Jacksonville – the least attractive option
Fort George Inlet
Boondocking in Osceola National Forest
Paid camping at Ocean Pond Campground in Osceola National Forest

January 2020 Overview:

Groceries:

Dog (meds:$175; food: $35):

Camper (fuel: $151; parking: $14):

Dining out:

Drinking out:

Camping:

Transportation:

Utilities (phone):

Alcohol:

Health & Fitness:

Household:

Gifts:

Laundry:

Computer Hardware:

Medical:

Postage:

 

TOTAL:

 

$272

$210

$165

$74

$58

$50

$44

$35

$34

$20

$12

$9

$5

$4

$4

$3

———

$ 999

IWSG Writing Update February 2020 – Contacting Publishers

February 5, 2020 / / 48 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For February, the question is: “Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson.

My answer to the question

I think this month’s question is more fitting for fiction writers. As a non-fiction writer I have never been inspired to write a story when seeing a photo or art. I’d love to play around with that, one day. I have gone back to my own photo archives (which contain tens of thousands of images – I have been traveling for a while) to bring back a memory of a scene, place, or event I wanted to write about.

Memories of Maupiti, French Polynesia to write an article for Cruising World
Our boat was the one to the right.
Going back to the scene
Remembering friends…
… and snorkel adventures.
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The Trick of Finding a Suitable Campsite – Osceola National Forest, FL

January 30, 2020 / / 39 Comments

Every six months for the last five years, Mark had to return to Boston, Massachusetts. No matter where we found ourselves in the world, this was a priority. In the summers, I’d usually join him, but in the winter time, I’d rather not. I’d stay at a house sit by myself whenever possible. Last year, I ended up joining him in January, because all else failed. I wrote about that in my post “The Desperate House Sitter“. This year, having Maya, we better found a solution for me to remain in Florida!

Usually, we don’t plan where we go, how we get there, or where we stay. We use iOverlander when it’s time to find a place to camp and boondock based on what we find. We rarely stay longer than a night anywhere, mostly because these places – especially on the East Coast of the US – aren’t often comfortable or private. The exception was Osceola National Forest in Florida, where we spent almost a week at the Hog Pen Landing primitive campground mid-January, after a hectic start of the new year.

First glimpse when arriving at Hog Pen Landing
Maya prefers lying in the dirt instead of on our outdoor mat or her dog bed
Not too shabby of a view
Sunset over the pond
While shady and a bit grimy, we enjoyed our stay here.
Taking Maya for a walk along the forest roads
Still water… before Maya jumps in.
Reflection and Maya in a small pond
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Kentucky Surprises

January 22, 2020 / / 78 Comments

If it wasn’t for an interesting job opportunity, Mark and I would never have considered visiting Kentucky. Yet, upon reading what the state has to offer and actually driving through its attractive countryside, we discovered beauty from rolling hills to majestic buildings and from famous events to dark, long caves. We are not alone in our positive findings; we kept hearing about surprising discoveries other campers and visitors made as well.

(Scroll over the image to read captions or click to enlarge.)

Welcome to Kentucky!
Bucolic scene
Rolling hills

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we thought we’d have time to explore the area during our seven-week job commitment, but the night schedule was too exhausting to venture far on our one full day off. That being said, we found a few fun hikes around lakes near Campbellsville and saved the other attractions until the Amazon job was finished. We actually planned to head south as quickly as possible, that December 25th, but unseasonably warm weather made these Kentucky stops possible.

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