We Bought A Van RV (and Weekly WI)

 While not necessarily the plan in this phase of life...

We bought a van RV!

 

While there are many benefits to my current career choice, the biggest one is the ability to retire in my 50s.  The Hubs and I had talked about once we retire, perhaps we would travel around the US in an RV. 

 

I’ve watched some YouTube videos, explored the different options, checked pricing, and visited RV shows.  But we have never really shopped for an RV.  I mentioned to Kenyon there was a used RV that looked pretty good base on You Tube (spoiler…not the same RV year/style) and surprisingly, the agreed to go tour it on our Juneteenth holiday off together.

 

Um, the used RV was a no-go.  It is easy to try and talk yourself into something you don’t really want because overall, I really do want a van RV.  It just doesn’t feel like the right time.  Plus, we have an HOA with rules about “behind fencing” which complicates things more.

 

To make a long story short…I asked if they had a Winnebago Trovato we could look at to confirm we liked that size/layout much more than the no-so-great used RV option and WHAM…we bought an RV.  It is a 2026 Thor Tellaro 20L Sport model and was a killer deal.  Hence why we bought an RV about nine years too soon.

 

I am sooooooooo excited!  We pick it up on Wednesday and I can hardly wait.

 

How else has the week been going?  Pretty good.  I lost 1.2 pounds last week.  Tuesday & Wednesday were great with my commitment to activity.  By Thursday, my week got busy, and it is packed from now until next Sunday.

 

I hope to have at least another small loss for my end-of-month weigh-in on Tuesday.  I head to Seattle for a couple days with my favorite gal pal Dawny and then it is bac to business for the month of July.  I’ve got goals that need slayed and overtime money to earn.

The TWA Hotel & A Visit To The #1 Elks Lodge

Our Bermuda Cruise sailed out of Manhattan, which we visited ahead of our New England Cruise in 2017.  Alaska Airlines flies to JFK while Southwest only flies to LaGuardia and Newark.  Kenyon mentioned visiting the iconic TWA Hotel and it was decided we would skip NYC a second time and stay at the TWA Hotel near the JFK airport.  It was a fantastic decision! 

 

From the moment you walk into the hotel lobby, the 1962 theme was sprinkled throughout.  The elevators, the rooms, the cocktail lounges, and the restaurant.

 

There is even an old plane converted into a cocktail lounge.  It is a cool experience.

 

We booked a terminal 5 runway view room and had the best time entertaining ourselves with the planes flying in/out.

 

The rooftop pool also had runway views, a restaurant, and bar.

 

If you ever get a chance to visit…do it!  It was expensive but worth it.

My travel research uncovered we were only seven miles from the New York Elks Lodge…the #1 Elks Lodge which was founded 157 years ago.  Now, it isn’t the original location, which was Times Square.  But the memorabilia and the members are the heart of the Elks, and you can feel it.  We had a great visit and it was also a highlight of the trip.

 

Our next cruise isn’t until August 2026 and, in the meantime, we have some US trips on the books.   

Weekly WI: What Does Progress Look Like?

My weight loss journey feels like a constant back and forth battle lately.  This is typical when I have travel and social situations on my calendar.  I feel like I am not making much progress and what progress I made before we left for our Bermuda cruise has gone to the wayside.  It feels so hard to stay motivated.  I would love to see a consistent weight loss trend, even the tiniest bit.  

In order to see consistent weight loss, I need to be CONSISTENT with my tracking.  That is the first step.  I need to identify what I am allowing to stand in my way which I’ve allowed to create this mental hang up.

I am back to work tomorrow for a long stretch after several days off.  It has been really nice having time off and I am feeling the dread to return to work.  I have not been feeling connected for several months now.  

We visited my in-laws to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday.

I also took my Aunt Barb and my brother/sister-in-laws to visit the Albuquerque Elks.  As always a great visit with my fellow Elk members.

Before I left town, I bought a bubble maker after seeing a Facebook post from a friend.  Originally in search of the rose, I found this adorable daisy.  I fired it up last night and enjoyed all the kid-like wonder of having automatic bubbles for a little while.  It goes through a lot of bubbles in a short time buy they are cheap so why not.

On our way home from New Mexico we routed through he Vegas airport.  Kenyon won $936 on a bonus game.  It was epic!  Rarely do we come home with a win so this was great.

I attended a 1st birthday party on Saturday along with a wedding which was beautiful.  We were missing the bride’s mother who passed away from liver cancer two years ago.

Last night, I met up with the Boise Beer Buddies Group at Pub & Putt, a new beer/mini golf location in Nampa.  A high school classmate was in town and met for a visit.  It is always so great to see Maria when she comes to town.

I have a potluck dinner and a going away part at the Elks tonight where I than start my 7-day stretch at work.