Category Archives: retirement

Partially Retired

We are both excited and terrified at the same time, its retirement time! 6 years of planning, multiple planning meetings, eating at home, packing lunches, working overtime for years, driving used cars, we have no cottage, no RVs, no 4 wheelers, using coupons, garage sale shopping, reviews of income, savings, planning.. plan some more andContinue reading “Partially Retired”

Sushi at Sea

Were back from our cruise, but then I came down with a fever of 103, and a cough. Since I work in a hospital, prior to returning they made me get tested and turns out I only have a stinker flu – my temp is down to 100 at this point so on my wayContinue reading “Sushi at Sea”

Totem Pole Carving in Ketchikan, Alaska

We learn about totem pole carving at Ketchikan Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary.

Salmon Hatchery – and Seal eating them all up – Alaska

Sharing a few pictures of our visit to a Salmon Hatchery, they hatch baby chum Salmon and then release them into the wild and after years of living out there, they return to the hatchery and mate and then die. The guide we had said their death is the beginning of new salmon and theyContinue reading “Salmon Hatchery – and Seal eating them all up – Alaska”

Date Night – Tokyo, Japan – Grilled meats and giblet hotpot

We have been back from Tokyo for a little while now and wrapping up these posts. So just a few left. Then on to our next adventure. David and I always try and sneak away from the kids for an evening – we try to do it once a week, but it does not alwaysContinue reading “Date Night – Tokyo, Japan – Grilled meats and giblet hotpot”

Disney Popcorn & Disney Twins

Popcorn At Disney is Unique. Check out this Popcorn Bucket for 2300yen, or $23.00. So you get the bucket and popcorn, plus refills are cheaper. These buckets come in many different shapes – Steam Boat Willy above and Toy Story Wagon below. We also saw popcorn buckets in the shap of Cinderella’s Carriage, Duffy theContinue reading “Disney Popcorn & Disney Twins”

Eiffel Tower

So we saw the Eiffel Tower from a far and walked down to it! Stopped and took a bunch of pictures, had an ice cream, and bought Katrina an Eiffel Tower sucker. Next Post – Under the Eiffel tower and then….. Off to Toyko, Japan!

Y-12

As I am driving thru Oakridge, Tn – I see atomic symbols everywhere – so my interest is peaked.  Following signs to the Y-12 museum – I have to investigate what this unusual atomic symbol is with the name of Y-12.  I learn Y-12 is a national security complex tucked away and rarely heard andContinue reading “Y-12”

5 things I wish I knew before I went to Cuba

  I knew you cannot use credit cards in Cuba, and they have cigars and rum, but I did not know….   We were told we had to have a cultural tour booked or we would not even be allowed to step off the Cruise ship (or if we flew in – not step offContinue reading “5 things I wish I knew before I went to Cuba”

Tropicana Club, Cuba

I figured out how to add videos! Better later than never! so this is older post updated. We only had two days in Havana, Cuba – so we made the most of it – a day of everything, then an evening trip to the Tropicana Club.  I would describe it as an outdoor larger versionContinue reading “Tropicana Club, Cuba”

First day on Vacation

Short post.  We flew into Fort Lauderdale, Fla the night before our cruise, and we spent the night at the Link hotel, about 12 minutes from the airport, $100.00/nite with breakfast, small rooms, but clean and free transportation to the airport, but it only runs until 8 pm and we missed the ride to theContinue reading “First day on Vacation”

Bon Voyage

We are headed out to our 7 day Cuban Explorer with Holland America Cruise, on the Veendam.  We started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida then to Georgetown, Grand Cayman, to Cozumel, Quntana Roo Mexico, then Havana Cuba, back to Ft Lauderdale.   We choose this cruise specifically for the Cuba Experience and we are really are veryContinue reading “Bon Voyage”

Cruise to Cuba

After weeks of looking for a trip that we could take together (no kids) during the time our youngest would be on spring break (and could go to his mothers) we finally found a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico – Grand Cayman  – and two days in Havana, Cuba.  It is a Holland America Cruise, smallerContinue reading “Cruise to Cuba”

Hoover Dam

On the way to Hoover Dam, a quick stop at Lake Mead. Going back a few weeks, we visited Hoover Dam.   We were already in Vegas, and David has never been and he wanted to see.   The downside, the elevators to the inside powerhouse were down, so we only were able to see the outsideContinue reading “Hoover Dam”

Retirement seminar

So David and I went to a Retirement pitch dinner, where they try and upsell you on a product.  Honestly we know so little about the variety of retirement programs out there.  What we do know:  A Traditional IRA is a tax-deferred retirement account. You save your $ today and are taxed later when you withdraw the money.  AContinue reading “Retirement seminar”

Next Trip?

The cover picture, is David is holding a baby turtle at a turtle farm we visited in Grand Cayman, our first family trip together in 2015.  So we are now together almost 4 years.  I was divorce Feb 13, 2014 and joined Match.com the end of Feb 2014 and met David after about 30 coffeeContinue reading “Next Trip?”

Disney for Two

David and I just returned from Disney today, What a fun time.  Two and a half days alone with my husband, what a treat! Yes, we were just in Disney in July, but that was with four kids, which had its drama and I was exhausted at the end of the trip. Florida this OctoberContinue reading “Disney for Two”

What Does a Nuclear Physicist Do?

Most people when they find out what I do for a living, they stop talking to me, sometime they walk away.  For awhile there I stopped telling people what I did for a living, but after being shunned (but also made some of my best friends) at a pre-school meeting, I decided… I am whoContinue reading “What Does a Nuclear Physicist Do?”

Sandos Eco Resort, Cancun Mexico

We decided to start rating the locations we visit on our travels.  Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 as the best experience we could ever imagine.  The Sandos Eco Resort, in Cancun Mexico is a great family all inclusive.   We spent 7 days at this resort, and never ran out of things to do. Continue reading “Sandos Eco Resort, Cancun Mexico”