No more having to go to work

This is my last week of work.  I'm presently on my penultimate shift, one more night shift to go then after nearly 47 years I no longer have to go to work if I don't want to.  People keep asking me if I'm excited...............there are times when I am but on the whole I have to say that it really hasn't hit home yet.  I have nothing to compare it to, I mean I haven't given up work before. Unless you count when I went on my big OE when I was 21 but that was so long ago that I can't really remember how that felt and I eventually had to get back to the real world.  I suppose once we get on the road it will hit home.  Work are putting on a lunch at a local bar on Friday so that will be a big day and a chance to say my goodbyes to my workmates of the last 7 years.  Carol is finishing work tomorrow as well although she will be doing some work while we are travelling so not officially retired......one of us has to keep the wheels turning over.

Am I ready for it?  Yes I am !  It helps that we are going to be on the road for the foreseeable future, not much chance of getting bored while that's happening, then we'll be moving into our house at Potato Point so there's plenty to keep us occupied for the first 2 years or so at least.  Spending time with the grand kids is the thing that I am most looking forward to I think.

From a preparation point of view, we've been busy selling the items that we aren't putting into storage.  We've really only got an office desk to go which no one seems too interested in.  As a last resort we may end up donating it to one of the op shops, that's if they'll take it that is.  We've also updated our wills and organised our Power of Attorneys.  Our unit in Wynnum has been put on the market, 2 open homes so far and one offer $30,000 below the asking price.  Everyone wants a bargain it seems !  Early days yet and nothing can happen until the new financial year anyway.  Hopefully we will get a good price for it.

Our departure date of July 18 is still looking good.  The car is booked for a service on Monday July 2nd, we're doing a towing course on Wednesday 4th, the removalists are booked in for Thursday 12th, carpet cleaner on Saturday 14th and pest spray for Monday 16th at 8:30.  If everything goes to plan we should be able to get away after that on Monday but if not, Tuesday morning will be fine and a day before planned.  I have ordered a set of air bags for the rear suspension on the Pajero. They don't look too hard to install but I may ask the mechanic to slip them in when he is doing the service.  They will keep everything nice and level when we've got the camper hooked up.

We've been experimenting with cooking things in the Ziggy the last few weeks.  Roast chicken and lamb we've got down pat but the pizzas are still a work in progress as is bread.  It's going to give us lots of options for meals while we are travelling and learning to get the best out of it is half the fun I think.

Almost a week since I finished work......................time flies when you're having fun !!  Carol & I celebrated last Thursday with a lunch at Latitude32 on the foreshore.  It was a perfect day and the sound was very flat.

Had a great send off from work last Friday at the Globe sporting bar in Rockingham.  We were given a Gopro hero 5, Wow, I was feeling very spoilt.....thanks guys, we'll put it to good use and put lots of vids up here so you can keep up with where we are at.

Today, Wednesday, we did a towing course with Jeremy from Global Gypsies.  It was fun and we both got a lot out of it, mainly reversing into tightish spaces.  Nice to know we are on the right track with most of our other preparations as well.