No signal, can be lonely

It is a blessing and a curse to have no WI-FI.  Hard Labor Creek is a beautiful Georgia state park with lake and swimming area, nature trails, campground, miniature golf, equestrian campground for horse riders, cabins for glamping, and a fantastic golf course.  But no Wi-Fi or cell service, it’s been lonely.

I think we can all agree there is too much social media, and I will admit to being addicted to listening to NPR and podcasts.  I have trouble sleeping and to the horror of my family I often sleep with the radio on.  At HLC there isn’t even at AM/FM radio signal.  I have never been able to work the radio/stereo system that came installed in Scout.  It’s a SONY AM/FM, CD player, car radio with blue tooth, but the manual is incomprehensible.  I even bought a little transistor radio from Amazon, but returned it because it just had static, no signal.

I can go sit in the pro-shop where there is a signal, make phone calls and download movies, Where I am sitting writing this now and Maggie is sitting on the porch greeting golfers. 

There are some ginormous homes in this area south of Athens and east of Atlanta, lots of wealth here.  I have no idea why people would want to live in the country and have huge lawns to mow.  You could not pay me to live here, no matter how beautiful it is, and it is beautiful.

But my hosting gig has been good, washing off the carts and plugging them in for the night in exchange for free camping and free golf.  I really love this golf course.

However, I look forward to the day I sell my big Toyota Tundra truck and buy a small electric car.  I will be sad to part with Scout and give up my road2reinvention but the time is growing near.

I want to live in a town where places are walkable.  I am giving serious thought to renting for a year and trying new places.  After living in a 20-foot trailer my need for sticks and bricks have changed dramatically.  I am moving closer to my next chapter; just haven’t decided what that might be. 

I am leaning toward Durham, NC.  It makes the most sense to live near family.  That’s what seems to drive individual retirement location decisions moving close to family and grandchildren.  I am a woman with no children, but closer to my sister and mother make the most sense currently. 

I am so glad I never had or wanted kids, and have never regretted my decision, not once.  I am not enamored by children. In fact, I don’t really like them.  When I was young, I took care of other people’s kids and decided I wanted none. A shout out to all my woman friends without kids.

I have had a running conversation with my friends Sylvia and Cheryl (also, unmarried no kids), where should live nearby each other and create a pod.  Friends to help one another in old age.  But where should that be?

For now, I am on my last leg of my road2reinvention with Scout.  I will do my last campground hosting at First Landing VA State Park in Virginia Beach.  It seems appropriate that I would end my hosting career at my very favorite campground.

Until then stay tuned.

About Alison Reardon

Working hard on retirement and my golf game.
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One Response to No signal, can be lonely

  1. Sheila says:

    Your comments about being glad you chose not to have children moved me to finally drop you a line — perhaps re-establish contact. No kids has been perhaps the biggest “YES!” of my life. I seem reasonably content with the rest of my choices as I slide into the end times.

    Anyhow, I can’t remember who has a grievance with who (whom?) but I have enjoyed reading your missives over the years of your travels. Stay well!
    Sheila

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