Hello Ladies, newbie again

[WanderLore]

I used to be on as registered member years ago, couldnt recall id/password. So here I am again.
I've been binge reading for 2 days. I'm 54 and I'll be looking for a vehicle soon and start doing this slowly.
I used to take my children camping constantly in our conversion van, all over eastern US. They are all grown now and I have some beautiful grandchildren.
I live in an old order Amish community in MI, in my own home thats paid for. I have a small pension, very small. But I make do. I am newly solo about a year. I'm pretty much on my own out here and retired due to life circumstances some years ago. But with the changes, I am finding myself looking at this lifestyle more and more. Even if I only do it part time.
I'm going to have to get a job so I can purchase my own vehicle. My expenses are pretty cheap.
I'm not ready to sit in a rocker and wait to die.
I'm originally from the deep south, have been up north for 24 years. I've traveled extensively so there isnt much I havent seen, but I am looking to gain some healing time and reinvent myself, if thats possible.
Right now it is blistering hot. I am bumming internet at the moment, dont always have it. There is a state game preserve a couple miles from me that I take my grandsons to when they visit. I'm not a novice at the wilderness, but getting back into it is proving a bit of a challenge.
I want to thank you for being here so we can have this area, I'm enjoying reading everyones travels and so on!

 

[WanderLore]

I had thought to go out and do some dispersed camping nearby, but it is so awful hot, I'm going to wait a bit.

 

[WanderLore]

You know, camp stuff has come a long way in 20 years. These days when I want to have a small fire for cooking outside, I just use my campfire pit or small grill, and roll up toilet paper. Squirt some hand sanitizer on it and light. It will burn clean and long enough to heat water, soup, etc. cook hot dogs and beans. And you can add more sanitizer. I have used HEET for this, but the hand cleaner is cheap and sold everywhere.
When I drove back south a few years ago for family situations, I stopped on way home at state parks and camped. There were work kampers there. I just slept in my minivan. Stopped at a goodwill and kroger, picked up basics. I had my laptop and watched a movie at night and slept great.
Just some thoughts I have and writing them down lol.
3 years ago I drove to PA to help my sister move, and camped on way there and back. In my jeep then, I had my clothes bad, my go bag, a first aid kit, a tool box, a cooler and my sleep bag and pillow. I'm short so I slept quite well on the backseat and it wasnt hot.
I have 3 dogs and 5 cats now. Hence, I am looking at a conversion van. Insurance is cheaper if its classified a camper.
All but one of my grown children live in a big city about 1.5 hours away. I can take breaks there. I was for the last 4 years, taking care of my two grandsons on the weekends, then they bought a home, and poof! i'm not needed anymore. But I am very close to these little guys, ages 6 and 4.5 years. Public school looks like its on the horizon for them. I homeschooled all my children all the way to college and trade school. But I am perfectly ok with whatever the parents want, not my call.
I did find a good church nearby them and got the boys involved, which they love.
They are in a suburb, but there are plenty of things to do.
I'm a retired EMT/firefighter/DMAT. I've also had my own newspaper, published writer and columnist, owned a small convenience store, tutored, etc. Done all sorts of various occupations at one time or another to make ends meet and others for career.
I'm starting over at almost 55, and I am "out of sorts" as to what i want to do with myself. LOL