Hi, I'm Nancy from Toronto, Canada!

[investigator77]

<span id="post_message_1278782974">When you're single after a certain age, it seems like we become one of the forgotten masses. I lost my parents 18 yrs ago (dad) and 8 yrs ago (mom). I still miss them.&nbsp; I found that having my parents both die of asbestos related lung cancer, that at least we had the time to spend talking about the past, sharing the great memories, and letting them know how much they were loved. It was very difficult to watch them slowly fade away, especially once they were hospitalized, but I feel grateful that we had the time together. I can't imagine how hard it would be to lose a parent suddenly, and never have that chance to tell them how much they are loved, and say good-bye one last time.<br><br>After my mom died, my family all seemed to split apart. There was a big blow-up with my sister and 2 brothers, and things have never been the same. We used to all be so close, but now our kids are all grown up, and my brothers are grandparents themselves. They have their own lives, full of kids and grandkids, and both of them are married also, so now that my parents are gone, we are all the heads of our own families. I haven't heard from my sister in over a year. She also is married, and has turned really mean the older she gets, so I'm not that inclined to contact her very often. They just don't understand what it's like to live alone. I don't expect them to understand, but it would be nice if they did.<br><br>I only have one daughter, and she is married and lives about 50 minutes away. Between her dad &amp; stepmom (who have a gorgeous cottage on a private lake), her in-laws (who have a gorgeous condo in Vancouver, B.C. and a gorgeous cottage here in Ontario), I'm usually the last to get any scraps of their time. They also informed me that they'll be flying to Vancouver for Christmas this year, so guess where that leaves me? Home alone. They are very busy with their jobs and their many friends. They socialize quite a bit, and every weekend they have plans. Even for their birthdays June 26th &amp; 30th, I didn't get to see them until the 11th of July, and that was because I went there and took them out for dinner. Our visit lasted less than 3 hours, because it was a weeknight and they both had to work in the morning. I hate it, but it is what it is.<br><br>I've decided that I can't wait for other people to ask me to do things. I started blogging at <a href="http://thoughtsfromalonelyplace.wordpress.com/category/single-and-over-50/page/2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Thoughts</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">From A Lonely Place</span></strong></a>.&nbsp; I'm really pleased to have found this forum and website, that one of my readers recommended to me. I have to make my own life as a single person, and it's hard sometimes. I've been on my own for 8 yrs, and if I wait to have someone to do things with, I'll be waiting a LONG time. So I've decided to buy myself a used camper trailer, and start spending my summers up at the lake. I'm tired of being alone, and being in a trailer park from May to October will give me much needed socialization! One thing I know about campers is they love to show off their rigs, so I'm hoping that I'll meet all the other seasonal campers, and make some new friends for all year long. I'm just in the research stage right now, and having so much fun. It's nice to be excited about something again!<br><br>Regards,<br><a href="http://thoughtsfromalonelyplace.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/comparison-shopping-for-trailers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Nancy</span></a></span>

 

[Curtis]

Welcome Nancy, glad you joined us.<br><br>I have found this is one of the most helpful groups of folks you will ever find.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[mockturtle]

Welcome, Nancy!&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Welcome again Nancy. &nbsp;<br>To set your signature line, go to your profile, edit, then 'Homepage url' and put your blog on it, it will then come up with each post. Your yellow highlighted link didn't work for me in one of the posts.<br><br>I will pm you later in a few days to give you a few more sites REGArding vintage campers and glamping. After looking over your blog, it looks like that's the way you want to go.<br><br>A fun one is http://glampingforum.com

 

[investigator77]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.&nbsp; I think I've found my second home!

 

[Pikachu711]

Welcome to the group investigator77! You're in good company in our group.

 

[fantym1]

Welcome investigator77! Interesting nickname.
May you find the perfect trailer & acquire many happy moments!

 

[blkjak]

<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>welcome from s.w. florida .... blkjak</strong></span>

 

[Wild_E]

Hello from the Durham Region !!! yes, just to the East of you !

 

[swankiewheels]

Welcome Nancy.&nbsp; It's odd... I have been where you are... and decided I had to break away too, in order to keep my sanity.&nbsp; You know, as young mother's we have these Cindrella complexes or images of what our future will be like, what kind of grandparents we will be, etc., but for me, at least, I never gave it much thought how I would be treated by family members as I got older.&nbsp; Seems it always turns out different than we imagined.&nbsp; I was a single parent from the time my boys were very young... and due to lack of support from their father, I wasn't as good a parent as I should have been.&nbsp; My kids barely have time for me either, and I don't feel welcome in their lives.&nbsp; But as you said... it is what it is.&nbsp; You can change it, nor can I.&nbsp; You are doing the right thing by moving on and having a life of your own.&nbsp; Since I made that decision to move on... I have regained my health, kayaked 48 states with Alaska #49 coming up in three weeks, lost 80-some pounds... and though I am not real sure, I think I have regained some respect from at least some family members.&nbsp; Follow your dream.&nbsp; You go, Girl.

 

[wagoneer]

A big hug and welcome froM California. If you don't do something now you will live to regret it. Jump in the pond we will all help to teach you to swim (learning from each other)

 

[investigator77]

Thank you Sankiewheels and Wagoneer for the warm notes. You have NO idea how much I needed them today!<br><br>I was really excited earlier this afternoon, after speaking with the man from the trailer park I'm interested in going to, and placing a call to someone who had a lovely 34' trailer for sale. Then my neighbor came over <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif"><br><br>When I first started talking about camping again, my neighbor thought it was a great idea and was interested in buying a trailer herself. She even asked me if I would mind if she was in the same park as me. Even though I wasn't really crazy about the idea, I said I wouldn't mind. Every day she changes her mind about whether she's going to pursue it or not. So today I started telling her about what I've found out about, and that I'm really getting jazzed about everything. She proceeds on a very long-winded and disjointed ramble about it. Long story short, she proceeded to suck all of the joy out of my day! I got tired of it, and told her that I felt she was raining all over my trailer-parade. Eventually she said I was right, that she was raining on my parade. She apologized and said that it was MY dream, and that I should pursue it (gee, thanks) no matter what she says. After that, I basically stopped talking much, and she left soon after.<br><br>This is why I prefer to travel alone. I don't have to worry about what anyone else wants to do, wants to eat, when they want to sleep (or not), what sights they want to see, how much money they want to spend, etc. I find when I'm on my own that I meet the most interesting people, and have the most interesting adventures. I can stay where I want, for how long I want, and do what I want while I'm there. <br><br>What I don't understand is why people want to crush other peoples dreams? Why, if they are unhappy in their own lives, are they so eager to be negative, and point out all the stories, concerns, dangers, and costs, as if you haven't already had the brains to research everything as much as possible. After all, my nickname is investigator77! It's what I DO. <br><br>I would truly love to emulate other women I've seen online, and buy a motorhome and travel the U.S. and Canada, meeting other like minded women, but I feel like too much of a newbie for that right now. The thought does keep creeping into my mind though. How wonderful it would be to live May to October in Ontario, and then travel south for the colder months, following a caravan of other ladies, sharing stories, learning, and experiencing all of the things I love about travel.<br><br>Anyway, I thank everyone who has welcomed me onto this forum, and appreciate you far more than you will ever know.

 

[1oleman]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; congratulations on your new plans.&nbsp; Campground folk are some of the best you will ever meet.&nbsp; We are camping right now at a state park and have met a couple who have been in most ever state and they tent camp!&nbsp; Your dreams will come true if YOU believe.

 

[investigator77]

Thank you 1oleman!&nbsp; I thought about just buying a tent that goes on the back of my 2001 Toyota Highlander, but don't think I'd feel very safe sleeping alone in a tent.&nbsp; I know that some people live in their cars, some much smaller than my 4WD SUV!&nbsp; Right now I'm just sort of dipping my toe back into the camping realm after oh..... 25 years or so, and don't feel equiped to even consider doing that.&nbsp; I also have some mobility issues and health concerns that require me to be cautious at this point.&nbsp; I do hope one day to work my way up to where you all are!

 

[Patrick46]

<P>Hi Nancy!</P><P>Here's to your spirit and inspiration to set off to be your own person and find your own adventures, come what may!!</P><P>(btw....I was glad to hear that you 'shut your negative talking neighbor down'! I will not tollerate other's opinions who talk down my dreams and ideas. If&nbsp;my goals&nbsp;don't fit your's, well that's fine.....but please keep it to yourself, as I have no need or stomach for it!)</P><P>As for what you wanna camp with....do you have&nbsp;much experience with camping, trailering, or motorhomes??<BR>Do you have any parameter's as to what you're looking at/for?? What kinda budget can you afford to work with?<BR>How about the ability to work on it. Do you know your way around a workshop and the different types of repairs whatever rig you get will need? (and it will!)<BR>These answers&nbsp;will help us to help you dial in the rig that's&nbsp;prefect for your needs/wants/desires/taste.<BR><BR>Remember...older rigs will take alot more care and upkeep than the newer ones, and sometimes, even small repairs can turn into an expensive cans of worms if you send it to a repair shop. If you've got the motivation and gumption to do your own work, you'll save a ton on repair bills, and gain the ability to fix and modify&nbsp;things for yourself in the process!! <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"></P><P>Welcome to the asylum!!</P>

 

[investigator77]

<span style="font-size: small;">Hi Patrick:</span><br><br><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for the encouragement!&nbsp; I don't have much experience with camping, trailering, or motorhomes, so this is all going to be a learning experience for me.&nbsp; Unfortunately I don't think I can afford to buy something new, that will fit my needs.&nbsp; I know what my budget is, but it's not that big.&nbsp; I haven't looked at financing yet, as I prefer to buy something outright so I don't have a monthly payment.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: small;">I don't know my way around a workshop, so I will have to pay for any repairs that need to be done.&nbsp; This is why I'm spending quite a lot of time researching.&nbsp; I thought I could start out in a campground next summer, learn the ropes of that trailer, and become more comfortable with the camping lifestyle.&nbsp; Once I really live it for 5 months, I'll know what my REAL needs are, as opposed to my wants.&nbsp; I'll have to balance between budget and convenience.&nbsp; I can get an 15' - 17' older trailer that's been redone inside, for about $1,500 - $2,000.&nbsp; I figure if it doesn't work out for me, I can always sell it at the end of the season, but what I'd really like to do is keep on movin' up the ladder.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: small;">I've even spoken to my doctor about it!&nbsp; I told him that I'm feeling very stuck, and don't know how to get out of it.&nbsp; I said that this idea of traveling in a motorhome or RV is really appealing to me, and it's the first thing I've been excited about in a VERY long time.&nbsp; He told me it was a <strong>great</strong> idea.&nbsp; He said if you want to change your mood, change your lifestyle!&nbsp; </span>