Category Archives: Camping

Lockdown or Liberty: How to Deal with Stay-in-Place Orders

Or When Can We Go Backpacking & Camping Again?

Like almost most Americans, we are isolated at home due the our local state, county, and city “stay-in-place” orders. Life isn’t working out according to plan. After a full-time engagement of four years of house remodeling projects, this was going to be a year of extensive backpacking and camping. I should point out that during the previous four years, we did are fair share of camping, probably more than most people. I also did several backpacking trips during each of the past four years of my retirement. Currently, in the State of California, most backpacking and camping opportunities don’t exist. Most places are closed to use. At the same time, we are in a high risk population as regards coronavirus infection. I’m scheduled to reach my 70th year milestone on the planet and Joyce isn’t far behind. Approaching 70, the fact is very real I don’t have a lot of backpacking years ahead, so I would like to maximize each year going forward.

Given all of this, it is wisest for us to stay in place until life equalizes and gets back to some sort of normality. So we are stuck at home, or perhaps better stated, we are willing staying at home for a while.

Staying at home for extended periods of time is a new state of being for many Americans today. Many aren’t handling it well. So the purpose of this post is to share my experiences as a retiree for the past four year, and more importantly, the 18 years I spent working from home – often for months at a time. The following topics will be reviewed with a focus on how to maximize your time, or better yet, how not to waste time. Continue reading Lockdown or Liberty: How to Deal with Stay-in-Place Orders

The “Top Ten Lists” – Can You Trust Them?

It sounds counter intuitive, but I spend much less time on the Internet since I retired, even though all my time is free time, that is, I can do whatever I like, as long as Joyce is happy. I keep myself busy around the house with many tasks, plus we camp more often, not to mention my time spent backpacking.

One thing I am seeing more and more on the Internet are Top Ten Lists for all kinds of consumer goods. Given a good portion of my readers are backpackers, this begs the question, “Can you trust these reviews?” The short, quick answer is, “No.” If it is, “No,” then where can one find good quality trusted reviews?

Continue reading The “Top Ten Lists” – Can You Trust Them?

Why I Replaced a Perfectly Good Water Pump – Hope You Avoid the Same Mistake

Just got back from a camping trip.

We left early on a Sunday morning. On Saturday afternoon, as I always do before a trip, I filled our fresh water tank and then ran the hot and cold water to purge any air, and to fill the water heater so when it is turned on there is no damage done by trying to heat an empty tank.

When I turned on the water pump it was extremely noisy and then it quit pumping water. Crap.

On our last few trips, the pump was louder than normal, but then I was wearing my new hearing aids, so I had not been concerned now that I can hear well.

Continue reading Why I Replaced a Perfectly Good Water Pump – Hope You Avoid the Same Mistake

17th Anniversary Camping Trip & Some Thoughts on Marriage

Sitting outside waiting for the full moon to rise. I turned on the interior camper lights to take the picture. We normally enjoy sitting outside without any lights or a campfire.

We recently returned from an extended camping trip in the Southern Sierra Nevada. It was our almost annual marriage anniversary camping trip. We have gone camping to celebrate our anniversary every year except twice, when Joyce wanted to go on a cruise instead.

Joyce had never been camping before we met and has become an avid camper. In fact, starting next year (after I finish remodeling the house) she wants to go camping several months each year. If you are a frequent reader of our blog, you know we prefer to camp where there aren’t many people and of course where there is no electricity, cell phone service, Wi-Fi and all the other “amenities” of civilization.

Continue reading 17th Anniversary Camping Trip & Some Thoughts on Marriage