What's your excuse?

[rltilley]

I'm working too much in order to pay off the van! I picked up my van earlier than planned due to Ford ending the Econolines. I wanted to get one before they went away for good. My 2013 has only 16K miles on it so far. That will get bumped up as we're hitting the road for Thanksgiving week.

[shenrie]

Originally Posted by wander

Shenrie, I'm sorry to hear that. Thoughts and prayers for a full recovery.

Appreciate that wander!

Originally Posted by jpau00

It sounds like she's got a great spirit! Maybe you can stumble on some overlooked local gems in your camping. Hope she can recover and you can have more adventures.

She really does. I don’t know how she stays so positive when the world just flings crap at her nonstop. I don’t think I could do it personally. She’s a lot stronger than way than I’ll ever be.

We do keep finding local gem of spots. We venture out new directions often and still have lots left to explore around here. It’s amazing how much beauty the desert holds. We’ve branched out that way over the last several years and the rewards have been phenomenal.

Originally Posted by arctictraveller

...Ain't retirement grand?

Always happy to hear about people getting out and actually retiring. Good on ya arctic! I know a lot of folks that retire then get board and go back to work. Makes no sense to me, but to each their own I suppose. I just hope I can actually retire someday.

[JWA]

A small but hopefully not unwanted or irrelevant detour here......

A watchword for most of this site would be perseverance I think---this quality seems to manifest itself over and over in so many threads here. Whether its sticking with a problem or issue while working on our vans, could be having to improvise a fix or extrication or sorts while out on an adventure, possibly just dealing with the day-to-day events of "life"---regardless what so many here face or will face seem to be taken in stride and resolved one way or another. I admire that attitude.

With those who cannot be out and about as much these days as before that perseverance seems to once again show itself. 90 years old and still eager to go exploring? A physical issue that greatly limits travel? Yet so many here can easily share one or two stories of perseverance in action.

Kudos to those who practice and exhibit that old American value of sticktoitiveness---yeah that's a word. Seriously, not letting life's travails ruin everything is something I truly admire---and thanks for the stories shared here.

If I'm to answer the opening question I'd have to consider carefully before saying "I don't have one--at least not a good one!"

[shadetreevanman]

We just went camping a couple weekends ago North of Santa Barbara, CA. In October we were camping out at Pirates Cove by Needles, CA with our daughters family. Mostly weekend trips due to full time work for both Lady Shadetree and I. Next trip will be 4 days at Thanksgiving at Havasu Landing.

We try to camp at least one weekend a month, sometimes more, but having purchased a Jeep a few months ago that has required a lot of updating, my weekends have been booked. The only downside of being an avid DIY'er is finding time to wrench and camp. The Jeep is now trail ready so we'll have more time to camp, with and without the Jeep.

El Capitan State Beach



Pirates Cove



My CJ5 project, rebuilt and rewired, ready for the desert trails at Havasu Landing. They have a Poker run there every Thanksgiving. We've ran it the last three years in our now sold 2010 Wrangler. This will be the CJ5s first time out.

[Crabbyjerry]

Cool Jeep. Many years ago, my first Jeep was a 1955 Willy’s