Reply #8

I retired 3 1/2 years ago. When working I had the money but not the time, I now have the time but not the money. However, I manage to take a trip every year to California to visit my best friend. She lives in Sacramento and every year over Labor Day weekend, they have a festival, Gold Rush Days. Like many others, we go in period costumes. So, in preparation for this year's trip, I'm making a light-weight jacket to go with one of my costumes. Its the big event of my year. I used to take the train down but that got expensive (I always took a sleeper). Four years ago, I started driving down. I found that I like it -- I check out books on CD's from the library, stop at antique shops wherever I can, eat at local cafes (no fast-food), spend the night somewhere along the road and generally enjoy the scenery. It's a straight shot down I-5 from my little town to Sac. On the way back, I swing over to eastern Washington to pick up apples, peaches and apricots for canning. I'm looking forward to this year's trip.