You know, a camper with it's own generator and sewer hookup would make a real handy alternate incase the power or some other disaster happened to your new place. Besides, you could put the runt in the and you and your wife would have the whole house to yourselves! Keep all the doors locked, the shades pulled and DO NOT give the runt a key!

LOL, I want to buy a 24 to 28 (ish) foot enclosed trailer with an 8 foot ceiling and convert it to a camper/ toy hauler. I figure an AC/ propane heat with a couple of folding beds and an awning and we can sleep, cook and relax and carry a side by side or two. At least that's my thoughts for the moment.

As far as moving? I will be retired I won't be in a rush. It's only a 10-12 hour drive. I will get a storage unit and take most of the stuff up on one trip and then take the second when we find a place to live.

It all sounds good in my head anyway. We will see how it really turns out. For a few grand more than paying movers, I can get the trailer and do it myself. I already have the diesel truck to haul it with. Then it saves me cash on the base for the toy hauler conversion.

Seeings where you are moving to, have you thought about a swamp cooler instead of an A/C unit? Yeah I know A/C is nicer, but we had a swamp cooler in Idaho AND one in Texas as well. Not the best option in the world, but boy was the electric bills a lot less.

Maybe I should have said Evaporative Air Unit (I forget how you city slickers are).

AC is for the camper conversion. Never saw a swamp cooler for an RV before.

Ours were in a house. Never heard of one before I got to Idaho. Neighbor next door gave us an old one that I had to refit the mechanicals and the hoses. FINALLY got it working correctly and it did a passable job, but it was of course quite humid. But in the dry heat it wasn't really all that bad. We eventually got an A/C when we could afford one. It was quite a bit nicer.

You know I've been thinking about this retirement stuff and you needing to stay there a couple more years before your wife can retire. You could always hire yourself out as a rent a cop at a hospital or something. POSSIBLY easy work but at the same POSSIBLY quite boring. But it's a thought.

I have thought about it but I don't want to work somewhere for 18 months and then leave. I can up my retirement a few thousand a year by staying. Unless our staff fails to lead. Then I would consider it.

You mental attitude and "Peace of mind" has a lot to do with it. That is why I got so burned out the last couple years. IF it comes to that for you, it WOULD be best to hand it up right then and there. To much (lives) would be at stake.

I'm definitely getting crispy. 28 years on the job is a little while in my line of work. My wife is ok with me pulling the plug tomorrow. I want to be in a better financial spot though. 6 to 18 months is the difference bewteen having to work and working because I want to after I retire from here.

In my adult work life I was VERY fortunate, and it all started with partying to much in college.

I partied to much and flunked out in my 2nd year. At that time I had been in the Air Force ROTC program for a whole year. I told my parents what had happened and also told then I was thinking about joining the Air Force. Dad asked me if I had REALLY thought about it and I told him I had.

A week later I went to the Recruiters and said I DO. Finally 20 years later I retired at the rank of E6 (Refused to gain another rank as I was burned out with all the BS/politics). I actually tried to get out at 19 years and they wouldn't let me.

I OFFICALLY retired from the AF March 1 1994 after 20 years, 1 month and 16 days and was honorably discharged with 50% of my base pay.

I actually started working for the Sheriff's Office in January of 1994 (I was on terminal leave from the Military) and I finally retired from there after 25 years and 1 month.

I now draw more than one retirement check, a small disability check from the VA and now just this year my Social Security. I held off drawing my SS until age 66 (Full retirement for me, so I wouldn't be penalized 200 dollars a month by retiring a year early). I have been fortunate in what I did work wise my adult life. SO in a nutshell, since I graduated from High School I have only had two jobs. MY Golden years so far, haven't been all that bad. AND being married to a good woman just makes it all worth it. Oh and NOT having any bills.