Where to next?

I have agreed to stay on this refuge until the middle or end of March, I do not really have a specific end date. They asked me to stay as long as I can. My daughter lives a short distance away, so I don't mind staying here.

Today its cold, rainy and very windy. Today's plan was to ride my bike around the refuge - instead I am staying inside, searching on the internet and looking at maps, trying to figure out where to go and what to do for the rest of the year. 

I have applied online for a few jobs and hope to hear back from them this week, now that the holidays are over and everyone should be back at work.

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When I turned on the radio this morning, the very first song was "I Hope You Dance" by  Lee Ann Womack.

My late husband and my daughter danced to this song at her wedding, he really liked this song.  I really hate typing "late", but I have been confusing some people when I talk about my husband on this blog or at work, etc. I guess starting to add this word is necessary and is all part of the healing process......

Back in 2001, the CD was sold in a little book.  I gave a copy of this to him on Sweetest Day 2001. It is one of the items from the house that I keep in the RV.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance ... I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin'

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the chance to dance

I hope you dance ... I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back at their years and wonder

where those years have gone.

I hope you dance  ...  I hope you dance

I hope you dance.

So, where to next???

I have decided to stay in Texas in 2013.  It's a HUGE state and there is a lot to see here.  Since 1999, my daughter has lived hundreds of miles away. Although we send texts every day and call each other often, its not the same as living in the same town.

South Padre Island is my kind of town, easy to get around on foot or bike and they have a free city bus that goes around the Island and also goes across the bridge to Port Isabel. I will be able to enjoy time with my family and be a beach bum or maybe get a job - and I may look into some type of self-employment opportunity again.  

I will probably travel around Texas in my RV for a month or so, after March 15th, before deciding if I will settle on the island for awhile.   My dad is talking about a train ride from Chicago to San Antonio to visit us.  

I may head over to Rockport in April, it is still my favorite "Texas Coastal Town".  I'm looking for more small towns like this - with RV parks in or near town, for walking around town or to bike a mile or two to town.  If you have traveled through any towns like this - please leave a comment, Thanks.

State parks and places out in the country or the middle of nowhere have their place in the RV lifestyle, but I have discovered that I am happier if I can get out and explore the small towns and cities on bike or foot.

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And, yesterday, I bought some lumber and a long "piano hinge" to start on my bed/storage box project for the RV.  Hopefully I will have some pictures soon.