Our journey (The Fling) began with the completion of a 5 week trip to Florida in Mid-February 2005. We realized upon our return to the snow and cold of Duluth, MN; the corresponding bills for heating, plowing, etc; and the anticipation of 3 more months of wintry weather; that it was time to "hit the road" full time. The fact that all of our children and grandchildren live in other parts of the country made the decision easy...We could probably see more of them if we periodically moved our home on wheels to their chosen communities. Our other goal would be to try to time our travels throughout our great country, Canada and possibly Mexico, while staying at or near the 70 degree temperature line.

We sold our Park Point home and were living in our new, 40 foot Mountain Aire Diesel Pusher motorhome by the end of July. Almost all of our lifetime accumulation of "stuff" was distributed to family, donated to Good Will or sold in an estate sale.

Determining which stuff to give, sell or keep was one of the most challenging tasks of our preparation for our new life on wheels. Conversely, the sense of freedom from having accomplished that task and of no longer being "weighed down" by our possessions ultimately became one of our greatest gifts to ourselves.