Less than four weeks left of the summer season at the North Rim Grand Canyon, it’s a mixed bag of happy and sad. It’s been an exciting summer filled with National Park Service Centennial fun. But after six months of work I’m ready for the season to be over. Yet it’s always difficult to say goodbye to the canyon. Especially when I don’t know where to go for winter.
This winter I’d like to go someplace warm and exotic, without breaking the bank. Preferably south of the equator. A few considerations: Cuba, Central &/or South America, Southern Africa pulls at my heartstrings, New Zealand and Australia are just too expensive, Cabo with friends, truck-camper through Mexico or the Baja…
Saving money as a seasonal employee is tough for me. Doesn’t feel like I have that many expenses but the cash just seems to flow out as much if not more than it flows in. Not too excited about spending over $400/month for rent at a RV park in Kanab, Utah where it also gets cold.
Maybe I’ll get a job. Have been referred to Big Bend and Death Valley, no interview or offers yet. Haven’t worked winters in many decades. Could volunteer somewhere but my mind is a blank slate.
The only event so far on the winter calendar is the Grand Canyon History Symposium November 4-6. The last one was awesome and I learned a lot.
Taking a week off September 19th thru 23rd and going to Yarnell to visit with my dear friend and life mentor Berta. Plus a dentist appointment and hair cut. Maybe talking about it will help.
Or maybe I’ll just do nothing. I’ve been feeling in a slump lately. Tired. Tired of working. Tired of being busy all the time. Lacking focus. Time for change for this gypsy gal. But what? And where to go for winter? I’m feeling the lost and don’t know what to do end of season blues.
Plus wherever I go, I have to move two RVs.
Where ever you decide to go I hope you get rest and relaxation. My name is Judy and I will come meet you next year when we come visit!! Have a safe winter and thank you for all of your wonderful pictures this year!!
Thanks Judy. Look forward to meeting you next year at Grand Canyon.
Hmmmm, we might come this year. We are headed that way. We want to at last hike some of the trails you have shared on-line around the Grand Staircase, Paria Canyon, Vermilion Cliff’s area. We are headed to Buenos Aires NWR for six weeks and then KOFA NWR for six weeks. We have not explored Buenos Aires to any great extent yet. KOFA, though, is great. The KOFA back country is amazing. We are working on water surveys in the area. This is our third year. Hopefully we will complete the surveys this year. We have seen and hiked to places rarely visited. Amazing.
Can’t wait to see and read about your next adventure. Big Bend sounds interesting. Rest and relaxation first.
So many wonderful trails in southern Utah. The NWRs sound nice.
Big Bend is great….would be quite a change from the Grand Canyon!
True, and I’ve never visited Big Bend.
Moving two RVs is a daunting task, it’s no wonder you don’t know what you want to do. I hate that the things we are able to do or not nearly always turn out to be controlled by money. I hope you have some wonderful dream one night that gives the perfect idea for where to spend your winter. It’s pretty inexpensive in Mexico I hear. Perhaps you could just go down there and relax and do nothing or almost nothing. DRAT – why can’t I remember that I can’t comment from Chrome and must open Internet Explorer BEFORE I get down to the ‘put in your name’ where it won’t let me type. Grrrrrr
Lack of money is always a drag. Just can’t seem to make a decision. Sorry about the comment BS. Thanks for your patience until I hopefully can work it out.
Sounds like you’re narrowing it down already and have some time to find a good solution. A couple months on the beach or in the mountains in Mexico sounds pretty sweet. Could you leave the trailer at the park over the winter? Best of luck with your plans 🙂
Feels like the time until end of season is racing towards me. Unfortunately can’t leave the 5er at the canyon, it would be buried in snow.
I’ve always lived my life with the idea that everything happens when it is supposed to.
When you least expect it, the fog will clear and you’ll see the path before you. In the meantime, don’t forget to breathe and take one day at at time.
Take Care,
I should try to live that way Patti, but I’m a planner, with no plan.
Just the end of season blues. Move that big RV down to Yarnell, pack the camper and go to the desert to warm up and veg for a couple of weeks, all will become clear to you once you are rested up.
You are welcome up our way but it won’t be warm or dry so I know we won’t see you this winter. Except maybe in Q in Jan. Hope so!
Hugs from MT.
Hang in there!!
Am considering a move back to Yarnell. I long for the lower desert. Q is on the calendar too.
I couldn’t access the ‘Name’ and ‘Email’ sections of your post last night so I left a comment for you in my Wednesday post which said, ‘I can feel your indecision Gaelyn and understand your desire for change and a new focus. Maybe when in Yarnell the wise old warm Sonoran desert winds blowing up the Yarnell hill will bring you the answers you seek. All the best to you and if we end up boon-docking our way around the South-west this winter we too will be looking for warmer places’.
Been having problems with the commenting and don’t really know why. Thanks for your persistence. I too hope the warm winds send me some answers.
We have pencilled in meeting up with you Bill and Joan at Leisure Bay 13 and 14 Feb 2017 :-)))))) Go with the heart strings. Diane and Nigel
Marked on calendar. We’ll see.
It would a magical get together 🙂
I would love to go to Cuba. I visited with a photographer who spent some time there recently and he said it was great and the people were wonderful. They have heard so much crap over the years about how awful Yankees are and they are just so curious. Plus with all the vintage cars there it is a photographers paradise (those photographers who like to take photos of cars I guess).
I’m tired of working also. I’ve spent 41 years doing what I’m doing.
My only problem with going to Cuba is it has to be done with a tour, which I’m just not into. It’s a good thing I love my job, as I’m tired of working. Still have a few more years before retirement.
At least you have a place to go during the summers. We’re getting tired of figuring out the whole year, but things always seem to work out. Hope it will for you, too.
Summer is the easy part and I usually have a thought or two in mind for winter but not this year.
You sound like me this time of year. I lack motivation and energy. I want to go somewhere but within budget….for example…..this weekend! But just not sure how I’m going to accomplish it. I just know I want to get in my car and drive. Somewhere fun:) Of your choices, I vote on Cabo:)
That sounds appealing as the cold of winter comes on. I have motivation for travel and play but still have several weeks of work left.