Retirement Travel Log

Procrastination and a foggy memory do not for a consistent blog make. I promised myself an entry on the trips that Janet and I have taken since I retired at the end of June 2021. Before this gets completely away from me, I’m going to get some of this information recorded.

Our motto for the retirement chapter is: Sixties are the go go years; Seventies are the slow go years; and Eighties are the no go years. Having taken leave of my responsibilities at the University of Oregon Libraries at the age of 62, Janet and I now have 8-9 years to explore while our health and energy levels are optimal. To track our efforts, the following is a list of “major” excursions that we are planning and have undertaken. I’m not going to try and track all the visits to Puyallup (kids and grandkids) and Walla Walla (Janet’s family) … just the trips that require intentional advance planning and additional expense.

To say I am blessed is a grand understatement. If anything, this list will remind me to count blessings and remember the best things in life: time with family and especially with my amazing, capable and fun-loving companion for life. 🙂

2027 – Ages 67/68 and 66/67

• Trip to Ireland (w/Tammi – September)
• Visit Suttons in Paris? (August)
• Pend D’Oreille Shores
• Road Scholar (Parker’s trip)
• Viking Great Lakes Collection – 5/16 – 5/30
• Marriott Shadow Ridge, Palm Desert – 2/13 – 2/20

2026 – Ages 66/67 and 65/66

• Peru, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca Discovery – 10/23 – 11/1 (Eugene Chamber of Commerce with Rod & Mitzi)
• Pend D’Oreille Shores – 7/10 – 7/17
• Viking Homelands – 5/11 – 5/25 (Viking Ocean Cruise with Mitzi and Rod Shirk)
• Italy with Jen-S-Ko Travel (Mark, Janet, Jen) – 3/27 – 4/10

2025 – Ages 65/66 and 64/65

• Sisters’ Trip to South/North Carolina (Karen, Janet and Jen) – 9/26 – 10/4
• Nature’s Laboratory: Wild FInds in the Galapagos with Family with Alex & Bethany – 8/6 – 8/16 (Road Scholar)
• Pend D’Oreille Shores with Millers & Suttons – 7/11 – 7/18 (Celebration of Life for Al Skoglund)
• Klamath River Motorcycle Trip – 6/16 – 6/18 (John)
• Enchanting Ireland: Town & Country – 5/16 – 5/26 (Road Scholar)
• Marriott Vacation Club Shadow Ridge, Palm Desert – 2/15 – 2/22

2024 – Ages 64/65 and 63/64

• France’s Finest: Paris to Avignon – 10/13 – 10/27 (Viking)
• Pend D’Oreille Shores with Suttons & Millers – 7/12 – 7/19
• Spain: Bilbao, Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid with Bethany and Sammi – 4/1 – 4/11
• Marriott Vacation Club Shadow Ridge, Palm Desert with Tammi & Roger – 2/10 – 2/17

2023 – Ages 63/64 and 62/63

• Christmas @ Disneyland and California Adventure with the Suttons and Millers – 12/25 – 12/29
• On the Road: The Best Fall Foliage in New England – 10/2 – 10/12 (Road Scholar)
• Janet, Petey, Jenny and Tucker: Victoria, B.C. – 9/13 – 9/20
• Motorcycle Journey to visit Don & Julie Shrumm – 9/8 – 9/18
• Pend D’Oreille Shores with the Suttons and Millers – 7/14 – 7/21
• Amy Selven’s Wedding – 6/24
• San Diego with Selvens – 5/15 – 5/18
• Scottsdale: spring break with Suttons & Millers – 4/9 – 4/16
• Australia and New Zealand (Janet with friends) – 2/27 – 3/20 (Meridian Guided Travel)

2022 – Ages 62/63 and 61/62

• Pearls of the Adriatic – 9/20 – 9/30 (Road Scholar)
• Anchorage, AK – 8/14 – 8/17
• Pend D’Oreille Shores – 7/15 – 7/22
• Aulani: a Disney Resort & Spa with the Suttons and Millers – 6/18 – 6/25
• Kaari Selven’s Wedding (Hopland, CA) – 6/10 – 6/12

2021 – Ages 61/62 and 60/61

• Thanksgiving in Puyallup with Larry, Merrily & Petey the Puppy – 11/24 – 11/28 (VRBO)
• Seaside, OR with Jenny & Tucker – 10/29 – 10/31 (VRBO)
• Driving Tour of the West: CA, AZ, CO, UT – 9/8 – 9/23
• Walla Walla with the Suttons and Millers – 8/6 – 8/9 (VRBO on Chestnut)
• Pend D’Oreille Shores – 7/9 – 7/16