Today is my 72nd Birthday

Time is precious!

Photo by Carnaby Gilany on Unsplash

Today is my birthday. I turned 72 years young. I feel free and know what matters to me now. At last, I know where I want to go and spend my time.

Camping in the Backyard

I've been camping in my daughter's backyard since March 2022 while helping her solve some legal matters. I'm also practicing on my writing craft and getting more organized with managing my time.

Even though the grey camper van has air-conditioning, it's still in the 90 degrees inside. So, I stay in my daughter's home where I help her clean house, cook, work on legal papers, and sometimes watch TV. Also, I work on my writing skills and learning Obsidian.

I have everything in the van I need to live comfortably; running water, writing table, refrigerator, lamps, fans, books, food, and internet. I have minimal amount of clothes and only two pair of shoes. I keep a few dishes and a couple of pots and pans. I almost forgot to mention my coffee pot and smoothie maker.

I have solar and Puck lights, for whenever I need them. My Puck lights require 3 AAA batteries and I can attach them wherever I need them. For solar, I use the Lucy lights. When morning comes, I set the Lucy lights in the window to recharge by the sun. They are great and cost $12 on Amazon. I also have a desk lamp with USB connections to charge my cell phone.

Camped out in my daughter’s backyard Image by author.

My Internet Connection

I connect to the internet with my cell phone hotspot using a service from visible. I get unlimited data for $25 a month and the service is enough for me to teach middle school for 8 hours a day with no down time, except if a tornado is in the air. I’m pleased with the service.

If you want to become a digital nomad and earn your living on the road, now's a good time to do it since the pandemic, more opportunities have opened up to work online.

Some people are reluctant to travel because of the gas prices, but there's a way to manage your travel plans.

I want to meet up in Pahrump, Nevada and join a caravan. Some Caravans travel 300 miles in 3 months and offer various classes such as outdoor cooking, study of the Stars Etc. I thought it might be interesting for me to learn new things while relaxing and socializing with like-minded people..

Since turning 72 years old I checked all my options and decided on my best choices which are writing, traveling, crafts, music, watching a few movies and displaying gratitude. other than these options, I can't think of a better life for me and it's all doable.

While camping in the gray van, I've invested in a course titled; The Eight crafts of Writing. I have a wonderful teacher named Stephen and I work with other authors who cheer me on while writing my first novel.

Our lesson this week is about writing your stories’ premise. This is all new to me. iIn a nutshell, a strong promise tells the reader three things.

1. who the story is about

2. the protagonist goal

3. that which resists the protagonist goal

I got an idea six months ago to write a strong a story about a homeless veteran living under a bridge who wants to buy a home. His name is Smitty Randall Smith. It's been fun developing my character.

But my biggest hurdle is finding time to research and write every day. Shante Grimes from Ninja Writers Club writes 10 minutes a dayand publishes three novels a year. I'm sure she writes more than 10 minutes a day, but maybe she writes 10 minutes a day in several spurts that add up 2 hours, but I get the gist, just write every day.

Keep in touch I'll see you next Tuesday.

Love,

Carol