am I crazy??

We mite have a chance to go to Alaska in June & stay till Sept. We would go in a large motor home (bus type) Am I crazy for thinking about giving up my garden for a year? I would have to start all over next year.. Give me some feedback. It will be a once in a life time chance.

This message was edited Feb 20, 2004 2:18 PM

I would go for it, chances like that-Wow. If you have perennials or potted plants-could someone else give you a hand with a bit of watering ect?

never miss a once in a lifetime chance. jmho

Marcia we could move some of the pots to the front where the Hostas are. It will have auto watering & the weeds aren't too bad there but in the back where the flowers are the weeds get bad. Auto watering there would really creat a jungle. Yes, maybe a few plants a neighber could water some but would not pull the weed. I know I'd lose some but maybe not all. I hate to give up this chance. A lot of details will have to be worked out & some may be diffacult but at least we have a start. This all just come up last nite so right now I'm kinda overwhelmed with the idea. It would be a dream come true & we would be treated like royalty all summer in Alaska. This Alaska family of ours know how to really live.

With a once in a lifetime chance, and only one life, I'd say go for it because otherwise you will kick yourself unmercifully.

With weed cloth barriers covered with a layer of weed free mulch such as wood chips, bark or gravel and combined with a good watering system can greatly reduce the losses in an established garden during a prolonged absence. So if you have someone that will be checking on your place while you are gone and can make certain the water system does it's job you should be able to have your chance of a lifetime and not have to pay for it with a total loss of a garden! Or, if finances allow, you might want to hire a garden service to take care of it while you are away.

Any way you look at it, a chance like that cannot be replaced but a garden can be replanted if necessary!

I would take that once in a lifetime trip. Maybe you could send some of your plants to other DG friends with the promise from them to send a start back when you get home again and settled back in.

GO for it. Have fun and send us some pictures.

Yes, GO FOR IT Sugar_fl!!
It's amazing how plants can survive
You've lots of good ideas above to help reduce losses I was going to suggest thick mulches etc - but Zany's beaten me to it ;)

ENJOY

Tell ya what, Howie and I will go to Alaska in your place. No? Well that's your answer! Go for it! What a great opportunity! :D

Go for it Sugar. Whatever you lose, there are plenty of us here to help you replace them. Have a GREAT time!

I've been to Alaska 5 times. Once for 6 weeks. Do not miss this trip! You know all about the natural wonders to be seen so I won't even mention those. Just wait until you meet the people; they're among the friendliest folks I've ever met. Have a ball!!

It looks like the trip is developing good. Our Stepdaughter (DH late wife's daughter) Next door to us said she would be more than glad to take care of the pets (3 dogs & 3 cats)
Said she would do the best she could with the flowers. I expect to lose some but maybe not too many.
DH has been there twice & he says the same thing as U do Bob. He drove a motor home the 1st time & flew the other time. We will drive. This is my 1st time of course. Lets hope everything else goes as good as today has. Even found out his uncle has a laptop he has never used we can take. I've never used one but it can't be too different. Not sure how they work on the road either. I need to learn.
A few days ago I never dreamed this could be possible.
Don't wake me if I'm dreaming :)

Sugar don't wake up..... This is a chance of a life time go for it. (pssst can I hide in your luggage?)

Mystic I understand my luggage will be limited (4 in the motor home) so if U can fold up like the paper people (Dave & trisha) sure U can *LOL*

lol I sure wish I could. I hope it all works out and you have a wonderful time.

Oh, waaay cool.

I have spent several summers in Alaska usualy from May into first part of Sept. Also the better part of one winter.

If I got the chance to do just one more summer there I would spray my two acre yard with atrizene ,grab half dozen fishing rods and not look back.

When I retire the plan is to hook my boat to my truck and do just that health permiting. Ernie

Okay, if GW and Mystic are offering to go with you AND for you....I'll offer to move to FL for the season and be your gardener. :) You can replace whatever plants you lose and probably do it easily with help from your friends here. Alaska may be a one shot deal. I say GO FOR IT!!

Badseed.. we are headed for Ohio 1st. Going to DH's old hometown to meet up with his aunt & Uncle (& motor home)
It is just east of Canton on a farm. His Aunt & Uncle live in N Canton. This is my 1st time there. My travel experences have been very limited. Guess I will make up for that this summer as even after we get to Alaska we will do a lot of site seeing & traveling there. We will have cars available to us plus the MH. DH said I will have gone from one corner of the USA to the other & back. Will even get out of the US for the 1st time ever (Canada.) I'm sure we will meet some wonderful people along the way.
BTW I sure could use a good gardener.. how soon can U leave *LOL*

Let's see, it is overcast, gloomy and cool, probably only in the 40s. I LOVE Florida! Find me a good midwife and I will leave today. LOL My dad lived in FL for years and I visited every summer. Then I lived on Key Largo (at Ocean Reef) a couple of summers before Andrew hit. I'd go back in a heart beat! You may not be able to send me back home though. ;)

I don't think you'll come close to me, going to Canton, but if you do, feel free to stop and say hi. I'm geographically challenged. LOL

My travels have been limited to the West by motor home when I was about 7, to Florida every summer and sometimes at Christmas, one trip to GA, one trip to MI and loads of trips to Brentwood, TN. My most grand trip was a cruise the year my hubby and I married. It was also the first and only time I left the US. Now that was fun!

I hear Alaska is beautiful. I don't think I could pass it up. You better watch out for moose though. Just ask Weezi. hehehe

Badseed.. it's a small world I guess.. Greenwood worked for 14 years at Ocean Reef (Purdue Dean) He was there during Andrew.. If your dad had a boat he may have even known him. He was the service manager. He still has a daughter, Brother, neices & nephews there.. we were there right after Christmas this year. Is the name Baad or Neilson familiar to U at all?

Badseed, you won't be tied down by babies for ever. My two are teens & gone in their cars most of the time. They come home when they need $4 or a parent volunteer for something.I only see the college girl once a week now (to do her laundry). And it seems like the 17 year old is always rehearsing for some play. My gardens are getting bigger because I have more time now that the girls don't need me as much. I traveled alot before i was married & they were born . DH & I will soon start traveling again(if college doesn't clean us out!)

Sugar, any chance we could meet you guys? We'd love to meet you both! :)

Don't let this one pass ya by, gal.........get on that horse and go!! Couldn't you get some local kids lined up for a little summer money to come by 2 times a month to pull the major weeds? Just a thought............have fun, do it in a heartbeat!!

"eyes"

GW how far are U from Canton? We would love to meet U too :)

Got some great ideas from the garden listed above. I used to travel a lot more in the past-learned to leave most of the stuff at home; mix/match; stuff easily wash and wear. The most important was well fitted shoes---I used to travel only with high heels-murder on the feet of a tourist!!!

We're about 2 hours from the Akron/Canton area. Janiejoy's up that way, too, as is HoneyGirl.

GW wonder if there is any chance MAYBE we could meet 1/2 way. Maybe others could join us. We will probably have a few days in Ohio as GWood kinda wants to look up a few old school friends. He also wants to show me some things like his childhood home & the farm. Most of his family there have passed on or moved. We will see several in Alaska.

Marcia His aunt who is a seasoned traveler told me the other nite to bring 2 weeks of underware & only what is really needed of other stuff. I sure will take my most comfortable shoes..slippers too :D She said to bring a heavy coat & maybe even a cap & gloves. I don't have a heavy coat but will layer. A hooded sweatshirt & long sleeve shirt is all I ever wear. I do have Florida blood now so I probably will freeze in Aug *LOL*

This message was edited Feb 22, 2004 11:38 PM

Alaska is nice in august you won't freeze nights may be cold for you depending on where you are. Take less clothes more fish stuff . Forget perfume draws bugs with long beaks.

Crossing back through the border coming home don't wear sunglasses or gold chains and take copy of birth cert and no guns and not more than 10 thousand in cash. Be prepared to be cleaned out at the gas pumps. Have fun Ernie

Eweeds, The money will be no problem..gotta have it to take it *S*
Gas won't be our problem.. they are paying all travel expenses except maybe food. Don't have any gold chains.
We will be mostly in Anchorage but hope to tour around some.
The only fishing I'll do will be from a boat as I have problems standing up in water. I lose my balance. Isn't most salmon fish cought by standing in the water? I do plan on eating my share of salmon though. I like all kinds of fish. I may get up the nerve to go up in one of their planes & see it some from the air.

Sugar do the air thing I have flown hours and hours in the bush just pick high wing plane they have a long glide ratio should the engine conk out but that is rare lol safer than driving and those guys are good.

Keni Penninusla is close to anchorage. Ernie

I think I'd be gone already if someone gave me a chance!! I have always wanted to travel the AlCan Hwy. My BIL ran the ice highway one winter - that might be a bit much for me! Friends that spent a summer camping in Alaska told me not to take many jeans if you have to use a laudromat - very expensive to dry them. They bought more stretch pants/leggings type while up there and packed most of the jeans away. Hope you have a wonderful time and keep us posted with pics. :)

eweeds...DH family there all have their own planes. Most are on floats. DH has owned his own plane (several) but that was years ago. He even was 1/2 owner in a small airport many years ago. He hasn't flown in years. He sure looks forward to going up again.

Kooger we will have a dryer we can use anytime we wish once we get there. I will probably wear knits traveling though as we will probably have to use a laundering mat.. Thanks for the tip.

Wow! I have missed a lot on here. I've been trying to make myself finish some remodeling but I think I am running out of gas. LOL I'm actually trying to get some seeds going too. I'm nuts.

Sugar, it's actually been a long time since Ocean Reef and saying that really makes me feel old! LOL Strangely enough, the people I remember meeting down there, were actually from Ohio. I pretty much preferred chatting with the 'hired help' over many of the home owners. ;) I met the people that own Teasdale Fenton Cleaners, United Dairy Farmer and big wigs from USF&G, etc. My BIL was one of the latter. He and my sister had a house down there, were building an even bigger house and also kept up with a condo. They had a boat, driven by Captain Steve and for the life of me, I can't remember the Chauffer's name but I am thinking it was Carl. I considered staying there and working but came back home. My Sis and BIL ended up divorcing soon after. I'm glad I came back to Ohio and met my hubby. LOL

Thanks for the kind words Wanda. :) I have no regrets about being kept busy by the kids and sadly I know they won't stay little long. Kind of wish I could keep ONE little! The eldest is 10 1/2 now and going on 30. Things could get ugly here in another couple of years. LOL

badseed.. it would be funny if it was him.. both he & his stepdaughter worked there & both are from Ohio. She lives next door to us now & is our helper with the pets & all.

Just do it!!! You will kick your collective rears for years if you don't take this oppourtunity. SOmetimes in communities there are programmes the high schools or church groups organize to help keep their youth busy (with supervision of course and a small donation on your part to their cause) during the summer months. Up here in Ontario, Canada the high schoolers have to complete a certain number of hours of Volunteer Work before they can graduate even if they have all of their academics - some kids procrastinate and desperately need the hours - your situation could certainly qualify here. Call the local school Guidance Department, the youth pastors at several churches, you don't have to attend them in order to get some help. Explain your situation, being a 'senior' and all ....
Whatever you do, don't miss this chance! D.

KG.. if God's willing we are gonna take this trip.. my animals (3 dogs & 3 cats are being cared for .. that was important to us. I'm sure the garden will be in shamble but just not gonna worry about that. I will do all I can to help it & next doors will help but gardens aren't their thing. Even if something happens like health it will still have given us some happy thoughts for sure.
I have never been to Canada & looking forward to seeing some of it too.

Go for it!!! I have always wanted to see Alaska. My thumbs are mostly brown..crimsontsavo's are more green...we're both in Fountain,so if we can help(yes Jocelyn,I'm volunteering you) let us know.

We spend every summer in Alaska, well OK, upstate NY only SEEMS like Alaska at this time of year. I meticulously weed the bedding plants and borders and use Preen throughout just before migrating North. I have a lawn service mow the grass here (Spring Hill,FL). This year I have a person who will weed a couple times a month for 6 bucks an hour. Expect the total cost for the season to be around $500.00. Even when no weeding was done it only took me a half day to straighten up the place. By all means GO!