What are you going to do now

Just retired and planning to go traveling in a camper van

Newly retired

"What are you going to do now? The mobile hair dresser asked

"We are going to buy a motor home and go travelling"

The questions came quickly

 

"Where will you go" she asked

"Any place we can go on four wheels

We are booked for a holiday in Spain and Portugal

After Christmas" I replied

 

How will you get there;

How do you know which road to take

Where will you eat

Who will cook for you

Where will you buy the food

How will you get your camper across to Spain

Do you all meet up and travel together

The questions came fast

 

No we travel alone and meet up

Some people go in September and stay until May 

We have a road map

The roads have numbers and signs like in UK

We will go to a supermarket

My wife will cook in  the camper we have and oven an hot rings

We will take the boat from Portsmouth

 

They went on chartered tours

Air port by transport provided

And to the hotel

Sit in the sun for ten days

A travel rep to solve all the problems

 

Yes we can sit in the sun on the beech

They have dances and socials at night

We intend to go and see places

No we don't speak Spanish YET !

 

Oh what different lives we lead

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love the way your poem shows instead of tells (first rule of good writing): ALL people see a vacation very differently! I love all the questions . . . & then later, the answers. Playful realistic details. There's definitely a strong appeal in leaving lots of details to be explored & discovered & worked out. Some people are natural worriers & can't stand uncertainty! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thanks > Thing is we were travelling to southern Spain alone {lots of stops to check were still on the right road AND yes on the correct side of the road
Once on a rally (organised meeting not a motor rally) we met with other Brits and gleaned info from them here to go/avoid
We go on days out (like at home)
All the essentials were organised > bit picked up like : tell the card people your card is lost; you get a new one - carry both but leave the old one in your van/room when you go out. A theif will find

[Wild Rose]

Ups its sent it early - Find the old card (still in date apparently) and make off with that - doesn't work

[Einstein Noodle]

changing the point of reference in V5 threw me a bit... had to re-read to understand it is your narrator speaking about the questioners ... other than that i like the format of questions and answers ..in my youth i very much heard and responded to the call of wanderlust .. without plan nor destination many times .. i ended up meeting the most peculiar of people and places ;) your poem reflects the differences we have when it comes to vacations ... planned out or unplanned ... both have their pluses and minuses ..kind of a fun read ... I am in the US and i imagine your travels are much different where you are ... as your closing states :)
E.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you for reading and review
Sorry about V5 - writing as I go on & don't read before posting
Our travels (both cyclists) in UK we don't plan (now) weather is good - get in the camper (just fill with drinking water) and away

Overseas (Europe) we need passports, travel insurance both personal and motor (to return it and us home if unable to drive_ Know several who have been brought home by air and a driver flown out to bring their outfit home

[Einstein Noodle]

sounds like you are having a great adventure as you re-define yourselves in retirement...i think it is the key to more happiness and fulfillment in our lives than ever before retiring ... God bless you guys!!!!

[Neville]

It takes all sorts my friend... I thoroughly enjoyed these words.. so easy to relate to and true... Neville

[Wild Rose]

We were both cyclists and had learned to be independent > we don't fit in with guided bus tours
read moreWe were both cyclists and had learned to be independent > we don't fit in with guided bus tours
or sitting on the sands holidays
Sitting in the sun with a map "Shall we go to that Parque Natural Place tomorrow ?
Call in at that harbour where they sell fish straight out of the boat ?
I'll make some sarnies

[Neville]

May your wheels never buckle my friend....

[Wild Rose]

Our light weight wheels were sold - long time gone

Now they are R225 16 (think 225 any way)

[Neville]

well just you take care on them bends..

[Chris Shaw]

An exciting way to start retirement. I bet you had a lot of fun in your camper van, visiting new places, and meeting new people.Of course before you go off on an adventure of this sort, there would be a great deal of questions that needed to be asked and answered. I bet you took lots of photographs as well.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

We met as cyclist & were away every weekend at YHA's
Then when we married bought a small tent > converted to a caravan
Booked for a cruise - then when it came to pay we bought a caravan instead
So to go abroad it was just Phrase books: Maps: Passports: Insurances and ferries the latter were booked through the Camping Club

Photos we only had colour slide flims So did take too many
We came back from Iceland with 3000 good shots on digital plus videos

[Verse]

Sounds like a great way to see Spain as a family without ridiculous hotel prices.

What a lovely write about the joys of being together. :):)

V

[Wild Rose]

I joined the YHA ay 14 YO never liked to be told where to go [supermarket for 4 hours; tourist place 30 mins]
Wife was also a cyclist so is also used to independent travelling
One guy decided he wanted to travel with us; we didn't like him. So we arranged to meet up somwehre, and we somewhere else
We found a few like that one couple were being dominated by their 'friend' I passed on our dodge
Don't like the campsite - move on

[Verse]

Exactly right - why live the regimented life when you're retired and trying to break away from all that?

[Onlyme]

This sounds fantastic, getting a camper van and travelling the world. Good on you. More power to you.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Dawn We only go where our wheel can take us Furthest south is Gibraltar
North is Husavik - Whale watching in Iceland one km south of the Arctic Circle

[Onlyme]

Sounds exciting and amazing to me. Good lucky and great adventures to you both. Dawn.