Wow, it's funny how people have such different ideas of what is worth seeing. I've been to Niagra five times, with and without kids. I could stare at those Falls endlessly. Every time I go I do every possible "tour" of the Falls. The Cave of the Winds is not to be missed. Sometimes I get off the MOM and get right back on the next trip, and the next. I'm mesmerized by those Falls and the closer I get to them the better. I'm not fond of the cable car over the whirlpool, but I do it if the others in my group want to do it. I heard the cave that goes behind the Falls is closed now and if so I'll be heartbroken as that is a fantastic experience. I am told that Goat Island is the best of all the attractions in NF, but somehow I have never managed to get over there. There is a safari/amusement park between NF and Toronto...my whole family loves that place. The only thing I've really enjoyed seeing in TO is the "castle" that is there. I spent a week at 1,000 islands once. It was a long week, lol. The highlight of that trip was also a castle built on a privately owned island. NF does have a horrible area full of mini golf, funhouses, ripleys, etc.

As everyone knows I love to travel and especially around our own country. In March we went to Fredericksburg, TX for a week along with our friends who have a toy hauler 5th wheel. We had our motorcycles with us and rode all over the countryside. We also went to the LBJ National Historic Park, which is so interesting. In the middle of June we headed to the Pacific Northwest and toured around Oregon, Washington, Idaho. I also got to meet up with 6 members of the KT. We saw several National Parks along the way. We ended up at Teton National Park in Wyoming. In October I flew to Cincinnati and did a driving tour with Murraysmom. We were on the road for 10 days and drove over 2,200 miles. We got to meet with 10 KTer's. Murraysmom and I had never met before and had a wonderful time. Just last month we went to Galveston to see MarilynC and also the surrounding area. I had a get together in my motor home and enjoyed the company of 5 KTer's while we were in the Galveston area. We also got to visit with RuthieG on our way to Galveston and hopefully will see her again in late January. We will be heading out again mid January heading to Florida to see my folks and other relatives I have there. Hopefully I will get to see some more KT friends that I have also seen over the past few years. There are many places I still haven't been to but hopefully will have a good 10 years to venture out and enjoy our great country and all it has to offer. Being retired we don't have to wait for a holiday to enjoy our motor home. I just wish I could keep him on the road longer. He is a homing pigeon and says he needs to go home after a month to six weeks on the road. My ideal way to travel is to go 400 miles and set up, then take day trips to see everything of interest in a 150 mile radius. Then move another 400 miles and do it over again. It also saves on gas to do this since you are not returning home so often and then having to go back to where you were and start over. With diesel prices being anywhere from $3.69 to 4.29 a gallon and only getting 7-8 miles to a gallon it cost about $288.00 a day on the road figuring a 400 mile day. I tell my husband it is only money and we can't take it with us. We earned it and we want to enjoy it and spend it during our lifetime. If there is anything left over the kids are welcome to it. I hope all of you that want to travel get to do so. We live life only once so enjoy it to the fullest.

Hubby and I grew up as neighbors in Northern California (Saratoga) and moved to Southern California when we married in 1973. He was in the Navy stationed in So Cal. We are currently in our third home near the coast in Orange County (OC) and have been here 34 years. It's a small single family home in a planned community that values open space set aside for nature conservation and recreation. I spend a good deal of time at a wildlife sanctuary 4 miles from home and often hike local mountains. I can easily hike in the morning and be at the beach (Newport, Laguna or Huntington) in the afternoon. We also still own our second home, also in OC. Our son lives in that though he is currently in escrow on his own place. OC lies between Los Angeles and San Diego making a trip to either place about an hour away. Though living in OC one really doesn't need to go anywhere else as there is plenty to do here. Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are under 20 miles away. Lots of shopping nearby. Performing arts opportunities abound and even a good sized airport (John Wayne). Our home is small but we were able to comfortably raise two kids in it with excellent schools nearby. We are walking distance to banks, medical facilities and lakes (man made). Tennis courts, bicycle and running paths, and nature surround us. While I love it here, I am interested in moving to another country for a year before I die. Both of our homes have been paid off for many years so essentially we could rent both out and live anywhere on the profits we earn from rental income. Three more years and I'll be set to retire. Yea! :-)

A seller asked me to move into his house for free for several months before closing. Why? He wanted to close after owning it for two years for tax benefit. It was good for me, he had the bigger exposure such as me not closing and not moving out.. It all worked out fine. As said, each party to the transaction makes personal decisions which is best for each person. I'm still in the don't move out early camp, to each his own. I've bought and sold many properties and never had a serious problem. I do always try to keep agreements to my benefit and and not lose everage. Why fault a Realtor if both parties understand the risk and agree to it?