Last Week to Work

Ahhhhh. Five more work-days. Lets see, I work a 9 hour day, so that equates to 45 hours, less one is 44 hours (just the way a 4-5-9 schedule works out--that's 4 days the first week, 5 days the second week, 9 hours per day). And, there is only one more week to fuss with that kind of detail. WHEW !!

But what a ride it has been....

The National Park Service has been a wonderful organization for which to work. After Gordon retired from his first career of 30 years, he volunteered at Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos, NM, which subsequently turned into a second career. This past 12 years has provided a marvelous way to give back. Betty started her early Federal career with the Social Security Administration, and then took a break in service starting in 1980 to travel with Gordon in his job (good thing she did or she might have missed South Africa). When Betty rejoined the Feds, she wanted to work for the NPS, and accepted a position with the Southwest Regional Office in Santa Fe. After a short tour of duty in D.C., we moved to San Francisco where she joined the NPS transition team as the Army transferred The Presidio of San Francisco to Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Betty retired in January, 2006 after 29 years of service as the manager of the Recreation Fee Program for GGNRA.

The NPS is popular with politicians as well as the public and as a result, is not without conflict. However, the NPS is the ONE Federal Agency nearly everyone LOVES and most are willing to support it. What an honor and privilege for us to have been allowed this association. We are proud of the professionalism, the skill and the dedication of the individuals with whom we have worked and we both look forward to continuing this experience as Volunteers in Parks (VIP).

Gordon went to Dakota Ridge RV Park today (Saturday) to our "Retirement Villa" (see earlier posts) to do some additional stocking of supplies and equipment. We will pick up the fifth wheel from storage next Saturday and take it to our home area where we will make final preparations to travel.

This past week has been great weather-wise, tho' a tad windy. Today is to be 80+ degrees. However, on Monday the weather is to change...rain and snow, high of 40. Okay, so summer is not quite here, but we still have the fever. Can't wait to get rolling on our adventure.

Wednesday is Gordon's retirement lunch hosted by the Intermountain Regional Contracting and Procurement office. And, on his last day of work on Friday, Betty has offered a special dinner celebration at Simms Landing in Lakewood, overlooking downtown Denver. Oh boy, it is a favorite.

Our thanks to each of you who have visited our blog this past week Have a great week, next week. To be sure, Gordon WILL !!!

Until next weekend...CHEERS !!!