Great Value Lodging for Seniors

If one cannot couch surf one's way across the country, the next least expensive way to find lodging is to join those who have reached our golden age.

Reaching ones fifties/sixties definitely has some advantages.  One is great overnight places for super value prices.  One has to be flexible and open to meeting new people.  But for us, it is the only way to go.  Mary and Jim have been using various forms and clubs for several years.  In 2007, they convinced us to become the ever increasing groups who have found this valuable asset.

Elder Hostels have been around for years.  They allow one to stay inexpensively and meet other people.  There are several other clubs and groups.  Affordable Travel, Evergreen Club, Retired Military (don't know the name of this group, but I do know that it is available).

Generally, the way these groups work is that you pay an annual fee to the sponsoring body.  Your name then goes into a book by state/city.  One, therefore, makes his/her home available for visitors and overnight guests.  When one plans a trip, one can email or call someone from the book in the area in which one wishes to stay  The hosting family must provide a private room, but not necessarily a private bath.  Of course, since the basic premise is traveling, many times a potential host is so doing.  Sometimes, the traveler gets an affirmative invitation on the first try; sometimes it takes several tries.  People travel, have medical situations, family coming, home remodeling/renovation...any number of reasons for which one can refuse hosting.  But, most of the people, when at all possible, will host.

Some of my friends are horrified with the idea of spending a night "with strangers!"  So, when was the last time you knew the people/staff at a hotel/motel???

We have found several advantages of this kind of lodging...meeting new people with all kinds of backgrounds--always fun to meet and talk to new people (some who will become long term friends).  We find that one of the greatest assets to this is the ability to tour the local countryside with them (this is a huge plus if they have the time to give you).  They know the roads, shortcuts, places to park, traffic patterns, the least expensive way to do whatever one is trying to do and have a wealth of information that one can never find in a book.

Breakfast is usually (but not always) included.  And occasionally an evening meal with the host(s) comes to fruition--either in their homes or sometimes Dutch treat at their favorite restaurant.

The book gives one all kinds of information about the host family--do they smoke, can you smoke, pets they have, pets that are allowed, can one do laundry, what size and number of beds, etc.

We are members of Evergreen.  Many people are members of more than one of these hosting clubs.  We stayed with seven host families over eight nights.  We had four evening meals which were wonderful, including one neighborhood picnic.

Our first host was in Birmingham, Alabama.  We had the entire upstairs.  When we left them, they gave us some excellent travel tips (about what time to leave and how to avoid Interstate rush hours locally).  Terry had left for work early in the morning, so we only got a picture of Kay.  Kay has some wonderful original art, mostly done by a friend of hers (and some wonderful stories that go along with their acquisition). The conversation we shared was wonderful.

Our next host family were Susan and Kirk in Memphis.  There is a separate blog entry about our visit there.  Their guest room was filled with Elvis memorabilia.  When in Memphis, Elvis and/or the blues reign. We loved the city. And, we especially loved the local tours that they shared with us. Susan collects teapots, a favorite of mine.

The third night out we spent with our friends Ken and Georganne in Forsyth, Missouri.  We met them last year when we enjoyed a matinee show in Branson with them.  We were invited to a neighborhood picnic--brats, hamburg, salads. The food and  fellowship was great. They live on Lake Taneycomo (Taney is the county in which they live).  Ken had had some health problems this year, but was looking really good.  The night we were there, his beloved St. Louis Cardinals were playing the Florida Marlins.  Even though I live in Florida, I am a Red Sox fan.  But, I have never forgiven the Cardinals for beating the Sox in 1967 in the World Series.  I was torn as to which team to root.  Surely, I should root for the host's favorite team.  I did cheer when they pulled ahead, but alas! alack! the Marlins won by one run.  Another evening and morning with other Christians.

We visited longtime OES friends--Linda and Jimmy--in Ash Grove for a couple of hours.  Got a picture of Linda and Steve, but did not get one of Jimmy.

Then we went on to our next host family--Bill and Bonnie--in Gladstone, MO.  We did take a short detour to the [Harry] Truman farm in Grand View.  This is the second time I have visited it, and the second time it was closed. It is run by the National Park Service. A disappointment! I have visited other Truman sights in Independence, but it would have been nice to see the farm house. We shared vanilla ice cream with Bill and Bonnie with home grown raspberries and other fresh fruit on our ice cream.  Yummy!  Bill had designed his house.  Steve is still talking about it.  The front had many windows; the back was in the ground.  Beautiful garden!  We had the entire top floor.  I  enjoyed Christian fellowship with them.

The next day we visited Iowa, including the state capitol in Des Moines (separate posting to come).  That night, since I was not sure how far we were going to travel, we stayed in a motel.  After visiting Des Moines, we traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to its state capitol (also a separate posting to come).  After visiting the capitol, we travelled across the Nebraska farm lands and discovered Nebraska's quarter landmark--Chimney Rock--and then Scottsbluff (separate posting).

Our hosts that evening were Carol and Bill.  They have a cat (sorry kitty, I forgot your name) that reminded me of a husky (Go UCONN??!!).  The cat was primarily gray with a moustache.  Great personality.  They had a beautiful vegetable garden and some really nice flowers.  Cool back yard!  She likes old stuff (much as I do) such as butter churns (we each have the same one), crocks, chicken related items and old kitchen utensils. 

Stopping in Guernsey, Wyoming to see the Trails Ruts Park and then stopping in Douglas, this trip had the ultimate goal of attending a conference in Casper, Wyoming.  The hotel at which this took place was our residence for the next two nights and most of the days. We had a great reception as visitors at this conference.  (three seperate postings.)

Our sixth Evergreeners were Marcia and Leonard in Custer, SD.  Two nights.  Two evening meals...fresh fruit, pot roast, potatoes, gravy, corn on the cob.  We only stayed for one breakfast as we knew if we stayed for breakfast, I would get gabbing, which would prolong our getting on the road.  An egg and sausage sandwich with fresh fruit was the fare for that morning.  Marcia and Leonard drove us all over the county/countryside. (Separate postings on this).  It was bike week in near-by Sturgis, SD (also, separate posting). The silouette of Crazy Horse's head is way up there on top. Leonard's head is right about where part of the horse eventually will be carved (taken by our bus driver).  Beautiful blue sky. Marcia and Leonard look really put together.  Steve and I, a little windblown.  The weather here was cool.  The rest of the trip we had weather that was hot, hot, hot.

During the day on our drive across South Dakota, we stopped at the famous Wall Drug and then onto Pierre's (pronounced Peer) capitol building. (Separate posting to follow).

Our next host couple--Jayne and Loren in Sioux Falls, SD--had had so much rain that their basement was flooded.  One of their guest rooms is in their basement, but they had another one on the level where their room was located.  Another evening of fellowship with fellow Christians.  They were generous with their hospitality despite their flooded basement.

The boys

Leaving South Dakota, we followed I-94 into Minnesota and then to I-35 down into Iowa.  Two more nights were spent with OES friends Patches, Lois and Rich in Clinton on the beautiful Mississippi River across from the town of Fulton, Illinois.  They gave us the grand tour which included Eagle Point Park in Clinton, a trip down Main Street, LeClaire (the birthplace of Buffalo Bill Cody), a stop at the Iowa Welcome Station on the Mississippi River, a visit to the John Deere experience in Moline, Illinois, and a visit to De  Immirgrant (a working old style wind mill). in Fulton, Illinois.  A great time.  No Admission Costs, but donations are accepted at De Immirgrant.

There is kind of a funny story about how Lois and I became friends.  She, from Iowa, I, representing Connecticut went to Portland Oregon for General Grand Chapter of OES in 2003 (This title is the name for our triennial international conference/convention.).  There were several tours which we could choose to take.  A group of ladies from Iowa chose the same one as I did.  I was alone as my traveling companion was visiting her daughter who was living in Portland at the time.  Anyway, we yakked.  There was only one of me and a bunch of them.  Did not see them again. Or so I thought.  In early 2008, Steve and I went to a meeting in Dunnellon, FL. This sweet lady says to me, "Nice to see you again!"  What's she talking about? I thought.  My answer was that I had never been there before.  The next time I saw her, she reminded me where we had met...She said, "Did you go to Portland for General Grand Chapter."  Yes, I had.  "Did you take a tour with some Iowa ladies?"  Yes, I had.  She was one of them.  I think that it is amazing that a lady from Iowa meets a lady from Connecticut on a tour bus in Portland, Oregon.  And the next time they see other is in a small town in Florida.  How wonderful this world is and how small it is.  Even though we truly became friends in 2008, it seems as though we have known each other forever. 

After touring the area, we left for home.  (more separate postings to come).

Thank you, everyone for a most enjoyable trip/vacation/conference.  WE LOVE EVERGREEN and staying with all those wonderful local people who made our trip sooooooooooo great.

http://www.evergreenclub.com/

Patches