This week Mrs. DivHut, baby DivHut and myself will be taking a road trip up the west coast of California, Oregon and Washington with a long visit in Seattle as our final destination. The drive is “scheduled” to take about seven or eight days each way with stops along the road to enjoy the scenery and small towns we’ll be passing through along the way. Of course, baby DivHut may have his own ideas about where and when he’d like to stop but we’ll attempt to keep to a schedule as best we can. Once we reach Seattle we plan on visiting the city and more as we plan to stay approximately two weeks in the northwest. I still plan on updating DivHut during the four weeks we’ll be on the road with the usual dividend income updates, recent buy(s) and stock considerations for the up coming month. I’ll have my laptop with me throughout our journey just in case juicy buying opportunities come up.
I look forward to this trip, diaper changes and all at various rest stops, as I will be spending quality time with my family and creating memories of our adventure that will last a lifetime. As you already know, life is more than a savings rate, dividend income update or high yielding stock. It’s about taking time for yourself, family or whatever passion drives you. I find that life is a balance and that you are young only once and while working hard, smart and living in a frugal manner is wise, nothing in life is guaranteed, especially your future, and so you must balance that diligence with some fun.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer, whether at home, abroad or somewhere in between. As dividend investors we are all very aware of time and how finite it is, so don’t forget to enjoy it every now and then.
Outstanding DH! It sounds like something our family would do, and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Look forward to heading the stories and seeing the pictures, because that’s one drive I haven’t made. Yet 🙂
Safe travels
-Bryan
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Hi IS,
It is a truly amazing drive. Just going up the coast of California has been crazy scenic. Doing all the major stops along the way too with Morro Bay, Pismo, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, 17-Mile Drive, S.F., and following the 1 or 101 up towards Crescent City and southern Oregon. From there passing through Coos Bay visiting Tillamook and sampling some cheese and ice cream! The drive itself is a pleasure seeing the redwoods and beaches pretty much all the way up. Still, a couple days away from hitting Seattle and look forward to what’s ahead. Baby DivHut has been cooperating most of the time. Those rest stops come in handy for the diaper changes and feedings along the way. Still, it’s a great trip with great memories being made. Thanks for commenting.
I hope you and the family have a great and safe trip! Any specific activities planned for Baby DivHut?
Sincerely,
ARB–Angry Retail Banker
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Hi ARB,
Thank you for the well wishes. We are still on our journey towards Seattle and have seen tons of great scenic highway along the way. Mrs. DivHut would sit in the back seat many times and sing to him or give him toys to play with. Sometimes he falls asleep for two hours or so which gives us both quiet time. I have to say that those rest stops along the highway come in handy for those inevitable dirty diapers and feedings. Great memories being made, that’s for sure. Thank you for stopping by.
Sounds awesome DH! I’ve never been ton the Pacific Northwest but has always wanted to go. I’m glad you’re getting to take your time getting there and back. Being able to meander a bit is always good. Have a great 4 weeks!
Hi JC,
So far so good. We are driving for almost one full week seeing a lot of amazing scenery along the way. It’s great to be able to take time and actually stop and visit some of the places along the way instead of just passing through. I think on the way back south we’ll stop off at the Jelly Belly factory in California. Tourist trap??? Or maybe something fun. We’ll see. The Pacific Northwest is amazing. It’s what you would imagine it to be. Trees, trees and more trees. Very green and scenic with a very mild to cool climate. This whole trip we barely broke above 75 degrees. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Sounds awesome! What do you that you are able to take so much time off?
Evan @ Building Income Investments recently posted…Undervalued Dividend Growth Watch List July 2016
Hi BII,
It’s been a great drive so far with a lot more to come. I’m happy to be able to spend this time with my family and build some pretty fun memories. I have been self-employed since 1998. I briefly mention in my “About” section that I am an “Internet entrepreneur that launched several dot coms with varying success in each.” I started an online streaming business with a college buddy of mine 18 years ago and haven’t looked back. It’s given me much greater control over my time and allowed me to travel all over the world and now spend time with my family as needed. Of course, running your own business has its headaches but it does offer you a lot more flexibility with your time. As always, I appreciate your comment.
Sounds like a great plan! Kudos for doing such a long road trip with a baby…
Show us some pics.
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Hi ambertree,
You sound like my parents before we left on this journey. They questioned my sanity about wanting to go on such a long road trip with a baby. So far, so good. Yes, we must take more regular stops along the highway for diaper changes and feedings but almost one week into the drive and I have no complaints and don’t feel like tearing my hair out 🙂 Thank you for commenting.
More to life…very well said DH.
I wish you all a safe and fruitful trip?
Best.
Hi FM,
Thank you for your well wishes. So far everything on this road trip has been great. The amazing scenery and stops along the way, Mrs. DivHut for really entertaining baby DivHut during some of the longer stretches of highway and all the memories I’m creating with my family. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Nice!! We made that same trip last year. Glass beach, Fern canyon, Thor’s well, Seaside Oregon, Astoria, the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle, all fantastic stuff. We’re looking at WA as a retirement location from the Bay Area
Hi DH,
There is so much to see along this drive it’s crazy. Just enjoying all the amazing scenery along the way seeing the forest meet the ocean in many parts is really breath taking. Of course, sharing the experience with your family makes it that much better. Some of the stops we made up the CA and OR coast have been, Morro Bay, Pismo, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, 17-Mile Drive, S.F., and following the 1 or 101 up towards Crescent City and southern Oregon. From there passing through Coos Bay visiting Tillamook and sampling some cheese and ice cream too. Seattle is still a couple days away for us. Maybe more if we do some extra stops along the way. On the way back south we’ll be on the 5 mostly and I’m looking at a Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens stop while in WA. As always, I appreciate your comment.
Enjoy your road trip! We’re doing a road trip next week too, although not as long distance compared to you.
Hi Tawcan,
Thank you for the kind words. It’s been a great trip so far seeing a ton of awesome natural scenery. The Pacific Northwest doesn’t disappoint and neither did the California coast. Where are you planning to visit on your road trip? I look forward to reading your adventure with two baby Ts! Thank you for commenting.
I remember those days, long road trips with young children trapped in a car. What could go wrong 🙂 Aside from too much kid car time, it sounds like a great trip. Have fun.
Hi IH,
Unless I’m mistaken, it looks like you are remembering those road trip days with fondness. Yes, we are taking regular stop breaks along the highway for diaper changes and feedings but for the most part baby DivHut is taking to the car quite well. Of course, having Mrs. DivHut shouldering a lot of his load during the drive helps a lot too. The places we are visiting and the amazing scenery along the way makes it all worthwhile. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
hey DivHut,
I really like the idea of a road trip! have fun!
looking forward to some pictures 🙂
best regards
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Hi easydividend,
It’s been great and our first real road trip since baby DivHut was born. I’m happy to be able to share this experience with him and my wife. If you ever make it to the west coast of the U.S. I highly recommend a visit along the California coast. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Hope you enjoy your vacation! The states you mentioned should have fantastic weathers, especially on the coasts. I’ve been to California once and man the weather the scenes that you could see were very memorable.
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Hi FS,
Driving almost one full week with Mrs. DivHut and baby DivHut has been great. It’s true about the California coastal climate. I can hardly believe it’s summer as our temperature this whole trip did not go above 75 degrees. I expect it to warm up a bit once we head inland but not too much. As you already know, the scenery is amazing and so far this has been one of the prettiest drives I have ever been. Thank you for commenting.
Sounds wonderful DivHut, I hope you guys have a great time and create memories for a lifetime 🙂
Tristan
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Hi DDU,
Memories are definitely being created every day. Being in a car for a journey that in total will be around 3,000 miles is sure to spawn some great stories. It’s been great so far and we have seen a lot along the way. Baby DivHut has been pretty cooperative which makes the travel that much easier. As always, I appreciate your comment.
Yes it should be fun, we usually take a road trip once a year as well. ITs such a big world and not exploring it is a travesty. Good luck.
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Hi EL,
I totally agree with you. Not seeing the world near and far is a travesty. There really is so much to see and learn simply by hopping in a car, train or plane and just travel. This is why I have made it a point to always travel every year. Prior to baby DivHut my adventures took me all over the world. With a new baby my travels will be more local for several years but I still plan on visiting many more countries, states and cities down the road. Thank you for commenting.
Very jealous! We’ve always wanted to do a trip up the west coast. I’ve heard amazing things about that part of the country. Enjoy the drive and the time with your family!
Bert
Dividend Diplomats recently posted…Why We Didn’t Create A Wedding Budget
Hi DD,
Everything you have heard about the west coast is true. It really is amazing and very picturesque. There is so much to see just along the California coast let alone the major parks like Yosemite and Sequoia. So far the trip has been great with a cooperative baby DivHut. I very much appreciate Mrs. DivHut entertaining him while I take the wheel and doing those rest stop diaper changes too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I have done that road trip many times and it’s awesome. I was just down in Vancouver Washington to watch a Don Henley concert (i’m old) and the people down there could not be friendlier.
Next trip you should make it a bit more north and hit up Vancouver Island. I’ll give you some secret surf spots!
Have a great trip.
Hi Steve,
You know, my wife has noticed that the more north we travel the friendlier the people have become. It’s a really amazing drive up the 1 and 101 across those three states. We still have another couple days or so before we get to Seattle and settle in for a bit which will be nice but so far the things we have seen were simply amazing. I think I’ll need to learn how to surf first before I can fully appreciate those secret surf spots. Thanks for commenting.