Happy (Financial) Independence Day!

Hey Wafflers and Happy Financial Independence Day!

 

Regardless if you are already FI, close to it, or still grinding away, today is a great day to celebrate where you are on your journey. Take a minute to reflect and smile because of everything you have done so far.

We wanted to personally thank you for taking time out of your holiday (if you are in the US) to check in with us today.   Since it's more important to get outside, hang out with family and friends, and enjoy your financial freedom, I'll make it a quick one today.

 

Our Financial Independence Day Plans

 

Mr. Wow and I are excited about our day.  We'll be hosting a (Financial) Independence Day Party at our house and having our local FIRE friends over for some delicious bbq, amazing homemade salsa and guacamole (compliments of yours truly), and of course a bit of local craft beer.

 

A taste of what to expect!

 

We'll also have the whole 1500 Days family and Tonya from Budget & the Beach joining us in the festivities.  I've definitely been looking forward to this day for quite some time now.

 

Embracing the Amazingness of the United States

 

I know there's been some bad things happening in the US these past few months, but rather than dwell on the bad, I want to use today to recognize some of the awesome things that the United States has to offer.

From Mount Rushmore, the French Quarter, Half Dome, the Grand Canyon, to Niagara Falls, Old Faithful, Fenway Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Hollywood Sign, the Freedom Trail, the list goes on and on.   We have utterly amazing natural wonders, as well as man-made masterpieces.

 

The Bean in Chicago

 

Did Somebody Say RV?

 

Recently, Mr. Wow has been bitten by the RV bug.  Thanks to JD Roth who shared his 15 month RV travels during the 1/2 marathon back in Portland.  Since then I've found him sitting in the dark scouring the internet for used RVs.

 

This totally happened!

 

Then Miss Mazuma came to join us during her #vanlife travels after converting her CRV into a camper.  She was in the middle of her trip and stopped by to have some waffles (on Wednesday of course) and partake in our Bachelor viewing party.  I loved hearing about her travels and getting a tour of her converted camper.  I'll also  admit that her Instagram photos were absolutely beautiful and thus my US travel interest continued to be piqued.

And luckily there are plenty of other people within our blogosphere that have already been there and done that.

There is so much that our own backyard has to offer.  And I agree with Think Save Retire that living in the middle of nowhere does sound pretty damn cool.

Nomadic Matt also posted about traveling the US in an RV, as well as J$ and Mr. & Mrs. Adventure.

Even our good friend Fritz over at the Retirement Manifesto is a part of the RV action.  You definitely need to check out his sweet new ride, she's a beauty!

I still have the international travel jitters, but downsizing into an RV and heading out around our own country is definitely starting to grow on me.

 

How Many States Have You Been To?

 

I've been to about 20 states, while Mr. Wow tops me with about 30.  Keep in mind that he was a military brat and also grew up on the east coast where a 5 hour drive goes through 3-5 states.  I grew up on the west coast where that same 5 hour drive wouldn't even get me from Los Angeles to San Francisco.  Needless to say, I have some work to do.

The most shocking of which is that I haven't been to New York yet.  I've travelled across the world, including Cambodia, South Africa, Ecuador, Iceland, Peru, Morocco, and all over Europe, but have only ever set foot in JFK International Airport on a layover, having never actually left the building.  It's funny because most of the people that we meet on our international travels can't believe that I have never been to New York since typically that is one of the only places they have been to in the US. Hopefully, I change this in the next couple of years.

 

Running up the Rocky Stairs in Philadelphia

 

Upcoming Summer Travel Plans

 

Next week, the wafflers head across the nation to spend a couple nights in Boston, before heading up to Maine for a family vacation. Back in December, I posted that my family had decided to not give each other gifts this year and that we were taking a family vacation together instead.   Well this trip is our gift to each other.

While in Boston, we have plans to meet up with Mr. Crazy Kicks and see what this Trillium Brewing Company is all about.  We've had friends, including the MadFientist who recently tweeted about it, who have been raving about it for so long, we figured we couldn't miss it.  We absolutely love meeting up with fellow bloggers and FIRE minded peeps, so if anyone is in the area, let us know and we'll meet up with you for a beer.

Now, go out and enjoy your day.

 

Happy Financial Independence Day Everyone!!