Hi,i'm a newbie and just recently retired in May.I have enjoyed reading all the post and have learnt heaps that i did not know about caravaning from the other GN'S on this site.Hope to meet some of you on the road one day,cheers Norm.

good on you norm and welcome to the forum.        there are some real characters here, so enjoy it and write some posts 

Great site and great people Norm.......welcome and hope you enjoy the site like we all do. Don't forget to read the articles on the front page as well, great reading ! Vic

Thanks Kenmarg,i have been following this site for the last 12 mths but have only joined.My oh and i are leaving Wednesday for a couple of weeks up the W.A.coast to try out our new (second hand) van it being our first,i'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks for the welcome Vic41, have read a lot of the postings over the last year and your'e not wrong about the great people and characters being on here.Lots of good info as well.

Welcome from us also.  Enjoy.

well I've been gazumped on the welcome side and I'm really glad to see it but I will throw my welcome in here as well hope you enjoy your stay and have a fantastic trip when you get to it

Hi Norm big welcome from us as well. Johnw

What they said Norkat. Enjoy your drive up the WA coast. You may catch up with some other Nomads who are over that way at the moment. They're everywhere! They're everywhere! Safe and happy travels. Cheers Chris

Hi Norm and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome Gary & Kerry also Dave06,Jandas Fun,Cruisin Granny,MA,and Firefly. Leaving Wednesday and only going for a couple of weeks,heading for Denham and some fishing.

take care and keep us up to date

Welcome to the forums Norm. You'll do well as long as you don't listen to a thing Dave06 tell you :) Enjoy the retirement and may it be long healthy and eventful

pretty much on the money there duck!!

Thanks Dave i'm really looking forward to getting out of the city area for awhile. Hello Disco D, thanks for the welcome,still rise early in the mornings and find it strange not having to front up at yard each day.

well on another post a long time ago I lost my chewy (and my marbles) over a very similar statement such as that (well that and another heinous circumstance combine) but with time, help and medication I can now give an answer that makes a bit more sense and doesn't upset quite so many people, for which I will be eternally regretful after rising at a certain time for years (in my case it has been 6 am - 6.30 for the last 30 years plus, and some shift work in between) the old body grows accustomed, just give it time, wake up at the same time but do what I do with the extra time I quietly chuck my dressing gown on, whack on the slippers, and go and put the kettle on, put some toast in and go and get "R.J" out of her cot, she always greets me with a big smile and arms outstretched (that in itself is a reason for early rise), I make her brekky while our brekky is coming along when the cuppa and the toast is ready and bubby is fed and changed I take it all up to the dragon who by this time is coming awake, we all jump in bed and have "brekky in bed" together marvelous way to greet the day, laughter, relaxation and good company, I don't know how I found time to go to work or the will mate you are "retired" not dead, keep putting "life" in your day, start a hobby, greet every day with a smile and a song, make new Friends, leave the car at home and "walk", take up bowling, revel in the ability to stay in bed, it's a privilege not many achieve, enjoy it better still hook up the sharabang and "hit the road jack" doesn't matter whether you do ten miles or ten thousand miles just go even when I was working I would arise a half hour earlier just to hear the "dawn chorus" absolutely awesome, makes getting up a pleasure, I revel in it still, nature lets you know if you are "alive" or not I put my notice in, but it was summarily rejected, I was told to take my 6 months long service and if I need or want another 6 then take that as well, on full pay (apparently I am owed a lot more than that, being a "workaholic" has it's perks I guess) but my resignation is summarily rejected, now and in the future, they don't want to know about it I have started bringing some work home with me and getting some couriered to me, just to keep up with it and I have a bit of time in between nappy changes, feeds and baths I would dearly love to retire whilst I am young enough to enjoy it but I feel that after working since I was twelve it will take a bit of getting used to, maybe one day, up to our maker I guess, she has a plan for us all

G'day Daveo6, I'm not complaining of having nothing to do i have plenty to do,it just feels strange not having to front up for work after doing it at the same company for the last 27yrs.I also put my notice in three times in 15mths to retire,the last time i refused to leave the office until my form was signed.No mate i'm not complaining just said it feels strange.

yep just the next stage in life thats all it is, we must find a diferrent way to fill it is the only difference