Good-by and Hello

April 27th, 2012, we hooked up our tiny camper to the car and headed home to St. Paul.  Over the next several years and 50,000+ miles we were on an adventure.  Our black Honda Odyssey was flawless as we journeyed from Minnesota to Alaska to California to Texas to Florida and the keys to Maine and all the New England states and pretty much everywhere inbetween.  National Parks were our goal and we visited ALL of them except the new ones added this last year!  I think our Honda had more adventures in mind but it did show wear.  A ding here, a ding there, a need for tires, a minor fix in the rear axle etc.  So after much thought, a lot of research and some back and forth conversations we took the plunge yesterday and drove home in a NEW EX-L Odyssey.  Our first Odyssey was labeled an Elite but we decided the extra cost was just not justified.  We can certainly live without the in cabin entertainment center and the fancy wheels are only for looks so we decided to save money.  Of course we could have used the new way to open the back.  In the Elite you just kick your toe under the car and presto it opens.  I figured at my age I probably should not be kicking much anyway so we let that go!  The new color is deep scarlet but I would say a dark red.  As everyone has experienced we GOT A GREAT DEAL!   Pretty funny I think as pretty much everyone who buys a new car gets a great deal.  I wonder if those sales people are trained?  However I will say it was interesting.  I did home work and went into the dealership with a figure in mind.  Amazingly the first offer they came with was within a $100 of what I had in mind.  Before we signed on the doted line they came in with another $1000 less so we were happy.  We shop at Costco so our starting point was the Costco membership price and we went down from there.  Now the only thing left is to decide on an extended warranty.  From what I have read it seems that is NOT a great idea but I still have it in mind.  I should find out if anybody I know has gone for that.
Another day of this virus stuff and it looks like all of us could be in for a LONG ride.  I hope and pray that that long ride is not in a fancy big car if you get my drift!  I hope  people are being careful as the illness seems to have NOT peaked as of yet.
We are pretty much staying at home.  That may be difficult now with new wheels BUT we will do our best.
With no tennis I need to get on the bike and get some exercise so will do that soon.  My FP is gone so I am good to go.