A glimpse of my new "home town."

[John Schmidt]

As most of you know, in 2019 after 53 years in the Orlando area I moved to the Green Bay, WI area under rather difficult circumstances. I have now lived here for 28 months and assume I will live out my days in this area...not necessarily by choice, but is near my youngest daughter, Toni, who is able to help out when needed since she doesn't work outside the home. She and her husband operate their own business which gives them a rather comfy six digit income and some of the amenities that come with it. The best thing is, they share in many ways.

The Green Bay metro is much like many other cities and is made up of numerous smaller villages, in this case I believe there's something like six or seven communities surrounding the main city. I happen to live in the town of De Pere which is on the south side and is essentially split by the Fox River, creating what is known locally at East or West De Pere, the western area is newer and hence higher property taxes. I currently live in a relatively new area near the Southwest Park which consists of ball and soccer fields...and sometimes a late night rendevous point I discovered during a walk.

The Green Bay metro area is a bit over 320k poplulation, with GB proper close to 110k. For me it has everything a person could want except old friends...one of the hardest things to walk away from after 53 years. The video posted here is a good overview of the GB area, thankfully it was shot in warm weather so you miss the bleak and dreary overcast of winter. Lambeau field in 1967 had piping and electric coils installed a foot or so under the turf, thereby keeping the field green and soft even in winter. Special lighting is rolled out and when lit keep the grass green and growing even during winter. If you go to Google Maps for an overview of the area, you'll see a rather long peninsula going north called Door County...which also produces some very tasty wine. I don't buy any since it usually turns to vinegar before I get past a third of the bottle so I go visit Toni and sip some of hers.   The peninsula pokes out into Lake Michigan quite a ways, it's about 92 miles from my place to the northern tip, and it creates a rather long and wide bay on the west side, oddly enough named Green Bay, hence the citie's name. One good thing about this area, we don't get the weather that often befalls residents that live just 50-60 miles further north. Seems that northern section of the state is close enough to Lake Superior to benefit from lake effect weather...be it rain in summer or snow in winter. The weather patterns seem to drop down and brush that northern part of the Wisconsin then blows east, spares us some of the more harsh aspects of it.

I hope I've not bored you foks, this has been a difficult transistion but like all else in my nearly 84 years, I shall survive and make the best of it. Being near family helps, we've lived 1400 miles apart for so many years it's been kinda nice to "catch up."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-uLC2Fwewk

[six2go #152]

John, I know you are never going to like or get used to the weather in GB, but being close to your Daughter means a lot.
When the calendar flips over to riding season, I hope you will aim the trike North to Door County. I have never been there but have read several touring/travel stories about it in various motorcycle magazines and it sounds like a nice riding destination and you don't have to ride 2 days just to get to it.

[John Schmidt]

John, I know you are never going to like or get used to the weather in GB, but being close to your Daughter means a lot.
When the calendar flips over to riding season, I hope you will aim the trike North to Door County. I have never been there but have read several touring/travel stories about it in various motorcycle magazines and it sounds like a nice riding destination and you don't have to ride 2 days just to get to it.

Yes, kind of a neat place to visit, been there a couple times by car with my daughter and her gang. One restaurant has a grass roof with goats roaming around on it. Rather comical to watch with some laying there chewing their cuds while others wander around eating.

[TJ]

   

[Pappy!]

Just don't go and get old on us! Keep on riding and keep on going! TJ told me to say the "OLD" part......

[_Sheffjs_]

Unfortunate you could not stay in Florida somehow John. I remember snowmobiling up there many a winter and dang that can be a very cold place. Hopefully you have a place to tinker with the motorcycle in the winter and ride in the summer. The way the Norwegians deal with winter. 

[John Schmidt]

Unfortunate you could not stay in Florida somehow John. I remember snowmobiling up there many a winter and dang that can be a very cold place. Hopefully you have a place to tinker with the motorcycle in the winter and ride in the summer. The way the Norwegians deal with winter. 

I do have a nice sized attached double garage but no heat. I have a couple ceramic heaters but wow...the light bill goes through the roof if I use them for very long.

[Jack B]

You must take your trike to Door Co.
It has some of the best roads in the state

[Pappy!]

Wow....those are some great photos! Looks like a super place to ride.

[Bronxboy]

Didn't make it thru there on our Great Lakes trip, I really wanted to see Lambeau Field & Railroad Musem. Nice that u are right at the bottom of that little lake Michigan

Well, every region of our Great Country has something special, the weather is the only caveat, but that also depends on what u like. Maybe we see u soon, we got TJ meeting us again on his new Geezer Bike 

10 years from now or sooner, we will all have to make that decision, trike it or park it 

[John Schmidt]

Didn't make it thru there on our Great Lakes trip, I really wanted to see Lambeau Field & Railroad Musem. Nice that u are right at the bottom of that little lake Michigan

Well, every region of our Great Country has something special, the weather is the only caveat, but that also depends on what u like. Maybe we see u soon, we got TJ meeting us again on his new Geezer Bike 

10 years from now or sooner, we will all have to make that decision, trike it or park it 

Is this what you're talking about? I can hear him now...making motorcycle sounds as he goes down the road. Need to watch out for the exhaust though. 

http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_18944/My%20new%20four-wheeler.jpg

[Farside]

Didn't make it thru there on our Great Lakes trip, I really wanted to see Lambeau Field & Railroad Musem. Nice that u are right at the bottom of that little lake Michigan

Well, every region of our Great Country has something special, the weather is the only caveat, but that also depends on what u like. Maybe we see u soon, we got TJ meeting us again on his new Geezer Bike 

10 years from now or sooner, we will all have to make that decision, trike it or park it 

Is this what you're talking about? I can hear him now...making motorcycle sounds as he goes down the road. Need to watch out for the exhaust though. 

http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_18944/My%20new%20four-wheeler.jpg

  That is the all terrain version.    Stay warm John and Happy New Year

[Squirrel]

Wow, John!  I was hoping you were going to move back down to Florida so TC and I could come see you, again.  I doubt it I will ever make it to Wisconsin.  Just stay warm and be safe.  I'm sure you are enjoying your trike when you get to ride it.  I bet it's really nice.  My '94 Goldwing trike has an issue right now that I need to look into when I have time, so I won't ride it until it's fixed.  There's just too much going on right now in my life.  I thought that retired life was a time to relax and have some fun.  Oh well, maybe in a year or two I will have everything under control.  Take care, John.

[John Schmidt]

Wow, John!  I was hoping you were going to move back down to Florida so TC and I could come see you, again.  I doubt it I will ever make it to Wisconsin.  Just stay warm and be safe.  I'm sure you are enjoying your trike when you get to ride it.  I bet it's really nice.  My '94 Goldwing trike has an issue right now that I need to look into when I have time, so I won't ride it until it's fixed.  There's just too much going on right now in my life.  I thought that retired life was a time to relax and have some fun.  Oh well, maybe in a year or two I will have everything under control.  Take care, John.

Yes, I had taken up on an offer of rent to own and had a "verbal" agreement in place but the person involved died(heart) and his family didn't want to honor it. Second time in a year I was screwed by a person's family. Nobody knew about it except me, the man that offered it, his pastor and the att'y.. It wasn't in writing yet but was in the works, just never got finalized. The agreement said if he passed before I actually bought it, the property went to me debt free. If I passed first before buying it, the property went back to him. It happened rather fast, I hadn't even finished unpacking up here. His attorney had it and was working on putting together a rather complicated set up...until the owner's sudden demise which brought everything to a halt. So...here I stay.

Was a bit of a shock, he was a good 20 yrs. my junior and didn't live in Florida. I believe it was a home  he inherited some years ago that had originally belonged to an older sibling of his...just going by memory here, I don't know all the background. Not sure of the township but was in the general area of Bushnell.