My husband was having to install and train the employees on color measurement computerized programs at the different carpet mills. I would go along to do research on our families and goof off; but mostly, I wanted to be with him some because he traveled all over the world. Because he was gone week in and week out, I never saw him much unless I did ride along like to Northwest GA.
We started enjoying the outdoors a few years after we were married (he was a mid-30's batchelor and I was a twice divorced mothe of 3). He had been an Explorer Scout Leader and decided that it would be good for both of us to start camping and hiking. First thing he did was to teach me how to survive in the wilds if something should happen. From there we went into War Between the States re-enacting for almost 6 years. Doing that, we had to live as the people lived back in that period of time (no electricity or modern conveniences, except for the Porta-John).
I hope to get to the point financially that I can start traveling and camping again. Like I said though, I am trying to start a business for Artisans to sell their crafts in. I just signed up a lady that bakes special cakes and does vine wreaths; a combination gunsmith and leatherworker; and an artist that does mostly pencil and pen-and-indigo ink drawings. That is how my late husband did his drawings; that artist's drawings reminded me so much of my husband's art work.
Better go and get in bed; my granddaughter is home from UNC-Greensboro and she brought a house guest; they will be here til Tuesday. Also, I have started and Entrepreneurial Business Class at the local community college on Monday and Wednesday nights. To top it all off, I am making some Halloween plastic mesh pins (a black cat with orange eyes, a pumpkin head with a witch's hat on, and a bat with outstretched wings and orange eyes). ;D
Maybe we can eventually get together,
Betty Ross Brown

Mary, I saw your comment on Tent Campers. Wish you lived in NC. I am a widow also that loves to camp.

Mary, any and all advice on starting a business is welcome. I used to manage/work in Hotels, restaurants, and clubs (night), but it has been a long time (since about the late '80's. I had to stop work because of my health; then my parents became ill; in 1996, my husband's health started going down hill. While taking care of him and my parents in SC, we had to move temporarily to GA and help take care of his father. From March 2002 to the end of 2002, I was driving back and forth between parents. My father-in-law died 25 September 2002; a week later we had to put my husband in the hospital there in GA, he died 22 November '02; my husband's Aunt (lived 3 houses away from my mother-in-law) died 23 November '02; my Dad died on 24 November '02. When I tried to move back to the house we had been living in next to my parents, the house was covered inside with tar black mold. I lost everything I owned except what I had with me in GA. I tried to continue living there (in another house) close to my Mom, but my health started failing even more. My daughter here in NC asked me to come here to live; glad I did. My health improved immensely! No walking cane anymore, off all of the medications, have only had a couple of asthma attacks while living here. But every time that I try to go back to SC, I start having anxiety attacks. So I just stay here in Marshville, NC; it is about 25 miles east of Charlotte, NC.
Betty Ross Brown

I meant to ask, where are you located? My late husband and I used to come to the Chattanooga area on business, but never had the pleasure of camping in that area.
Betty Ross Brown