Flashback Tuesday: Dream Vacation

by Kevin Surbaugh
Today's Flashback takes us back to September 30, 2009, when I talked about one of my dreams: Visiting every presidential library/museum in the country.

I wrote most of this about a year ago, although, it wasn't complete. So Once again, here is the updated post, that I originally wrote in July 2008.

One of my goals is to visit every Presidential Library and Museum. Since, not every President has one, it's really not that hard of a goal to meet. There are only 12, unless you count the duplicates. Nixon and Ford have two locations, so if you count both of those then there are 14. Fords 2 are the only ones that are in the same state. Nixon, has one in Maryland and one in California. Of course there are also other museums that include Presidential homes that aren't part of the Presidential Library and Museum System. Such Museums includes George Washington's home and also Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.

So far, the Presidential places I have visited:

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Atlanta, GA

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, KS

Ronald Reagan Birthplace, Tampico, IL

There is also the Ronald Reagan boyhood home, in Dixon, IL. Okay, so now the list of the remaining Presidential Libraries (and Museums) and Presidential attractions that are on my list to visit eventually. One of which is only about 75 miles from me.

1. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, CA
   
2. Richard Nixon Presidential Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
   
3. Lyndon B. Johnson Library, Austin, TX
   
4. George Bush Library, College Station, TX
   
5. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum
   
6. Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO
   
7. William J Clinton Library, Little Rock, AR
   
8. Calvin Coolidge, Northampton, Massachusetts
   
9. Herbert Hoover Library, West Branch, IA
   


10. Gerald Ford Library, Ann Arbor, MI
    


11. Gerald Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
    


12. Richard Nixon Library, College Park, MD
    


13. Franklin D, Roosevelt Presidential Center, Hyde Park, NY
    


14. John F. Kennedy Presidential Center, Boston, MA


15. George H. W. Bush Presidential Center, College Station, TX


16. Bill Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, AR


17. George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, TX

In addition, I would love to get to these other locations that aren't part of the National Archives.

Ronald Reagan boyhood home, Dixon, IL

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Chancellorsville, VA

George Washington's home/plantation (Mount Vernon), Mount Vernon, Virginia

Of course, I don't know how I would fund such a trip. Still it is my dream. I certainly want to get back to New York, in the near future, and during that trip visit the FDR museum. Perhaps in the near future, I can make it up the road (70 miles) to the Truman Museum for the first time in my life.

Since 2009 I never made it to the Truman Center in Independence, MO (a suburb of Kansas City, MO) and I moved to Austin, TX where I have visited the Johnson Library (the only free one in the system). Below is the updated list: One of my dreams is to visit every Presidential library/museum run by the Nationall Archives. Below is a list of all the current museums and the ones I have made it to so far.

1. ✓ Ronald Reagan Birthplace (Tampico, IL)
   
2. ✓ Jimmy Carter (Atlanta, GA)
3. ✓ Dwight D. Eisenhower (Abilene, KS)
4. ✓ Lyndon B. Johnson (Austin, TX)
5. Ronald Reagan (Simi Valley, CA)
6. Richard Nixon (Yorba Linda, CA)
7. John F. Kennedy (Boston, MA)
8. Gerald Ford (Ann Arbor, MI)
9. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Hyde Park, NY)
10. Harry S. Truman (Independence, MO)
11. Herbert Hoover (West Branch, IA)
12. William (Bill) Clinton (Little Rock, AR)
13. George H. W. Bush (College Station, TX) (under construction)
and let's not forget the
14. Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home (Dixon, IL)
    

Not sure when I will be able to visit the rest of them. Especially considering the budget. However, I will trust the Lord my God and in his timing and if it is His will, I will make it.  --- go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think. follow me on Twitter and facebook

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A New Beginning - Focusing on Set Goals

I started this blog over years ago (March 2006). The goal was to eliminate my debts. Along the way I accepted donations (over all less then $25), sponsorships (over all probably less then $3,000) and a lot of hard work at a full time near minimum wage job to eliminate my debts. I even decided to go for a dream and risk my financial future by selling my house, getting married and moving with my new wife to a warmer climate. The Great State of Texas. I left behind friends, family and even connections to move to a state where I was basically unknown.

Some of the things I did were not the best choice. Even though I managed to get out of debt there was damage done. I spent almost six months without a job. I trusted the Lord my God and somehow lived on my wife's social security. I can't explain how we did it, although I did dip into savings and funds I received from sponsors of this site.

Now I have a job and my beautiful wife is eager to get a place of our own. To be honest, I want our own place to. However, savings is not really up to the levels we need it to be. I am tired of our financial goals being set on the back burner. I am ready to clean up MY mess and push forward toward our dreams (goals). It is time to start with a new beginning. A task I am sure to accomplish, because as Dave Ramsey says, It's easier once you know how. Will I/we make mistakes along the way again? Probably! We are human. The key is to recognize our mistakes, pick ourselves up, brush off and refocus upon the goals.

Currently I am making sure that my wife and I:

1. Tithe at least 10% of our income.
   
2. 10% of my paycheck is automatically being put into our emergency fund.
   
3. 10% of my paycheck is automatically being put into savings to buy our own home.
   
4. Make sure that I save $175 out of each weeks paycheck to pay for the rent and water.
   

Now for the goals. Some have asked what my goals were. Especially since I had a goal form that any of my readers can fill out as part their own personal finance/budget regiment. So here they are.

1. In the next year I would like to start speaking publicly. Doing at least 25 gigs0+671 per year on what the Bible has to say about finances. In the next 1-2 years I would like to purchase a home for my wife and I (an estimated expense in this market of about $100,000). In the next 1-5 years I would like to purchase a convenience store and/or a car wash to help supplement my income and start my road to wealth before I am 50. A dream I have spoken of a few times, especially in the earlier days of the blog. I just need to find a way to make it actually happen.
   

--- go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think. follow me on Twitter and facebook

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