thanks for the input...the two cents is worth $$.should we try to schedule by making advance reservations? we'd like to be flexible but as this is high vacation (especially july and august) time we are concerned about availability. we are thinking about 2 weeks at each base starting in maine in july. we are looking at portsmouth naval yard but they have limited spaces and retired military can't reserve until 6 months out.I also have the access pass for national parks (now 100% disabled after fighting it off for 20 years) so they are an option as well. winhall looks great! getting away from the central texas heat is to become an annual pilgrimage for us and the northeast is a place we've not explored. would that make us heatbirds?