We are 7 weeks away from pulling out. Everything seems to be moving at break neck speed. But yet, not. So much to do but yet lots of waiting before we empty out the apartment.
On Monday, the mechanic is coming to finish the few jobs left to do. He is replacing the radiator overflow tank and replacing the rear bushings on the sway bar. That will end all the mechanical stuff that needs to be done. Once that is complete, we will have our electrical buddy look at the rear camera system, car radio and television set up. We will see what the costs are for all and decide what jobs we will have him do.
As far as getting rid of stuff, we are in great shape. All the big furniture pieces are spoken for. It will be just a matter of selling or donating the smaller stuff. In fact, today we are going to go through the kitchen and start paring down.
Tomorrow we are going to Ikea. We have a small list so I am sure we will come home with lots.
We are planning on taking the RV out next week to do another shake down trip. We will start moving stuff into it each time we go to it. We have been holding off on that because we didn't want it to disappear. There were some break ins at the storage facility a few weeks ago. They did not get in ours but they tried. They broke off the handle by the door and tried to use it as a pry bar. We don't want to make it profitable if they try again.
Brenda and I are creating a new blog that we will use to chronicle our journeys. As soon as we get it up and running, we will let everybody know.
This is a bittersweet time. We love Tucson and have made some truly great friends. However, we are looking forward to being on the road as well. We know that we will be back here often, yet its not the same. Every time I bring up the subject, my friends are like NO NO NO we don't want you to go.
Time to work on our check off list of things to do before we take off.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Moving Forward
We are making progress towards the final goal. So far,everything we have put on Craigslist has sold. Albeit there have only been a few small items that we have posted. We have done so well preparing for this eventuality that we are down to just the basics. It would be a little premature to get rid of everything now. We still have two months to go.
We did sell one big item today. We are now down to one car. We sold Brenda's car today. It was starting to have a few issues that would start costing more then we were willing to spend on it.
Last week, the battery was dead yet again. We knew it was going to be the alternator and we didn't want to mess with it. Since the battery was new, we jumped the car and took it to the auto parts store we bought it from. Since it was still under warranty, we got a new battery. We figured we had a very short window of opportunity to sell it as a running car. We went to the car wash and cleaned it all up then came home and took some pictures and posted it on Craigslist. Within 5 minutes we got a hit. They came by about thirty minutes later and bought the car.
We also got more of the mechanical issues dealt with. We just have a few more projects and she will be road ready. We hope to get all that done in the next few weeks so we can get another chance to take it out and get to know her better.
So far, we have put very little money into the RV. We are truly seeing what a good deal we got. So much so, that some of the projects that we were going to wait and do in Florida will probably get done before we leave.
We are feeling good about everything. I am learning that no matter how much worrying, fretting and trying to plan, life is going to happen on its own time frame. In the end, everything works out for the best.
Two months and we are on the road......
We did sell one big item today. We are now down to one car. We sold Brenda's car today. It was starting to have a few issues that would start costing more then we were willing to spend on it.
Last week, the battery was dead yet again. We knew it was going to be the alternator and we didn't want to mess with it. Since the battery was new, we jumped the car and took it to the auto parts store we bought it from. Since it was still under warranty, we got a new battery. We figured we had a very short window of opportunity to sell it as a running car. We went to the car wash and cleaned it all up then came home and took some pictures and posted it on Craigslist. Within 5 minutes we got a hit. They came by about thirty minutes later and bought the car.
We also got more of the mechanical issues dealt with. We just have a few more projects and she will be road ready. We hope to get all that done in the next few weeks so we can get another chance to take it out and get to know her better.
So far, we have put very little money into the RV. We are truly seeing what a good deal we got. So much so, that some of the projects that we were going to wait and do in Florida will probably get done before we leave.
We are feeling good about everything. I am learning that no matter how much worrying, fretting and trying to plan, life is going to happen on its own time frame. In the end, everything works out for the best.
Two months and we are on the road......
Monday, September 24, 2012
Forward Momentum
Things here are moving along nicely. It seems like all of a sudden time is flying by and we will be on the road before we know it.
Craigslist and friends have been very profitable for us. We have sold everything we have listed and at list price. Score! Of course, we have only sold some small items as we need the big stuff just a little longer. I am sure it will all go when the time comes.
We got the battery replaced and the oil changed in the RV. It is running again! We still have a few more items to attend to, but we will take it out again next week for another shake down. Between the cooler weather and running RV, we are ready.
One of my favorite things we do is sitting out on our porch in the evening talking and planning our future. We have been brainstorming and have come up with some great ideas. We are now looking at selling both our cars and getting a better tow vehicle. We had originally planned on keeping my car and getting a tow dolly. However, my car is starting to need more work and we figure why not sell it now and either get something here or when we get to Florida. There are pros and cons for whichever we do. Of course, we can't sell my car until we have a replacement and we can't get a replacement until we sell my car. So, we shall see how that plays out.
I spent some time today looking at our route and planning when and where we will be stopping. It looks like it will take us a good 8 days based on our travel plans. We don't want to kill ourselves so we will drive about 5 hours a day.
We talked with our apartment manager and she said even though we can't get out of our lease early, if they get it rented before our lease runs out, we will get a refund of the rent we paid. Our lease expires December 31 but we are leaving on the 7th. We told her we could be out by November 30th if they found someone who wanted our unit. We have a very desireable unit so we don't think it will be a problem for them to rent it out.
So as not to be text only, here is a picture of our cat, Katie, helping us learn about our RV.
Craigslist and friends have been very profitable for us. We have sold everything we have listed and at list price. Score! Of course, we have only sold some small items as we need the big stuff just a little longer. I am sure it will all go when the time comes.
We got the battery replaced and the oil changed in the RV. It is running again! We still have a few more items to attend to, but we will take it out again next week for another shake down. Between the cooler weather and running RV, we are ready.
One of my favorite things we do is sitting out on our porch in the evening talking and planning our future. We have been brainstorming and have come up with some great ideas. We are now looking at selling both our cars and getting a better tow vehicle. We had originally planned on keeping my car and getting a tow dolly. However, my car is starting to need more work and we figure why not sell it now and either get something here or when we get to Florida. There are pros and cons for whichever we do. Of course, we can't sell my car until we have a replacement and we can't get a replacement until we sell my car. So, we shall see how that plays out.
I spent some time today looking at our route and planning when and where we will be stopping. It looks like it will take us a good 8 days based on our travel plans. We don't want to kill ourselves so we will drive about 5 hours a day.
We talked with our apartment manager and she said even though we can't get out of our lease early, if they get it rented before our lease runs out, we will get a refund of the rent we paid. Our lease expires December 31 but we are leaving on the 7th. We told her we could be out by November 30th if they found someone who wanted our unit. We have a very desireable unit so we don't think it will be a problem for them to rent it out.
So as not to be text only, here is a picture of our cat, Katie, helping us learn about our RV.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Tick Tick Tick
So looking at our little countdown ticker, we are less than 90 days away from freedom. All of a sudden it feels like time is flying. We are starting to organize the logistics of the change.
We started selling some of the small stuff that we can live without on Craigslist. We have been very successful and have sold just about everything we have posted so far. We only do two or three postings at a time so we don't get all confused.
We went and tried to jump start the battery in the RV the other day but we couldn't keep it running. So, when we have the mechanic do the oil change, tune up and other little jobs, we will have him remove the battery and we will go get a new one.
Now that the weather is cooling off, we are looking forward to getting it up and running and taking it out for a few small trips before the big one.
Needless to say, we are getting very excited.
We started selling some of the small stuff that we can live without on Craigslist. We have been very successful and have sold just about everything we have posted so far. We only do two or three postings at a time so we don't get all confused.
We went and tried to jump start the battery in the RV the other day but we couldn't keep it running. So, when we have the mechanic do the oil change, tune up and other little jobs, we will have him remove the battery and we will go get a new one.
Now that the weather is cooling off, we are looking forward to getting it up and running and taking it out for a few small trips before the big one.
Needless to say, we are getting very excited.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Smiling in Sonora
I have been battling a toothache for several weeks. I kept hoping it would get better on its own so I tried to ignore it. I don't have insurance and knew it would cost tons of money to go to a dentist. Well, last week it became unbearable. I was totally miserable and knew it was time to do something. I guess it was time to bite the bullet (however, it was so painful, there was no way I could.)
I did some research and looked into dentists in Nogales Mexico. I have heard good things about going across the border for any type of medical treatment. I found one online and he looked good so I called. They have an Arizona phone number so I didn't have to make an international call. I called them Monday morning and set an appointment for Tuesday afternoon. I asked for a ballpark figure and they said it would cost no more than $150.00 for an extraction.
Nogales is about 90 minutes south of us. It is an easy drive and we figured if nothing else, it would be another adventure. Getting into Mexico is really easy. There are lots of parking lots on this side of the border. You just walk across the border. No check points or lines or anything. Very easy. You almost don't even realize you have crossed into another country. There was no worry about safety. The only issue is all the guys trying to help you or get you to go into their shops.
We found the office fairly easy. It was very nice, modern and clean. Everybody was extremely friendly and helpful in the office. They gave me an antibiotic pill then took me back and put me in the chair. It was all state of the art. I had a really nice LCD TV over me and was able to watch TV while laying there. The dentist came in and looked at my tooth and agreed that the best course was extraction. He explained everything that would be done.
The first thing they did was numb the area so it wouldn't hurt while he was probing the tooth. He then said they would take X-rays to see how it looked. After the X-rays, they took impressions of my teeth in case I wanted to ever come back and get an implant. After that they cleaned my teeth to prevent infection. Then they pulled the tooth. The whole process took about an hour. Total cost of all that work? $100.00. Unbelievable!!!!! They gave me a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers. The cost for those was $11.00.
I can't stress enough how thoroughly impressed I was. They had better equipment than my expensive American dentist had. They were professional, caring, and gentle. And best of all, they were dirt cheap.
I am so glad I decided to brave it. I will have no qualms about going again for dental work or any other medical treatment. It was definitely worth the trip.
And by the way, 24 hours later, I am pain free and feeling good.
I did some research and looked into dentists in Nogales Mexico. I have heard good things about going across the border for any type of medical treatment. I found one online and he looked good so I called. They have an Arizona phone number so I didn't have to make an international call. I called them Monday morning and set an appointment for Tuesday afternoon. I asked for a ballpark figure and they said it would cost no more than $150.00 for an extraction.
Nogales is about 90 minutes south of us. It is an easy drive and we figured if nothing else, it would be another adventure. Getting into Mexico is really easy. There are lots of parking lots on this side of the border. You just walk across the border. No check points or lines or anything. Very easy. You almost don't even realize you have crossed into another country. There was no worry about safety. The only issue is all the guys trying to help you or get you to go into their shops.
We found the office fairly easy. It was very nice, modern and clean. Everybody was extremely friendly and helpful in the office. They gave me an antibiotic pill then took me back and put me in the chair. It was all state of the art. I had a really nice LCD TV over me and was able to watch TV while laying there. The dentist came in and looked at my tooth and agreed that the best course was extraction. He explained everything that would be done.
The first thing they did was numb the area so it wouldn't hurt while he was probing the tooth. He then said they would take X-rays to see how it looked. After the X-rays, they took impressions of my teeth in case I wanted to ever come back and get an implant. After that they cleaned my teeth to prevent infection. Then they pulled the tooth. The whole process took about an hour. Total cost of all that work? $100.00. Unbelievable!!!!! They gave me a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers. The cost for those was $11.00.
I can't stress enough how thoroughly impressed I was. They had better equipment than my expensive American dentist had. They were professional, caring, and gentle. And best of all, they were dirt cheap.
I am so glad I decided to brave it. I will have no qualms about going again for dental work or any other medical treatment. It was definitely worth the trip.
And by the way, 24 hours later, I am pain free and feeling good.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Our Trip to Hell (Or Was It Laughlin?)
We just got back from a few days in Hell....or was it Laughlin, NV? There are so many ways to confuse both of them. It was not our favorite trip ever but it wasn't completely horrible.
There it is in all its glory.
We were right on the Colorado River. The views were stunning.
One of my coworkers turned 50 last week and wanted to celebrate by taking a girls' trip to Laughlin, NV. There were 5 of us that went. Now, we are not gamblers and when we decided to go along, we found there was a great state park nearby that looked interesting. We figured while the gamblers were gambling, we would explore the park and the Colorado River. We aren't a close bunch of friends, just work friends.
There was lots of drama leading up to the trip but I won't bore you with all those ugly details. There were many times I wished we weren't going. The one thing that made it bearable was we were able to drive ourselves there so we could sight see along the way. That was a really big area of contention among the group. The birthday girl wanted to do everything together all the time.
Scenic stop on the road.
We decided to take a longer route that took us past the London Bridge. It was on my bucket list of things to see in Arizona.
Some shops in the area.
The bad news was it was at least 113 degrees outside. It was so hot it felt like our shoes were melting to the pavement. So we took some quick photos, walked a few feet then got back into the air conditioned car. Now we are used to 107 degrees but once you hit 110, its a totally different ballgame. It was oppressive to say the least.
Laughlin was just as hot so any outdoor activities were out of the question.
Views from our hotel room.
We were right on the Colorado River. The views were stunning.
We spent the first evening hitting up the casino. We had a good time without spending lots of money. We didn't hit it big, but we played all evening with our original money. There was one machine that really seemed to like me. It was called Hot Flash. Go figure! It treated me very well.
The next morning, the group got up and had breakfast. Then we decided to walk the river walk before it got too hot. It was horrible. We would go in to the various casinos to cool off then head out again. Once we got to the end, we took the river taxi back to our hotel.
We spent the rest of the day holed up in our room recovering from the walk. After 9 pm, the pool at the hotel is adults only a few of us decided to go check it out. It was a good time to go. The water was warm but enjoyable. There was no way it would be fun to be there during the day. It was just too hot.
Brenda and I got up Wednesday morning at had no idea what we were going to do. The original plan was to stay until Thursday. Since we don't really get into gambling for hours on end and it was too hot for outdoor activities, we decided to tell the group we were going to head home a day early.
So that's what we did. I was so glad we bucked the group and went with what we wanted to do. When we got back home to Tucson, the temps had really dropped. We were so glad to be home. I would love to go back another time just to check out the state park and play in the river.
As the plans are for now, this was our last road trip without the RV. We will be spending our time and resources getting it ready for the big move. We still want to get it ready with enough time to take some smaller trips with it to get more comfortable driving it and learning about it.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Palm Springs
We spent last week in Palm Springs, CA. My brother owns a vacation time share and had extra points he couldn't use. He asked if I would be interested. DUH, of course I said we were. So off we went.
We had a wonderful relaxing time. We were there from Monday through Friday. We were lucky in that the weather was decent most of the time. It didn't start getting really hot until Thursday night.
Tuesday we did the tram ride up the mountain. It is an incredible ride!
Views from the tram as we go up the mountain.
It is at least 30 degrees cooler than down in the desert. Big giant pine trees. It smelled so fresh up there.
The next day we drove over to Oceanside, CA to get some much needed beach time in. It was a beautiful day. Definitely worth the two hour drive.
This is the very curvy road between Palm Springs and Oceanside.
A beautiful beach.
This little guy sat there for the longest time just staring at me.
On Thursday we spent the day poolside at the resort then went into Palm Springs for the evening. While there, we drove around looking for some of the old movie star houses. Although they are easy to get to, they are hard to see due to walls around the homes. Among the houses we located were Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe and Barbra Streisand.
They have a street fair every Thursday evening on the main drag. We walked around for a bit then had a lovely dinner.
Look who was downtown! She was definitely larger than life.
It was good to get away and just enjoy ourselves. We spend so much time thinking about and getting ready for the big move. We figured this will probably be one of the last road trips we take before moving into the RV. So glad we got this opportunity.
We had a wonderful relaxing time. We were there from Monday through Friday. We were lucky in that the weather was decent most of the time. It didn't start getting really hot until Thursday night.
Tuesday we did the tram ride up the mountain. It is an incredible ride!
The next day we drove over to Oceanside, CA to get some much needed beach time in. It was a beautiful day. Definitely worth the two hour drive.
On Thursday we spent the day poolside at the resort then went into Palm Springs for the evening. While there, we drove around looking for some of the old movie star houses. Although they are easy to get to, they are hard to see due to walls around the homes. Among the houses we located were Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe and Barbra Streisand.
They have a street fair every Thursday evening on the main drag. We walked around for a bit then had a lovely dinner.
It was good to get away and just enjoy ourselves. We spend so much time thinking about and getting ready for the big move. We figured this will probably be one of the last road trips we take before moving into the RV. So glad we got this opportunity.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Countdown Clock For Full Time RVing
I found this cool gadget to count down the days until we start RVing full time. Let the countdown begin.......
Thursday, June 28, 2012
I'm Melting......
Not much going on around here. We have been hibernating in the house trying to stay cool. It has been too hot to really do much around here. We were going to spend this week in our pool, but it was closed due to repairs. It finally reopened today but we figured the water would have to warm up a bit before we would venture in. Hopefully tomorrow we may dip our toes.
We have most of the stuff we need to get work done on the RV but it has been too hot to have our mechanic do it. Since there is no shady spot for him to do the work, I hate to think of him having to be out in the scorching sun slaving on it.
In other news, we are planning a trip to Palm Springs next month. My brother has hooked us up yet again for a week in a vacation condo. We will definitely check out the aerial tram and get to higher cooler temps. We also will spend a day at the beach. The rest of the time will be hanging by the pool and relaxing.
We have just over 5 months before we depart. We have reservations at a campground in Weeki Wachi, Florida for two months, from December 15th through February 15th. Our goal is to head out of Tucson around the 8th of December. We want to take our time and enjoy the trip.
That's all the news that is fit to be typed to date. I will post again soon. Bye for now......
We have most of the stuff we need to get work done on the RV but it has been too hot to have our mechanic do it. Since there is no shady spot for him to do the work, I hate to think of him having to be out in the scorching sun slaving on it.
In other news, we are planning a trip to Palm Springs next month. My brother has hooked us up yet again for a week in a vacation condo. We will definitely check out the aerial tram and get to higher cooler temps. We also will spend a day at the beach. The rest of the time will be hanging by the pool and relaxing.
We have just over 5 months before we depart. We have reservations at a campground in Weeki Wachi, Florida for two months, from December 15th through February 15th. Our goal is to head out of Tucson around the 8th of December. We want to take our time and enjoy the trip.
That's all the news that is fit to be typed to date. I will post again soon. Bye for now......
Thursday, June 14, 2012
A Shopping We Will Go...
So tomorrow we are going to start buying some of the things we need to get the RV road worthy. Fun things like oil and filters and all those wonderful thing that make the RV go. Although there are no major big problems to get fixed, these items will probably nickle and dime us. But, we will just do what we can each month until we get it all done.
In other news, we made our reservations for an RV spot in Florida from 12/15/12 to 2/15/13. We will be spending two months down there getting everything together to become Florida residents and getting to do fun things with the RV like buying new curtains, flooring and other stuff to make it our home. So, the official countdown can begin. Not sure exactly what day we will be leaving here but I want to allow enough time so we aren't rushing.
In other news, we made our reservations for an RV spot in Florida from 12/15/12 to 2/15/13. We will be spending two months down there getting everything together to become Florida residents and getting to do fun things with the RV like buying new curtains, flooring and other stuff to make it our home. So, the official countdown can begin. Not sure exactly what day we will be leaving here but I want to allow enough time so we aren't rushing.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Whew!
So we took the RV to our mechanic friend to do a thorough check of the RV and he gave us a big thumbs up. He said we got a smoking deal on it. All the automotive stuff is in really great shape. We do have a few items that need attention. Nothing that will cost too much money thank goodness. So we have our shopping list of stuff to get and then we will have him do all the work. Things continue to move forward.
I have been trying to find a way to put a countdown calendar on this blog but have not had much success. I will continue to found a way to get this done. However, we are not really sure of our actual start date. It all depends on Christmas plans. I will be with my family this weekend in Chicago for my oldest nephew's college graduation so we can make more definite plans.
We can really see all our years of dreaming and planning coming to fruition. We are just 6 months away from our goal!
I have been trying to find a way to put a countdown calendar on this blog but have not had much success. I will continue to found a way to get this done. However, we are not really sure of our actual start date. It all depends on Christmas plans. I will be with my family this weekend in Chicago for my oldest nephew's college graduation so we can make more definite plans.
We can really see all our years of dreaming and planning coming to fruition. We are just 6 months away from our goal!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
Oh my as I think about all those hours of worry and lack of sleep. What was I thinking?
We went on our maiden voyage with the new RV. We just went overnight and stayed at Catalina State Park which is only about 8 miles from our house. We wanted to go somewhere close where we could hook it all up and get used to it.
Even though the park is closer to where we live, the RV was farther away. We had to get the RV, which was way down on the southeast side of town and drive it to the park, which is northwest of town in Oro Valley. I fretted and stewed and worried myself sleepless the night before we left wondering if I had what it take to drive something so big. I worried about fueling it up and getting it to the pump. I worried about driving in city traffic. I worried if I was worrying enough.
So when we got up yesterday morning, I hadn't slept much but was cautiously worried about the trip. Well we went for it! First step, taking it to the gas station. The gas station was right there by the storage facility and I didn't even have to leave the parking lot to get to it. So, to get used to the RV, I drove around the storage lot to get a feel for it. So far, so good.
Our gas tank is behind the license plate so I had to pull clear forward to fill it. I was hoping to get a pump on the driver's side, but no luck. I pulled in but was too far over so I had to back up and get closer. Again, no problem. I did it like a pro.
Done with filling up, so it was time to hit the not so open, very busy city streets. It took me all of 2 minutes to feel at ease and comfortable driving. I had no problems at all. We got to the park quicker and easier than I could have imagined.
The trip was a success. We do have a few issues that need to be addressed but nothing that will be too expensive. I hope. The two biggest issues are we couldn't get the rubber cover off the water hook up thingy. So we couldn't connect to the water. I don't know if there is a problem or I didn't eat enough Wheaties to have the strength to twist it off.
The other issue, is the hydraulic levelers. I was using them when we set up and got all leveled, but when I went to retract them when we were leaving, they we not set anymore. When I started the engine, the warning beeping was going off saying the jacks were down. I think we lost all our hydraulic juice and the system thinks the jacks are down. So we got to hear the obnoxious beeping all the way home. I have no idea how expensive this will be to fix. We are going to take it in to get it checked out asap.
Other than that, the RV is perfect for us. We fit in it great and love the floor plan. It is in such good shape on the inside, redecorating will get done much later. Even our dog Dexter was comfortable in it. It already feels like home.
So the bottom line is-----there was absolutely nothing to fear. It was so easy and comfortable.
Here are some gratuitous pictures for your entertainment (and reward for reading this long post.)
We went on our maiden voyage with the new RV. We just went overnight and stayed at Catalina State Park which is only about 8 miles from our house. We wanted to go somewhere close where we could hook it all up and get used to it.
Even though the park is closer to where we live, the RV was farther away. We had to get the RV, which was way down on the southeast side of town and drive it to the park, which is northwest of town in Oro Valley. I fretted and stewed and worried myself sleepless the night before we left wondering if I had what it take to drive something so big. I worried about fueling it up and getting it to the pump. I worried about driving in city traffic. I worried if I was worrying enough.
So when we got up yesterday morning, I hadn't slept much but was cautiously worried about the trip. Well we went for it! First step, taking it to the gas station. The gas station was right there by the storage facility and I didn't even have to leave the parking lot to get to it. So, to get used to the RV, I drove around the storage lot to get a feel for it. So far, so good.
Our gas tank is behind the license plate so I had to pull clear forward to fill it. I was hoping to get a pump on the driver's side, but no luck. I pulled in but was too far over so I had to back up and get closer. Again, no problem. I did it like a pro.
Done with filling up, so it was time to hit the not so open, very busy city streets. It took me all of 2 minutes to feel at ease and comfortable driving. I had no problems at all. We got to the park quicker and easier than I could have imagined.
The trip was a success. We do have a few issues that need to be addressed but nothing that will be too expensive. I hope. The two biggest issues are we couldn't get the rubber cover off the water hook up thingy. So we couldn't connect to the water. I don't know if there is a problem or I didn't eat enough Wheaties to have the strength to twist it off.
The other issue, is the hydraulic levelers. I was using them when we set up and got all leveled, but when I went to retract them when we were leaving, they we not set anymore. When I started the engine, the warning beeping was going off saying the jacks were down. I think we lost all our hydraulic juice and the system thinks the jacks are down. So we got to hear the obnoxious beeping all the way home. I have no idea how expensive this will be to fix. We are going to take it in to get it checked out asap.
Other than that, the RV is perfect for us. We fit in it great and love the floor plan. It is in such good shape on the inside, redecorating will get done much later. Even our dog Dexter was comfortable in it. It already feels like home.
So the bottom line is-----there was absolutely nothing to fear. It was so easy and comfortable.
Here are some gratuitous pictures for your entertainment (and reward for reading this long post.)
Friday, May 18, 2012
HEELLPP!!!!
Now that we have our RV, we realized we spent so much time looking for one, we forgot how to learn about how to actually use one. We have so many questions and concerns on how to use all the systems and such. We have been looking all over the internet for help but tend to feel a little whole lot of stress.
So, do any of you out there know of any really good resources or books that will teach us how to use the RV? We don't even know how to use the toilet yet. We are taking it out next week and hooking it up so we can work with getting to know it, but we don't want to break anything in the learning process.
Any and all advice is much appreciated!
So, do any of you out there know of any really good resources or books that will teach us how to use the RV? We don't even know how to use the toilet yet. We are taking it out next week and hooking it up so we can work with getting to know it, but we don't want to break anything in the learning process.
Any and all advice is much appreciated!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
This Time Its For Real
We finally got an RV!!! This time we didn't brag about it until we had the title and keys in hand. I had decided to relax with looking for a while and BAM she showed up on Craigslist last night. We called the owners and it sounded really good so we set up an appointment to see it this morning. It was clean and ran well and everything seems to be working just fine. It was a great deal. It belonged to the guy's father and was part of the estate.
She is older but in excellent mechanical shape and the interior looks good too. It may not be our taste since we have outgrown the 90s, but we can live with it until we decide what we what to do. She won't be the prettiest girl pulling into the park, but we love her anyway. We will spend the next 7 months getting to know her and making her ours.
Without further ado, here are some photos:
She is older but in excellent mechanical shape and the interior looks good too. It may not be our taste since we have outgrown the 90s, but we can live with it until we decide what we what to do. She won't be the prettiest girl pulling into the park, but we love her anyway. We will spend the next 7 months getting to know her and making her ours.
Without further ado, here are some photos:
Friday, May 11, 2012
Another Step Closer
We took another step toward our goal of full time RVing. We have a Lazydays dealership here in Tucson and they offer a driver's confidence course. Since neither of us have ever really driven a big rig, we thought that it might be important to learn how before we buy a big monster and wreak havoc on the roads of this fine country. We signed up for the course and today was the big day. It is two hours in a classroom then we get to go out and actually drive around the campgrounds they have at the dealership.
It was quite scary and intimidating at first, but all in all, we both really enjoyed the class. I am a firm believer that everyone who buys an RV should be required to take some type of course like this. Driving an RV is NOT like driving a really big car.
Now that we have taken the course, I feel much more confident in actually driving one. (I guess that's why they call it a driver's confidence course!)
Anyhow, here's the proof that we passed the course.
It was quite scary and intimidating at first, but all in all, we both really enjoyed the class. I am a firm believer that everyone who buys an RV should be required to take some type of course like this. Driving an RV is NOT like driving a really big car.
Now that we have taken the course, I feel much more confident in actually driving one. (I guess that's why they call it a driver's confidence course!)
Anyhow, here's the proof that we passed the course.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Perfect RV
I think I found the best RV for us.It will be very cheap to operate, is very eco-friendly and we can probably get it in the smallest of spots. Without further ado, here it is:
I have a feeling we will fight over who gets to drive it.
I have a feeling we will fight over who gets to drive it.
Friday, April 27, 2012
For All In Tents And Purposes, We Are Done!
With tents, that is! We just went on an overnight camping trip. We needed to get away and we haven't been camping for a while. We went to Lost Dutchman Mine State Park in Apache Junction, AZ. It is a beautiful park located just outside Phoenix.
We spent an hour trying to get our tent set up. It was over 100 heat index and we were sweating and fighting heat exhaustion. This was only the second time we had set up the tent and I sure didn't remember what a pain it was from last time! It was crazy.
We kept saying over and over, we wished we had an RV already. This trip really helped fuel the fire on getting one sooner rather than later.
Here is the little sucker:
And here is a picture of our view:
As always, we had a wonderful time exploring, enjoying the area and sitting by the campfire talking and dreaming. We are very ready to make this our permanent lifestyle.
We spent an hour trying to get our tent set up. It was over 100 heat index and we were sweating and fighting heat exhaustion. This was only the second time we had set up the tent and I sure didn't remember what a pain it was from last time! It was crazy.
We kept saying over and over, we wished we had an RV already. This trip really helped fuel the fire on getting one sooner rather than later.
Here is the little sucker:
And here is a picture of our view:
As always, we had a wonderful time exploring, enjoying the area and sitting by the campfire talking and dreaming. We are very ready to make this our permanent lifestyle.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Whirlwind Trip
So we got back form our 12 day 4200 mile road trip back to Indiana. It was a lot of fun but we were constantly on the move. We had a great time with Brenda's family and got to meet her newest grandchild. We were also there to celebrate her grandson's 4th birthday.
I love road trips. I love driving. Especially when we have good weather and easy traffic. We had both of those for the most part. We did hit heavy rain and winds while driving through Oklahoma and Texas on our way home. Go figure!
The best part of this trip is knowing that this will be our last fast paced trip across country. In 9 months we will be on the road full time and can take our time getting there. We can also stay as long as we want. Knowing this made this trip better. Even though we didn't get to see everybody we wanted to, we know that we will be back at Christmastime and can take our time.
We both got colds during this trip. Brenda's hit her on the way home and I got mine last Sunday. Good news is we are just relaxing this week and enjoying doing nothing.
So now that we are back home and feeling better, we will start the RV search again.
I love road trips. I love driving. Especially when we have good weather and easy traffic. We had both of those for the most part. We did hit heavy rain and winds while driving through Oklahoma and Texas on our way home. Go figure!
The best part of this trip is knowing that this will be our last fast paced trip across country. In 9 months we will be on the road full time and can take our time getting there. We can also stay as long as we want. Knowing this made this trip better. Even though we didn't get to see everybody we wanted to, we know that we will be back at Christmastime and can take our time.
We both got colds during this trip. Brenda's hit her on the way home and I got mine last Sunday. Good news is we are just relaxing this week and enjoying doing nothing.
So now that we are back home and feeling better, we will start the RV search again.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Red Flags By Owner, Buyers Take Warning
After serious craziness from the buyers, we have walked away from the RV we were going to buy. These people were bat-sh*t crazy. The entire time we were going through this debacle the owners were putting us through the worst roller coaster ride of my life. Let me recap some of the madness.
They posted the ad last Wednesday night. I responded to it and the owner called me Thursday morning. When talking with her on the phone, she seemed very elderly as she rambled and lost her train of thought quite easily. (Disclaimer-I do NOT think all elderly people are like this but there was something in her voice that made it sound like she was older.) She said the deal would be done and she would call me over the weekend.
Sunday afternoon came around and we didn't hear anything so I caller her back. Turns out the deal fell through on the place they were buying. They didn't know what they were going to do.
Monday she calls me back and said they found another place and wanted us to come see the RV that afternoon. We set up a meeting place so she could take us to it for about an hour after we hung up the phone. We give car descriptions so we could find each other in the parking lot we selected. We were parked right where we were supposed to be. About 10 minutes later we see a car matching her description pull in farther away in the lot. We figured it was her and sure enough my phone rings, she can't find us. I told her I saw her and waved out my window. She was thirsty and wanted to stop to get a drink before we got to the RV so we said no problem we would follow her.
Following her scared the living daylights out of me. She was driving like a drunk driver. Weaving, not making good decisions, etc. We were so glad we weren't in her car. Turns out she had multiple medical problems and is heavily medicated. We found out later she never drives. So why on earth didn't she just have us come to the trailer park and guide us from there?
We spent the next 4 hours talking with them and looking over the RV. It wasn't quite as nice as the pictures looked (they never do.) In fact, it was really dirty. Like inch thick dust on all the light fixtures and everything was nicotine yellow inside. Most of that time was listening to her ramble in her slurred speech. It was hard to really see anything due to the clutter and dirt. She acted just like a drunk, trying to be our best friend and wanting us to go out to eat with them, etc. We finally got away telling them we could call in the morning to let them know our decision but were pretty sure we wanted it.
We figured even with lots of work we were still getting a great deal. Even if we spent as much money cleaning it and doing work on it as we were paying for it, we would still be ahead. So Tuesday morning I call her and tell her we want it. They were going to be moving into the new place on Wednesday so we made arrangements to come by today to pay for it and take it away. (They have to have it out of the park by tomorrow.) I asked if a cashier's check would be ok and she said yes.
Tuesday night, I get what amounts to a drunk call from her. She spent 35 minutes rambling on about friends who have been murdered and how we were all going to be great friends. She even decided that the four of us would all take a trip to San Francisco together. During the call, she informs me her husband wants cash for the RV not a cashier's check. I told her that might be kind of hard to do. Trying to get that much out of a bank would be tough. She said I could just go to several banks to get it. Then she is all upset thinking I was mad at her because I told her it might not happen but a cashier's check is just like cash. I told her I would try to get cash.
This morning she calls me to tell me about the move. She says they were still getting stuff moved. I asked her if they were still going to be able to meet at 1 today. She said that was fine. I told her we were heading to the bank and the storage facility and would see her in about 3 hours.
My bank is a credit union back in Indiana. I use share branches to do any banking I can't get done online. I went there and sure enough all I can withdraw is 500.00. I;m like there is no way I am going to go all over town hitting up every credit union 500.00 at a time to get the money. So I call her while at the bank and try to explain this to her. I finally get her to agree that a cashier's check will be fine.
Ten minutes later, I am driving down the road heading to the storage facility to sign the lease to park the RV. She calls. She tells me not to get the cashier's check. She has to talk with her husband about it. (He was not around when I called her about the check 10 minutes earlier.) I told her I already had it and was not at the bank anymore. She said she would call me right back. By now its 11:45 and we are to meet at 1.
We wait for an hour and she never called back. We finally said enough is enough. I went back to the bank and voided the check. We had had enough!!!!!
It is now 2 and she had not called back. We figured she found someone who was willing to pay cash.
The whole time we were dealing with them, they were really pushing us to move as fast on this as we could since they had a deadline to get the RV moved by Friday this week. We say goodbye and good riddance. There are plenty more RVs out there.
They posted the ad last Wednesday night. I responded to it and the owner called me Thursday morning. When talking with her on the phone, she seemed very elderly as she rambled and lost her train of thought quite easily. (Disclaimer-I do NOT think all elderly people are like this but there was something in her voice that made it sound like she was older.) She said the deal would be done and she would call me over the weekend.
Sunday afternoon came around and we didn't hear anything so I caller her back. Turns out the deal fell through on the place they were buying. They didn't know what they were going to do.
Monday she calls me back and said they found another place and wanted us to come see the RV that afternoon. We set up a meeting place so she could take us to it for about an hour after we hung up the phone. We give car descriptions so we could find each other in the parking lot we selected. We were parked right where we were supposed to be. About 10 minutes later we see a car matching her description pull in farther away in the lot. We figured it was her and sure enough my phone rings, she can't find us. I told her I saw her and waved out my window. She was thirsty and wanted to stop to get a drink before we got to the RV so we said no problem we would follow her.
Following her scared the living daylights out of me. She was driving like a drunk driver. Weaving, not making good decisions, etc. We were so glad we weren't in her car. Turns out she had multiple medical problems and is heavily medicated. We found out later she never drives. So why on earth didn't she just have us come to the trailer park and guide us from there?
We spent the next 4 hours talking with them and looking over the RV. It wasn't quite as nice as the pictures looked (they never do.) In fact, it was really dirty. Like inch thick dust on all the light fixtures and everything was nicotine yellow inside. Most of that time was listening to her ramble in her slurred speech. It was hard to really see anything due to the clutter and dirt. She acted just like a drunk, trying to be our best friend and wanting us to go out to eat with them, etc. We finally got away telling them we could call in the morning to let them know our decision but were pretty sure we wanted it.
We figured even with lots of work we were still getting a great deal. Even if we spent as much money cleaning it and doing work on it as we were paying for it, we would still be ahead. So Tuesday morning I call her and tell her we want it. They were going to be moving into the new place on Wednesday so we made arrangements to come by today to pay for it and take it away. (They have to have it out of the park by tomorrow.) I asked if a cashier's check would be ok and she said yes.
Tuesday night, I get what amounts to a drunk call from her. She spent 35 minutes rambling on about friends who have been murdered and how we were all going to be great friends. She even decided that the four of us would all take a trip to San Francisco together. During the call, she informs me her husband wants cash for the RV not a cashier's check. I told her that might be kind of hard to do. Trying to get that much out of a bank would be tough. She said I could just go to several banks to get it. Then she is all upset thinking I was mad at her because I told her it might not happen but a cashier's check is just like cash. I told her I would try to get cash.
This morning she calls me to tell me about the move. She says they were still getting stuff moved. I asked her if they were still going to be able to meet at 1 today. She said that was fine. I told her we were heading to the bank and the storage facility and would see her in about 3 hours.
My bank is a credit union back in Indiana. I use share branches to do any banking I can't get done online. I went there and sure enough all I can withdraw is 500.00. I;m like there is no way I am going to go all over town hitting up every credit union 500.00 at a time to get the money. So I call her while at the bank and try to explain this to her. I finally get her to agree that a cashier's check will be fine.
Ten minutes later, I am driving down the road heading to the storage facility to sign the lease to park the RV. She calls. She tells me not to get the cashier's check. She has to talk with her husband about it. (He was not around when I called her about the check 10 minutes earlier.) I told her I already had it and was not at the bank anymore. She said she would call me right back. By now its 11:45 and we are to meet at 1.
We wait for an hour and she never called back. We finally said enough is enough. I went back to the bank and voided the check. We had had enough!!!!!
It is now 2 and she had not called back. We figured she found someone who was willing to pay cash.
The whole time we were dealing with them, they were really pushing us to move as fast on this as we could since they had a deadline to get the RV moved by Friday this week. We say goodbye and good riddance. There are plenty more RVs out there.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Update!
We got the RV!!!!! It would take pages to explain the roller coaster ride of getting the RV but the bottom line is we got it! I may have to devote a whole blog entry into the crazy mess and the characters involved. In fact, it would probably make a great book.
After several phone calls back and forth with the owners, I had pretty much figured it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if at all. I had talked with the owners on Sunday and they said the deal on the park model they were buying here fell through and they didn't know what they were going to do. So yesterday, we were just focusing on our trip and would start the hunt again at a later date.
Yesterday afternoon I got a call from the owners and they had just signed the paperwork on another place so the were ready to sell the RV. We made arrangements and went over to look at the RV yesterday.
We spent many hours with the owners looking at the RV and getting to know them. (Like I said, interesting characters.) The rig is extremely dirty as in its probably been years since any good cleaning was done to it. In some areas there is probably dust an inch thick. I kid you not. Due to health problems, the owners are not able to keep up with the cleaning. However, all the major systems work and they have kept up with the maintenance. It has new tires and batteries. They installed new flooring and a new toilet recently. The RV has been in the same family since it was custom built and they have all the manuals that go with the rig.
Thursday will be the day we actually get the rig. We are planning on parking it at a friend's house and when we get back from our trip, there will be lots of cleaning in our future. We are also planning on taking driving courses at Lazydays to get educated and feel more confident.
The best thing about getting this unit is we will be spending about 1/3 of what we thought we would. And if for any reason we don't like it or don't want it, we can sell it and get our money back and then some. Its a no-lose situation.
The scariest part is that we just took a major step in making our dreams turn into reality. We are a bundle of nerves around here. We are excited, scared, nervous, anxious, happy and just about every other emotion you can think about. Like we keep saying, the future is here and it just slapped us in the face!
I will post pictures after we get it. I definitely want to keep a photographic record of before and after. Stay tuned.
Let the countdown begin.....9 months!
After several phone calls back and forth with the owners, I had pretty much figured it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if at all. I had talked with the owners on Sunday and they said the deal on the park model they were buying here fell through and they didn't know what they were going to do. So yesterday, we were just focusing on our trip and would start the hunt again at a later date.
Yesterday afternoon I got a call from the owners and they had just signed the paperwork on another place so the were ready to sell the RV. We made arrangements and went over to look at the RV yesterday.
We spent many hours with the owners looking at the RV and getting to know them. (Like I said, interesting characters.) The rig is extremely dirty as in its probably been years since any good cleaning was done to it. In some areas there is probably dust an inch thick. I kid you not. Due to health problems, the owners are not able to keep up with the cleaning. However, all the major systems work and they have kept up with the maintenance. It has new tires and batteries. They installed new flooring and a new toilet recently. The RV has been in the same family since it was custom built and they have all the manuals that go with the rig.
Thursday will be the day we actually get the rig. We are planning on parking it at a friend's house and when we get back from our trip, there will be lots of cleaning in our future. We are also planning on taking driving courses at Lazydays to get educated and feel more confident.
The best thing about getting this unit is we will be spending about 1/3 of what we thought we would. And if for any reason we don't like it or don't want it, we can sell it and get our money back and then some. Its a no-lose situation.
The scariest part is that we just took a major step in making our dreams turn into reality. We are a bundle of nerves around here. We are excited, scared, nervous, anxious, happy and just about every other emotion you can think about. Like we keep saying, the future is here and it just slapped us in the face!
I will post pictures after we get it. I definitely want to keep a photographic record of before and after. Stay tuned.
Let the countdown begin.....9 months!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Just Putting It Out There For The Universe
So last night I was perusing Craigslist looking at RVs when I spotted an ad for one that seemed like a typo. The ad stated the owners were moving here permanently and didn't want the RV anymore. The price was 1/3 of what is should be selling for. I was like-what? For real? So I thought what the heck I will email them back. I figured it was a typo or a scam but what did I have to lose by sending an email.
This morning I kind of laughed about it and figured it was over. Well lo and behold I got a phone call today from the lady selling the RV. No, it wasn't a typo. They just really want to get rid of it. We talked for a while and she explained that they have medical conditions and didn't need it anymore. They have lived in it for a few years and felt like it was home. They wanted someone who would appreciate it and enjoy it as much as they did. She said she could tell in my voice how excited I was about it so she told her husband to not call anyone else who responded to the add. We basically have first dibs on it.
Some positives about getting a rig now is that we would have time to set it up how we want it. They have taken out the couch and chair so we would have to put in new furniture. Not a problem for us because we had already decided we wouldn't want a couch we just want two rocker/recliners.
Another positive is that we would have it and could take small trips in it now. It would be a great way to learn about it and get familiar with it before we start out full time. We can acclimate the pets to it so it won't be so big and scary when we move into it permanently.
The biggest positive is the cost. It is priced so cheap that even if we end up not liking it or wanted to do something different we could get our money back and then some.
The only drawback is that we don't quite have all the money right now. We have almost half of it. So, I am going to have to bite the bullet and see if the parents will give me a loan. We were planning on selling Brenda's car to help pay for it but we can't sell the car right now. So, I will make the following proposition to my folks. Ask for a loan stating we will pay on it each month and at the end of the year when we sell Brenda's car we will pay off the loan.
Now we just have to wait for the seller to call me back so we can go see it. Hopefully it will be just as she said and we can buy it. Of course, I am a firm believer that everything happens as it is supposed to. So, if we don't get it, it wasn't met to be. And if nothing else, this opportunity got us kick started to get serious about saving for a rig.
Here are pictures of her:
We have no idea what the inside looks like but it supposedly has new tires and runs well. If it looks as good in person as in the pictures, we may have our new home.
So, Universe, if you are listening, we are open to receiving good things.
This morning I kind of laughed about it and figured it was over. Well lo and behold I got a phone call today from the lady selling the RV. No, it wasn't a typo. They just really want to get rid of it. We talked for a while and she explained that they have medical conditions and didn't need it anymore. They have lived in it for a few years and felt like it was home. They wanted someone who would appreciate it and enjoy it as much as they did. She said she could tell in my voice how excited I was about it so she told her husband to not call anyone else who responded to the add. We basically have first dibs on it.
Some positives about getting a rig now is that we would have time to set it up how we want it. They have taken out the couch and chair so we would have to put in new furniture. Not a problem for us because we had already decided we wouldn't want a couch we just want two rocker/recliners.
Another positive is that we would have it and could take small trips in it now. It would be a great way to learn about it and get familiar with it before we start out full time. We can acclimate the pets to it so it won't be so big and scary when we move into it permanently.
The biggest positive is the cost. It is priced so cheap that even if we end up not liking it or wanted to do something different we could get our money back and then some.
The only drawback is that we don't quite have all the money right now. We have almost half of it. So, I am going to have to bite the bullet and see if the parents will give me a loan. We were planning on selling Brenda's car to help pay for it but we can't sell the car right now. So, I will make the following proposition to my folks. Ask for a loan stating we will pay on it each month and at the end of the year when we sell Brenda's car we will pay off the loan.
Now we just have to wait for the seller to call me back so we can go see it. Hopefully it will be just as she said and we can buy it. Of course, I am a firm believer that everything happens as it is supposed to. So, if we don't get it, it wasn't met to be. And if nothing else, this opportunity got us kick started to get serious about saving for a rig.
Here are pictures of her:
We have no idea what the inside looks like but it supposedly has new tires and runs well. If it looks as good in person as in the pictures, we may have our new home.
So, Universe, if you are listening, we are open to receiving good things.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Since I have been doing a lot of quick updates with no pictures, I decided it was high time to get some pictures on this blog!!!!
Arizona Territorial Prison Yuma, AZ
We stopped here after our day in Quartzsite.
Our Apartment
Here are a few fabulous Tucson sunset pictures
Our wonderful Valentines dinner last night. We had such a good time enjoying each other's company we completely forgot to put a fire in the fireplace.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Happy Valentines Day
To all the lovers out there....Happy Heart Day! And by lovers I mean anyone who has anyone in their life they love. It doesn't have to be a lover kind of love, it could be a parent, child, dog, cat or any other living creature. If you love someone-celebrate!!!!
I haven't been posting lately because life is just sailing along swimmingly. I have a wonderful, abundant life and things are going well. We are continuing to keep focused on the future while enjoying the now.
We are taking a two week road trip next month back to Indy. It has been way to long since we have seen Brenda's grandson and have yet to meet the new granddaughter. The trip is planned so that we will be there for her grandson's birthday. We are really looking forward to the trip (to say the least-we can't wait!)
Life is so good.
I haven't been posting lately because life is just sailing along swimmingly. I have a wonderful, abundant life and things are going well. We are continuing to keep focused on the future while enjoying the now.
We are taking a two week road trip next month back to Indy. It has been way to long since we have seen Brenda's grandson and have yet to meet the new granddaughter. The trip is planned so that we will be there for her grandson's birthday. We are really looking forward to the trip (to say the least-we can't wait!)
Life is so good.
Friday, January 27, 2012
An Awesome Week
This week has turned out to be a wonderful, fun-filled week. It started out really crappy, but it all worked out.
On Monday, I got a call from my work wanting me to work for about an hour on Thursdays for the month of February until the new director comes in. I decided I would help out. Not an hour later, I get a call from another person at work wanting me to cover her 12 hour shift on Monday so she can babysit her granddaughter. She said there was no one else to watch her so she had to. I kept telling her to find someone else, and I would work for her if she exhausted every other avenue. Of course, she couldn't find anyone else! I told her I would do it but it would be the last time. Its a long story but the bottom line is she is enabling her daughter and not allowing the daughter to grow up and take responsibility. This happens every week and I have been very accommodating until now. Just because I don't work all week doesn't mean I want to. I am retired for a reason.
OK I am done with the rant.
Wednesday morning we took off for Quartzsite for the RV show. We couldn't wait to see all the stuff and RVs. As we were driving I was like a kid oohing and aahhing over all the RVs we were seeing on the road.
We had a wonderful time! We had never been and weren't sure what to expect. We could never have envisioned what we saw. As a person who hates crowds, I was sure I was going to get irritable really fast. This was not the case. I enjoyed the people watching and seeing all the stuff for sale. Everything from gems to junk. It was amazing.
We spent the night in Blythe, California and just relaxed. We got to the hotel about 3:30 and took little naps. We then had a wonderful Mexican dinner at a small place recommended by the hotel staff. We came back to the room and took another nap, watched TV then decided to get some sleep.
Thursday we took our time then headed over to Yuma, Arizona to see the Yuma Territorial Prison. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed the museum and the grounds.
I am innocent I tell ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cells.
The view from the prison.
Today we got to meet some fellow bloggers we have been following, Yair and Ayo of http://ourtakeonfreedom.wordpress.com/. We were so excited to finally meet them. As soon as we met them, I felt an immediate bonding with them. I felt as if we had known each other for a long time. We had a great lunch and had so much to talk about. We asked a lot of questions and learned a lot about full timing. We had a wonderful time getting to know them better and showing them around the town.
Ayo, Yair and Brenda
This week was a much needed break. It had been far too long since we had fun and spent so much time outdoors. I got a chance to reconnect with our dream. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the next few weeks.
On Monday, I got a call from my work wanting me to work for about an hour on Thursdays for the month of February until the new director comes in. I decided I would help out. Not an hour later, I get a call from another person at work wanting me to cover her 12 hour shift on Monday so she can babysit her granddaughter. She said there was no one else to watch her so she had to. I kept telling her to find someone else, and I would work for her if she exhausted every other avenue. Of course, she couldn't find anyone else! I told her I would do it but it would be the last time. Its a long story but the bottom line is she is enabling her daughter and not allowing the daughter to grow up and take responsibility. This happens every week and I have been very accommodating until now. Just because I don't work all week doesn't mean I want to. I am retired for a reason.
OK I am done with the rant.
Wednesday morning we took off for Quartzsite for the RV show. We couldn't wait to see all the stuff and RVs. As we were driving I was like a kid oohing and aahhing over all the RVs we were seeing on the road.
We had a wonderful time! We had never been and weren't sure what to expect. We could never have envisioned what we saw. As a person who hates crowds, I was sure I was going to get irritable really fast. This was not the case. I enjoyed the people watching and seeing all the stuff for sale. Everything from gems to junk. It was amazing.
We spent the night in Blythe, California and just relaxed. We got to the hotel about 3:30 and took little naps. We then had a wonderful Mexican dinner at a small place recommended by the hotel staff. We came back to the room and took another nap, watched TV then decided to get some sleep.
Thursday we took our time then headed over to Yuma, Arizona to see the Yuma Territorial Prison. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed the museum and the grounds.
Today we got to meet some fellow bloggers we have been following, Yair and Ayo of http://ourtakeonfreedom.wordpress.com/. We were so excited to finally meet them. As soon as we met them, I felt an immediate bonding with them. I felt as if we had known each other for a long time. We had a great lunch and had so much to talk about. We asked a lot of questions and learned a lot about full timing. We had a wonderful time getting to know them better and showing them around the town.
Ayo, Yair and Brenda
This week was a much needed break. It had been far too long since we had fun and spent so much time outdoors. I got a chance to reconnect with our dream. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the next few weeks.
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