I will be taking you on a journey with me during my retirement. Going from a stick house to an RV and will be on my way to who knows where. You will read fun, fear, confusion. You will see what I see. I am new to writing. Don't get discouraged by my grammar, my punctuation and my spelling, it's nothing but a "thang." God will be on my journey, I may not mention him all the time, but he is with me. I have the best family & friends in the world. Life is Good!
There were five us who decided to head south to Auburndale for the flea market. I had my own personal GPS, Dave. He directed us there and found us a good parking space. Why do I need Stella when Dave is along? Oh but then Tina may have a little something to say about that. We twisted Roger's arm and he decided he would just love to go with us. So Margie, Roger, Tina, Dave and I head to the very busy flea market.
Luscious strawberries from Plant City
All frozen and ready to consume
Tina and Dave holding Buddy & Anne
Dave, Margie w/Anne, Shirley
Jan, Shirley w/Alex, Tina and Dave
Shirley, Bob, and Roger
Peggy w/Alex, Tina
Other than just getting out and about on such a lovely day, my main objective was to get some fresh strawberries and that's exactly what I came away with. Well, and a few grapes too.
We got back and the weather was too perfect so I invited everyone over to my place for a little happy hour event. I wanted to make some of my famous frozen daquari's with my fresh strawberries. So I made some virgin ones and then some with some kick to it. They were all consumed so I guess they were good. Margie brought over some snacks and it ended up being a good evening.
Two friends from the women rv forum, Sarah and Tina, stopped by for a visit after they had been traveling around Florida after the Silver River get together (gtg.) Tina found a place at Deer Creek RV & Golf Resort (Passport America) and Sarah who is a wannabe stayed with me in Somewhere. You may remember Sarah went along with me to Crater of Diamonds state park in the summer.
Anyway Roger & Margie and these rest of us went to The End Zone for dinner. Monday night is wing night and as you can see, Roger can put his fair share away, notice his bone yard. We let Roger tag along so he could claim us as his harem for the evening.
Tuesday evening, they joined us at the Tuesday Happy Hour potluck so they could get a taste of our lifestyle. The first 1/2 hour is spent telling/reading jokes and then it's time to eat. Afterward, we stopped by Margie's to sit around the "campfire" (didn't get a picture) and visit. Margie had just had some work completed around her site and neighbors stopped by to admire the work.
Tina and Sarah were leaving out today. Working their way North to the cold. I had recommended Rock Crusher Canyon Park and the springs around Crystal River/Homosassas Springs FL and I think that is where she was headed. I wouldn't want to be heading to Ohio and North Alabama anytime soon. Safe travels, girls.
On Thanksgiving 2010 I saw a holder one of the ladies had to bring her plates, glasses and utensils from which to eat in one neat carrier. I took a picture of it and along with the dimensions of my tray to my creative friend, Nan. So at the latest women RV gtg, she had this to show me.
I chose the one she had made out of screen material thinking it would be easier to keep clean. There are pockets on both sides so if there are two of you, there's room for 2 of everything. I'm excited to try it out. She is only charging $20 so if you are interested let me know and I can send you her email address. She is a very creative person, just give her an idea and presto! there it is.
Just thought I would share this with my reading public so you could get just as excited as I did. LOL
My landlords finally stopped by (1st time since I've been here) and presented me with my two months electric & water bills. Total for 2 months was $170.64 which wasn't too bad. The water is a constant $38.50 so I can expect that every month and I'll probably was my rig a time or two since I'm not using anywhere close to the maximum allowed. The electric was somewhere in the neighborhood of $42 mo but I haven't had the a/c on since I've been here so guess that's just water heater and fans, lights, etc. I'm still under $450 per month so I'm a happy camper and I really like this place. People are nice & friendly for the most part and there are lots of activities. I haven't gotten back into the water exercises yet and I've got to do that but I am going to the pool daily and am riding my bicycle. My DR would be so happy to know that. Of course I'm getting plenty of steps in walking Sedona.
Sedona is settling in pretty good. She seems a little more skiddish than before. Thanks for everyone who have asked about her. She's a resilent little girl but I sure can't mention Mama T's name as she thinks she needs to be talking on the phone to her. LOL
Just heard from my nephew, Roy and he and Tina are planning on flying down next weekend to see me. Yippee, company! I'm excited about that too. Guess I'm just an excitable kind of person.
Margie and I are planning a Super Bowl party at her place on Sunday evening. Hope the weather stays like it has been...
B E A U T I F U L!
About 29 other bloggers gathered at Smokey Bones in Lakeland FL to put names with faces and how we did! It was so good to meet others who have this lifestyle and share the ups, downs and sideways of their life. Because I didn't take any pictures, I'm gonna link to Margie's blog and you can get more details. Yes, and because I'm lazy too. (Margie, told you I was going to do this. LOL)
It was terrific to meet everyone and hope we do it again. Thanks Donna and Stu for having this idea and following through.
After leaving my son's, Jonathan, in Kingsland GA I headed south on Tuesday. I stopped by the Silver River State Park in Ocala for a couple of days at the womenrv forum's gtg. I arrived on Tuesday afternoon just in time for the big storm that rolled through. Tornado warnings were issued but we all survived in the cabin. I didn't get pictures so I'll link you to Beth, Liz's , Margie's blog sites so you can see the ladies and all the fur babies.
I pulled out on Wednesday after sharing Nan's RV for the night to head back to Davenport. I felt I needed to get back to take care of a leak in my windshield that Margie had nursed while I was gone for so long. I stopped at the America Choice RV center in Clermont and asked the service manager, Chris, about doing the work and a rough estimate. He said I could bring it in the next day which would have been yesterday and I'm still here. I had a list of items to be fixed and thought as long as I'm here I'll have everything done. The leak was the windshield instead of the top of Somewhere, thank goodness. I had busted my sink and my shower was leaking so kill all the birds w/all the stones.
The sealant had to dry overnight and they put me up behind the locked fence for me to stay with water/electric hook-ups. The sink had to be found and purchased and that didn't happen until late this afternoon, the shower mechanism had to be found and that arrived this afternoon and now something else is needed for that. Good thing they work on Saturdays b/c I am here another night.
I like this place and Chris is a nice guy so it could be worse. There is a 2007 Itasca Sunrise on the lot w/3 slides and it's 50 amp which was very appealing. Of course they tried to upgrade me while I was here and it was terribly tempting to just get a newer rig but I have resisted so far. I like my Somewhere and can't see a need for something else even though I know 2003 will begin to lose value in another year or so. I've had her since Dec 2007 and I still like her except for the dang carpet so I'll just live with that for a while longer.
Margie came over today and looked at the '07 and spent some time with me so I wouldn't be so bored. Oh and did I mention that it was great to be back in my bed?
My wonderful friend Theda passed away on Jan 3, 2011. She was 44 years old. Her parents are elderly and both alive. She had two older brothers.
Theda and I became best friends in 1995. She was a little sister that I never had. I say she was my little sister but she ended up taking care of me more than me her. My sister Wanda said that whenever Theda was with me during surgery they (other sister Shirley) didn't have to worry because they knew they would get information and that I would be well taken care of. Theda never said a bad word about anyone, she always saw the good in people.
I remember our first trip. It was our first cruise for both of us. We were hooked and we went on many more trips after that. We went many places together like San Francisco, Destin, Key West, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, St Thomas, St Kitts, St Lucia, GA, MS, just to name a few, because we were very compatible room mates and great friends.
There were four of us who were YaYa's. We all had nicknames. Lotus was Becky, Missi was Giggles, Theda was Law Dawg and I was the Queen. Theda kept all of us straight because she was the one who kept her head on straight in every situation. We made a great foursome.
We all met through work but our friendships were much deeper than that. We even adopted a guy, Roy my nephew and his nickname was WahWah so it ended up being 3 YaYa's and a Wah Wah. That's when we went to Cancun for the week and Giggles couldn't go along.
Theda loved my family. She was such a great teacher with everyone who came to her park but especially with Taylor, my granddaughter. She added that extra something for her. My son, Jonathan, used to tell me that he never worried when I was with Theda. He knew I was in good hands.
Theda loved working for TN State Parks. She worked part-time for years and then finally was hired full-time. She was a Ranger which meant she had to go to the Law Enforcement Academy and then was stationed at the Bicentennial Captiol Mall in downtown Nashville. She took great pride in the opening of the "Mall" and then the subsequent tours she would provide and then the leadership when she became the Asst Park Manager. The Mall flourished.
She later got the opportunity to manage a park of her own. Johnsonville State Historic Area in New Johnsonville TN. Some of you readers have read about my ventures at the JSHA. She was thrilled that she was getting a new Visitor's Center. She had such pride in her profession and she was smart and had more knowledge about such a variety of subjects. She was a trained classical pianist, she played the violin. She knew about the Civil War, birds, flowers, trees, you name it and she could tell you information on a particular topic. She was definitely the one you would want in a trivia game. I tried to get her to go on a game show but she never would. She wasn't a bragadocious type person in anyway. Wow, and they say opposites attract.
This past Christmas Theda and I got in a big discussion about religion. I didn't want to assume I knew where she stood in her faith like I had in another instance with a friend. We assured each other that we both know the Lord as our personal savior. We held hands and prayed for our friend. She said she was sure of her salvation & knew where she was going when she died. Little did either of us know that she would be there this soon.
When I called our friend Ann to tell her what had happened she said that a song came on her radio what was something to the effect of "Mama's teaching her angel to sing." I believe that my Mama was waiting on Theda to come join the angels.
Several of our other good friends have gone on before Theda so I'm sure that the Angel Ranger Corps of Eddie, Rick, Larry, Dean-O and Mike were there to see her too.
Thanks to everyone who sent their condolences through email and face book. All of you who knew her were blessed and if you didn't know her, you missed a great opportunity to know someone who was a kind and gentle soul.
It's been a few weeks out and I finished with the house, uniforms and family things and am now with my family who is helping me get through a terrible period. Everyone says it will get easier and I'm sure with time it will but I just don't see how it will.
Theda was Mama T to Sedona. I had given Sedona to Theda a few weeks before Christmas as most of you read. She was now Mama to Sedona and I was Mama Carolyn because Mama C was so close to Mama T, couldn't confuse her you know. Sedona and I called Theda every evening to make sure she was tucked in safely after locking the gate at the park. Some days Sedona wanted to talk to Mama T and here is an example of her carrying on a conversation with her. Sedona is doing okay in spite of what she has gone through. Sedona was at Theda's side when her body was found and she wasn't going to let anyone get close to her. The detective took a loop and was going to put her in the shelter but Andy (Theda's maintenance man) took Sedona home with him until I could get up there to get her.
Seems like this tribute has been rambling but it has been theraputic for me to put words down on how I feel. Theda was my rock and I am going to miss her.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to go to Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista FL with Roger and Margie Woodall. Roger is a cast member for Disney and they invited me to go along on a great Sunday outing and I accepted. Here are some shots of our day there. Thanks folks!
Oh, we had a great jalenpeno-cheese pretzel. Neither Margie nor I got a picture but it was very delicious. I highly recommend it on your next visit to a park.
I suppose you can say I began celebrating New Year's Eve with a bus trip with my friend Margie to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. The bus leaves Davenport around 9:45 and returns around 5:00. It costs $25 to ride a return trip in the bus. The casino gives $30 voucher and $5 toward the buffet and with a players card you get another $5 off the buffet which makes you pay $10 for a wonderful buffet. Usually the fare at casino buffet's are horrible but at this casino the food was fresh and the variety was excellent. Yummy. I gave my usual donation to a casino and then was ready to return.
After a few hours of rest, it was time to get ready for our community party at the clubhouse. There was a good group who showed up and the band was very good. Man, these people around here really like to dance and that's a good thing. I got up a couple of times and danced by myself and then asked a couple of single guys for a spin around the dance floor. I also got to have a dance with Roger, thanks for sharing Margie. LOL
Carolyn & Roger cutting a rug.
Carolyn & Roger slow dancing.
Carolyn, Margie & ladies doin' the chicken dance.
Margie & Roger Dancing.
Happy New Year!
The bad thing about the dancing was the morning after. See a couple of days ago, Margie and I were looking some Born Free motor homes and when I entered one my knee popped and it has bothered me ever since. So I guess you could say instead of blowing out my flip flop, I blew out my knee but I didn't step on a pop top.
After the party I came home and called my bff, Becky, in Nevada. I figured I had celebrated for the Central, Eastern time zone and needed to add the Mountain time zone too but we didn't quite make it to count down with her. We were close though.
Today was a lazy day and then Margie & Roger invited me over for one fine steak. I took a salad and homemade croutons. Roger cooked the steak and it didn't take long for us to snarf down our wonderful meal of steak, baked potato, corn and salad. Again, yummy!
We sat out by a cozy "fire", chatted and relaxed. It should be a great year!
Our steak were cooked to perfection!
Margie's grabbing a photo for her blog.
Buddy (standing) and Anne were having fun in their playpen.
The food.
The fire
The lake from Margie's lot.
Tomorrow we are going to pay a visit to Animal Kingdom and see where Roger works and have a play day.
The lemon fairy, Margie, stopped by my house today while I was out biking and left me my portion of lemons. See she has a secret stash tree, somewhere in this park and won't tell me. That's okay though 'cause as long as they keep showing up why do I need to know where the secret tree is. LOL
These lemons are not your typical grocery store lemons. The are very juicy, not as tart and make yummy lemon drops.
Christmas day 2009 is what I consider my first year on the road as a full-timer. Yes, I retired in September but I consider the day I pulled out of Etowah TN as the beginning of my "new" life. I have put 8897 miles on Somewhere and stayed in 22 different parks and 2 non-parks. I stayed in Camping World parking lot and Suncoast Designers parking lot for a grand total of 3 nights. You can see that I'm not much for Walmart or Flying J's lots type traveler. That may change when I head West or North or in some other direction but I just didn't feel comfortable doing that during this first stage. My confidence has increased so now that I know the intricacies of Somewhere I may do more of that some day.
As I reflect on 2010, I learned a lot. I learned:
to be sure to turn my auto headlights off of my tow vehicle when I travel.
to check my battery fluids more consistently to preserve battery life (that was an expensive one to neglect.)
to stick with my original plans of not traveling too many miles in one day. Enjoy the lifestyle.
to enjoy people for who they are and not have too high expectations in others.
to relax and realize I'm not on vacation and I don't have to be busy every day I'm on the road. The road is my life now.
to realize how important it is to stay in touch with old/new friends.
to not get in a hurry when tearing down and setting up. Thank people nicely who want to help by saying "thanks but I've got it." Otherwise I will invariably forget to do something.
that 400 sq ft is just right for one person.
that things on the road are a lot more expensive than I originally planned.
I'm sure there are other things I've learned but my memory isn't what it used to be.
I didn't do everything I had planned my first year but I figure that the NE will be there and it can go back on the bucket list. Family is more important than my schedule. My second year is not as planned out as my first. Since this is my lifestyle, it's not important to do everything so quickly, I don't have to be back in 2-3 weeks to go back to work. I've learned to stop and smell the roses.
I cherish the people I've met along my journey whether they are next door neighbors or neighbors I've not met yet, but know them through this blog and the women rv forum.
I've done a lot more reading and less watching TV. I've done more walking and biking and kayaking than ever. I don't miss work one bit.
Would I do it again, you bet. I have never asked "what have I done?" This is a great lifestyle for the right person. I am so thankful that I worked to live and not lived to work. My plans and sacrifices I made along the way to my retirement life was well worth it. I would do it all over again.
Thanks to everyone who supported me along the way. Just going to name a few of my supporters and if you don't read your name it's not because I don't recognize you for what you have done to help me along the way but it would be like one of those speeches at the Oscars, I'm sure I'll leave someone out and the music will start playing. So here goes, Jonathan, Taylor, Theda, Randy & Debbie, Margie & Roger, Becky, Cindy, Roy, Chad (my financial advisor), and all my other peeps. I love you all!!
