'12/#7 OMG! 4 More Days!!!

The list is getting done but...WOW only 4 more days. We still have some things to do but we will make it. Time has run out for anyone who wanted to see us before we left so the only ones we will be seeing are family & the few people we will run into accidentally.

The rig is slowly getting cleaned & ready for the road. We are going section by section washing & waxing 40' of RV. Not only does it help keep all the bugs & road grime from sticking it feels good when people comment on the looks of our rig. Most RVers are proud of their rigs & love to brag & show off. We are no different. We used to wash the rig & truck in one day but it has become too much to do in one day. Breaking it down into manageable sections has allowed us to get the job done while still being able to work on the rest of our list.

This week we also had the going away dinner for all the winter residents. Good food, good drink, good music, & good friends made for a great time. Most of our friends will be leaving this week. In fact we may be one of the few that will be here until April 1. Friday is the last Bingo of the season. As I have mentioned I am the Bingo caller in our park. This past Friday all the players got together to give me a hard time. It was non-stop heckling & laughing. I took it as it was intended...in good nature & with fun for all. This Friday's Bing will be quiet with so many snowbirds having headed home but we will still have fun & be able to say our last goodbyes.

Well I will sign off for now. I hope to blog again before we hit the road but that all depends on the list. So goodnight from our home for the next 4 days here in Largo because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank & Mary

'12/#6 Want To Go But Can't Get Going

Now don't get us wrong, we love our family & we love our friends but we just want to be on the road to somewhere else. The lifestyle we have chosen is based on the concept of variety & the ability to be any place we want to be. Hence we have an acute case of "hitch-itch", the urge to hook-up & GO!

Every RVer does it a little different & that is how it should be. Some travel regularly, not staying in one place more than a week or so while others commute back & forth between summer & winter "home bases" whiles others fall somewhere in between. We are the "in-betweeners". Our home base is in FL for the winter & our summer destination is determined year to year. The constant travelers do not set down roots & are always ready to hit the road. The others who set down roots for several months at a time usually need a little more time to be road ready. We have a tendency to gather stuff that will not travel with us & needs to be trashed, gifted, donated, or somehow left behind. A rig that sits also needs a little bit of TLC before hitting the road. Things that would have to be fixed or adjusted immediately while traveling can be put off while stationary. But these fixes must be done prior to traveling & they do seem to accumulate while sitting still.

We know when we are leaving so we try to get started on the to-do list early enough so that it doesn't overwhelm us. As everyone knows it is easier to put off until tomorrow what should be done today so time runs out faster than the list gets done. We are now in crunch time. Blast off is less than 2 weeks & the list looms over our heads. Our calendar is filling rapidly with Dr. appointments, family & friends, & other business we need to take care of before we leave. Every year there never seems to be enough time but somehow everything manages to get done & I am sure this year will be no different.

Once we get on the road we will look back & laugh. We will once again promise to do better next year & once again we will break that promise while still managing to do what needs to be done. It's how we do things. It's worked for us for over 20 years so why mess with a system that works?

Well I should stop blogging & get to that list (wink wink), So TaTa until the next blog from our home (for a little longer) in Largo FL, because.....

Home is where we park it,
Frank & Mary

'12/#5 Thank Goodness For Jello!

It has been too long since my last blog but things have not gone as we had planned. I always say "our house is on wheels & our plans are written in jello" & that has been the theme for the past few weeks. Instead of leaving early to mid March we will be leaving April 1st. That gives us a little more time to get ready but we need the time due to situations beyond our control.

As far as our health, my back is doing better & shouldn't be much of an issue. Mary's rash on the other hand had an an unexplained resurgence accompanied by an outbreak of blisters. Dermatologist, diagnosis, & drugs seem to be putting her back on the road to a full recovery. We will see our respective doctors one more time before we leave FL for the final OK to enjoy our travels.

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place to discuss this but here goes. We recently had a loss in our family that may be the most devastating loss I've ever felt. Our newborn grandson recently succumbed to "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome" or SIDS. He was 1 week shy of 3 months old & I am at a loss for words. His parents are beside themselves, Mary & I as well as his other family & friends are filled with emotions that cannot be put into words. The only thing I can say is I hope no one else ever has to go through something like this. Death is inevitable... but to a happy, healthy, 3 month old is beyond comprehension. Life goes on but this is something I will never truly be able to wrap my head around. That is all I have to say about that, except to thank all the friends who have supported us in this trying time even though they don't know what to say. Knowing we have the best friends in the world means more than anyone will ever know.

Today's weather has taken a turn. The temps have dropped & the wind has picked up. Living in an RV the wind makes quite an impact. Awnings shake, flap, buzz, & tear so any RVer with any sense will roll their awning up or at least secure it to the ground. Then all loose items such as folding chairs, grills, & clothes lines are stored or secured. Even then strong winds will rock an RV enough to let you know that you are not in a "stick & brick" home. I was going to wash the truck but it will keep until later this week.

Well that is enough for now. Thank you for listening & understanding my absence. The next weeks will be busy & hopefully will provide fodder for blogging. So until the next time this is "see you later" from our home in FL because.......

Home is where we park it,

Frank & Mary