Time is running out on our stay here in the valley and out list is getting shorter in preparation for our departure. Repairs on the rig have been completed so I now feel better about hitting the road. We are starting to pack away some of the stuff we leave out during our extended stays and deep cleaning for our next adventure. This is the time we take everything to the laundry! So in addition to our regular laundry we have extra bedding, towels and rags from cleaning, and anything else we can think of that doesn't go in our weekly laundry. Needless to say we had a ton of things to wash, fold, and put away.
We are still working and it is getting busy in the office. This is the time of year that everyone likes to pay their annual rent, make deposits for next year, and pay off the final electric bill before heading north. We also have a lot of people either looking to come to the Rio Grande Valley or looking for a new place to stay in the valley. That means park tours and talking about all that our park has to offer. Our managers keep thanking us for "selling" the park but we tell them we are just referring to all the things that keep us coming back. Remember, RVers are mobile and can move at the drop of a hat so they can be picky about where they stay.
While the office is busy the rest of the park is getting very quiet. People have or are soon to leave. Many of the social events are winding down or done for the season so our volunteering has dwindled some. On the other hand one of the other work camper couples had to leave suddenly so we have stepped in to help fill that void. We don't mind the extra work and it is greatly appreciated by management and the residents.
This week we will make any last minute appointments and final prep for our next adventure. A doctor here, a dentist there, truck and trailer wash, and anything else that pops up between now and April 10th. That is when we hope to leave pending any "jello" moments. I'm sure there will be more to do right up to the last minute. Such is life on the road.
So I will say good bye for now from our home in the Rio Grande Valley because.....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Saturday, March 16, 2019
'19/#4 Watching The Calendar
Time stands still for nobody, including us. We should be on the road in less than a month and the "to-do" list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter. I am sure we will be ready to to roll when the time comes but just once it would be nice to be ready early. Too bad that isn't the way we work so we will leave when we leave.
There are a few things that need to be fixed on the rig before we go and those are our priorities right now. No problems, just stuff that has to be done. We also are planning our route to California for our summer destination near San Francisco. Time permitting we have a few stops along the way we would like to see or maybe on the way back. Yes, I said back because we have also decided to return to the Rio Grande Valley for another season. The Valley has been a great place to call our winter home the past two years and we have made some good friends here. Also our bosses really want us to return. They are good people to work for and it is nice to be wanted. So one more year in south Texas.
Last year I suggested that we put up some dart boards to add an activity to the already extensive list of things to do in the park. Management agreed and put up the money as long as residents provided the labor. That is how things get done in the park and it keeps the volunteers invested in the activities. Since it was my idea I took on the job of installing the boards, lights, and getting things started. We have a small group of players right now and hope to get enough to turn it into a regular activity next year. Maybe even put together a team to compete with other parks in the area in the Golden Age Olympics here in the valley.
As I have mentioned in past blogs we do a bit of volunteering and that continues. Helping concessions at the dances, movies, and other events has kept us busy. We are also volunteering for the St Patricks Day lunch and maybe some of the events. We also have tried a few new crafts that residents have offered to teach classes in. Over the last two seasons we have done bark carving, wood carving, wood burning, chip carving, wood spirit carving, and scroll saw art. There are several other crafts we want to try but that will have to wait until next year. As they say, so much to do and so little time. Maybe one of these crafts will turn into an actual hobby that either one one of us will enjoy and continue.
I guess that is enough for now. We are at work and I need to close this blog. So I will say goodbye from our home here in the Valley because....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
There are a few things that need to be fixed on the rig before we go and those are our priorities right now. No problems, just stuff that has to be done. We also are planning our route to California for our summer destination near San Francisco. Time permitting we have a few stops along the way we would like to see or maybe on the way back. Yes, I said back because we have also decided to return to the Rio Grande Valley for another season. The Valley has been a great place to call our winter home the past two years and we have made some good friends here. Also our bosses really want us to return. They are good people to work for and it is nice to be wanted. So one more year in south Texas.
Last year I suggested that we put up some dart boards to add an activity to the already extensive list of things to do in the park. Management agreed and put up the money as long as residents provided the labor. That is how things get done in the park and it keeps the volunteers invested in the activities. Since it was my idea I took on the job of installing the boards, lights, and getting things started. We have a small group of players right now and hope to get enough to turn it into a regular activity next year. Maybe even put together a team to compete with other parks in the area in the Golden Age Olympics here in the valley.
As I have mentioned in past blogs we do a bit of volunteering and that continues. Helping concessions at the dances, movies, and other events has kept us busy. We are also volunteering for the St Patricks Day lunch and maybe some of the events. We also have tried a few new crafts that residents have offered to teach classes in. Over the last two seasons we have done bark carving, wood carving, wood burning, chip carving, wood spirit carving, and scroll saw art. There are several other crafts we want to try but that will have to wait until next year. As they say, so much to do and so little time. Maybe one of these crafts will turn into an actual hobby that either one one of us will enjoy and continue.
I guess that is enough for now. We are at work and I need to close this blog. So I will say goodbye from our home here in the Valley because....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Monday, March 4, 2019
'19/#3 Falling Down On The Blog
It has been a month since the last blog and I have no excuse for not keeping in touch. That said, it has been a busy month for us and the next month promises to be even busier. Add to that the things that have kept us busy may or may not have been blog-worthy but here goes.
Two days a week we do work in the office so in a short month like February that will make the month go by even quicker. As I mentioned before we went to Mexico so I could get my dental work done and one of the crowns didn't meet my dentist's standards so the work would have to be done later after a new crown was made by the lab. So three days instead of two. In between that we had to have our annual physicals.
We have kept our same family doctor for almost 30 years and she is our health care coordinator for any medical needs we have as we travel around the country. That meant a trip back to Florida. This year instead of a quick 2 day dash in and out we decided to spend more time where we called home for 30 years. It gave us time to see family, get together with friends, and take care of some personal things that we just can't do long distance. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed every minute of our whirlwind visit but also looked forward to getting back to Texas and our own bed. We just want to thank everyone for taking the time to see us and a special thanks to Jess and Jim for putting us up while we visited.
Once back in Texas we talked with our bosses and the decision was made that we would come back for a third year. Usually we don't go back to the same place because we are trying to see and experience the country in our travels but the Rio Grande Valley, the park we are at, the people we work for, and the residents here have made it clear that they want us back and have given these two nomads a place that feels like home. Who could ask for more??
It is time to make some breakfast and get started on the never ending list of errands so I will sign off now from our home here in Pharr because......
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Two days a week we do work in the office so in a short month like February that will make the month go by even quicker. As I mentioned before we went to Mexico so I could get my dental work done and one of the crowns didn't meet my dentist's standards so the work would have to be done later after a new crown was made by the lab. So three days instead of two. In between that we had to have our annual physicals.
We have kept our same family doctor for almost 30 years and she is our health care coordinator for any medical needs we have as we travel around the country. That meant a trip back to Florida. This year instead of a quick 2 day dash in and out we decided to spend more time where we called home for 30 years. It gave us time to see family, get together with friends, and take care of some personal things that we just can't do long distance. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed every minute of our whirlwind visit but also looked forward to getting back to Texas and our own bed. We just want to thank everyone for taking the time to see us and a special thanks to Jess and Jim for putting us up while we visited.
Once back in Texas we talked with our bosses and the decision was made that we would come back for a third year. Usually we don't go back to the same place because we are trying to see and experience the country in our travels but the Rio Grande Valley, the park we are at, the people we work for, and the residents here have made it clear that they want us back and have given these two nomads a place that feels like home. Who could ask for more??
It is time to make some breakfast and get started on the never ending list of errands so I will sign off now from our home here in Pharr because......
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)