This past weekend was interesting. Tiring, frustraing, productive, but interesting. We have finally moved on. Not very far mind you, it was a move to another site in the same park. "Why?" you might ask would we move to another site whem we are planning to leave in a couple of weeks.
First, we always get a safety check before we head out after sitting for a while. The new site makes it easier to pull out at whatever ungodly hour of the morning I must to be at the head of the line at he shop. Pulling all the wheels, checking the brakes, greasing the bearings, etc.
Second, we wanted to go through the "crap" we have gathered while we were sitting still and get rid of what we didn't need. All RVers and anyone who has read this blog in the past knows how often the RV has to go on a diet to keep it under the weight restrictions dictated by the chasis components.
Third, we thought it would be a good idea to go through our RV routine to decamp. Stowing gear, hooking up the truck, and all the checks and double checks associated with the process. This part turned out to be the most embarassing and humbling part of our weekend. It was a comedy of errors, literally! It was amazing how much we forgot that was once done as second nature. We are RVers, we are NOT supposed to sit still for 3 years!!!! We are glad the there weren't too many people eatching. That would have made it worse.
The move was successful and we are set up on our new site. And the adventure is starting.
Until the next blog form our new home still in Zephyrhills because....
Home is where we park it.
Frank and Mary
Monday, April 18, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
'16/#2 Counting The Days
Our time here in Zephyrhills is winding down. We now have to get serious about plans after our extended stay in Florida. The road is calling and we have a severe case of hitch-itch. When we leave our first stop will be to get some work done on the rig. With our new truck the only thing we have to worry about is the trailer. Our first stop will be locally to get a general safety check. Then we will head to Indiana, this the birthplace for 90% of all RV's, to have some more serious work done. Our 5th wheel is 10 years old and like any home will need some work from time to time, so we figured why not go back to where they build them to have it taken care of
After the necessary work is completed we will head back to Florida and embark on a fun adventure. This summer we are planning on taking some grand kids on a trip with stops in NYC and Washington DC. Anything that pops up along the way is open for discussion. Will keep the adventure going as long as possible.
Once summer vacation is over and the kids go back to school we are tentatively heading to Kentucky to work another season at Amazon. We enjoyed our last stint at Amazon and it is a good way to feather the nest for the future. Since Amazon usually last right up until Christmas we hope to head back to Florida to spend the rest of the holiday season with our family.
Well, that is 9 months of planning and that is about how far in advance we dare plan. If you have followed us in the past you know that we always say our plans are written in jello. You never know what the future brings and thing can change at the drop of a hat!
Well I will close for now from our home in Zephyrhills because...
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Saturday, March 12, 2016
'16/#1 Back From The Dead?
This a trial run on the old blog and I mean OLD! It has been over 2 years since I have blogged and I have to refresh my blogging skills as well as aclimate them to our new technology. Since the last blog we have gone through 3 generations of smart phones and now a tablet. I don't remember the last time I used the computer to get on line.
Well, lets catch up! We have been in FL for over 3 years and have accomplished everything we had planned. Family isssues are taken care of which is good and bad. Our children are all doing OK and that is good. We got to spend more time with the grandkids and bonded with them in ways that can't be done from the road. That we will miss but not just yet! The uncles on the other hand are a mixed bag. Our older uncle, Charles , was very ill and we were able to help him and his caretaker, Uncle Don, until Charles' death. As terrible as it was we were glad to be there for them before, during, and after his passing. Once that was taken care of we were able to help Uncle Don relocate. Not only does he have a new "roomie" but we have added to our family. Welcome Miss Grace! Grace and her husband had been friends of Charles and Don for many, many years and had a home nearby. Since Grace has been a widow for quite some time and is more mature (wink,wink) than the rest of us she thought it would help both of them if Don moved into her home. The situation is ideal. They are there for each other and getting along fabulously. They even added to their "little family" a sweet little rescue dog named Tessa!
Mary and I have loved being here for everyone and getting to spend time but it is time for us to move on. Part of the program was to get a new truck and we are now the proud owners of a 2015 Ford F-350. Yes it sounds like a down grade from our old F-550 but the new truck is actually supposed to be a more capable tow machine. We look forward to seeing the difference. So the count-down has started for our departure and we are excited. Once I get the hang of blogging again I will do so more often and promise to include photos (once I figure out how!).
So until the next time from our home in Zephyrhills because,
Home is where we park it.
Frank and Mary
Saturday, August 3, 2013
'13/#13 I've Got To Blog More Often!
I keep wanting to blog but I am so tired I fall asleep before I can turn the computer on. And when I do get on line my brain fails me and I can't think of anything to say. Well here goes another try. I have been working full time here in Zephyrhills while Mary has been in the office part time training. I know I am supposed to be retired but there is a plan. Last year has thrown us a few curve balls and we want to take care of everything before we hit the road again. We want to spend more time with the kids and grandkids, we had a few bills pop up unexpectedly, and I have been dreaming about a new truck. We calculated that if we stay still for a few years all will be taken care of before we head out on the road which we plan to take us out to the west coast. A new truck would be real nice for that!
The company we hooked up with here in Zephyrhills is awesome. They pay decent, they care about their employees, and the location is ideal for us. Yes, I am working a little harder than I had planned but I am outside and enjoying the fresh air. I am actually getting used to the work and the Florida heat and feel pretty good at the end of the day. We are looking forward to the winter residents arriving at the end of the summer.
Like I said, we want to spend more time with family and we have. We have been over to Pinellas County almost every weekend since we arrived here in Pasco County. We love seeing everyone and being able to share birthdays with the summertime birthday celebrants. We missed those summer birthdays while we were traveling. Apparently we were missed too because having Grandmommy and Granddaddy around is making the birthdays special also.
As far as the new truck that will come once the bills are paid. At lot of people might say "why didn't you just stay at the PO instead of working after retirement". My answer to that is, we are still retired and have had some wonderful adventures we wouldn't have had if we had stayed at the PO. Also this work is not a career move, it is a job. When it has fulfilled our needs we will move on. That is the joy of workcamping. We only work when we want or need to and the rest of the time is ours. Once the bills are gone and my butt is in a new truck on my financial terms we will concentrate on traveling again. Now is the time to work and travel so that we won't have to work as much as we get older.
We are heading to Pinellas for another birthday this weekend and then we will go to the east coast to see the uncles in the next few weeks. After that we plan to sit still for a little while. This much traveling, in our big truck, with the price of diesel has put a dent in the old wallet. $200 in the tank this week and probably again after our trip to the east coast. If I don't stop burning diesel how am I going to get that new truck! You can see where my priorities are.
Well I think this actually going to get posted before I take a nap. So this is goodbye from our home here in Zephyrhills because.....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
The company we hooked up with here in Zephyrhills is awesome. They pay decent, they care about their employees, and the location is ideal for us. Yes, I am working a little harder than I had planned but I am outside and enjoying the fresh air. I am actually getting used to the work and the Florida heat and feel pretty good at the end of the day. We are looking forward to the winter residents arriving at the end of the summer.
Like I said, we want to spend more time with family and we have. We have been over to Pinellas County almost every weekend since we arrived here in Pasco County. We love seeing everyone and being able to share birthdays with the summertime birthday celebrants. We missed those summer birthdays while we were traveling. Apparently we were missed too because having Grandmommy and Granddaddy around is making the birthdays special also.
As far as the new truck that will come once the bills are paid. At lot of people might say "why didn't you just stay at the PO instead of working after retirement". My answer to that is, we are still retired and have had some wonderful adventures we wouldn't have had if we had stayed at the PO. Also this work is not a career move, it is a job. When it has fulfilled our needs we will move on. That is the joy of workcamping. We only work when we want or need to and the rest of the time is ours. Once the bills are gone and my butt is in a new truck on my financial terms we will concentrate on traveling again. Now is the time to work and travel so that we won't have to work as much as we get older.
We are heading to Pinellas for another birthday this weekend and then we will go to the east coast to see the uncles in the next few weeks. After that we plan to sit still for a little while. This much traveling, in our big truck, with the price of diesel has put a dent in the old wallet. $200 in the tank this week and probably again after our trip to the east coast. If I don't stop burning diesel how am I going to get that new truck! You can see where my priorities are.
Well I think this actually going to get posted before I take a nap. So this is goodbye from our home here in Zephyrhills because.....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Saturday, June 29, 2013
'13/#12 A New Home, A New Adventure
We are no longer in Alexander Springs. As much as we liked the area and had made some awesome friends, management was making living and working there intolerable. We found a new RV park with better jobs, better pay, and what seems to be competent management. On top of that we are almost 2 hours closer to the kids and grandkids, and at least an hour closer to the uncles on the east coast. As a bonus we don't have to travel 45 minutes each way just to get a gallon of milk. It is a win, win, win all the way around. Our new home is closer to civilization so we can get satellite TV, make cell phone calls, and connect to the internet. It's nice to be away from it all sometimes, but then you start to miss it all and want it back.
Mary will be working in the office doing all that is implied by that. Phone calls, computer billing and reservations, and anything else that is involved. I will be working in maintenance. For now that is grounds keeping. I run the lawn tractor, weed whacker, and generally keep the place looking nice. I'm sure there will be more once I get familiar with the park and all the amenities.
We are pretty much settled in so we decided to do a little spring cleaning. RVers live by the "one in, one out" rule to keep the rig's weight down. I always joke that Mary follows that rule....when she buys herself one thing one of mine gets thrown out. Well it appears that Mary has not followed the rule at all. After going through the closets I got rid of one sport coat and a denim jacket. Mary filled 3, YES 3, large trash bags with stuff she hasn't worn in a while, won't ever wear again, or has never worn in the first place. That doesn't count another bag of stuff that we will be passing on to the grandkids. We now have 30 extra empty hangers to store. At least they don't take as much space as full hangers. When the rain stops I will load the truck (hopefully only one trip) and head to the dumpster or Goodwill. I can talk now but the next spring cleaning project will be the garage. That is when Mary will be able to talk bad about my pack rat habits.
Well it looks like the rain is letting up so I will sign off and go load the truck. I also have to find the nearest Goodwill drop off since we are new to the area. So this good bye for now from our new home here in Zephyrhills Florida because.....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Mary will be working in the office doing all that is implied by that. Phone calls, computer billing and reservations, and anything else that is involved. I will be working in maintenance. For now that is grounds keeping. I run the lawn tractor, weed whacker, and generally keep the place looking nice. I'm sure there will be more once I get familiar with the park and all the amenities.
We are pretty much settled in so we decided to do a little spring cleaning. RVers live by the "one in, one out" rule to keep the rig's weight down. I always joke that Mary follows that rule....when she buys herself one thing one of mine gets thrown out. Well it appears that Mary has not followed the rule at all. After going through the closets I got rid of one sport coat and a denim jacket. Mary filled 3, YES 3, large trash bags with stuff she hasn't worn in a while, won't ever wear again, or has never worn in the first place. That doesn't count another bag of stuff that we will be passing on to the grandkids. We now have 30 extra empty hangers to store. At least they don't take as much space as full hangers. When the rain stops I will load the truck (hopefully only one trip) and head to the dumpster or Goodwill. I can talk now but the next spring cleaning project will be the garage. That is when Mary will be able to talk bad about my pack rat habits.
Well it looks like the rain is letting up so I will sign off and go load the truck. I also have to find the nearest Goodwill drop off since we are new to the area. So this good bye for now from our new home here in Zephyrhills Florida because.....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
'13/#11 Frustration!
We work with some great people but as usual there are always a few that ruin a good situation. Also not surprising the duds are the ones in charge. Here in the "springs" we are service oriented employees. We try to make the guest's experience the best it can be by making the campground and day use areas as clean and pleasant to use as possible. It appears that we have been successful based on the comment cards we are receiving. Even our supervisors are telling us we are doing a great job. So why are they changing the way we do our jobs?
Our jobs have a policy that states that it is the responsibility of the employee manage hours. Then the supervisor tells us how to manage our hours. How does one manage hours while being micro-managed? Just goes to show that the Post Office isn't the only company screwed up by management yet is still operated successfully by the employees in spite of that management. AL&L has one major difference from the Post Office. Employees will put up with a lot for enough pay and benefits whereas AL&L pays minimum wage and no benefits. That may be why this park has had 5- 6 sets of managers over the past TWO years. Heck, if you figure the hours managers put in based on their salary they are getting a lot less than minimum wage. We are happy to be lowly camp hosts at an hourly wage with a lot less headaches.
On another subject we got to see all the kids this past week. Everyone is doing great and is was fun to see them. It was a welcome break from the insanity that was Memorial Day Weekend at the springs. The park was so crowded that we had to close the gates at 10:30am all 3 days of the holiday weekend. Then there was the mess that comes with large groups of people in small areas at one time. I won't go into details for those of you who may be squeamish but the restrooms/showers need extra attention.
Well that is enough for now so I will sign off from our home here in Alexander Springs because....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Our jobs have a policy that states that it is the responsibility of the employee manage hours. Then the supervisor tells us how to manage our hours. How does one manage hours while being micro-managed? Just goes to show that the Post Office isn't the only company screwed up by management yet is still operated successfully by the employees in spite of that management. AL&L has one major difference from the Post Office. Employees will put up with a lot for enough pay and benefits whereas AL&L pays minimum wage and no benefits. That may be why this park has had 5- 6 sets of managers over the past TWO years. Heck, if you figure the hours managers put in based on their salary they are getting a lot less than minimum wage. We are happy to be lowly camp hosts at an hourly wage with a lot less headaches.
On another subject we got to see all the kids this past week. Everyone is doing great and is was fun to see them. It was a welcome break from the insanity that was Memorial Day Weekend at the springs. The park was so crowded that we had to close the gates at 10:30am all 3 days of the holiday weekend. Then there was the mess that comes with large groups of people in small areas at one time. I won't go into details for those of you who may be squeamish but the restrooms/showers need extra attention.
Well that is enough for now so I will sign off from our home here in Alexander Springs because....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
'13/#10 Interesting Neighbors
We have been here in the Ocala National Forest just about 3 months. I talk about our little piece of paradise with all the natural beauty that surrounds us. But I am ashamed to say that I haven't taken any pictures to share. This morning Mary called me in what sounded like a panicked voice. I ran and instead of panic I found excitement. She pointed out the window and I ran for my camera. This is what was outside our window. And then it was gone. I am now motivated to take the camera with me and take as many pictures as I can. They may not be as spectacular as these but you will see the beauty that is Alexander Springs.
We have some interesting weather lately. It has gone from hot to chilly, sunny to overcast, rain and hail, and at least several severe weather warnings with at least one confirmed tornado in the area. Toss in the "controlled burn" by the Forest Service and you can imagine that we are kept on our toes. Not only are we concerned about us and our rig there are our coworkers and all the campers that have to be warned about the dangers. Never a dull moment at the springs!
Last week we went to Stuart to see the uncles and had a great visit. This is the first time we didn't have the rig with us. They had an inflatable bed which turned out to be very comfortable. We talk and laughed and ate and had an early birthday celebration before we had to leave. We are not that far away from them so Mary feels good about being able to see them more often. I think they are just as glad as we are about this.
Well I will end this now and make sure
my camera is all ready to take more pictures around our home her in Alexander Springs because....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
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