'20/#10 Life During Social Distancing

Well I hope everyone is taking the Covid-19 pandemic seriously and being responsible. We have decided to stay in south Texas for the forseeable future and social distance in our RV in our mostly empty RV park. Our rig is well stocked from our travel preparations so we won't have to go out for a while until the perishables need replenishing. We do take our walk each evening just to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. We also get to see some of our fellow residents at the recomended six foot distance to check on them and see how everyone is doing.

During the heat of the day, and it is getting hot in the valley, we find ways to amuse ourselves. We read, play games, cook, clean, read e-mails, and sometimes blog. We also recorded a number of TV shows and movies that we wanted to see or see again.  Scrolling through the TV menu we were able to compile quite a list to keep us busy. After all we can only watch so much news about the virus before we go stir crazy. Today we actually sat and watched the classic Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Ok maybe it's not actually a classic but we had a good laugh at Keanu Reeves career starter and one of George Carlin's few acting roles.

I'm sure our cinema list will get better but when you are cooped up and getting a touch of cabin fever....well anything goes. Everyone stay safe, stay healthy, and act responsibly during this crisis as we are, in our home in Pharr because.....

Home is where park it,
Frank and Mary

'20/#9 Staying For A Party For Two

We have been planning our departure from the Rio Grande Valley in case the pandemic did not affect our travel plans. Well today we got the call from the repair shop in Indiana that the governor there is shutting down businesses and imposing a travel curfew in the state. Our appointment has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. With all this going on we have decided to stay right where we are until such time that we can resume our travels.

The park we are at is working with us while we extend our stay even though our work camping jobs are over. Our RV is stocked for travel so we have everything we need and are able to get any essentials that we may need in the coming days or weeks. We are healthy as are the other Winter Texans who will be staying in Texas Trails RV Park a little longer than planned. We are a community and we keep an eye out for each other like neighbors do.

One of Mary's doctors cancelled her appointment and was going to do it over the phone. How a doctor can examine a patient over the phone and justify a regular office visit charge is beyond me. I know it takes time for the doctor and time is money but for what? A half-assed examination? This is a rheumatologist who needs to see and feel and move joints to diagnose or evaluate progress. I shudder to think how proctologists and gynecologist would do that exam. Who is going to hold the phone while the patient assumes the already awkward position? I need to stop. This blog is going off the rails and someplace it probably shouldn't.

Anyway, while we are sitting here enjoying each others company we hope that everyone out there is staying safe and healthy and taking this pandemic serious. Until next blog, so long from our party for two in our home in Pharr because.....



Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

"20/#8 Sitting Still and Almost Ready

Well here it is the middle of March with our departure date getting closer and closer. We are just about ready to leave south Texas and start on our next adventure. As I reported recently we volunteered to cook St Patrick's Day lunch for the park's final hurrah of the season. It was a lot of work and we had plenty of help from the volunteers to make it a resounding success. At least 300 people were fed and we were beaming from all the compliments. Again it could not have happened without all the people who stepped up to help.

As it turned out, on St Patricks Day we were told that all future events in the park would be cancelled due to restrictions layed out by the local, state, and federal governments. The recommended 14 day social isolation will coincide with our expected departure date give or take a day. With that in mind we will limit our time away from home and finalize preparations for our trip. We have enough food and supplies to easily last us through that time frame and will only need one or two perishable items before we leave.


With that said we are not in any sort of panic. There are no reprted cases of Corona in the valley except for the beer imported from Mexico (HAHA). People are going crazy and hoarding here as we have seen on TV  in other parts of the country. It makes no sense to us. We always have toilet paper, hand soap, and antibacterial wipes in the house. We are not stockpiling. We just shop! Who buys one one roll of toilet paper at a time? We shop sales and use coupons, so we may buy a 24 pack on sale because it is the best price. A 24 pack in our two person household will last us much more than a month! So why are people buying trunk loads? If they need that much toilet paper for a 14 day self quarantine period then there are too many people in your home or you already have a problem you should see your doctor about.

 The same goes for everything else these idiots are hoarding. People say the media is to blame and they do share in causing this panic, but ultimately the people who panic and act irritionally are the ones responsible. These people didn't become stupid because of the media. The media just shows who amongst us doesn't understand what is going on and how to deal with it. Shame on those with garages full of supplies that many people can't find because of their stupidity and greed.

That is enough on that subject. For now we are staying health and still preparing to leave the Rio Grande Valley soon to contine the adventure that is our life. Stay healthy and keep following us in our home on wheels in Pharr because......
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'20/#7 The Final Countdown Begins

Before I get started let me thank the people who have started adding comments to the blog. It is nice to know when you are reading and enjoying our adventures. Now on to the meat of the blog.

We are in March and the clock is ticking away. Where has the time gone? There is still a decent size list of things we need to do before we hit the road and just a little more than three weeks to get it done. Most of it is simple easy stuff but still takes time to get done. If we don't dawdle we will be ready with time to spare.

During this time our life doesn't stop. We still have our jobs here, the volunteering we do, and a couple of excursions planned. The big volunteer job is St Patrick's Day.  As I have mentioned in a previous blog we are cooking for this final event of the season. Lists have been made and volunteers to help have been lined up so now all that is left is the shopping, cooking, serving, and clean up. Ok, maybe we don't have as much behind us as we have yet to do but it is all falling into place.

We have been saying goodby to the people who are leaving early and processing them out from the park. We will be saying goodbye soon enough ourselves. For now we are still here in South Texas so I will sign off from our home in the Rio Grande Valley because.....


Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'20/#6 Maybe #5 1/2 ?

Just a quick blog for those of you who follow us on the internet. I don't Facebook that much but Mary does keep me up to date on our friends, family, and other important things on Facebook. I don't use "important and Facebook" in a sentence very often. Let me get to the point I am making. I would love it if any of you would post what you think or are feeling when you read my blog. I have a couple of regular posters and I can see that I have a number of people following us on the blog. It would be really nice to see a few more comments. The web site has made it easier to comment and if you would put something in the name box for me to know who you are.It doesn't have to be your whole name or anything you wouldn't like out on the internet. Just something that lets me know who you are.

Thanks for listening, following, and hopefully commenting. Blog at you soon from our home in the Rio Grande Valley because.....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'20/#5 Why We Do What We Do

Today was the annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch in Texas Trails. Like many RV parks the activities are run, attended, and supported by volunteers. Whether it is a holiday dinner, the weekly dance, or in our case the weekly Chuck Wagon the volunteers make it all possible. Many of the events would never happen without our volunteers. The best part is that anyone can volunteer! There is always something to be done and something for every level of ability.

This New Years Eve party Mary and I volunteered to take charge of the decorating. There was plenty of decorations from past years and we added some new to brighten things up. When we asked for volunteers to help we got about ten people step up. We also had several more who wanted to help but were commited to a previously planned bus trip. In less than two hours the hall was decorated and ready to usher in the New Year.

Every one had a skillset to bring to the table. Some of the older ladies unpacked and fluffed up the hanging items while others taped art work to the walls. Some of the gentlemen set up the components for our photo back drop including ballons and a giant champagne bottle. I ran up and down the ladder hanging things from the ceiling while Mary kept things organized and jumped in where ever she was needed.

We don't expect our older residents to climb ladders or move tables but they can set tables, roll silverware, and assemble table decorations. There is a job for everyone and every little bit helps. If the activities in your community need volunteers try and help. Even the tiniest help is something that needed to be done. It is also a way to get to know your neighbors in this RV transient life style.

Even though the lunch was for the volunteers, almost 200 of them, we still volunteered to help serve and clean up after. That is what volunteers do! Well I will sign off from our home in Texas Trails because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'20/#4 Hanging On For Now

Here we are in South Texas and the weather is a bit colder than we would like. With temperatures getting down in the 30's we are hanging on down here as long as we can. We will be heading north soon enough and there will be colder weather where we are going. We and the rig will be all prepared for the road as well as the weather.

Our list to get ready is getting shorter and longer at the same time. While getting the water connection fixed we found a leak in the water heater. This was a job better suited to a professional so that was something added to the list. That was taken care of and then a rock hit the truck windshield. Another thing added to the list. When we got that taken care of we found someone who could take care of our slide topper. One thing off the list and another added. If we keep going like this the list will never end!

With only seven weeks left the list has to get done. We also have a few other commitments on the calender that have been planned all winter. Once again I ask "how did I find time for a full time job?". Even without all the volunteering we aren't doing anymore I'm sure it will come down to the wire.

It is time to get to the list and try to stay warm so I will sign off now from our home in the Rio Grande Valley because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary