Boat for Sale?

While Rick and I were on our road trip to Washington state we kept seeing used boats in many of the front yards. Most were well-used, though more like battered and bruised. I wish I had the chance to get more photos 'cause there were some doozies! This is one I stopped for and asked Rick "Would you like to trade in the motorhome and live on this boat?" He just laughed at me. Think of the fishing opportunities if you lived on the water! Perhaps Pols & Jim would like a partnership opportunity? Can you believe we haven't fished yet, but we're getting closer to Montana. Maybe another week or two.

Boat for Sale

I'm feeling better each day and Rick says he will tie flies tomorrow if I go for a walk around the camp-lot (campground parking lot). I walked yesterday for more than an hour and over did it. I was exhausted afterwards, as the doctor said I would if I did too much too soon.

(ps - I'm trying Picasa, a different photo hosting site. Looks like I need to work on this. You can go to the album, but I want it to show here. Hmmmmmm...)

Drive to Washington, Thousand Trails Parks & A New Camera

With the realization that I needed surgery to remove my gallbladder, we knew that we weren't going to be able to spend the time in Washington that we had planned. Our plans are flexible anyway, with nothing in concrete really, so we just came up with another plan. Keeping a positive attitude helps and we've decided our retirement adventures would all be faced with a positive attitude.

We had already arranged to have mail forwarded to our Washington RV park so we needed to make the trip and we (I) wanted to see more of the coastline. So early Thursday morning (5/22) we headed up 101 on a mission to get to the post office in Seaview and retrieve our mail. We drove about 5 hours, passing many vistas and scenic pullouts, and I promised Rick that we would visit each of them on our return trip. We arrived right at lunch time when the post office is closed (do they do that in the big city?) and took a quick trip to Costco to look for a new camera. We went in looking for one model and realized when we saw it that it wasn't what I wanted. We looked at another Nikon model and liked it, but Costco only had the display camera in stock. We decided we liked it, but passed because it was the display model that everyone had played with. (*Remember all the vistas and scenic lookouts we had passed on our trip north? I was really disappointed that we wouldn't have a new camera on the return trip.)

Back to the post office. Guess what? This is a small, remote post office and our mail was taking a little longer than usual to reach it's destination. We spoke with the postmaster and left him a change of address card for Junction City, hopeful that he would get our package and forward it on. Having completed the 'mission', we were left with the rest of the afternoon to explore. We visited the Thousand Trails RV park in Seaview (aka Thousand Trails Long Beach) and took a quick tour since it is located on the beach. We walked the beach for awhile and thought this would be a nice place to stay with the motorhome when we have the opportunity. It was a stormy day and the waves were kicking up the sand, making the waves appear muddy. There were pockets of wildflowers growing along the path which added a touch of color on a dreary day. The sites are a little close together with 4 rigs sharing a common pedestal, but being on the beach is the draw for this park.

While walking the beach we had time to talk about the cameras and Rick suggested we go back to Costco and get the display model. Costco has a 90 day return policy so the idea was to try it out and see if we like it. You know this made me happy -- to have the new camera on the trip back! Yipeee!

After getting the camera our next stop was another Thousand Trails park at Seaside. This is a beautiful park with wide open grassy spaces. We started using the camera and of course I was pulling into all the lookout points I saw.

We ventured on to another Thousand Trails park, Thousand Trails Pacific City. As we were getting near the park we pulled over to look at the ocean and saw eagles dueling with seagulls over some morsel of food - probably a fish or small animal. We both were able to snap a quick photo, but neither one was that great. We had heard that Pacific City was hilly, curvy, steep, and not big-rig friendly. However, our 36' motorhome would not be a problem getting around this park, especially if we unhook the toad (car). This campground is known for being inhabited by black rabbits (we saw all colors), and they're everywhere! Sort of over run actually. The park is on the hillside overlooking the ocean and is definitely one we want to visit again.

At the end of the day, and I mean 0-dark-30, we returned to Thousand Trails Whalers Rest where we had been staying. Whalers Rest is also a beautiful park with both shaded and sunny sites. In Oregon I've learned that sunny sites are usually better. IF the sun comes out you want to be in a place to catch some rays. This park is also close to the beach, with only a 4 minute walk across Highway 101. This was my favorite park so far with the interesting beaches oozing with agates and gemstones.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you come back for the next post when I'll share the vistas and scenic pullouts of the return trip.

Mom said "Always wear clean underwear in case..."

My Mom used to say, "Always wear clean underwear in case you have to go to the hospital." Well, I had to go to the ER recently and when the ER nurse said to put on the lovely gown that ties in the back, I paused and you can guess what my next thought was -- "What underwear am I wearing?" I could hear my Mom's voice and it was somewhat funny to be thinking those words she used to say. The nurse looked at me puzzled while I stood still and I said "I'm just wondering which underwear I put on this morning" and she laughingly said "It doesn't matter to us. Seen it all before." I want to let you know that the staff at the small community ER hospital on the Oregon coast treated me (us) very well. The nurse had a good sense of humor and they quickly took care of me while Rick completed a bit of paperwork. (Thank goodness for good medical insurance that provides out-of-state coverage!)

The ER doctor saw me within a few minutes and we talked about my symptoms. I'd been feeling more than a little puny for a few days and it culminated with severe pain and definite symptoms that led me to research the Internet for self-diagnosis. (Rick loves it when I do that.) I'd decided it was my gallbladder and had been trying to figure out which hospital to try to get to in our travels. Little did I know it would get so bad so quick and we would just happen to drive past the small community ER hospital on the way to the wharf. Of course Rick has hospitals programmed into his GPS because he is an Eagle Scout and always prepared and we've been chasing these symptoms for at least 3 years. After 3 visits to emergency rooms over the past 3 years and many doctor visits, I get properly diagnosed more than 1200 miles from "home." But this has all been a good experience and I'm sooooo relieved to finally know what is wrong.

Anyway, after an ultrasound and many hours later, the good ER doc confirmed that I had a large (one inch) gallstone and would probably need to have my gallbladder removed. Before we left the ER we received a referral and some unofficial recommendations on where to go to have the operation. The few people we talked with in the ER all thought a bigger city with a bigger hospital with more than one surgeon to choose from would be best since it was no longer an emergency and we had time to plan. They also said gallbladder removals are routinely performed laparoscopically and I should try to find a doctor experienced with this less invasive procedure. So with a NO FAT! diet sheet in hand we decided to try Eugene, Oregon. We had just been in that area for 4 weeks and knew it was home to a couple big hospitals. Little did I know that all the "good" food we had been indulging in was torturing my gallbladder.

I again did Internet research on the 2 major hospitals in Eugene and decided I wanted Sacred Heart which would be less than 20 miles away. I called our insurance provider, updated them, and started the pre-cert process. I called the hospital's Patient Services and said "I'm new to the area and need to find a surgeon to remove my gallbladder." I don't know how we got so lucky, but she said to try Dr. Donald Yarbrough, a surgeon with Northwest Surgical Specialists. Of course I once again did some Internet research and asked anyone we could about the decisions we were trying to make. I called the doctor's office and again feel very lucky to have contacted someone who truly cared and quickly scheduled an appointment for less than a week away. We left the coastal area and headed back to Guaranty RV in Junction City, our motorhome dealer. They are graciously letting us stay in their campground parking lot while we get through this.

We met with the surgeon and immediately felt comfortable with his knowledge and expertise. I could not find a single negative thing about him or the practice he is with. He thought perhaps we could get on his surgery schedule in a couple days, but it worked out better for everyone to do it the next day. The NEXT DAY! They classified it as an emergency surgery, but we weren't in a panic. His office took care of everything and it went like clockwork! We arrived the next morning in time for a meeting with the anesthesiologist, I was admitted by noon and prepped for surgery. I napped under warm blankets until 2:30 when they took me in and the next thing I remember is waking up around 6:00 and feeling sick to my stomach from the anesthesia. But I eventually felt good enough to be wheeled out to the car. Rick stopped at the store to get me some liquids and a prescription and the next thing I remember is him helping me into the motorhome and going to bed. That was Wednesday. Thursday I lounged around all day taking it easy and Rick pampered me. Today is Friday and we took a little walk. I feel a little better today and tomorrow will be even better. Thank goodness this all worked out so well. We are still marveling at how fortunate we are to have such competent medical professionals available to us and dedicated to helping us get back to good health. And we're fortunate to have Moms who remind us to wear clean underwear.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse - Tallest on the Oregon Coast

I'm a little behind with our updates and there's a good reason. But that's a story for another posting. (I started this post on May 24 and today is May 29.) For now I want to share the wonderful time we had at the Yaquina (Yah-KWIN-uh) Head Lighthouse. This was a fabulous day as it was one of the only warm and sunny days we've had. But I'm not complaining about the weather. I'm enjoying the cooler climate. Arizona has already been in the 100's and we are lovin' the drizzly gray skies of Oregon.

We missed the tour at Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florence so I was determined to see this one up close. And we did! All the way to the top. Little did I know that it is the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast at 93 feet. Or that the spiral stairs were soooo tight. I didn't dare look down as we were going up. It was like being on a stair master machine and turning round 'n round. We made it to the top and stayed for a little bit as the volunteer told us about the light and the prisms. They allow visitors to get to the top of the stairs and take some photos of the automated Fresnel lens but not to walk around the top. Now that would have been a view! After I caught my breath and took some photos, Rick and I started down with Rick going first. I thought it would be an interesting prespective looking from the top down and stopped for a couple more quick pix. Well, once I looked down I could hardy force myself to get moving again. Not knowing that I had stopped, Rick kept going. You would have laughed if you heard the exchange between us, Rick coaxing me (claustrophobic me) to get moving again. But eventually, with me acting like Spiderman along the curved walls, I made it down, almost sick with dizziness. But a fabulous visit well worth doing if you get the chance.

There are many vista points once you are inside the park. The visitor center offered numerous exhibits from the early days. During our 2 visits there were schoolbuses dropping kids off on a fieldtrip to the tide pools. Each small group of students had a park ranger with them and I asked Rick if he wanted to tag along. One of the protected coves was home to seals and sea lions. Hiking trails ran through the park and there were students from the university studying the migrating whales offshore. The kind of place where you could spend the day.

The light has been on continuously since 1873. Tours are provided by volunteers dressed in period style dress and it was very informative. We enjoyed it so much that we went back a second time and tested our National Parks Pass. And we got in without a hitch. (Remember - Rick was concerned they would discover he was too young. Ha!)

I also wanted to test my new camera! Yep, the Sony DSC-P200 Point & Shoot that I love has developed internal dust spots that look like smudges on the photos. The cost to have it cleaned was almost what it cost new, so I've downloaded instructions and photos on how to take it apart. (Truly amazing what you can find on the Internet.) I think handyman Rick will be able to open it up and clean it. In the meantime, we purchased a new camera for me. I'll tell you all about it later, but I think most of these photos in the Yaquina slideshow are from the new Nikon.

Remember, you can click on most photos here and see them in a larger size.

Golden Eagle National Park Pass

When we pulled up to the entrance of Yaquina Head Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, the attendant asked if we had a Golden Eagle Pass and I said "no, but we'd like to get one." I told her that Rick was close to the age to get one. She asked to look at his ID and agreed that he was close enough. We really thought we'd have to wait until he was actually old enough to get one, but she may have gotten extra credit for selling us the Pass. We're glad that she agreed because it was a great benefit to us. Instead of paying $5 to get into this one area, we paid $10 for the lifetime pass and can get into National Parks like Yellowstone and Glacier for FREE! Free is good! We plan to spend many days at these parks, and I'm sure there will be many others now that it's FREE! It's a coincidence that the picture on the card is almost exactly like some of the cactus photos I've taken in our own yard.

I'll share our visit to the Yaquina Lighthouse tomorrow.

(disclaimer: Rick thinks that he may be questioned the next time we try to use it since he's not really old enough to have it yet. We'll test it soon and I'll let you know.)

20 Million Year Old Mud & Fossils

The beach we're near is beautiful. But then most beaches are, aren't they? It stretches for miles, uninterrupted in both directions. There are only a few houses visible on the cliffs, with an occasional freshwater stream running from the cliffs to the sea, carving an ever changing path through the sand.


There are stretches of soft sand, pebbles and small cobble stones, and a few areas of hardened mud. If you know Rick then you know the formations of hardened mud were what he found most interesting. Yes, he picked up agate and jasper gems, but he also found clam and snail shells that looked like fossils. These held his interest more than the pebbles. He tried to get me interested in the hardened areas of mud, but I wandered away in search of colorful agate gems. After visiting the beach he checked the Internet for more information on the mud and old shells and found an interesting website titled OregonFossilGuy.com

Rick learned from the Internet that he had been playing in 20 MILLION YEAR OLD MUD!
It's actually hardened, but when you walk on it you feel a little squishiness and softness. Not enough to squish between your toes, more like day-old clay. There are pieces of hard mud broken off that hold fossilized shells, leaves, and twigs. In addition to the small collection of agate gems, we also have a small collection of choice fossil shells. Not sure what we'll do with them, but perhaps when we're far from the Oregon coast we will look at them and remember the beautiful beach.

Newport, Oregon - Ahhh, the beach

What a beautiful campground we are lucky to be in! Thousand Trails Whalers Rest in Newport, Oregon. There are trees, but not too many. Lots of ferns and wildflowers. With the ocean shining through the trees and the sound of the waves crashing on shore, we have arrived! There is a short path to the highway, and then the beach. Just be careful crossing that highway! I could stay here for our 3 week allowance, but there are some other TTN/NACO/LTR campgrounds we would like to visit before settling in for the summer in Montana. So we will enjoy this little piece of peace for a week or so.

Thursday morning we stopped by the Allison Transmission service center in Coburg for the 5,000 mile tranny filter replacement. We're not quite at 5K miles, but we will be in the middle of no where (Montana) when we get to 5K. I called Allison at 7 AM, was there by 8 AM and they were finished by 10 AM. Rick finished up with the paperwork at Guaranty RV and met me at Allison. After a painless $70 charge and a few cups of their coffee, we hooked up the CR-V to the moho and drove about 120 miles or 2 1/2 hours on scenic Hwy 20 across to the coast. The road was curvy and 2 lanes most of the way, but nice.

We settled into our campsite and then headed to the beach for the afternoon. All of the waiting around for the past 4 weeks was washed away by the waves, literally. If you know Rick, you know that he was soon in the water, not body surfing like the teenager Rick, but up to his shorts.

There were a number of people walking bent over looking at the small rocks on the shore, every once in a while bending down to examine a gem of a rock. We knew from our visit to Thousand Trails South Jetty in Florence just south of here that rock collecting is a popular past time on the Oregon coast. We are rock hounds from the '80's and enjoy looking and finding beautiful rocks. We found a lot of agates and quartz the size of cherries, a few as big as a golf ball. They're yellow, orange, clear, gold, and the elusive blue. There aren't many shells and only a few pieces of broken glass. There is also jasper and lots of fossilized clams and snails. Relaxed and happy, with our pockets filled with gems, we headed back for a late dinner.

On The Road Again

Oh, it is soooo good to be finished with the warranty work on the motorhome and to be in a nice campground. We could see the shine of the ocean this afternoon through the trees and you can hear the roar of the waves as they come to shore. We're a short 3 minute walk from the beach. We just have to be careful crossing US 101, but we can see for miles in each direction.

The coach looks fantastic and we believe everything is working correctly. The fuel gauge tank sensor caused the technicians a few headaches and the next 150 mile trip will confirm that it's working as expected. For the last 120 miles the gauge is still pegged at Full. It was expected that it wouldn't move off the Full mark for at least 100-150 miles, but it needs to move to indicate when we are getting low on diesel. What's the saying? If I have checks in the checkbook I must still have money to spend? If the gauge always shows Full, do we still have a full tank? NO! Anyway, Guaranty RV is aware of our overly cautious concerns and asked us to continue on our trip north. If after the next 150 miles it still doesn't move off Full, we will deal with it.

The best part of staying put almost 4 weeks at Guaranty RV were the many nice, new friends we made. So many people were surprised that we had been there so long and we were still in a good mood. We knew it would do no good to get stressed, angry, or upset, and we think our positive attitude rubbed off on others also waiting. We enjoyed sharing stories and talking about fulltime RVing.

However, I've been wanting to spend some time on the Oregon and Washington coast before starting our Montana fishing and we are finally here! We'll probably be on the coast until the end of May when we start across Washington.

We've had a very busy and active Thursday and Friday, but I'll have to tell you all about it next time. We've got some nice photos to share also. Thanks for stopping by to check on our happenings!

Inspiration & Coffee on a Sunday Morning

Have you ever had one of those deja vu moments? A connection to someone that is amazing? When you truly understand what makes someone tick? Or a "I can't believe it" coincidence? I just had one and it's making me smile from ear to ear. Please read on with me. I drafted the following post about 3 weeks ago, after sitting for hours reading another person's blog. Her words have stayed with me since then and I've tried to look at art and life a little differently because of her story. I've wanted to let you all know how inspired I felt and I wanted you to go read the other blog so you could feel a small part of what I felt. If you do or not is obviously up to you, but I hope you do. It might just make you smile also.

I wanted to tell you enough about her so you would take the time. I wanted to tell you her story, but OH. MY. GOD. she did just that in a post 2 days ago. It's like she and I were listening to the same song on the same CD at the same time. Thank you, Susan, for inspiring me and making me smile.
http://susanartjournal.blogspot.com/
http://www.susancarlin.com/
---------------------------------------------------
A few weeks ago I took what I thought was going to be a quick look at another blog. A blog created by Susan Carlin, daughter of Louis and Billie. Well, I sat at my laptop reading Susan's blog, all of her blog, for hours, enjoying my Sunday morning coffee and her stories from the past years. Knowing her parents, I felt like I knew Susan. I knew that she was once a chiropractor and always an artist. Reading her tales of changing careers, opening a gallery, achieving goals, being happy, and sharing with others was truly an inspiration.

After reading Susan's story and being totally motivated, I started looking at hobbies more as a creative endeavor rather than just something to make or to pass the time. Susan made me ask myself "how can I be more creative?" Instead of following a pattern could I try my own design? Could I look at something and see it in a different light? Could I take a chance with my own concepts?

Something that really struck me was the sharing that Susan does with others who want to learn. She seems to take great pleasure in helping others. And realizing, then going for, what makes her happy and fulfilled = now that is something to write about.

I think painting people as Susan does is very difficult and takes an incredible talent. I like to think Rick and I are somewhat creative. We've taken a couple oil painting classes (landscapes) and I've taught classes on tole and fabric painting. Rick likes to wood carve (carve wood) and create fishing flies. We've both made stained glass items (sun catchers to windows) and we've made jewelry. I like to work with fabrics, yarns, threads and have made quilts, clothing, and crocheted various items. Susan reinforced the fact that "art" can be just about any media, not just a watercolor painting. It's whatever you create.

For the past 7 years or so, photography has been the one "hobby" that has remained constant with me. While in high school I thought I would enjoy working with textiles or in a plant nursery growing flowers. I love to photograph flowers and plants and love their textures and patterns. I will continue with this because it brings me pleasure. A couple years ago I submitted 2 photos to website contests and won the first place prize in both cases (t-shirts, yipee!), and my photos were displayed for the month - the real prize. Another of my photos was also choosen to be included on the intranet screen saver at work and it was nice to be recognized by peers and receive their compliments. I've created photo cards and used them and given them as gifts. I've had people say they would pay me for my photos, but I usually end up giving them one rather than charge money. Just this past week someone asked me to create 24 greeting cards for them and they want to pay me for them! I have given a few card assortments as gifts to family, but being paid is a good feeling.

There are so many computer applications available to enhance or tweak digital photos. I like to explore the filters and play with the editing features, however, the true image of the flower is what I like best. I don't plan to make artistic photography a career, but it sure is nice to have a creative outlet and to be able to share my art with others.

It's Just Not The Same Since You Left

We Miss Our Friends

We've met some great people while waiting for the service to get finished on our motorhome. If we had been in and out of here in a short time we wouldn't have met them, so it makes it worthwhile. Bob & Jerry, Jim & Kris, Tom & Jo, John & Linda, Ron & Becky, Harry, and many others who's name I don't know or remember. Most of you have moved on down the road, but we shared some very good meals, good glasses of wine, yummy happy hours, and pleasurable conversations. Having nice people around made the time fun and memorable.

While waiting in the reception area we've spent most of our time using our laptops, reading and crocheting. It's interesting to hear other's stories, experiences, and why they are here. Some are here because their refrigerators don't work, some need body work & paint repairs, and some have water leaks. Probably the most unusual was the couple that had 3 turkeys fly across the road and hit their motorhome, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages. (Note to self - start writing down all the strange and unusual stories.) We've learned that getting the needed parts shipped from other locations takes a very loooong time. Having a roof or side wall removed and rebuilt takes a loooong time. Surprisingly, getting body damage fixed and new paint happens fairly quickly - usually within a couple days.

We've seen many motorhomes with body damage, scrapes and dents. Low posts and trees are the enemy of motorhomes. When backing up or going around corners we need to be on the lookout for obstacles jumping out at us, barriers that sneak up on us, and low hanging eaves that reach out to grab us. No matter how careful we try to be, I think it's inevitable that something will happen to these huge homes-on-wheels. At least I know that work can be done to make it look brand new again.

Some people are curious about our laptops and what we're doing with them. We're happy to share what we know. We've discussed Internet air cards, cell phones, printers, scanners, laptops, software, XP vs Vista, free email providers, and booster antennas. We've helped some move their email to gmail, which is free and saved them $60 per month. We've offered "classes" that I jokingly called 'The Blog You Never Knew You Needed' and showed many how to sign on and navigate the website 'iRV2.com'. It's rewarding to help others learn and enjoy something new.

Even though we are now into our 4th week here, people say we are still in a good mood, have positive attitudes, are calm, and appear stress-free. Some say our good mood has rubbed off on them. Getting upset that it's taken this long doesn't make the technicians work any faster. In fact, the techs are concerned about us and sorry that we are still here instead of on the coast.

It's nice to think we've helped some people as much as they've helped us. Actually, I think they've helped us more than we've helped them. Our gain.

A Bouquet for Mom

The yards in Oregon remind me of my Mom's yard. Such beautiful flowers! Hope you enjoy these.
Happy Mother's Day!

We took a walk around the neighborhood in Junction City and saw all these flowers! Just gorgeous!

Bright & Shiny Object

We are still in Junction City, Oregon getting warranty work completed on our motorhome. We have been here 3 weeks and we are oh-so-ready to get on with life! We should be on the coast enjoying the scenery. However, we are nearing the end and hope to be on the move in a few days. The windshield was replaced, most of the flooring was replaced, the Corian countertops were polished, other minor issues were addressed, and the motorhome was buffed to a bright and shiny lustre! It looks so nice!

Although the paint was new and there were no problems with it, the black was dull. The small areas and tight corners were not buffed as well because they were difficult to reach with the big orbital sanders. There was over-spray and it was under-buffed. Now the black is truly black and shiny! A detailing company, Elite Coach Care, buffed the entire outside and it looks like a new coach should look! Elite can detail the inside and outside for a thorough job. If you're in the area and your motorhome needs a facelift, be sure to call Brian Hanavan at 541-998-1177. They know their stuff and do a fantastic job.

Friends - Louis & Billie

A couple Sunday's ago I received an email from Louis, an old neighbor and friend. (I'm not saying he's old! In fact, he's very young at heart!) His email reminded me that Louis has an interesting website as well as having lived an interesting life (part of it in Africa).

Louis and his wife, Billie, used to live close by, then moved a few miles away and lived near Rick's parents. Louis and Dad are both advanced computer users, more like computer explorers, and are always testing out the latest and greatest programs and PC gadgets. They both have webcams and frequently keep in touch via 'live feed'. We also have webcams and try to keep up with them, not always easy.

Louis and Billie had a scrumptious veggie garden and often shared zucchini and other homegrown crops. They also shared homemade breads and other tasty treats, as well as being there when you needed a ride to the doctor, the mail picked up or other favors. Louis was a veterinarian and we remember the time he helped us give our cat a pill, a very tricky task for us, but so simple for him! If you want to check out their interesting website click here http://louiscarlin.com/ and spend some time following their adventures.

Rick says, "If...

you stand still long enough,
moss will grow on you."

Time for Reflection & Reflecting on Our Blog

Staying put for so long here in Junction City and being able to explore the area and my thoughts, has caused me to reflect. Having the blog as an outlet gives me the place and excuse to record thoughts and feelings. This blog started as a diary and a method to stay in touch with family & friends. I want to record my feelings, but don't want this to become all about me. Rick is also here sharing in all this so bear with me while I figure it out. You might find it interesting, you might find it boring. I need to make it mine, no ours, but I want to make it interesting for you. Ultimately though, it is mine (ours!), so I'll take the liberty to ramble about whatever is on my mind.

We've been to places and events that I want to tell you about. There are people we've met who are so interesting that I want to tell you about them. There are other blogs that we've found that I want to share with you. There are artists we've talked with and I want to share their inspiration with you. Especially the inspiration! Rick and I both like to think we're somewhat creative and we're lucky to have hobbies that keep us busy and provide us a creative outlet. Being retired will allow us the time to explore our hobbies, interests, and of course, fish.

We'll try not to bore you with our ramblings. Let us know if there is something you'd like to know about. Leaving us a comment is easy to do.

Follow Up On Warranty Work

We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! They have made so much progress on completing our new floor and it looks so nice! When they returned our motorhome to us last night at 5 PM we still did not have our front chairs, but we're only missing a couple pieces of trim for the floor. They still need to reinstall the driver and co-pilot chairs. Sitting on a regular chair while driving that is not attached and is now on a slippery floor can be quite tricky. At least we only have to go across the street and park. There is no way that anyone could safely drive while sitting on a dinning room chair! It was also a little disconcerting to be able to see the ground around the steering column, but they will have that sealed soon.

The people we have met while waiting for our motorhome has made the wait worth while and interesting, even pleasurable. They come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, but we all have the RV lifestyle in common. In addition we are all here for some type of repair to our RV's. Some have a homebase in Florida, Illinois, Alaska, and Washington. We've even met some folks from our own community in Arizona! And there are those who no longer have a homebase with a "stick house", but travel fulltime in their RV's. Truly free to roam and explore!