Well, we made it thru Hurricane Fay with only a few rain bands. Then Gustav decided to cause some trouble. We are so greatful that all our Louisiana family made it thru with just a messy yard and power outages. It could have been so much worse. Of course because we are in Pensacola we are on the "bad" side of Gustav. We spent Labor Day weekend inside because of the weather and I can't remember ever NOT having a BBQ for Labor Day.
Today is Tuesday and the weather has been worse than it was for the storm. I think its the final rain bands coming on shore and causing way too many tornado warnings! Tornado warnings always scare me but living in a 30' travel trailer makes it a little scarier. I had my "safe" spot lined with pillows, blankets, etc and was ready to jump into it if needed! Thank God I havent needed it and the storm seems to be leaving my area.
Now hopefully, we can catch our breath before Hanna, Ike and whatever else is out there heads our way. We pray for all of those who have been hit by these storms or any storms on the way.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
WOW! A lot has changed since last post!
Didn't realize how long its been since I posted! A lot has happened since then....like we moved across the country!
Wow, last post had us talking about fixing up the 5th wheel to move. Well I did make the curtains......then we sold it! We decided it would cost a fortune to haul due to its size PLUS all the work it would need like new tires, new AC, etc. We paid $4000 for it in Dec 2007. We sold it for $7500 in June! Then we bought a 1994 30ft Jayco Travel Trailer tow behind for $6000! It is really nice and plenty big enough for us. It would be cheaper to haul because its smaller and we also didnt have to buy and install a 5th wheel hitch!
Hubby had been doing contract work and his contract was going to end in July. He tried to find work locally, but at his age, IT is a hard job to get because they want fresh out of college kids that they can pay peanuts to and not seasoned hands on guys who know what they are doing but don't have a degree. So as it got closer to July we sent his resume on the web. He got offers from Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusettes! NO WAY we were going to live there! Then he got an offer from Gulf Shores, AL......hmmm if we HAVE to relocate, the South would be the best, kind of like going back home. Gulf Shores sounded like a nice place! So he kept looking locally or at least states closer to ID so we could be closer to the kids. NO LUCK.
So the end of July, we pulled up jacks on the RV and headed South so he could be ready to work in AL in mid August. The plan was to go "home" to Louisiana for a week or so, visit parents, etc before starting new lives in AL. We stopped in UT for a few days to visit friends. We took our time, after all this would be the only vacation we get for a while. After UT, we stopped the first night in Cheyenne WY. The 2nd night we stopped in Hays, KS. DO NOT EVER STOP IN HAYS KS FOR ANYTHING! NOT EVEN GAS! SCARY SCARY SCARY place. The best RV park in town- there are 2- happened to be a grassy, area behind a convenient store, adjacent to a rundown motel looking thing. We were too tired to travel the 87 miles to the next town so we took our lives in our own hands. No one slept very hard, wondering if the hookers, drug addicts, and all around hoodlums would like the stuff locked in the back of our truck...or maybe just take the whole darn truck.
We were out of there at daybreak the next day! We were headed to OK City, then TX, then LA but it was Thursday and hubby got an email to call his boss. The job was being moved to FL and they needed him to be there MONDAY at 10am! HOLY MOLY talk about regroup.
Our family would freak if we went straight to FL without seeing them after they waited so long to see us. Hubby had not seen his mom in years! So we decided if we went straight to LA we could be there late that night, spend Friday and Saturday with them and head for FL on Sunday. SO taht is exactly what we did.
God has blessed us so much and we just have to know that if he leads us to it, he will see us through it!
We made the entire trip with our 1997 Ford F250 towing a 1994 30' travel trailer. We had no truck or trailer problems, no accidents, nothing thanks to the good Lord watching over us.
We had one situation that could have been bad but someone somehow saw to it that we noticed before it became a problem.
In the whole trip, I could go for a few hours without having to make hubby stop for a bathroom trip. At my age, I was pretty proud of that! LOL! Anyway, we left the RV park in Cheyenne, tanked up both tanks on the truck and headed out. We weren't on the road 10 minutes and I needed to potty. I had just gone, didn't drink anything and figured it was nerves. After about 20 minutes I told hubby, you are gonna hate me but you will have to find a place to pull over so I can potty! I can go in the RV just find a place to stop. He looked at me like I was nuts and said ok. We can't just stop on the interstate so he found the first exit and pulled off. There was a mall, it was closed but it didnt matter with the RV attached. We just parked in the middle of the parking lot and I headed for the RV.
I asked them WHAT IS THAT SMELL as soon as I opened the door! We all got out and as I got to the back of the truck I told Bob something was leaking at the back of the truck and ran in to the bathroom. When I got back out, the guys were under the truck trying to figure out where the GAS was leaking out of the truck! It was just pouring out like the whole bottom of the tank was gone! We traced it to the fuel cap on the back tank. Apparently all the construction we had driven thru shook the tank, caused pressure to back up, and the cap couldn't vent without shooting gas out. He tried to open the gas cap and it almost blew off. He relieved a little pressure, and we called the fire dept. We couldnt leave the gas on the road and knew if we opened the gas cap a lot more gas would come out. SO fire dept comes over, puts absorbant stuff on the spill and more around the truck so we could open the tank. All in all we lost about 3 gallons of gas but it looked like a lake! Apparently hubby put a little too much gas in the back tank so when pressure built it caused the problem. I promise you he never put more than 3/4 tank at a time again for the whole trip! Considering we traveled over 2400 miles for this relocation we thank God that was the only problem we had!
We got here Sunday afternoon, set up in a nice rv park and hubby went to work on time the next day. We knew it would be a full time position which is better than a contract! We knew it would be programming in .NET which is his favorite type of coding. We had no idea the pay would be so awesome, the benefits would be great, etc. We thank God for that every day!
I was going to job hunt when we got here, but hubby makes enough that he wants me to stay home and I am not going to argue with that! So you think I am spoiled? You bet I am!
Wow, last post had us talking about fixing up the 5th wheel to move. Well I did make the curtains......then we sold it! We decided it would cost a fortune to haul due to its size PLUS all the work it would need like new tires, new AC, etc. We paid $4000 for it in Dec 2007. We sold it for $7500 in June! Then we bought a 1994 30ft Jayco Travel Trailer tow behind for $6000! It is really nice and plenty big enough for us. It would be cheaper to haul because its smaller and we also didnt have to buy and install a 5th wheel hitch!
Hubby had been doing contract work and his contract was going to end in July. He tried to find work locally, but at his age, IT is a hard job to get because they want fresh out of college kids that they can pay peanuts to and not seasoned hands on guys who know what they are doing but don't have a degree. So as it got closer to July we sent his resume on the web. He got offers from Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusettes! NO WAY we were going to live there! Then he got an offer from Gulf Shores, AL......hmmm if we HAVE to relocate, the South would be the best, kind of like going back home. Gulf Shores sounded like a nice place! So he kept looking locally or at least states closer to ID so we could be closer to the kids. NO LUCK.
So the end of July, we pulled up jacks on the RV and headed South so he could be ready to work in AL in mid August. The plan was to go "home" to Louisiana for a week or so, visit parents, etc before starting new lives in AL. We stopped in UT for a few days to visit friends. We took our time, after all this would be the only vacation we get for a while. After UT, we stopped the first night in Cheyenne WY. The 2nd night we stopped in Hays, KS. DO NOT EVER STOP IN HAYS KS FOR ANYTHING! NOT EVEN GAS! SCARY SCARY SCARY place. The best RV park in town- there are 2- happened to be a grassy, area behind a convenient store, adjacent to a rundown motel looking thing. We were too tired to travel the 87 miles to the next town so we took our lives in our own hands. No one slept very hard, wondering if the hookers, drug addicts, and all around hoodlums would like the stuff locked in the back of our truck...or maybe just take the whole darn truck.
We were out of there at daybreak the next day! We were headed to OK City, then TX, then LA but it was Thursday and hubby got an email to call his boss. The job was being moved to FL and they needed him to be there MONDAY at 10am! HOLY MOLY talk about regroup.
Our family would freak if we went straight to FL without seeing them after they waited so long to see us. Hubby had not seen his mom in years! So we decided if we went straight to LA we could be there late that night, spend Friday and Saturday with them and head for FL on Sunday. SO taht is exactly what we did.
God has blessed us so much and we just have to know that if he leads us to it, he will see us through it!
We made the entire trip with our 1997 Ford F250 towing a 1994 30' travel trailer. We had no truck or trailer problems, no accidents, nothing thanks to the good Lord watching over us.
We had one situation that could have been bad but someone somehow saw to it that we noticed before it became a problem.
In the whole trip, I could go for a few hours without having to make hubby stop for a bathroom trip. At my age, I was pretty proud of that! LOL! Anyway, we left the RV park in Cheyenne, tanked up both tanks on the truck and headed out. We weren't on the road 10 minutes and I needed to potty. I had just gone, didn't drink anything and figured it was nerves. After about 20 minutes I told hubby, you are gonna hate me but you will have to find a place to pull over so I can potty! I can go in the RV just find a place to stop. He looked at me like I was nuts and said ok. We can't just stop on the interstate so he found the first exit and pulled off. There was a mall, it was closed but it didnt matter with the RV attached. We just parked in the middle of the parking lot and I headed for the RV.
I asked them WHAT IS THAT SMELL as soon as I opened the door! We all got out and as I got to the back of the truck I told Bob something was leaking at the back of the truck and ran in to the bathroom. When I got back out, the guys were under the truck trying to figure out where the GAS was leaking out of the truck! It was just pouring out like the whole bottom of the tank was gone! We traced it to the fuel cap on the back tank. Apparently all the construction we had driven thru shook the tank, caused pressure to back up, and the cap couldn't vent without shooting gas out. He tried to open the gas cap and it almost blew off. He relieved a little pressure, and we called the fire dept. We couldnt leave the gas on the road and knew if we opened the gas cap a lot more gas would come out. SO fire dept comes over, puts absorbant stuff on the spill and more around the truck so we could open the tank. All in all we lost about 3 gallons of gas but it looked like a lake! Apparently hubby put a little too much gas in the back tank so when pressure built it caused the problem. I promise you he never put more than 3/4 tank at a time again for the whole trip! Considering we traveled over 2400 miles for this relocation we thank God that was the only problem we had!
We got here Sunday afternoon, set up in a nice rv park and hubby went to work on time the next day. We knew it would be a full time position which is better than a contract! We knew it would be programming in .NET which is his favorite type of coding. We had no idea the pay would be so awesome, the benefits would be great, etc. We thank God for that every day!
I was going to job hunt when we got here, but hubby makes enough that he wants me to stay home and I am not going to argue with that! So you think I am spoiled? You bet I am!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Ok, I survived the heat wave!
Ok, so I panicked when it hit 83 the other day. Since then it has been no hotter than 80 and as low as 34! We brought our fan from storage and pulled all the winter protection off the windows and life is really good. Our RV is blessed with 4 full walls of windows in the living room and dining room slide out. We have a full size door in the living room. We have huge windows on 2 walls in the bedroom and 5 ceiling vents. That helps a whole lot! We will still head south ASAP!
I had been trying to let my hair grow out so it was at the stage where its too long to be cool and too short to put up. I got a really nice short haircut this week and feel so much more like myself! Now, I decided that I will let the light auburn grow out and go back to my salt and pepper. My only issue is what to do with it in the mean time. Suggestions have been to die it a sandy blonde or frost it. Need to think about that.
We have started putting some work into the rv to make it homier. We bought 6 yds of fabric and I will be making valances for the living/dining area this week. I have been looking at the fabric for a while but didn't want to pay $7 a yd for it. Hubby convinced me that this is my home and it needs to make me happy and I couldn't find drapes already made that would cost me less than the fabric that I loved. So....I gave in and I am so happy! Can't wait till he leaves for work tomorrow so I can start sewing!
We made a list of what needs to be done before we can relocate anywhere. The truck needs to be tuned up, tranny checked, tires replaced, 5th wheel hitch installed. The RV will need 4 tires, brakes checked, 2 batteries for the AC and AC's checked out. We need to go thru storage again and sell more stuff to have less to haul out of state. Its amazing the things we got rid of already and dont miss at all. I have more than I need in here and don't feel like I am doing without anything. Less is definitely better!
I had been trying to let my hair grow out so it was at the stage where its too long to be cool and too short to put up. I got a really nice short haircut this week and feel so much more like myself! Now, I decided that I will let the light auburn grow out and go back to my salt and pepper. My only issue is what to do with it in the mean time. Suggestions have been to die it a sandy blonde or frost it. Need to think about that.
We have started putting some work into the rv to make it homier. We bought 6 yds of fabric and I will be making valances for the living/dining area this week. I have been looking at the fabric for a while but didn't want to pay $7 a yd for it. Hubby convinced me that this is my home and it needs to make me happy and I couldn't find drapes already made that would cost me less than the fabric that I loved. So....I gave in and I am so happy! Can't wait till he leaves for work tomorrow so I can start sewing!
We made a list of what needs to be done before we can relocate anywhere. The truck needs to be tuned up, tranny checked, tires replaced, 5th wheel hitch installed. The RV will need 4 tires, brakes checked, 2 batteries for the AC and AC's checked out. We need to go thru storage again and sell more stuff to have less to haul out of state. Its amazing the things we got rid of already and dont miss at all. I have more than I need in here and don't feel like I am doing without anything. Less is definitely better!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Maybe I spoke too soon!!!
OH MY GOD!!! It was 83 degrees outside today.....it ws 83 degrees in HERE today! HOLY HECK!!! If you think living in a trailer home is hot, try an RV with a stainless steel roof!!!!! Next weekend we will have to invest in $100 to put the white sealant up there to reflect the heat.
On a good note, I think the sauna effect will help me lose weight....but who can live with my cranky self. I am not proud of the fact that I am a whiner but when i am hot I can be such a witch. I dont perspire like most people so my body doesnt cool itself naturally. You can only drink so much water and if you dont sweat it.....you stay in the rest room!
I think hubby and I really need to rethink moving to a warmer climate. Yup, I think we need to stay here year round and move to the south for the WINTER only.
On a good note, I think the sauna effect will help me lose weight....but who can live with my cranky self. I am not proud of the fact that I am a whiner but when i am hot I can be such a witch. I dont perspire like most people so my body doesnt cool itself naturally. You can only drink so much water and if you dont sweat it.....you stay in the rest room!
I think hubby and I really need to rethink moving to a warmer climate. Yup, I think we need to stay here year round and move to the south for the WINTER only.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Change in Plans!
We have been talking about moving to the Oregon Coast this summer. The coast, beach and warmer weather made me excited to go. Then I found out that no matter how far South on the OR coast, the water is always pretty cold. I CAN NOT live near a beach that is too cold to swim in, its just...wrong in so many ways. Being from Louisiana, it was Holly Beach in Cameron, that provided coastal water for me all my life, even if it was muddy, or oily, it was WARM! You could swim at night and relax in the warm water. SO......
Hubby and got to talking about how sick we are of the cold, I expressed my reservations about Oregon and how with our parents aging and living in Louisiana, we need to be closer NOT Farther from them. So after a while we decided our new plan it to be in Gulf Shores Alabama by next summer. I am so excited.
We will be 1 hr from his sister and we will be 3 hrs from our parents and his baby sister!!!!!!!!!!!! We will have fresh redfish, crab, shrimp and crawfish readily available.
Living in an RV will be great in the South because we can unplug and go inland when the hurricanes come our way. Our reason for waiting till next summer is so we can illiminate extra bills and be able to sell this RV before going. We will take the money we get from it and use that to buy another one when we get there. We wont have to tow this one 2600 miles!
We want to be able to work part time when we move there so we can do what makes us happy the rest of the time!
Hubby and got to talking about how sick we are of the cold, I expressed my reservations about Oregon and how with our parents aging and living in Louisiana, we need to be closer NOT Farther from them. So after a while we decided our new plan it to be in Gulf Shores Alabama by next summer. I am so excited.
We will be 1 hr from his sister and we will be 3 hrs from our parents and his baby sister!!!!!!!!!!!! We will have fresh redfish, crab, shrimp and crawfish readily available.
Living in an RV will be great in the South because we can unplug and go inland when the hurricanes come our way. Our reason for waiting till next summer is so we can illiminate extra bills and be able to sell this RV before going. We will take the money we get from it and use that to buy another one when we get there. We wont have to tow this one 2600 miles!
We want to be able to work part time when we move there so we can do what makes us happy the rest of the time!
Friday, April 18, 2008
So, I was a cynical in my last post....
As I look back I see that my last post was very cynical....the world was out to get me..yada yada.
Amazingly, I don't even feel like the same person who wrote that. I have been to the doctor, got on Antidepressants and find myself smiling more, giggling more and pretty darn happy. Not bad considering that for the past 3 wks, we have been 4 adults and a 3 yr old in the 40 ft RV. The kids moved back here because daughter-in-law got a job close by. We had 29 degree temps at night and had them move in here till they could get the power/heat working in their RV. No popcicle kids and baby for us!
Things have gone pretty smooth, everyone doing their share and taking turns 'training' the munchkin. She is in big girl panties now and we are all so very happy about that!
Poor hubby is having a rough go of it at work. They want solutions to the IT problems but can't give him access to the stuff he needs. They lost the whole IT dept a few months ago and no documentation was left for the next programmer. NO ONE knows where to find the info he needs so its like looking for a little needle in a huge haystack. He is working as a contract programmer and has been working with the stress and fear that they will cancel the contract because he can't do what they want him to. NOT because he doesn't want to...NOT that he can't do the work.... but because THEY can't give him security access to the area he needs and THEY can't get the program he needs to work around it. That is what happens when 1/2 of a company is in WI and the other 1/2 is in ID and WI will not provide what ID needs.
I have seen him eager to go to work, get up and go to work and now its dreading to go to work. This morning we had a long heart to heart. He opened up some and I got him to open up more by not losing my mind when he said he was afraid they would let him go. He is waiting for the shoe to drop so to speak. Honestly, I would rather have them let him go, rather than raising his blood pressure the way it is, give him a stroke or kill him! He worries about making the bills and paying for the RV and lot rent. I could care less about all that, as long as he is happy. He can get a job making less money and it will be tight but we can make it. I told him after the year we just had, we can make it thru anything.
After the talk he said he felt better, he looked like he felt better and I pray that our talked helped him to relax a little more. He would never let me work with that much pressure and he shouldn't either. He is my love, my best friend and my life.....we will always make it no matter what!
Amazingly, I don't even feel like the same person who wrote that. I have been to the doctor, got on Antidepressants and find myself smiling more, giggling more and pretty darn happy. Not bad considering that for the past 3 wks, we have been 4 adults and a 3 yr old in the 40 ft RV. The kids moved back here because daughter-in-law got a job close by. We had 29 degree temps at night and had them move in here till they could get the power/heat working in their RV. No popcicle kids and baby for us!
Things have gone pretty smooth, everyone doing their share and taking turns 'training' the munchkin. She is in big girl panties now and we are all so very happy about that!
Poor hubby is having a rough go of it at work. They want solutions to the IT problems but can't give him access to the stuff he needs. They lost the whole IT dept a few months ago and no documentation was left for the next programmer. NO ONE knows where to find the info he needs so its like looking for a little needle in a huge haystack. He is working as a contract programmer and has been working with the stress and fear that they will cancel the contract because he can't do what they want him to. NOT because he doesn't want to...NOT that he can't do the work.... but because THEY can't give him security access to the area he needs and THEY can't get the program he needs to work around it. That is what happens when 1/2 of a company is in WI and the other 1/2 is in ID and WI will not provide what ID needs.
I have seen him eager to go to work, get up and go to work and now its dreading to go to work. This morning we had a long heart to heart. He opened up some and I got him to open up more by not losing my mind when he said he was afraid they would let him go. He is waiting for the shoe to drop so to speak. Honestly, I would rather have them let him go, rather than raising his blood pressure the way it is, give him a stroke or kill him! He worries about making the bills and paying for the RV and lot rent. I could care less about all that, as long as he is happy. He can get a job making less money and it will be tight but we can make it. I told him after the year we just had, we can make it thru anything.
After the talk he said he felt better, he looked like he felt better and I pray that our talked helped him to relax a little more. He would never let me work with that much pressure and he shouldn't either. He is my love, my best friend and my life.....we will always make it no matter what!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Why do we even get our hopes up?
Due to the financial situation we have been in for a while...we make it paycheck to paycheck. Then the government is going to give out the stimulus package. Thank you Lord, we can put tires on the truck, put it in the shop for tune up or whatever so we can get more than 5 miles to the gallon. We can pay off a couple of small bills that are hanging over our heads.
We are in a payment arrangement for federal taxes from a few years back. They take the refund every year and we expect that. When the stimulus package started it was believed that it would not go to leans or back taxes...because it was meant to be put back into the economy.
Today I found out that yes, it will go to back taxes..so no truck repair for us. I need to feel like I am helping hubby. He has been wonderful...telling me that being here and having his home, dinner, etc for him is more help than I know. I love him for that but I know that he needs me to bring income in to take some of the load off him. It would help us get closer to our "heading for the coast" goal. I have been looking for work, we have only 1 vehicle so it has to be close enough for hubby and I to work out transportation. Now future daughter-in-law is working so we need to add her schedule to the list because her van died.
The job search is really discouraging for me. I am 53, suffer from depression, rheumatoid arthritis (especially in my hands and feet), and fibromyalgia. My symptoms get worse in a high stress environment. So I need to find a job where i can sit and stand off and on, rest my right hand as needed, with no stress. Yeah that will be really easy! I am going to go to Goodwill staffing this week, maybe they can help me out. We shall see.
We are in a payment arrangement for federal taxes from a few years back. They take the refund every year and we expect that. When the stimulus package started it was believed that it would not go to leans or back taxes...because it was meant to be put back into the economy.
Today I found out that yes, it will go to back taxes..so no truck repair for us. I need to feel like I am helping hubby. He has been wonderful...telling me that being here and having his home, dinner, etc for him is more help than I know. I love him for that but I know that he needs me to bring income in to take some of the load off him. It would help us get closer to our "heading for the coast" goal. I have been looking for work, we have only 1 vehicle so it has to be close enough for hubby and I to work out transportation. Now future daughter-in-law is working so we need to add her schedule to the list because her van died.
The job search is really discouraging for me. I am 53, suffer from depression, rheumatoid arthritis (especially in my hands and feet), and fibromyalgia. My symptoms get worse in a high stress environment. So I need to find a job where i can sit and stand off and on, rest my right hand as needed, with no stress. Yeah that will be really easy! I am going to go to Goodwill staffing this week, maybe they can help me out. We shall see.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Spring fever has us "antsy"
Hubby and I are trying to find a way to make ends meet by working from home. This would allow us to pick up and travel as we get the funds to do so. We want to be in Portland this summer, to get the "experience" my son swears we will love. Then our goal is to head to the coastline and stay a little while in each coastal community till we find one we feel at home in. That is where we will call home. A friend said she would be concerned about us being on the coast in the event of storms, I assured her that the major benefit of living in an RV is that you can pull that plug and drive away anytime you need or want to!
We can't wait!!!
We can't wait!!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Letting go can actually be uplifting!
Well, to those who have kept up with my blog, you know that when we moved into the RV everything we owned and everything our son and his fiance owned went into 2 12x25 storage units.
A good bit of it is stuff for the BBQ business, but so much of it was...well... just things we accumulated over the years that you work so hard for so you just can't part with it. Other stuff was..."we may need it some day". I have 2 boxes of keepsakes, that I will not part with. When the boys were growing up, I kept track of special things...1st pair of glasses at 15 months old, snoopy sling when an arm got sprung, boo boo bunny, karate ribbons, stuff like that. Each boy had a box and I have one with cards and gifts made in school, artwork, etc. When the oldest got married I gave him his box. When the youngest gets married I will give him his box. NO ONE gets MY box.
So, in order to save $100 a month, we all tied our hearts and weaved thru the mass of boxes and bags and started posting stuff for free on Craigslist. It took us 2 wks because the weather has been so cold but we are proud to say that we now only have 1 storage unit and it isn't even full.
Now understand, I am sure there is much more that could go...but its fine for now.
When we started we were stressed, too many decisions, too little time. We would go and it was like they moved stuff around but nothing was in the "to go" pile or "trash" pile. So I told the my son and his fiance to look at each item, if it was sentiment to put it on the "keep" side. If it was value, sell it. If you could replace it for very little, give it away. Somehow that helped them and before you knew it we were lining cars up at the gate of our storage place and driving in like a caravan!
People were very happy with their goodies and we were happy that it was done. After it was over, there were no regrets, just relief, it felt kind of like a soul cleansing.
A good bit of it is stuff for the BBQ business, but so much of it was...well... just things we accumulated over the years that you work so hard for so you just can't part with it. Other stuff was..."we may need it some day". I have 2 boxes of keepsakes, that I will not part with. When the boys were growing up, I kept track of special things...1st pair of glasses at 15 months old, snoopy sling when an arm got sprung, boo boo bunny, karate ribbons, stuff like that. Each boy had a box and I have one with cards and gifts made in school, artwork, etc. When the oldest got married I gave him his box. When the youngest gets married I will give him his box. NO ONE gets MY box.
So, in order to save $100 a month, we all tied our hearts and weaved thru the mass of boxes and bags and started posting stuff for free on Craigslist. It took us 2 wks because the weather has been so cold but we are proud to say that we now only have 1 storage unit and it isn't even full.
Now understand, I am sure there is much more that could go...but its fine for now.
When we started we were stressed, too many decisions, too little time. We would go and it was like they moved stuff around but nothing was in the "to go" pile or "trash" pile. So I told the my son and his fiance to look at each item, if it was sentiment to put it on the "keep" side. If it was value, sell it. If you could replace it for very little, give it away. Somehow that helped them and before you knew it we were lining cars up at the gate of our storage place and driving in like a caravan!
People were very happy with their goodies and we were happy that it was done. After it was over, there were no regrets, just relief, it felt kind of like a soul cleansing.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Smiles for the day!
Well, thank God the water in the cargo was not due to a bad water heater, just a loose pipe! Hubby tightened it up, we left the doors open and all is dry and no money out of pocket! Now that is the kind of repairs we like!
We had a beautiful weekend...even if the forecasters lied and said it would be WARM... but hubby grilled some salmon and we enjoyed the sun! We had jackets and hoods on so I am not sure how much SUN we actually got but we tried!
We picked up a new smoker/bbq pit. Some hubby's spend extra money working on cars, going hunting, fishing, golfing, and the like. Mine.... after all he is the grill master....spends his money on anything barbeque. We got the grill, new gizmo's and gadgets and he was blissfully happy....which makes me happy. He works hard, is a great hubby and takes really good care of me. He deserves the best......though he never gets 'the best', he is happy with New!
Well, all is good on the RV front on our end. My youngest...not so much! He has been "Dry docking" for almost 2 wks and just when you think he has a good handle on it....the poop hits the fan!
Well....not the fan...more like his legs, his shoes, his hands and God knows what else. Seems he couldn't get his sewer line to attach to the dump station spout. He couldn't reach to pull his "plug" and hold the hose down at the same time. He pushed the hose in as far as he could, sped to the RV to pull the release handle on the black water.....the sewer line flew out of the ground spout! He said it was like RV, the movie with Robin Williams! After I got my breath back from laughing so hard, I felt bad, really bad, but I just couldn't help but laugh!
They now have a new rule....NO ONE CAN POTTY IN THE RV TILL DADDY GETS IT FIXED!
Some lessons are really hard to learn!
We are proud of them though, they are hanging in there longer than I would. I told them, I love my RV but some comforts I would not do without! Kudo's to them and may they not have many hard lessons to learn!
We had a beautiful weekend...even if the forecasters lied and said it would be WARM... but hubby grilled some salmon and we enjoyed the sun! We had jackets and hoods on so I am not sure how much SUN we actually got but we tried!
We picked up a new smoker/bbq pit. Some hubby's spend extra money working on cars, going hunting, fishing, golfing, and the like. Mine.... after all he is the grill master....spends his money on anything barbeque. We got the grill, new gizmo's and gadgets and he was blissfully happy....which makes me happy. He works hard, is a great hubby and takes really good care of me. He deserves the best......though he never gets 'the best', he is happy with New!
Well, all is good on the RV front on our end. My youngest...not so much! He has been "Dry docking" for almost 2 wks and just when you think he has a good handle on it....the poop hits the fan!
Well....not the fan...more like his legs, his shoes, his hands and God knows what else. Seems he couldn't get his sewer line to attach to the dump station spout. He couldn't reach to pull his "plug" and hold the hose down at the same time. He pushed the hose in as far as he could, sped to the RV to pull the release handle on the black water.....the sewer line flew out of the ground spout! He said it was like RV, the movie with Robin Williams! After I got my breath back from laughing so hard, I felt bad, really bad, but I just couldn't help but laugh!
They now have a new rule....NO ONE CAN POTTY IN THE RV TILL DADDY GETS IT FIXED!
Some lessons are really hard to learn!
We are proud of them though, they are hanging in there longer than I would. I told them, I love my RV but some comforts I would not do without! Kudo's to them and may they not have many hard lessons to learn!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Pros and Cons of living in the RV
Since this is about the new lifestyle we are living I decided a pro and con blog may help anyone who is trying to decide if this is something they would like to do.
First I will be completely honest. If someone had suggested living full time in an RV 6 months ago I would have thought they were nuts. Too little room, too much sacrifce of worldly goods, you name it I would have had a reason!
At 52, hubby has worked really hard to give us the better things in life. I have been fortunate in that there were not many years that I had to work, and was able to stay at home with my boys most of the years they grew up. We had lean years in our younger days, so when he was able to, Hubby made sure we had everything we needed and just about everything we ever thought we needed and then some. Can we say spoiled rotten? We also held on to everything....so much so that when we had to store everything....it took 2 - 12x25 storage units to hold it all. Granted some of it was stuff the kids needed to store too but it was still WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!
There are 2 types of full time RVers. The ones that park pretty much full time in the same spot like we are doing right now. Other full time RVers, travel some. They either have the savings to live full time on the road or they work from home on the internet or they work at each new location till they save enough to travel again. We all wish we could just travel without thinking of the cost involved. Some day, we will be able to do that. Right now its best for us to stay put. Hubby has a great job less than a mile from here. Both our boys and their families live less than 18 miles from us. They younger son will probably head to Portland before too long, but for now we are all here.
No matter what type of RVer you decide to be, you really need to take stock of what is REALLY important to you personally. What comforts do you refuse to be without? This is what I learned, when we got the first RV ( 22ft motor home):
I learned that I needed to be in something bigger than a 22ft to be able to cook in the kitchen or even FIND anything. That double sinks should hold more than 2 quarts of water and a 2 gallon hot water tank is hard to get used to but you CAN do it! That a 3 burner stove makes fitting 2 pots on it very hard. That washing dishes, especially pots in those little sink is a true test of tenacity!
I learned that the walking area of the 22ft was designed for someone about the size of twiggy, and the ceiling height is not for anyone over 5' 5".
I learned that a closet size bath with a manual potty and a small stand up shower are too small to even brush your teeth! We used the shower to put a stacking shelf for the towels, etc. We only used that potty in the middle of the night. The rest of the time EVERYTHING was done at the RV Park restroom/showers. I learned that tromping thru the snow, rain, etc to take a hot shower or use the bathroom was not my idea of a good time.
I learned that the small master bed area at the end of the RV was much too hard...hard to sleep on, hard to get out of and nearly impossible to fix the bed. I learned that something as simple as a curtain hanging on a rod across the entrance way to that room gives you a chance to "get away" from everyone. I learned that if you sat on that bed with headphones on, you could drown out the noise that comes with 4 adults and a 2 yr old living in a small space.
I learned that the itty bitty refridgerator doesn't hold ANYTHING, so in order to avoid grocery shopping daily, we had to keep things in ice chest outside and remember to keep ice in it.
I learned that you really take it for granted when you can do laundry without leaving your house! I learned that finding room to stack dirty clothes is a task in itself.
BUT since we have the 40ft RV: I have room to move, slide out Living Rooms are great! Three people can stand in the kitchen and not touch a wall or counter! I have a full size fridge, my small chest freezer, 4 burner stove and oven, microwave, toaster oven, full size double sink, a snack bar with bar stools, tons of counter space and cabinets and an oversized pantry. In the living room I have my double recliner love seat, my computer, 32 inch tv, lots of cabinets and lots of windows that brighten the place up. I also have my full size washer and dryer AND a full bathroom complete with flushable potty, full tub and shower. I have an actual bedroom, with 2 closets, 6 drawers built into the bottom of the bed, cabinets over the bed, nightstands with drawers. We actually have a door to our bedroom! There are huge storage bays outside.
The only issues since we moved in this one and have so many electrical appliances is getting used to turning something off before turning something else on. We can only pull 30 amps at this RV Park and if you pull more it will kick the breaker. After tromping thru the snow to reset the breaker you learn really quick to keep an eye on what is pulling electricity! Most days its not an issue. The only time I have a problem is if I am running the Washer and Dryer, electric heaters and hot water heater with everything else that runs on a regular basis. After using the hot water for whites, I turn the hot water heater off. Then I can run the washer and dryer at the same time without kicking a breaker. It sounds like a pain, but you get used to it and it is so worth it to have all the comforts you rely on.
It actually is more comfortable than some apts I have lived in. So even though we came into this lifestyle unexpectedly, I really am enjoying it and even window shopping at newer models for the future!
First I will be completely honest. If someone had suggested living full time in an RV 6 months ago I would have thought they were nuts. Too little room, too much sacrifce of worldly goods, you name it I would have had a reason!
At 52, hubby has worked really hard to give us the better things in life. I have been fortunate in that there were not many years that I had to work, and was able to stay at home with my boys most of the years they grew up. We had lean years in our younger days, so when he was able to, Hubby made sure we had everything we needed and just about everything we ever thought we needed and then some. Can we say spoiled rotten? We also held on to everything....so much so that when we had to store everything....it took 2 - 12x25 storage units to hold it all. Granted some of it was stuff the kids needed to store too but it was still WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!
There are 2 types of full time RVers. The ones that park pretty much full time in the same spot like we are doing right now. Other full time RVers, travel some. They either have the savings to live full time on the road or they work from home on the internet or they work at each new location till they save enough to travel again. We all wish we could just travel without thinking of the cost involved. Some day, we will be able to do that. Right now its best for us to stay put. Hubby has a great job less than a mile from here. Both our boys and their families live less than 18 miles from us. They younger son will probably head to Portland before too long, but for now we are all here.
No matter what type of RVer you decide to be, you really need to take stock of what is REALLY important to you personally. What comforts do you refuse to be without? This is what I learned, when we got the first RV ( 22ft motor home):
I learned that I needed to be in something bigger than a 22ft to be able to cook in the kitchen or even FIND anything. That double sinks should hold more than 2 quarts of water and a 2 gallon hot water tank is hard to get used to but you CAN do it! That a 3 burner stove makes fitting 2 pots on it very hard. That washing dishes, especially pots in those little sink is a true test of tenacity!
I learned that the walking area of the 22ft was designed for someone about the size of twiggy, and the ceiling height is not for anyone over 5' 5".
I learned that a closet size bath with a manual potty and a small stand up shower are too small to even brush your teeth! We used the shower to put a stacking shelf for the towels, etc. We only used that potty in the middle of the night. The rest of the time EVERYTHING was done at the RV Park restroom/showers. I learned that tromping thru the snow, rain, etc to take a hot shower or use the bathroom was not my idea of a good time.
I learned that the small master bed area at the end of the RV was much too hard...hard to sleep on, hard to get out of and nearly impossible to fix the bed. I learned that something as simple as a curtain hanging on a rod across the entrance way to that room gives you a chance to "get away" from everyone. I learned that if you sat on that bed with headphones on, you could drown out the noise that comes with 4 adults and a 2 yr old living in a small space.
I learned that the itty bitty refridgerator doesn't hold ANYTHING, so in order to avoid grocery shopping daily, we had to keep things in ice chest outside and remember to keep ice in it.
I learned that you really take it for granted when you can do laundry without leaving your house! I learned that finding room to stack dirty clothes is a task in itself.
BUT since we have the 40ft RV: I have room to move, slide out Living Rooms are great! Three people can stand in the kitchen and not touch a wall or counter! I have a full size fridge, my small chest freezer, 4 burner stove and oven, microwave, toaster oven, full size double sink, a snack bar with bar stools, tons of counter space and cabinets and an oversized pantry. In the living room I have my double recliner love seat, my computer, 32 inch tv, lots of cabinets and lots of windows that brighten the place up. I also have my full size washer and dryer AND a full bathroom complete with flushable potty, full tub and shower. I have an actual bedroom, with 2 closets, 6 drawers built into the bottom of the bed, cabinets over the bed, nightstands with drawers. We actually have a door to our bedroom! There are huge storage bays outside.
The only issues since we moved in this one and have so many electrical appliances is getting used to turning something off before turning something else on. We can only pull 30 amps at this RV Park and if you pull more it will kick the breaker. After tromping thru the snow to reset the breaker you learn really quick to keep an eye on what is pulling electricity! Most days its not an issue. The only time I have a problem is if I am running the Washer and Dryer, electric heaters and hot water heater with everything else that runs on a regular basis. After using the hot water for whites, I turn the hot water heater off. Then I can run the washer and dryer at the same time without kicking a breaker. It sounds like a pain, but you get used to it and it is so worth it to have all the comforts you rely on.
It actually is more comfortable than some apts I have lived in. So even though we came into this lifestyle unexpectedly, I really am enjoying it and even window shopping at newer models for the future!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Spring is in the air...Achoooo!
Trees are blooming.....the grass is green....allergies are crazy! Yeah! Its Spring!
Not too sure what to think about the weather at this point. It is cold at night in the 30's, we wake up to 50-60 degrees inside the RV, turn on the propane heater and its nice and cozy in no time. It's supposed to be 61 today. I spent the morning resealing the clear plastic on some of our windows to keep cold air out. Now I am opening any unsealed windows and the ceiling vents to cool it off. Personally I am definitely not looking forward to the hot temperatures of summer.
We will have our work cut out for us as the weather permits. Hubby BBQ'd this weekend and took an assessment of "to do's" on the outside. Looks like the previous owners drove thru a grove of trees or something. Lots of peeling and recaulking will be needed. We need to rescreen the front door, and maybe find replacement screens for the missing ones. We need to seal the roof with white flexible sealant because it is a solid sheet of stainless steel which is great because its in really great shape and last a long time. But it will definitely make things hot in here when the weather warms up.
We are going to have to find out where the water leak in the cargo hole is coming from. It looks like the electric water heater but we can't really see so we are going to have to find the leak. Can't afford to replace it right now so hopefully its a simple fix.
But anyone who knows me will tell you that before the temps get in the 70's, the first thing that will be checked will be the two air conditioners in the RV. I am not a nice person when I get too hot! Ok, get your head out of the gutter! I mean weather wise.
Not too sure what to think about the weather at this point. It is cold at night in the 30's, we wake up to 50-60 degrees inside the RV, turn on the propane heater and its nice and cozy in no time. It's supposed to be 61 today. I spent the morning resealing the clear plastic on some of our windows to keep cold air out. Now I am opening any unsealed windows and the ceiling vents to cool it off. Personally I am definitely not looking forward to the hot temperatures of summer.
We will have our work cut out for us as the weather permits. Hubby BBQ'd this weekend and took an assessment of "to do's" on the outside. Looks like the previous owners drove thru a grove of trees or something. Lots of peeling and recaulking will be needed. We need to rescreen the front door, and maybe find replacement screens for the missing ones. We need to seal the roof with white flexible sealant because it is a solid sheet of stainless steel which is great because its in really great shape and last a long time. But it will definitely make things hot in here when the weather warms up.
We are going to have to find out where the water leak in the cargo hole is coming from. It looks like the electric water heater but we can't really see so we are going to have to find the leak. Can't afford to replace it right now so hopefully its a simple fix.
But anyone who knows me will tell you that before the temps get in the 70's, the first thing that will be checked will be the two air conditioners in the RV. I am not a nice person when I get too hot! Ok, get your head out of the gutter! I mean weather wise.
Owning and living in the RV isn't much different than living in a house, most of the same comforts, same problems, same spring cleaning and repairs. No rest for the hubby, poor thing.
Another great thing about the RV is that inside spring cleaning will be a snap!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Can we say STRESSED!
I was getting back into what I call a normal routine since the kids moved out. After hubby goes to work, I go thru and work on each room of the house, cleaning as needed and doing some of what he calls "piddling". If I don't feel up to doing it in the morning, I take an easy morning and do it later but it is ALWAYS done by 3pm. I like it to be neat when he gets home. When you live in a small space, even 1 thing out of place makes it look cluttered....like on weekends when I choose to spend more time with him than on cleaning house. By Sunday night, its looks pretty darn small in here.
Well, my youngest son had a dr appt in town Monday morning. He ran out of gas in the '71 RV about 2 blocks from here. Missed his appt and rescheduled for today. So they have been spending the day here and evening here, then drive the RV someplace for the night. I love them to death but 2 more adults, a 3 yr old and a dog tend to make my place SMALL and NOISY. The 3yr old can be sweet as honey for about 5 minutes at a time then "Sybil" shows up intent on driving everyone nuts, destroying stuff, sassing and even hitting us from time to time. Of course she ends up in the time out corner but it doesn't phase her, she just keeps on keeping on. She doesn't take time out well, and so we all pay the price. Definitely wears on the nerves.
They don't think about trying to keep things neat when they are here, don't think of doing dishes after eating, etc. It's weird, when I was younger and had more energy, less weight and less arthritis, I wouldn't have thought anything of it. I would just tell myself they are only here for a little while and I can clean when they leave. My grandmother that raised me was that way. EVERYONE was a guest, even her kids and she made you feel like you were welcomed and didn't expect you to do anything when visiting.
My mom on the other hand was always a clean freak, even making you take your shoes off at the door. God help you if you didn't put your chair just right when you got up from the table...EVEN if you were an adult. If you drank out of a glass you better wash it, dry it and put it away. She was an ANAL WOMAN! Then last year, my oldest son, my 5 yr old grandbaby and I went back home and stayed at my moms. When I got up, I started making my bed and she fussed me telling me we could do that later? I thought, "Wow, she must really miss me!" I made the bed and straightened out the room anyway. I learned well.
Imagine my horror when after playing in the barn, my 5 yr old grandson tried to come in the house covered with dust and chicken poop! I told him we would have to clean him up before he could come in. I couldn't believe my ears when my mother said, " Good Lord, let that child come in, he can't hurt anything!" My oldest son and I at the same time said " WHAT???" She told us that she used to let my sons come in like that when they were little! Well let me tell you that the echo was LOUD when we said, ARE YOU KIDDING?? YOU WOULD HOSE THEM OFF AND STRIPPED THEM DOWN NAKED FIRST! We all had a good laugh and she finally admitted that after losing her baby sister and her mother within the last few years she decided life is too short to worry about crap like that. We were floored but very happy that we could relax a little and enjoy our visit, but still following the rules imbedded in our brains!
So, I guess I need to realize that young people these days don't have the same thoughts on life, love and cleaning up after themselves. I will try to remember that they don't feel they should be "responsible" for the way my house looks. I will just enjoy the visits and try to keep the close relationship I have with my kids, because they are after all grown men and may not always live close to me as they do now. If the young one has his way he will drive himself across the world in his '71 RV, keeping in touch thru his blog at http://www.trulyfreeride.blogspot.com/
Well, my youngest son had a dr appt in town Monday morning. He ran out of gas in the '71 RV about 2 blocks from here. Missed his appt and rescheduled for today. So they have been spending the day here and evening here, then drive the RV someplace for the night. I love them to death but 2 more adults, a 3 yr old and a dog tend to make my place SMALL and NOISY. The 3yr old can be sweet as honey for about 5 minutes at a time then "Sybil" shows up intent on driving everyone nuts, destroying stuff, sassing and even hitting us from time to time. Of course she ends up in the time out corner but it doesn't phase her, she just keeps on keeping on. She doesn't take time out well, and so we all pay the price. Definitely wears on the nerves.
They don't think about trying to keep things neat when they are here, don't think of doing dishes after eating, etc. It's weird, when I was younger and had more energy, less weight and less arthritis, I wouldn't have thought anything of it. I would just tell myself they are only here for a little while and I can clean when they leave. My grandmother that raised me was that way. EVERYONE was a guest, even her kids and she made you feel like you were welcomed and didn't expect you to do anything when visiting.
My mom on the other hand was always a clean freak, even making you take your shoes off at the door. God help you if you didn't put your chair just right when you got up from the table...EVEN if you were an adult. If you drank out of a glass you better wash it, dry it and put it away. She was an ANAL WOMAN! Then last year, my oldest son, my 5 yr old grandbaby and I went back home and stayed at my moms. When I got up, I started making my bed and she fussed me telling me we could do that later? I thought, "Wow, she must really miss me!" I made the bed and straightened out the room anyway. I learned well.
Imagine my horror when after playing in the barn, my 5 yr old grandson tried to come in the house covered with dust and chicken poop! I told him we would have to clean him up before he could come in. I couldn't believe my ears when my mother said, " Good Lord, let that child come in, he can't hurt anything!" My oldest son and I at the same time said " WHAT???" She told us that she used to let my sons come in like that when they were little! Well let me tell you that the echo was LOUD when we said, ARE YOU KIDDING?? YOU WOULD HOSE THEM OFF AND STRIPPED THEM DOWN NAKED FIRST! We all had a good laugh and she finally admitted that after losing her baby sister and her mother within the last few years she decided life is too short to worry about crap like that. We were floored but very happy that we could relax a little and enjoy our visit, but still following the rules imbedded in our brains!
So, I guess I need to realize that young people these days don't have the same thoughts on life, love and cleaning up after themselves. I will try to remember that they don't feel they should be "responsible" for the way my house looks. I will just enjoy the visits and try to keep the close relationship I have with my kids, because they are after all grown men and may not always live close to me as they do now. If the young one has his way he will drive himself across the world in his '71 RV, keeping in touch thru his blog at http://www.trulyfreeride.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Even when things change....it stays the same
As I said in the last post, my husband and my kids are my life. When they are hurting...I hurt. When they are in a bind, it kills me. I can't help it, its in my DNA AND being raised by a grandmother who took everyone's kids and raised them as her own just reinforced that. She would give you the last piece of bread in the house, would do without to make sure you had what you need. I have no doubt that she has her wings and is watching over all of us every single day. ....I am sure some days she does so shaking her head in confusion over some of the crap we do!
Well the kids did really well for a while. They were in the 22ft motor home, right next door to our 5th wheeler. That lasted till they lost their jobs. They were able to pay off the RV but couldn't afford to pay for space rental. We put the RV in storage and they moved in with us for a little while till their income tax checks came in.
They decided that instead of getting jobs here in town, they would "go on the road". Its called Boondocking or dry docking. It's freedom from crowds, noise and high camping fee. You park at truck stops, WalMart, etc. Working odd jobs as needed to get what they need.
Our son, turned 25 on Feb 25. They moved out on the 26th. Well, I don't have to tell you we don't sleep so good these days. They seem to be doing fine, but as parents the hubby and I worry all the time. Finacially, we can't afford to help them. Granted a couple packs of smokes or a tenspot for gas won't kill us but we can't REALLY help them. We understand his choice and his reasons and part of "cutting the apron strings" is to actually LET GO....but we are just old folks that still believe that you have to work to make a living. Personally, the thought of not have full time electricity, and running water would make me go back to workAs the boy said, he will be picking our old folks home, so I hope he makes it as big dreams do come true...so he can put us in a good home! We love him with all our hearts and he knows it, even if our comments hurt his feelings. He knows we only want the best for him and always stand by him and whatever he decides to do with his life....whether it be lifestyle, love and just life in general....we are here for him.
Well the kids did really well for a while. They were in the 22ft motor home, right next door to our 5th wheeler. That lasted till they lost their jobs. They were able to pay off the RV but couldn't afford to pay for space rental. We put the RV in storage and they moved in with us for a little while till their income tax checks came in.
They decided that instead of getting jobs here in town, they would "go on the road". Its called Boondocking or dry docking. It's freedom from crowds, noise and high camping fee. You park at truck stops, WalMart, etc. Working odd jobs as needed to get what they need.
Our son, turned 25 on Feb 25. They moved out on the 26th. Well, I don't have to tell you we don't sleep so good these days. They seem to be doing fine, but as parents the hubby and I worry all the time. Finacially, we can't afford to help them. Granted a couple packs of smokes or a tenspot for gas won't kill us but we can't REALLY help them. We understand his choice and his reasons and part of "cutting the apron strings" is to actually LET GO....but we are just old folks that still believe that you have to work to make a living. Personally, the thought of not have full time electricity, and running water would make me go back to workAs the boy said, he will be picking our old folks home, so I hope he makes it as big dreams do come true...so he can put us in a good home! We love him with all our hearts and he knows it, even if our comments hurt his feelings. He knows we only want the best for him and always stand by him and whatever he decides to do with his life....whether it be lifestyle, love and just life in general....we are here for him.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Life Starts Over at 52.
Well, due to unforseen cirumstances, we ended up where no one wants to be, especially at this age. Over the past few years it has been a financial struggle, that spiralled into a nightmare we are proud to say we survived.
Fortunately, my husband and I have been together 27 years, and when faced with problems we get stronger and closer. Let me tell you we are REALLY close after this past year! lol. We have been married 25 years as of August 2007. He is my life and I am his. It is the kind of relationship that some people say makes them sick, we still kiss, snuggle, finish each others sentences and if I even THINK about wanting a candy bar or ice cream, I can be sure that he will stop by the store on the way home and show up with it. With all we have been thru, we still thank God for finding each other.
In November 2007, in what I can honestly say was the worst month of our lives, we found ourselves without a place to live. Not by choice, but because we trusted friends, "rented" their house without a contract because they were about to lose it to the mortgage company. They were out of state, the house was empty and the deal was that we would pay the note, get utilities caught up and live in the house. 4 days after we moved in......they moved back into the house. So there were the 5 of us and then their 5. The home was big enough for all of us, but they put the house on the market. We helped get all the cleaning done for showing the house. The wife made our lives miserable. She is abusive to her own husband and children so how do you think she treated us!
We had paid all their bills and had to wait for a paycheck so we could find a place for us to stay. Unfortunately, everywhere we could afford to move had a 7 day waiting list. Up to the day we moved out we tried to find a place. We had a storage unit so we moved everything except a few sets of clothing into storage. It rained for several days while we were hunting.
The day we were scheduled to be moved out, at 4pm, I was calling around to local shelters trying to find a place that takes the whole family and does not send the women and children 1 place and the husband some place else. Just when I had given up all hope and was sitting in the truck in the rain, crying about having to go to a shelter....my husband called. He gave me a name and number, told me to call this man about an RV he had to sell on Craigslist. Hubby had talked to him about making payments on the RV and he agreed.
We had $750 to our name and for the life of me I couldn't imagine what we could afford on that. I called the man and the kids and I went to his house. It was a 1971 Chevrolet Motor Home. It had seen its better days, but to us it was the best thing we had seen in ages! We told him we wanted it before we ever test drove it. He wanted $1800, but made payment arrangements for $600 a month for 3 months. We drove it away that night.
We drove it to the closest WalMart parking lot and our adventure began. We slept like babies!
The next day, hubby went to work and the kids and I found Mason Creek RV Park. That turned out to be a great decision. If you have to live in an RV park, this one has everything you need at a reasonable price, but the management team makes it fantastic. It doesn't hurt that it is about 1 mile from hubby's work!
So in November 2007, 4 adults and a 2 yr old lived in a 22ft RV and felt blessed to be there! I stayed home and cared for the 2 yr old and the other 3 worked. It was crowded, but we were so grateful to have a place to call our own again it didnt matter.
By the middle of December, we all had cabin fever. The kids worked nights and slept all day....in the kitchen area. Try keeping a 2 yr old quiet and away from her parents in a 22ft RV. I felt like I was going to lose my mind and my patience was gone. Bob kept watching Craigslist for something we could afford. Then he decided to post a want ad. He stated that we needed a place for him and I because we were 5 people in the 22ft. He explained that we had credit issues but could make $500 monthly payments. We figured it was a waste of time but worth a shot.
We get a phone call from a wonderful couple who had an RV to sell and would let us make payments. We couldn't believe it. When we showed up we were shocked to see a 40ft 5th wheel with 2 slideouts. It is a 1987 Alfa Gold. They put new carpet in the living area. It has all the bells and whistles of that era. It even has a full size washer/dryer, full size fridge/freezer, full size tub and shower. We fell in love. We explained that we could make our 1st payment the 23rd of Dec. They said they would deliver it for us for $50 since we were not set up to haul a 5th wheel. Then they surprised us by delivering it Dec 20th, because they wanted us settled before Christmas!
When they delivered it, there was a christmas tree and presents for the 2yr old ! We were so blessed and happy! Then 2 days before Christmas, they delivered a food box for Christmas dinner, Turkey and all the fixins! They also delivered a pair of fleece pajamas with Dora the Explorer embroidered on them. SHE HAD MADE THEM FOR THE BABY! These people are so generous we couldnt thank them enough.
So the kids stayed in the 22 ft, which is now paid off. We moved into the 40 ft and in July 2008, it will be paid in full. It feels like an apt and has lots of windows and light colored wood so its bright and cheery. The best thing is that no one will be able to take our home again.
Fortunately, my husband and I have been together 27 years, and when faced with problems we get stronger and closer. Let me tell you we are REALLY close after this past year! lol. We have been married 25 years as of August 2007. He is my life and I am his. It is the kind of relationship that some people say makes them sick, we still kiss, snuggle, finish each others sentences and if I even THINK about wanting a candy bar or ice cream, I can be sure that he will stop by the store on the way home and show up with it. With all we have been thru, we still thank God for finding each other.
In November 2007, in what I can honestly say was the worst month of our lives, we found ourselves without a place to live. Not by choice, but because we trusted friends, "rented" their house without a contract because they were about to lose it to the mortgage company. They were out of state, the house was empty and the deal was that we would pay the note, get utilities caught up and live in the house. 4 days after we moved in......they moved back into the house. So there were the 5 of us and then their 5. The home was big enough for all of us, but they put the house on the market. We helped get all the cleaning done for showing the house. The wife made our lives miserable. She is abusive to her own husband and children so how do you think she treated us!
We had paid all their bills and had to wait for a paycheck so we could find a place for us to stay. Unfortunately, everywhere we could afford to move had a 7 day waiting list. Up to the day we moved out we tried to find a place. We had a storage unit so we moved everything except a few sets of clothing into storage. It rained for several days while we were hunting.
The day we were scheduled to be moved out, at 4pm, I was calling around to local shelters trying to find a place that takes the whole family and does not send the women and children 1 place and the husband some place else. Just when I had given up all hope and was sitting in the truck in the rain, crying about having to go to a shelter....my husband called. He gave me a name and number, told me to call this man about an RV he had to sell on Craigslist. Hubby had talked to him about making payments on the RV and he agreed.
We had $750 to our name and for the life of me I couldn't imagine what we could afford on that. I called the man and the kids and I went to his house. It was a 1971 Chevrolet Motor Home. It had seen its better days, but to us it was the best thing we had seen in ages! We told him we wanted it before we ever test drove it. He wanted $1800, but made payment arrangements for $600 a month for 3 months. We drove it away that night.
We drove it to the closest WalMart parking lot and our adventure began. We slept like babies!
The next day, hubby went to work and the kids and I found Mason Creek RV Park. That turned out to be a great decision. If you have to live in an RV park, this one has everything you need at a reasonable price, but the management team makes it fantastic. It doesn't hurt that it is about 1 mile from hubby's work!
So in November 2007, 4 adults and a 2 yr old lived in a 22ft RV and felt blessed to be there! I stayed home and cared for the 2 yr old and the other 3 worked. It was crowded, but we were so grateful to have a place to call our own again it didnt matter.
By the middle of December, we all had cabin fever. The kids worked nights and slept all day....in the kitchen area. Try keeping a 2 yr old quiet and away from her parents in a 22ft RV. I felt like I was going to lose my mind and my patience was gone. Bob kept watching Craigslist for something we could afford. Then he decided to post a want ad. He stated that we needed a place for him and I because we were 5 people in the 22ft. He explained that we had credit issues but could make $500 monthly payments. We figured it was a waste of time but worth a shot.
We get a phone call from a wonderful couple who had an RV to sell and would let us make payments. We couldn't believe it. When we showed up we were shocked to see a 40ft 5th wheel with 2 slideouts. It is a 1987 Alfa Gold. They put new carpet in the living area. It has all the bells and whistles of that era. It even has a full size washer/dryer, full size fridge/freezer, full size tub and shower. We fell in love. We explained that we could make our 1st payment the 23rd of Dec. They said they would deliver it for us for $50 since we were not set up to haul a 5th wheel. Then they surprised us by delivering it Dec 20th, because they wanted us settled before Christmas!
When they delivered it, there was a christmas tree and presents for the 2yr old ! We were so blessed and happy! Then 2 days before Christmas, they delivered a food box for Christmas dinner, Turkey and all the fixins! They also delivered a pair of fleece pajamas with Dora the Explorer embroidered on them. SHE HAD MADE THEM FOR THE BABY! These people are so generous we couldnt thank them enough.
So the kids stayed in the 22 ft, which is now paid off. We moved into the 40 ft and in July 2008, it will be paid in full. It feels like an apt and has lots of windows and light colored wood so its bright and cheery. The best thing is that no one will be able to take our home again.
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