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.