#20 Not home for the holidays...

the extent of Christmas decorating lol

Well it's been awhile since I posted.  Thanksgiving, Christmas...busy times.  Or were they?  This is the first time in forever I have been no where near family during the holidays.  It's not like we always spend them together, but the opportunity is there if we choose.  Except when you are miles away.  So this year was different.  No house, so no decorating.  I missed it and I didn't miss it.  I like it when its up but not the putting up putting down lol.  There was no shopping for gifts since we wouldn't be seeing anyone.  Just checks in the mail.  Seemed rather impersonal but at least they can buy what they want.

This is also the first Christmas we have spent in super warm, summer like weather.  That was actually strange.  I find I miss the crisp autumn air and the beginning of winter.  Of course when I'm where it's cold I wish I was in the heat lol.  Guess there's no pleasing me.  We did spend each of the holidays with Bruce and Kathryn, so that was nice.  Dinner out on Thanksgiving; she cooked a fabulous meal for Christmas.  So, in the big scheme of things, it was nice.

I've adjusted to the RV life for the most part.  I get bored since I'm used to having my craft room.  Can't go shopping because where would I put stuff.  I did order a bunch of Tupperware and organized the pantry.  Everything in a container and the container labeled.  Yep, lots of time on my hands.





I bought a rocking chair for outside to relax in and a gravity chair for outside napping.  I decided to keep myself busy with 1000 piece puzzles so I have ordered a couple.  The weather is so perfect here, I'll do them outside.  I thought we would be doing more traveling, but we have been in the same place since October.  I was looking forward to going to Quartzite and Yuma with the old guy when he went on his ATV trips.  He just left for two weeks but I decided to stay behind.  Bruce and Kathryn just moved here and she doesn't know anyone, so I stayed here to spend time with her.  Next year when we come I'll go with the boys.

I am constantly looking at houses for sale in Sparks and down here.  Not that we want to buy yet, because we don't.  I just like to look.  After all, part of the adventure was to find where we are going to spend forever.  Currently my choice is buy in  Reno area, travel in the winter.  He likes here, travel in the summer.  Someday we will be on the same page hahahaha.  You do get more house here for the money, but I would have to have a pool or I'm sure I would die.  And we definitely could not be here in Summer, so we definitely would have to travel.  Reno puts us closer to Jeff and family plus we have friends I miss there, along with my gambling lol.  So I don't know.  I'm thinking some of the questions will be answered when we go back to Reno this spring.  We'll stay there until July, travel some, go back, go to Utah then come back here to Arizona.  That should give us a true idea of what we want to do.  By then our two year commitment will be ready for renewal or dismissal lol.

We both have talked about traveling more.  I think his side of the location argument holds up better since it's easier to travel in the summer.  Each time we talk about pulling up stakes and moving along from AZ, the winter weather keeps us here.  I don't know.  Research and talking to people has told us you also have those problems in the summer across the US...too humid..too buggy...too hot...geesh.  Do they not know that I am looking for Utopia? I'll be happy if we just travel the middle and the west.  East coast doesn't interest me in the least.  But while on this journey we need to go somewhere.  I have learned, despite what I originally thought, I don't like being in one place for months on end, at least not in an RV.

The other issue we have run into is medical.  LJ had a medical scare in December.

coincidence?  I think not lol

Not going to go into details, but at least he has Medicare with Humana as a supplemental.  Everything was covered, including a trip to Emergency.  Cost us next to nothing, including a minor surgery.  Plus, through Humana, his meds are always free.  The medical care here in Arizona is fantastic.  They have urgent care on every corner.. no seriously...every corner.  They have satellite emergency rooms that do everything except admit you to the hospital.  We had to visit one of those... five minutes from check-in to seeing a doctor.  I kid you not.  He had to make a couple of appointments with specialists... all covered and no wait to see the doctor.  Got him in within a week, even for just a normal appointment.  Impressive.  Fortunately all is well so we move forward.  I will say the availability of medical here as we get older is a check in the plus column for Arizona.


Me on the other hand...until I reach medicare age in 2 1/2 years, I must stay healthy.  Obamacare has driven out of Nevada allllllllll the major insurance companies.  I am only covered outside Nevada for emergencies.  That does not include colds, flu, etc.  Only a major accident or life threatening event.  Niiiiiiiiice.  And that was the better of the only two policies available for individuals!  I told LJ if I get super sick, drive me to Las Vegas as fast as he can lol.  If we lived here, I would have more choices for medical which would be nice.  But who knows what will happen to that debacle over the next couple of years.  Things could change.  Another plus for being mobile.

Scooter is doing well.  He has come so far with his barking at other dogs.  He walks on the leash like a good boy.  Rarely does he pull on it anymore.  We play a lot.  He likes to watch the world go by either out the window or laying in his outside bed.  I'm sure he misses his rabbit chasing and having a yard, but all in good time.  I try to take him everywhere I go so he has something to do.  He's adjusted pretty well.  I do plan on taking him to Pattys when we get back to Reno so he can run around with the other dogs in their yard.  It will be good for him.

I was asked if I was sorry I agreed to this RV time.  And as I think about it, I truly am not.  I can't say I don't miss our house because I do, but we will buy another one.  I miss the shopping, puttering in the yard, having space.  I don't miss the upkeep and costs involved.  So, in the meantime we do anything we want and go where we want.  There is something to this debt free, responsibility free life style.  So again, my answer is no.  I'm not sorry.  Time is actually going by fairly fast.  It will be interesting to see what our future holds.

So that's it....nothing too exciting.  Meeting new people as the RV park fills and empties.  Learning a lot about other areas of the country without leaving our spot lol.  Folks from all over the US, including Alaska.  Canada too.  Arizona is the hot spot for wintering.  And you get all kinds of folks who are snowbirds.  Some are a lot like us.  Some you just tilt you head and wonder how they get through life...others you wonder what criminal enterprise they are in to have that much money tied up in RVs hahahaha.  Like I said, nothing too exciting.  But it's our life and it's good.

My new chairs... rocking and sleeping lol












Where we going mom?