Harold, Sue and Keith

Harold and Sue live behind me.  We arrived at Riverbend the same day and have been friends ever since.  They refer to themselves as ex-hippies but what really intrigues me is that they are ghost hunters.  They avidly try to find ghosts, I avidly try to avoid them.  Our conversations are always interesting.

Today is Sunday, my work day Friday (the days do get confusing), and they persistently kept trying to wake me up this morning.  By the second time they knocked on my door I finally opened up my bedroom window to see what all the ruckus was about.  They wanted to take me to brunch, and they were paying.  Seemed very generous, how could I refuse, and then they let me in on the plan that they and neighbor Keith have been hatching.

Ornery Boy Keith

Presently, I am part owner in a travel trailer that Sue and Harold purchased.  I loaned them the money for a down payment until they can get to their credit union in Phoenix and Saturday is moving day.  The plan is that Keith will help me unhook Minnie, she will need to be moved, and then help me hook back up after Harold and Sue have moved their belongings from their old home into their new home.  They need my space for ease of moving and this was the plan they were formulating before my eyes were even open.

This plan may even work to my advantage.  I am thinking of all the necessary chores I can complete on Saturday while I am unhooked that will allow me an earlier leave time on Monday.

Sometimes sleeping in can be a good thing.

Time Draws Near

It has begun.   I am starting to feel the  inevitable sadness that begins as my departure date grows nearer.  I feel it coming as I sit with Mama Rio, feeling such peace as I spend my last days sitting with the Rio Grande. I have sunk myself deep within this land and it will not be an easy thing to say good-bye.

It is my life, this coming and going, and sometimes saying good-bye is harder than other times.  I remember my time spent with the Santa Rosa Sound, Mt. Hood, the Tor, the three Silver Birch Trees in my Eugene backyard and so many other Nature elements I have befriended.

They travel with me as I travel down the road to meet my new friends.

Hitting the Wall

On day 4 I hit the wall.  All of a sudden the phone didn't work and I could not turn off one of the lights.  That was all it took to hit the wall.  When the manager walked in I had such a dazed look on my face he asked if I was ok, but I made it through my 6 day shift.

During those 6 days we had frigid weather.  It was so cold that some nights pipes froze, the drinking fountain froze and I needed to salt areas of the deck that became icy.  I was ever so thankful I did not work the 10PM - 12AM shift on New Year's Eve and instead spent those hours soaking in a pool and looking at the stars overhead.  Because my body was so warm I neglected to think about my face being exposed to 15 degree temperatures and ended up with some very chapped skin, but oh, it was worth it.  First time in I don't know how many years I didn't have an alcoholic beverage.

On New Year's Day a belly dancing troupe showed up requesting a private pool.  These four women carried a certain dark energy which made me unwilling to bend to their ways and there were several go-rounds and a call to the manager before they paid in full and were allowed into a private pool.  Before long one of the women came out dressed in a towel and proceeded down to the Rio Grande, took off her towel and went skinny dipping in the water.  I had to remind her that the public area was not clothing optional.  If one of the men were working this may have gotten a different reaction, but I knew these women too well.  When they left, they left their towels and cups in the pool area for me to clean up.  Even to the end they had treated me as if I were their servant.

Turn On

 He walked into the office, tall, young and good-looking.  He had a wonderful sparkle to him.  So did his girlfriend.

After they had soaked he stopped back into the office to wait for his girlfriend to change.  Within a few minutes time we had talked of the tiny homes movement, Native Americans and Druids.  Then the phone rang and he left, leaving me wanting more.

Conversation can be such a turn-on.

Review of Class C Minnie Winnie Winnebago

First picture of Minnie

 I have been full-timing for over a year in my 1996, 25' Minnie Winnie Winnebago (24.6') and have found it to be the perfect fit for me.  I knew nothing about the RV life, had never lived in one and didn't even drive Minnie before I purchased her.  All I knew was that was to be the next phase of my life and I jumped off the deep end and never looked back.  Another factor was that the home I was living in with my then husband sold within a week of going on the market and closed within 30 days.  Nothing to do but find a new home:).

I did do a lot of looking online and spent time going to RV dealerships sitting in various styles to get a feel of what might work.  I liked the vans and Class Bs  because of their size, ease of driving and good gas mileage.  I was glad I did not buy the smaller size while I was living in Oregon and the rain kept me mostly inside for several days in a row.  For those times I really needed more indoor living space.

I almost bought a Class A because I loved the living space.  It was a 29' Rexhall Aerbus but when I took it for a test drive, I didn't *love* driving it and got cold feet when in the process of signing the purchase agreement.  Still thanking my nervous system for that one:)  It would have been wonderful to live in, not so wonderful to drive.

I did like the Class Cs and the #1 criteria for me was the bed in the back.  I am too old to be going up and down a ladder to my bed each night and I do love my bed:).  So I had basically decided on a Class C.  They looked roomy enough and easy enough to drive, almost like driving a pick-up truck.

To make sure I covered all my bases, I posted a wanted ad on craigslist.  In return, this is the email I received:

"Hello,

Are you still in the market for a motorhome? My husband and I have decided to sell our 1996 24' Class C Minnie Winnie, as we just aren't using it anymore. It has the cabover bed as well as a double in the rear. It's really clean with less than 35,000 miles.

We've added a fully automatic power awning as well as headers on the motor.

I've enclosed a couple of outside photos, but can certainly send more of the inside if you're interested.

We'd like to get $17,000 for it.

Let us know if you're interested!"

The next day I went to look at Minnie, knew she was the one, asked if they could hold it for me until our house closed and I could return with a cashier's check and several weeks later she was mine.  Then the real adventure began:)!

I have purchased new tires, new car battery, new microwave, new heating element for the fridge, new motor for the power awning and had a few minor repairs.  This Winnebago is solid, has a great engine, fairly well insulated (withstanding 11 degree temps) and I have never second guessed my decision. 

The problem will be if I ever decide to sell her.

Too Dang Cold

 It is almost noon and the temperature stands at 34 degrees.  I can see the clouds rolling in and the winds starting to pick up.  The low tonight is predicted to be 14.

Yesterday the winds remained ferocious throughout most of the day and evening with a wind chill of 18 during my work shift.  I was bundled up in a long sleeve T-shirt, sweatshirt, polar fleece vest, raincoat, hooded sweatshirt, hat and gloves.  Still froze every time I went outside.  I had to salt the decks because they were freezing where people had dripped their wet bodies.  The people soaking outside looked blissfully warm and contented.

Four more days to work and then it is my turn.

Happy New Year everyone.

This is NOT one of our pools:)

Winter Has Arrived and Work Has Begun

I am sitting in Minnie rocking and swaying as we are being buffeted with 20-30 MPH winds with gusts up to 50 MPH.  The dark clouds are turning to a rain/sleet/snow mix and I am glad I do not have to be out on the road today.  From the comfort of my home I am watching guests pack up their cars to  leave and I wonder how many of today's guest check-ins will not be able to make it.  Should make for an interesting work day.

In exchange for taking time off at Christmas I now must work six days in a row, a total of 45 hours this week.  That is overtime even for someone accustomed to a 40 hour work week.  My mantra will be "I can do this!" and "If David, my co-worker, could do this, so can I!".  Last night was my first night and already I am feeling less than hospitable in this hospitality business.  I hope not to be a total shrew by the end of it.

I like working by myself but sometimes I just want to take it easy, cruise for a few of those work hours.  With no one else to fill in that slack, it is not always an option.  Thus, sometimes my give-ratio gives out.

I am expected to check in the lodging guests, deal with any problems they may have (me, lighting pilot lights!), give tours of the public and private pools, keep track of the coming and going from three private pools, get people into the public pools and make sure they leave when their time is up, take reservations for rooms and pools, deal with a multitude of people walking in off the street wanting rooms (which we rarely have), rent towels which then need to be washed, all the while being the most gracious of hosts.  At the end of the night I empty all the pools, set them to refill again, close out the books for the night and make sure I close up with everything neat and tidy.  It is just a lot of work.

Oh well, wonder what the day will bring.