Saturday, April 12, 2014

Getting old isn't so bad...yet

March 23 - April 15, 2014 (24 days)
Lums Pond State Park - Bear, DE
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CONTENTS
RV LIFE
LIFE IN GENERAL
SIGHTS
BOOK REVIEWS
CRAFTS
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RV LIFE:
It is so nice that the weather has finally turned. When we  arrived, a short 3 weeks ago, this was the weather.


But Spring has finally arrived, a perfect 68 last evening. It's rare that I/we sit outside at night with a campfire, but I just couldn't resist. The perfect temperature for me. A glass of wine hidden in a thermos because the State Park is alcohol prohibited. Oh, I'm such a rebel. A roaring fire, blog until I can't see the keyboard any more, then bring out my Kindle paperwhite and read until I have finally run out of firewood. Life is good.



I've come to realize after just about 3 years of full time RV'ing, that it takes at least 2 years before you really settle down in the day to day life. We have been full timing as tourists until this past Winter. Tourist have a different viewpoint than someone "just" living in an RV. Tourist are looking at the next destination/adventure with excitement. The new places you'll go, the new things you'll learn. There was a time when I was excited to try boondocking. Been there, don't like it. There was a time when it didn't matter if we did not have full hook ups. No big deal walking to the bath house to do my business or take a shower. Not anymore. I like the convenience of not having to get out of my P.J.'s just to go. I want to take a shower in my own place and not have to remember to bring a towel, shampoo/conditioner, soap, sandals etc. Sandals are essential. I don't want my feet to touch the usually yucky looking floor. Oh damn! I forgot my shaver! Hairy legs for another day. Our poor parrot, Swayze has a dirty cage because we have no water hook ups. So I've just been changing the newspaper and a wipe down.
This RV really is our home and I want the conveniences of a home. So for me, full hook ups and good internet connection are what I prefer, but I still want privacy. No resorts with a pool and your neighbor 10 feet in front of us and in back of us and across from us. Scott is still fine with less. Scott is not of the mindset of staying in one place longer as of yet. As we are planning our trip back towards Tennessee, he was going to book a week in Maryland, a week in West Virginia, then a week in Tennessee. No way Jose! Our RV seems to be feeling it's mileage. Something is always needing fixing. I'm feeling the mileage. I want to be in a place long enough to pull out my sewing machine and finish a project before moving again and having to put everything away. I want to bring out our hammock, put out our lawn ornaments, put out our grape vine lights. It's just not worth it for a week...or even two anymore.
Please notice, I never said I was unhappy with this lifestyle. It's just the adventure part, the excitement part has waned. We just need to slow down.
I'd love to go back to Port Townsend, WA and that area, but oh, all the stops along the way to get across the country. If we traveled there with my month stay plans, it would take a year to get to Washington. It is still very enjoyable to know we can pack up and head anywhere in the USA. I just need to slow down.
If we buy a house in Tennessee next month fine or wait until this Fall?...Fine. And if we don't, fine. We'll try to Winter in Florida. Yep, all Winter! That would be a first.
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LIFE in general:
Yes, I'm getting old. No surprise really, but sometimes I look at my life from outside my self. I laugh at myself and cry at the loss of my youthful looks. I have just changed my settings on my computer from the default size of small to medium, which has 125% larger fonts. Oh, how nice is that? My icon labels are larger, my window tabs font are larger, ahhhh. Yep, I'm getting old. The eyesight is worsening, but I'll work through it.
While working on some counted cross stitch, I realized that a magnifying glass has become essential for me to cross stitch. Sigh. But at least I have the magnifier, so I can still do my crafts, although it takes more of an effort.
One of the nice things about getting old is that I don't care so much what others think of me. I'm not out trying to catch a mate. If I'm looking for friends, they must accept me as I am. I've been wearing my hair up in a "messy" top knot and I love it! Some may think it is for older people, but I find it kind of bohemian. If only I would let me hair go natural gray. I'm not quite ready for that. I've tried two times and gave in after an inch of gray roots.
I can wear my beautiful knitted shawls, scarves, etc without feeling old fashioned, weird, etc. This is my handwork and I want to enjoy it, even if I wear a beautiful lace piece with a t-shirt. I can!
I can not go out without make-up. Again, take me as I am. Make up may help me look an itty bitty bit younger or, not so blah, but it's gotten to the point that there is not a dramatic difference anymore, so why bother daily?
I am truly thankful for a husband that doesn't seem to age, but accepts me and my aging. Scott has NO gray hair, except for his goatee and mustache, which he does occasionally dye to match his hair. Scott was actually "carded" the other day because the sign said they card anyone that looks under 35 years old. Scott & I are 57 years old. Ooooh, don't you just hate him??? We are only 3 months apart in age and Scott is the older one, but he definitely looks younger. Again, because I am secure in his love for me, I can handle this injustice.
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SIGHTS:





We took a 75 mile ride down to Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach, DE.Scott's sister and BIL own Rehoboth Bay Marina, on the bay. We were told to park in the reserved parking area, where it said "violators will be towed". Hey, we know the owners!





Cindy on left is Scott's Sister and owns Marina with husband, Chris


























Nice marina that is filled with mostly seasonals, but they do keep a half a dozen slips open for "walk-ins". It's a campground for boaters! 30 amp electric & fresh water for each slip. Dump station, fuel station, bathrooms with nice tiled showers, free laundry! Walking distance to the Ocean and Rehoboth Beach attractions.

They also have 7 pontoon boats for rental of which we were offered when they arrived in season. Dogs welcome! Jet ski rentals too!










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BOOK REVIEW:
The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister, #0.5)The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I certainly enjoy historical romances. This fits the bill. A quick, easy read.
What I enjoyed most was the main female character is down on her luck, but not defeated and not expecting any handouts. But she will not be the passive martyr anymore!
I liked her attitude shown by the quote from the book:
"If you fell out of a tree as a child, I'd clean you up and bandage your knees, and next I looked you'd be out climbing again. You never learned your lesson."
Oh, she'd learned her lesson: Climb harder.

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW:
Harvest Moon (Virgin River, #15)Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sweet story. Very goody, goody. Some romance, some cooking, a little drama. An easy listen and feel good story.
Good narrator with an upbeat voice.


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CRAFTS:
I still have not been doing much in the past 3 weeks...maybe next week things will quiet down. But prior to visiting my parents in Florida, prior to 3 travel days, prior to the dog rescue issues, and prior to helping clear in-laws house, I had time to knit all day.
Ruched cowl

Ruched fingerless

Headband





These were made with a lovely alpaca wool I purchased at Black Sheep Gathering last year in Oregon.

11 comments:

  1. I'm with you on hook-ups, longer stays. We have full-times for over 5 years now. Still now ready to buy a house. But we have stayed 6 months in one place in Arizona this winter. And we have been work campers with 2, 3 and 4 month stays. Look forward to traveling for over 4 months this summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our next stop is electric only also. More public showers.

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  2. I have enjoyed reading about your RV life but, if you don't me asking, wondering why you can't use your RV bathroom when boondocking or don't have hook-ups? Thought you could with a full water tank. Sorry, just curious. We are planning on full-time RV'ing some day and a little worried about being without "facilities." Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. You CAN use the "facilities". But if you are without a sewer hookup for a long time, then you are full of poop and no where to empty. We can go a week to about 11 days tops without dumping. We can also use the water, but hubby prefers us to use portable bladder type water containers instead of the water in the tanks, since he can't refill tanks until we move. Just his choice. You can use both water and toilet boondocking, just need to be frugal if you're boondocking for longer than a week.

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  3. Ahh, I get it. I was thinking you were w/o hook-ups for just a few days. Makes sense. :-)

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  4. We are t the other end of the story. Just getting started on the adventure. I do prefer longer stays in one place because there is so much to see and do in any one. We are really god with just staying at "home" and relaxing. So far I like hook ups unless it is just one night stop overs. But being close to a neighbor rig doesn't bother me at all. When we close the blinds at night we have all the privacy we need. I did like being able to leave them all open on the downhill side when we were in camp driveway!

    I'm glad you post your feelings. You are real!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I definitely post my feelings. Doesn't help to grow my followers though. But I'm not out to win a popularity contest. My blog followers will definitely know what to expect from me if we ever meet up.

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  5. Is that a Flyers shirt I see? NJ? You from NJ? I'm from NJ? Okay I'll say it - which exit.

    Lums Pond. My daughter met our son-in-law there. He is from Milford, DE. They are both archaeologists and were at a picnic there. Gosh, must have been 16 years ago or more. They live in Harford County MD. My other daughter still lives in NJ. Owns a condo in Washington Twp (Gloucester County which she rents out) but bought our house in Upper Deerfield Twp (near Bridgeton) and lives there.

    We retired and hit the road February 2010. Only WISH we were 57. Thinking different now, we'd still be working. Na, this is better.

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    1. Go Flyers! Scott is from Pennsville and I'm from further North, Neptune, NJ. You're comments really made me laugh. I'll be checking out your blog. And you have a Cedar Creek! So do we. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.

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  6. Love the new pic at the top! And you don't look 57. I would not have guessed that.

    On the subject of aging, Chino is really slowing down. But she continues to amze us with her tenacity. Still loves cuddles and watermelon rind and a nice paper towel tube to chew up.

    By the way, I needed reading glasses to type this. You're in good company.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Taking care of the Ratkins was one of the highlights of our RV journey.

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