Thursday, October 11, 2018

FEELING BETTER AND A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT OUR MOTORHOME

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IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN ALL THE PINE NEEDLES FALL D0WN AND GO BOOM

Sometimes priorities just have a habit of taking priority and this morning despite how I was feeling I bulled my way through and got that big Motorhome washed.  So why the priority??  Okay, guess I had better let you all in on something.  We've been wallowing for awhile now about selling our Motorhome and this last trip convinced us our 'long traveling' days are over.  The writing has been on the wall for awhile now and we have decided to sell the Big E.  Some folks have expressed an interest in it and would like to see it so that is why we have a push on to get it cleaned up from our muddy rain soaked Maritimes trip.

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I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE OUR MOTORHOME STILL HAD A SHINE UNDERNEATH ALL THAT DIRT

Now, it isn't our plan to hang up the RV keys just yet.  Yes I know we have downsized before and it didn't really work out well for us.  That was then and this is now.  Totally different circumstances.  If we can find a smaller rig we like that suits us we would like to do more 'short' trips in the Spring, Summer, and Fall around our own area here.  Maybe a couple days here, a week there at the most, etc.  We're both just tired of the big cities and the ever increasing maniac traffic which I no longer have much patience for.  Tired of looking for laundromats, squeezing into small showers, worrying about fresh water tanks, black tanks, gray tanks, army tanks, and propane tanks.  Solar panels, batteries, inverters, converters, frankfurters, and the list goes on.  Yes, yes, a smaller RV has a lot of these same things too but we don’t intend to live in a smaller RV for 4, 5, or 6 months of the year anymore.  Day trips and short trips.  I'm also tired of driving a big rig whether towing a vehicle behind it or not.  I just don't seem to handle the stress of all that as well as I once did and I'm finding at this age and stage that it is to my advantage and mental stability to simplify things rather than complicate things.  A smaller RV and no tow vehicle.  Shorter trips more often.  Hopefully better fuel mileage, easier to maintain and keep clean.  Something Kelly can comfortably drive.  A chassis with safety features built in.  Something one can hop in and drive to the corner store for a popsicle.  And yet if one wanted to do a long trip it's still possible.  Would I still like to go back to the Southwest one more time??  Sure I would, but not right now.  Those are our thoughts anyway so we'll see what happens over the next bunch of months. 

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THIS IS ‘SOME’ OF WHAT CAME OUT OF THE MOTORHOME TODAY

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AND THAT IS SOME OF WHAT HAS TO GO BACK IN

Something else I should mention here as well and that is the sheer cost of crossing the border into the States.  Had we decided to head for the Southwest again this winter our medical insurance would have been about $3000 again and that's for only 6 months.  In just the past month alone we have spent about $2000 on the Motorhome (new rear brakes, spark plugs, new manifold bolts and gaskets, a couple new tailpipes, etc.)  We don't exactly have a money tree in the back yard here at the Bayfield Bunch so financial concerns also influenced our decision.  To give you an example of travel costs I'll refer back to our recent Maritime excursion.  We traveled 3,487 miles for a gasoline cost of $1,876.  Yep, we've got a bit of belt tightening to do here at the Bunch.

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AS I TOOK THIS PHOTO PINE NEEDLES WERE DROPPING

Both Kelly and I worked away at the Motorhome all day.  It's washed and I have all the bins emptied.  We'll start on the interior next.  I was very surprised that my dizziness was not more of an issue today.  I still get dizzy if I tilt my head back and look up but compared to two days ago I am feeling a lot better and the nausea has subsided.  Been able to bend over and pick things up again but I do not do it rapidly.  With a bit of luck I may be back to normal in a few days.  Thanks to everyone for their well wishes.

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WE BOTH REMARKED TODAY HOW GLAD WE WERE WE HAD THIS CARPORT BUILT A DOZEN YEARS AGO….SURE IS COMING IN HANDY AT THE MOMENT

Pheebs and I missed our Jeep ride this morning so I promised her we would dust up a few country roads in the morning.  After todays busy day I'm needing to get myself back into my country environment for a few hours.  Enjoy some scenery, some calming music, a cup of road coffee, a forest walk if it isn't raining and share some snacks with my best Pal.  Yep, sounds like my kinda morning coming up alright:))

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GROANER'S CORNER:(( A fifteen year-old boy came home with a Porsche and his parents began to scream, "Where did you get that car???!!!"  He calmly told them, "I bought it today."  "With what money?" demanded his parents. "We know what a Porsche costs."  "Well," said the boy, "this one cost me fifteen dollars.  "So the parents began to yell even louder. "Who would sell a car like that for fifteen dollars?" they said.  "It was the lady up the street," said the boy." I don't know her name--they just moved in. She saw me ride past on my bike and asked me if I wanted to buy a Porsche for fifteen dollars."  "Oh No," moaned the mother, "she must be a child abuser. Who knows what she will do next? John, you go right up there and see what's going on.  "So the boy's father walked up the street to the house where the lady lived and found her out in the yard calmly planting petunias! He introduced himself as the father of the boy to whom she had sold a Porsche for fifteen dollars and demanded to know why she did it.  "Well," she said, "this morning I got a phone call from my husband. I thought he was on a business trip, but it seems he has run off to Hawaii with his secretary and doesn't intend to come back. He asked me to sell his new Porsche and send him the money. So I did."

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Dear Mother-in-law, Don't teach me how to handle my children. I am living with one of yours and he needs a lot of improvement!?

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Q: What's more dangerous than being with a fool? 

A: Fooling with a bee! 

Q: What did the spider say to the bee? 

A: Your honey or your life!

Q: Who is a bee's favorite painter? 

A: Pablo Beecasso!

Q: What did the bee say to the other bee in summer? 

A: Swarm here isn't it!

Q: What is a bee's favorite classical music composer? 

A: Bee-thoven!

Q: Who writes books for little bees?

A: Bee-trix Potter!

Q: Where do bees go on holiday? 

A: Stingapore!

Q: What do you call a bee who's had a spell put on him? 

A: He's bee-witched!
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15 comments:

  1. Al, I am seriously considering letting my travel trailer take me from winter camp to summer camp as its only travels. Then in between doing motel camping like I did while still working. A lot of serious thinking is going on around here,Eh.

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  2. So glad that you are feeling better. There is a time and season for everything.

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  3. Sad to hear your decision about your traveling days.
    Always thoroughly enjoyed your Southwest travels.... What a time you
    had. Your home in Arizona was great to follow. Hope your not
    giving up too soon. Thankfully you have wonderful pictures and blogs
    to enjoy through the years. Thank you for sharing with all of us followers!
    Your pictures are amazing!
    Hope your motorhome gets a great new home, it seems so very nice.

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  4. Well, darn. There's that age thing again. It must be catchable. If that is so, you caught it from me.
    Sorry to hear you are going to be hitting the road in shorter trips but I so understand the need to get away from traffic and all the angst that brings.

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  5. Happy to hear you are feeling better. Sometimes we just have to pay attention to what no longer feels right.

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  6. Sounds like a lot of us are getting tired of the life on the road routine and concerns. Sounds like you have a good future plan. John said the reason you are not getting much money from that money tree in the backyard is because you have a short growing season...haha! Glad to hear you are feeling better:)

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  7. There does come a time for change, and I could see the writing on the wall for a while. Glad you are feeling better and hope your future travel plans go well.

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  8. Glad you are feeling better. I think you are wise in your decision to downsize. You will enjoy short trips and your photos will be enjoyed just as much as always. I look forward to seeing your next RV. We are. Heading out this morning with our small trailer. A "Taylor Coach" campout. It is fun seeing everyone's rig as no two are the same. Trying to avoid the 401....might take 4 hrs.

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  9. Not surprised at all. When you aren't having fun doing something, you should stop doing it! Someone will be getting a beautiful and well-made home when they buy the Big E - it is one of the nicest rigs I've ever been in. I can hear the relief in your "voice" just knowing the decision is made and you can start a new chapter. With two drivers and more mobility you'll likely get excited about travel again. Looking forward to seeing winter in Ontario through your keen eye!

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  10. I think this is perfect reasoning. We've only done one long 6 month trip in our motorhome and the whole time I wished it wasn't has large and cumbersome to drive and I wasn't fussy about the towing. If I had my druthers, I'd be in a Unity Class C with a murphy bed for sure!! Good luck with the sale and I'm sure you will come up with the perfect solution in a rig to take you into many more years of part time travel!

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  11. I understand. Our big diesel pusher has been sitting in the driveway for well over a year now. Will probably need jumped off to start.

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  12. I went from an RV to a combination of tent camping and motels as I traveled across country every year. Now I've mostly hung it all up. Do I miss it? Terribly! Could I go back to it? I doubt it. Life moves on and sometimes we have to change our ideas of what we want and need. Life is still good!

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  13. We were observant when we traveled and noticed that "70" seemed to be the magic number when many went to "part-timing." The reasons were as you listed them. We focus more on all we were able to see and do rather than opine about not being able to travel long distances. There is also a sense of security to have a permanent home if illness strikes as it did with me. However, do plan your short trips and keep illness at bay!

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  14. Sounds like a great plan to me. Kind of what I'm doing now, but I have no itchy feet at all. The Palms is parked in my side yard, and will probably stay there till summer. But when I want to take off for a couple of days or a couple of weeks, she's there. Right now, that's the best thing for me, and with your beautiful home and yard, you have lots to enjoy at home. Traveling when you want will be the frosting on the cake. Glad you're feeling better! :)

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  15. As always, do what feels right for now. Minds can be changed in the future. As much as I like to travel, I no longer love to drive.

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