To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven ~Turn! Turn! Turn!, written by Pete Seeger and recorded by the Byrds

November 25, 2023.
It was only two weeks ago that we changed our minds about spending the winter in Texas and decided to go to Kentucky instead. And as I look around me, I can’t believe we are already here and are as settled-in as we’re going to get. Things sometimes change without much planning.

Where we are is a tiny campground, and we were lucky to get a spot because there aren’t many campgrounds around here that are open during the winter months. We are one of only eleven RVs parked on an all-gravel lot, and we’re the only motorhome. If I opened the window and stuck out my arm, I could probably touch our neighbor’s truck…it’s that close. So the usual outdoor set-up–patio rug, chairs, grill and fire pit–will remain in the basement while we’re here. The old Oatts Cemetery, with just a dozen or so headstones (some more than a hundred years old) only a few yards away and the Dollar General directly across the street make this one of the more unique campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at. Located at the northernmost end of the southernmost county on a 2-lane, shoulderless road, we are about 20 miles away from town–and our daughter’s house. Family is why we’re here.

Compared to our lot in Arkansas, the difference is like night and day. I don’t mean to sound snobbish, but where Felix is parked at least seven months out of the year is a dream: a wide open space on the lake, few neighbors, surrounded by rugged bluffs and the foothills of the Ozarks. To be there is an absolute blessing.

Despite an over-simplified lifestyle, I still have some “must haves,” like reliable heat when it’s cold. And as low-maintenance as I thought I was, I was surprised to realize that I have a feeling of entitlement about certain things. Like propane–and having it brought to us and pumped directly into the on-board tank. That’s how it’s been everywhere else we’ve stayed for any length of time, so to discover after several phone calls that that wasn’t available anywhere around here (despite being told it was) was not just disappointing–it was quite a blow! Besides needing it to cook, propane is what fuels our furnace, and we can’t do without it. Not here. The temperatures are predicted to dip into the 20’s next week, and it’s not even officially winter.

Fortunately, our daughter had extra propane tanks. As I typed that just now, a deep feeling of gratitude washed over me: What a blessing that was! I always thought Kate was out of the ordinary, and something like this is just another reason why. How many people have extra propane tanks lying around? And, thankfully, we have an adaptor, so other than shlepping a 30# tank back and forth for refills, propane shouldn’t be a problem. We may end up having to find a chiropractor, but at least we won’t freeze.

Like everywhere else we’ve ever lived, it’s nice coming back from a “familiarity” point of view. Having lived here eight years, I still know where things are and the shortcuts to get to there. I’m blessed to have a lot of friends locally. And there’s even an Aldi’s, which is a real bonus because it’s my favorite grocery store. I have so very much to be thankful for.

I already know that I’ll have to find things to do to occupy myself this winter to keep the winter blues away…as well as to keep from killing Dave. I’m being facetious. I’m probably dating myself, but I can’t get the movie, The Shining, out of my head–you know, the one where Jack Nicholson plays a writer who selfishly thinks it’s a good idea to take his family to an isolated hotel for the winter so that he can be undisturbed while writing his novel. Instead, the insulation and lack of human contact eventually takes it toll when they’re completely snowed in, his young son begins seeing horrific forebodings and Jack Nicholson goes berserk and runs throughout the desolute hotel with a knife crying, “Here’s Johnny!” I really doubt that it would ever get to that extreme, but just in case, I better find something constructive to do over the coming weeks.

If my journal is any indication, I’m going to be writing more while we’re here than I have been in recent months, mostly because of spending more time indoors. Life is what we make it…I always try to remember that. Until next time … ❤️