April 1, 2024. Hello, Friends! I hope this finds you well. We have been on our RV lot at the lake (Table Rock) in northwest Arkansas for a couple of weeks, and will be for a couple more until it’s time to go back to Kentucky. I haven’t been in the mood to write lately, partly because of losing Victor and partly because things are not going well with Felix.
We have learned (the hard way) that motorhomes do not fare well in cold winter temps, especially after a week of single digits. So many things began acting quirky or quit working altogether: the heat pumps, the water heater, the electric toilet…and most recently (and costly, I’m sure) the front suspension airbags which cracked and deflated. That made for a VERY bumpy and very harrowing 400-mile trek from Hopkinsville! Given Felix’ age (22 years), things are bound to happen from time to time, and repairs are not unexpected. Just not all at once.
Up until now, Felix has been reliable, but… We’re beginning to think that maybe some sort of lifestyle change might be in our future. We just don’t know what.
We will have plenty of time to think about it, though. The short-term plan is to leave Felix in Branson in mid-April for repair while we go back to Kentucky. There we’ll stay in our daughter’s Airstream at the campground we stayed at this winter. What a change that will be, downsizing from 40 feet to 22! We thought about renting an AirB&B in town but we much prefer the quiet of the country. I think camping-in-a-teeny-tiny-camper with Dave at this stage of our lives will not only give me a LOT to write about, but will undoubtedly make me appreciate Felix even more after its repair.
Despite the headache and cost of repairs and the uncertainty of the future, life in my little corner of the world is okay, all things considered. I only need to think of the tragedy on the Francis Key bridge in Baltimore just a few days ago to remind me of that sobering fact. Now I’m really focused on living one day at a time as best I can, being given a while new appreciation for the fact that that’s really all we have.
It’s so good to be back here in the Ozarks and by the water, even if it’s only for a little while! We are trying to balance work with play in the short amount of time we’re here, and do some things we’ve talked about but haven’t done yet. I really am trying to embrace living to the utmost each day now, and not procrastinate. Just the other day, in the middle of the day, I took note of how sunny and warm it was…so I took a break from what I was doing and went kayaking. Just like that. Carpe diem; that’s my attitude. I can’t help that time is a prevalent thought of mine lately–probably because a milestone birthday is approaching.
So be it. If it inspires me to make reservations and buy tickets, all the better. It’s been years since my calendar was so full with things to look forward to! Just a couple of days ago on Good Friday, we saw the live production of the Biblical story of ‘Esther’ at the Sight and Sound Theater, a phenomenal venue. At 339,000 square feet, it’s the biggest building in Branson, and everything about it is voluminous–from the wrap around 26,000+ sq. ft. stage, to its 40 ft. high sets. The caliber of everything–especially the performers–is exceptional, and that was proven yesterday when, a medical emergency somewhere in the audience disrupted the dialog between the evil Haman and his sons, bringing everything to a standstill that ended up lasting twenty minutes. Eventually, a theater spokesperson appeared and announced what had happened, squelching the uneasy silence that had permeated throughout the theater. Within minutes, the actors reappeared and went on with their lines as though nothing had gone amiss. I suppose in the theatrical world, such a thing is second nature…but it was impressive to us!
Some life-decisions may be in the offing. I’d always assumed that being full-time RVers would come to an end once we reached a certain age, and we would live in a house like most people. But I’m beginning to have my doubts. We know at least three sets of friends that are in their mid-80’s, still living in an RV, and still traveling. One couple in particular comes to mind: Earl drives to and from Houston at least twice a year. While my hat’s off to him for being able to deal with THAT, the vision of being an octogenarian steering a 15-ton motorhome traveling at 70 mph is not something I want to aspire to do. Or Dave.
It hasn’t even been a couple of months since we lost our pup, Victor, and his absence was very much felt on our trip back. He was with us when we first started RVing in ’06, so that was a long time. Well-meaning friends have asked if we’ll get another pup, but I don’t think so. Again, ‘age’ has something to do with that thought…and again, I only have to think of our neighbor, Earl. At age 84, he has a big-dog mix of some sort, Tucker, age 14, and walks him whenever necessary. Well, Tucker walks, and Earl creeps along slowly in the golf cart, holding Tucker’s leash, not that he needs one–it’s resort rules. So, whenever I get pangs and yearnings for another pup, I just think of Earl, and the desire soon passes.
A more realistic concern at the moment is how to pack for being away from home long-term, which I’ve never done. All of our stuff is with us in the motorhome, but since we won’t be in it for a month or more when we take it in for repairs, I have so much more to think about than just clothes, shoes and toiletries. There’s the Starlink for internet, all my plants, our box of important papers, the first aid kit and all medications, and our bicycles, just for starters. And then, thinking of how it’s all going to fit in the car is so mind-boggling… If anyone reading this has any ideas, I’m open to suggestion.
That is all the news from this end. Though not terribly exciting, it is what it is. It’s important for me to write as consistently as I can. Just the other day while cleaning out old files on the laptop, I re-discovered a couple of blogs I’d written going back almost 20 years, and it made me grateful that I wrote even when things were mundane and normal…those snippets have given me cause to recollect sweet memories I would have otherwise forgotten.
As always, thanks for taking the time to read this. Let me know what’s going on in yours! Love always…Maria