Thursday, March 30, 2023

Wild Set of Events

We didn’t even make it off Lark Drive before a problem cropped up.  My job is to watch that the two tow bars stretch out and lock.  It has never been a problem until this time.  The passenger side one would not lock.  We undid it and tried again.  Same result.  A fellow walking by stopped and told us to stretch out the tow bars, lay them flat on the ground so we could drive up to them square.  It worked!  I guess we were just lucky all these past 3 years.

We drove to Victoria and when we were just about there, my phone was down to 8%.  The generator was turned on when we left but based on my phone battery check, it didn’t stay on and I should have had power but apparently didn’t.  I checked the microwave and it was off.  Oh-oh!  We pulled in to set up and when Ted plugged into the post … nothing!  These rigs are electrical computer giants.  One little thing like the driver’s foot rest not being properly closed will keep it from starting.  So the fun began.  Ted was on his back in the basement looking for the transfer switch when a neighbor walked by and pushed our Oasis (hydroponic heat) reset button.  That turned on the inverter and we then had power but not the source we wanted.  Ted checked the generator and it was switched off,  so he reset that.  Still nothing.  He asked the office to check the power to our post.  The guy comes out, looks at it and said “one of those two plugs is dead, try the other one.”  Viola!  Power!  

We went to church and then a Mexican restaurant we like there and we both had margaritas!  The rest of the trip was uneventful and we arrived right at 11, check in time.  We had a couple coming at 4 to look at the motorhome.  I had cleaned closets and drawers, done the nooks and crannies where the valley dust had settled and just needed to touch up the bathrooms a bit.  She looked great.  

The couple was very impressed.  The wife loves it and wants to travel, he is hesitant to spend the money. They have cash, having sold a business, but he is dragging his feet.  I am not sure he wants any RV.  The  negotiations are ongoing with more visits and more explanations of how things work.  We are not doing anything but answering their questions and letting them go through it.

We spent our days there emptying out everything that will not go with it.  That was hard enough without removing dishes, linens, cleaning supplies, Ted’s maintenance items and tools in the cargo bays, etc.  That all stays and we have more than enough of that at home.  We once again messed up a 2300 sq. ft. house with some of the contents of a 40 foot motorhome.  It took two days to do the mail and get things back where they belong,  

I worked hard all week at home while Ted met with Brian to do some maintenance issues.  Now the Oasis and both ACs have been serviced. 

Friday night John and Irene took us to Red Lobster for dinner.  We brought him some Voltaren cream and her some vanilla from Mexico but that certainly didn’t warrant  dinner; however, we were delighted to accept and spend time catching up.

I had a dr appt., we went to church and I used my free meal coupon at Black Bear for dinner.  Other than that I stayed focused on the house.

Our Disney cruise tags arrived and the girls are excited.  Kara has been on several Disney cruises and the rest of us have been on one but also other cruise lines. So we tamp down the enthusiasm so exhibited by many on the Disney Cruise page!  

I don’t need magnets, fish extender gifts (don’t ask), or period costumes to match the dining room themed  restaurants.  My Dad told me Ted and I would be jaded in retirement because we traveled so much throughout our lives.  I think I have arrived.

In the meantime while Couple #1 try to make a decision, a fellow from MI, wintering in FL, is “very, very interested”in our MH.  He is knowledgeable, asking all the right questions and doing proper due diligence contacting Newmar and Freightliner for maintenance and repair history.  No repairs, maintenance as called for by Freightliner.  And so we wait.   

The only thing on the calendar this week was working at the Give A Gown event.  This is an amazing organization that is tremendously organized and productive.  High school students, mostly from lower income schools, are brought in and allowed to choose a prom dress, a purse and jewelry!  I was merely checking in volunteers, checking them out, answering questions and collecting pink aprons on their way out.  I had a great time and saw several Forum girls also working.  Next year I think I will be a “fairy godmother” and help someone choose their outfit.  I learned that anyone can take a dress to any Tide Cleaners and they will clean and store it for this organization. 



I did all I could on our taxes and had to file an extension to wait for a K-3 that won’t be sent until June!   Or I could file without including it and then amend it!  I have enough to do leading up to summer and a respite to October sounded good.  

To add insult to injury, I chose to move our insurance for the cars, house, personal property and liability, all coming due in April.  So much info, comparing, questioning to do.  The hardest thing was to find the place on Xfinity to prove we have a monitored alarm system!  Every click took me to a new website that had nothing to do with what I needed.  Finally I was asked if I wanted a phone call!  Voila!  A website was sent to me and that quickly sent me where I needed to be.  Now we need to stop Travelers from withdrawing from our bank and change it to State Farm.  Fingers crossed we get this off my desk real soon.  

We have to renew our passports a year before they expire because they must be good for 6 months AFTER you return from a trip.  We will fly home from Dubai on 12/8 so our passport must be good through June 2025!  I have Ted’s ready to go but I can’t send mine off until May 8 when our Disney cruise ends.  I have to put my passport numbers on our Oceania info sheet by June 21, final payment date.  So … I can try expedited service in May and cross my fingers.  This happened once before when we were going to Eastern Europe in August and I needed my passport in Mexico January to March earlier that year.  They kept bugging me and I kept telling them I would get one after March.  It turned out ok.  Nothing has changed in the past 20 years so hopefully it will come through quickly.  One more day and then…
















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