Going south?? Do we ever go north??? hmmmm I don't think so............

We feel SO blessed to be able to live in an RV and wander around.  I think about my Dad and the fact that he was actually too afraid of "the unknown" to actually GO south.  He kept saying next year.  Then he died and we helped Mom buy a small MH and threw her out to travel (yes alone) to Apache Junction.  She loved doing the "going south" thing.  And now Ken and I get to do it.
This is our third year to "go south".  The first year was rough in the beginning as I went nuts about whether we could actually DO this.  Then last year was a hoot as we got to know more people.  But I must say this year is becoming super spectacular. The weather has, thus far, been very nice.  (OK we've had about 8 relatively bad days since we got here.)   Although I was saddened by moving from Lakeside the flip side is we are getting to know each other better since most of us are in "The 80's Village".   Hmmm! Living that close?? Are you sure?? Is this really THAT good?  YES!  It is GINORMOUSLY STUPENDOUS.  We quickly learn everyone's little "rituals: who sleeps late; who's up early; who goes to coffee; who walks, etc. and we give each other space.  And then when dark comes we all go into our little cubbies and do our own thing.  Unless, of course, we meet at the clubhouse to play Golf. (cards - don't ask!  It's nuts!)

Maynard is........ Maynard.  A fun, warm single man in love with life and being able to be here with us.  He just began his 34th year of sobiety.  In the summer he lives up near the headwaters in Minnesota at Ely.  His life there is simple but serene.

Smile Mayno - the sun is shining!! Woohoo!

He is VERY frugal.  (We should all take 20 lessons from him.)  But sometimes this frugality causes him grief in the long run. He is like a fart on a hot skillet - popping here there and everywhere.  His computer career began three years ago when his best friend gave him a computer.  Since then he has bought another one and uses it to write his prose on and keep up with friends back in Minnesota.  He keeps us all laughing and we love him dearly.  Our goal is to visit him in the summer of 2012 up in Ely.

Chris getting through the turkey line.
Where's Fred????

Fred and Chris are new friends this year.  They are from Alberta Canada.  They have a dog and a cat.  Both VERY well mannered.   They went through RV Park Hell last year so are tickled to be here in the Cedar Cover "80's Village".  Fred drinks all the beer he can when in the state as it is $52.00 a case in Alberta.  They are Mayno's neighbors and live in a big long 5th wheel.

Cliff and Karen finally made it to New Mexico.  First Cliff had to have a stint in his heart; then Karen had to have a stress test and find out she had to do a medicine change. They look good; but like everyone else needs to "drop a few" according to the doctors.  They hail from Kearney, Nebraska and work too darned hard during peach season.  Speaking of Peaches.  She allows them to make fun of her name - once in a while.  She is their schnauzer.

Pool,  Gave you been practicing Cliff??

Emile and Dianne have had quite a time since they got here.  They hooked in to us last winter.  They are from Ontario, Canada.  She encouraged him to join the woodcarvers group here in TRC and he took to it like a duck to water.  However, shortly after they got here she fell down and got a hairline fracture to her left shoulder.  We all rallied around them and helped out.  Dare I say Emile isn't exactly a patient caregiver???  No.  Ok I won't.  :)  They just make me laugh.

Dianne and Emile in Longmont on
their way home in the spring.

 Her giggle is precious and HE can mimic her "Emile" voice to a T (He makes is sound like a meowing cat with a definite lift at the end.)  When she fell she was outside alone and started mewling for help.  Maynard, Carol and Emile heard the cat meow.........but only Maynard went outside to find the darned thing.  OOOPPPPS! It was Dianne. Bless her heart.  She is a trooper. He brought his 4 wheeler this year and is going on trips with the guys from Cedar Cove. Zoe is their Corgi companion.

Look!  I found a Buffalo Ball!

Carol and Gary...... Gary and Carol have a sticks and bricks in South Dakota.  They have been "south" for three years and have had three different rigs every year.  I think this might be a keeper.  It is a 5th wheel which they pull with a beautiful red pickup and they got a cute little jeep to bum around in.  What a fun couple.  "Stuff" just seeps and drools out of Gary.......snippet of songs; quotes from prose and orneriness radiates from him.  Carol - totally smitten with Gary - is a camera and hat buff.  Not necessarily in that order. They are game for almost anything; are interested in the area/history and are bringing interesting folks into the park to give his talks.

Nice front view Ki!  Don't you love Wyn's pose? 

Wyn and Ki are back with us for a second season.  They have been full timers for 7 years and have a Newell Coach which Diligent Dave is helping to shine up the stripes on. The owner, President and CEO of their rig is "Squeaks" a black and white cat.  What a personality! AND she does run the roost over there, keeping them in line. She looks quite queenly as she parades on her leash. They, like the rest of us, suffer from aches, pain and downright contrariness with health.  Getting old is NOT for weaklings.  They, too, full time out of South Dakota.  I hope they come see us in Oregon next summer.  I think I could make HER squeak just a little on some of the roads we would take. Heheheh!

Lookin' good Archie & Edith!  Archie!! It's close to
Happy Hour time - is your freezer loaded?? hmmm?

And then there is Clay and Sharon - or Archie and Edith as we affectionately call them.  I SO love these two even though who originally hail from the Portland Oregon area.  We are Eastern Oregonians so you see the problem (desert fee vs web feet??)
However, they spent about 40+ years in Alaska so that is home for them.  Their daughter Karen is Ken and my neighbor on Facebook so we can farm.  Ken, the owner of 13 farms, is online about the same time as Karen.  I enjoy taking Sharon to Las Cruces for her various doctors'  appointments.  And Clay likes me to take her so HE doesn't have to.  Works for all of us.  Besides that we can have lunch out instead of driving straight back home.  Sharon and I are gambling buddies.  Speaking of gambling - we need to set up a trip after the new year.  Gypsy is the rambunctious dog that lives at their address.

Newell and Linda are our NoDak friends!!  But we don't hold it against them.  The hail from Hazen and have one daughter and four grandchildren.  Linda is very talented.  

Newell and Linda headed to Roswell
Watch out for the ALLLIIIIIEEEENNNS!

She makes lots of memory things for her gbabies. And she love photography so we enjoy her pictures and the chronicles of their travels on her journal.  Newell is a golf addict.  This winter the weather has been good thus far for golf.  He has a good friend - Lonnie - that used to live in Hazen.  He and his wife Mary live full time in TRC.  This year L/N brought a jeep with them to bomb around in.  They love it.  Linda has become the social  director/informer.  She makes sure we all know what is happening; where and when.  

Dave & Debbie are full timers also from South Dakota. Dave (Colorado/Wyoming) & Deb (Iowa/Colorado) were workcampers at Lakeside when we all pulled in there.  Since then (and after this fall's fiasco) they have started an RV Wash business and are REALLY enjoying the winter with all of us.  Deb hasn't been to a lot of the places we will/have visited.  

Tell your Mom Hapy Thanksgiving Dave.  Hmmm what's Deb
thinking up to create trouble????

Their boss is Mac (A golden lab).  He is about 11 and can take the lid off a soda bottle in about 30 seconds.  Debbie is a lot like me (poor soul) - standing up on the  outside while sometimes sitting down cowering in the corner on the inside.  She does yoga twice a week.  Dave is always doing something.....(good....good). I especially appreciate Dave as he built us a set of very study steps this fall.  I HAVE to get them painted.

Darrell and Sue are friends from Michigan.  We met them last winter and they got particularly close with Karen/Cliff.  They are at Lakeside where Darrell works for their electricity and laundry. Sue is going to teach us Swedish Embroidery after the first of the year. Sue is soooo gullible and I hate to say it; but it sure is fun to get her going.  Every time.  And Darrell is oneriness oozes out of every one of HIS pores.  It takes one to know one......  

Dennis you are SURE up to no good.  I can see it in your eyes.

Dennis & Sharon.  Talk about full of it.  That is Dennis or KimChee as we like to call him.  He had to have a stint before coming south. His doc wanted him to do cardio rehab so they have been down near Las Cruces at a State Park there.  they paid $225 for a year and they get to park for $4/day.  He is done now and they are up here at the State Park until the first of the year.  Dennis and his folks lived in Haines for awhile when he was younger.  Sharon is the one that taught me how to go to Mexico and get prescription drugs.  They still have a sticks and bricks in Minnesota but carry South Dakota plates.  They have a "big red truck" they putt their 5th wheel with and they zoom around in a Kia (aka KimChee)

So this is the evidence presented to support "why go south".  It is worth every moment.