Our Winter Home

We have been here one week today. It feels like we have come home.

It took a few days to get things put away and to find things we keep here. I still open the wrong cupboards looking for things. The same thing will happen when we get back to 'our real house' as Miss W calls it.

I have made made two shopping trips to the grocery stores. It was very nice to find the cupboards and fridge were stocked with essentials from last spring. (I had left quite a number of non-perishables as I expected to return in 5 or 6 months. I usually don't leave that much.) All was in good shape so I will do that again. The wine and beer was cold. The cans weren't bulged. Chips and crackers weren't soggy like they would be back home; even the opened bags and boxes.

Our KS neighbors had cold beer waiting for us when we arrived. Our first year at CV they lived across the street and were the first people to actually welcome us when we arrived in our little 27' travel trailer. We have lived on the same street or next to each other for 10 years now. Usually we are here first and welcome them. It was very nice to see them in their lawn chairs, waiting for us when we pulled into our spot. Thanks Sondra & Herman.

I went across the road and picked up Chinese take out for dinner that night and had enough leftovers for another meal or two.

The resort had a Sunday brunch buffet before church. It was very good with lots of food choices. Next time I would eat after church instead of before.

SD friends came by Sunday evening and we went out for dinner. On Wednesday we met ND friends who were heading back home at the end of the month. They came to our place for lunch (which I did fix) and a drive to Florence and the agricultural area and then dinner at our favorite burger, steak & ribs place. (Enough food for leftovers. Yippee!) On Thursday SD friends asked us to join them at the same favorite steak, burger & ribs place. More leftovers; enough now for last night's dinner.

Dinner with Joan & Rod at San Tan Flat

You get the idea here. Since arriving, I have cooked very little, but enjoyed some excellent meals! Hubby made pancakes this morning and I will cook tonight. (Saturday)

Being welcomed by those we know and those we don't is what makes this place special. Many people in the resort (population about 1000) knew our health issues' story. I can not believe the number of people (men and women) who have stopped to say "Welcome back! So glad you are here." The number of hugs and handshakes was amazing. Between the Sunday church service and the Monday morning coffee, it was like a family reunion, but better.

Early in our arrival, Mary stopped by to hand-deliver Flat Coleen & Flat Curt. Because of Mary's creative & clever idea, we have enjoyed many resort activities prior to our arrival.

Mary also made this luminary in my honor

for the Time for a Cure luminary lighting

on Wednesday of cancer week activities.

Both items reside by the back door

Nancy created this rubber band bracelet for me

and gave it to me Monday morning at coffee.

It represents the 3 colors for Thyroid Cancer.

And then there is the calendar. I do NOT kid when I remark that we go 'to our real house' to recover and prepare for the next winter season. Planned for this past week was church, Monday coffee meeting, Tuesday geocaching meeting and Wednesday with ND friends.

Unplanned, but wonderful additions, were the two dinners with SD friends, lunch with another friend AND the movie "The Imitation Game", a must-see! We also did some geocaching one afternoon, before going for pizza.

Dianne, the Friday lunch date friend and I agreed to schedule a lunch date every other week. We found our schedules so busy that we cannot meet for lunch until Feb. 19th! She goes home the following week.

I have notified the writers that classes will continue weekly beginning February 16th. (I am too busy to start before that Monday.) Writing Your Life Story classes will be MY only resort commitment this season. I think that will give us more time for socializing and geocaching.

Geocaching will be OUR focus. I have organized an event in February, but will attend several others scheduled in the east valley, including one on Wednesday. We have plans to go to Yuma for 4 days next weekend. We have met so many people through the AZ geocaching events, Wednesday will be very much like a family reunion.

There are a number of good movies to see right now. There are many geocaches we can find without endangering our limbs. And there are many good people to visit. The next two and a half months will be busy! And I love it!

And just so you know our life is not perfect at our winter home, the washing machine is not working (repairman on Monday), the jeep's gas tank sprung a hole and leaked this summer (at the doctor now, parts on Monday) and the MediaCom technician has been here twice; a phone call finally fixed his screw-up.

It is what it is and Life Is Good!