Change of Lifestyle from RV Life to Retirement in Mexico

Cindy and I decided to leave or RV lifestyle and retire in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.  Because of the the lifestyle change I decided to start a new blog "Life and Times of Lord Herbert" www.lordherbert.blogspot.com  If you wish to join us and check out life in Ajijic, click on the website above.

The Malecon along the shores of Lake Chapala

 

See ya there.

On the Road Again

Here we are in Reno, NV.  Left the Las Vegas Area and heading West.  Tomorrow we travel to The Vineyards RV Park in Vacaville, CA.  Plan to stay there for a month and explore our new assignment.  We hope to become blog activist once again and have some adventures to write about.

Hello out there.  Whew, it has been a long time since we posted a blog.  The last few days have been busy ones.  We have moved from Mesquite, NV, attended a huge rally in Phoenix, drove to Tucson, flew to Oklahoma and closed on the sale of our house.  Now, we are settled for a few weeks in the very nice Oasis RV park in Las Vegas.  Herb has been feeling poorly for a couple of weeks, so we drove across town to a quick clinic.  They diagnosed a sinus infection and gave him antibiotics.  Today,  he is a bit better, but probably let it go too long.  It was cool and acting like it might rain in Las Vegas today.  It didn't and it is still cool.  We will enjoy the glitz and glamour here for a few more weeks and then  head for California.  Boo, the cat, is happy here as there are lots of birds around in the trees.  He wishes one would fly in the door.

    Our fellow bloggers, Ruth and Kevin, have entered a contest to visit Australia and are asking all of us to vote for them each day.  We have been in for our vote every day.  When we were their age, we traveled the world similarly to them but, as employees of an Airline and a travel agency.  They are very creative in their methods of travel....we understand.  Vote for them if you can At their webside, Travels with Kevin and Ruth.

     We missed the rain here in Las Vegas, but it is cool and comfortable.  Folks here say that the best months are April and October.  We will enjoy our stay and look forward to our move to California.  More to Come  C, H, and Boo Too

    

THE LURE OF MEXICO

Ah, the many warnings of friends, (all of which have never, ever set foot in Mexico) has not discouraged us from wanting to return.  You may ask, why?  Well, there is a magic in Mexico that cannot be discouraged by the (not so many) reports of people losing their heads in the drug wars.

Puerto Escondido

The Beach at Puerto Escondido

WE ARE NOT DISCOURAGED

So, we make our plans to return to Mexico and enjoy the beautiful scenery, the amazing people, and food that is really "Mexican".  We will go first to a campground south of Lake Chapala and make a temporary home.  We have our Class C RV that makes travel easy and comfortable.  We are not afraid of all the hype about being be-headed, or robbed, or any number of other hinky things that could befall us.  We just look forward to the beauty and the welcome attitude of the Mexican people.

The Flying Dutchman

Retired Dancers

Oaxaca Daylife

WHERE TO START???

We have decided to head for Hacienda Contreras, an RV park south of Lake Chapala.  It has been recommended by many and sounds like a good place for us.  They even give you a garden space and will rototill it for you.  WOW,  I always dreamed of having a gardener in my life....Ahhhh, this is perfect.  Whatever happens next will be wonderful whatever it will be.  Mexico is an amazing place and we plan to enjoy all it's beauty's and opportunities to see sites of interest.  Stay tuned.  H, C, and Boo Too

Beauty in the eye of the beholder

Flexing my weak Mexican muscles

MEMORIES OF TRAVEL IN MX

We took our first RV trip in Mexico in January of 2009 in a 1999 Fleetwood Storm.  It was 34 feet long.  We crossed the border at Pharr, TX after many scary warnings from the Americans camped in the park in McAllen. We quickly managed to get lost in Matamoros and headed down the coast to one of Mexico's newest designated beach resorts, La Pesca. Fontour (Mexican Tourism) has it in their sights.

A view of the short cut to La Pesca

LIFE ON THE LINE
We drove a seriously under construction road about 20 miles from the main road to the beach town of La Pesca.  A beautiful town on a beautiful beach with an amazing river meandering inland.  We parked in a hotel/RV park.  There was one other RV there.  A gentleman from an RV club scoping out the place for caravan trips.  Guess they will wait until that scary road is finished.

Where are the boats?



Too cool for the lovely pool

Beautiful  si si

Ah Stormy, our Brave RV

FOND MEMORIES OF LA PESCA

We stayed there two days, plugged into a simple 110 volt plug.  It was chilly and we ventured out only to look around.  The hotel was built by Americans and sold to Mexico when no one came...sad.  La Pesca is about 200 miles from Brownsville, TX.  I read the blogs of air friends who are currently traveling South of the Border and have tinges of jealousy for the many things (cosas) in MX that are marvelous, and the many things that are frustrating.  Topes for example.  You can follow a couple of our favorite blogs written by folks who are currently traveling in Mexico.. www.travelwithkevinandruth.com   Also www.abuelolovo.blogspot.com    I know there are many others.  We also faithfully follow www.vagabonders-supreme.net    That is Goerge and Ms Tioga.  He has many followers and really loves Mexico.

Beautiful Sunset required in Mexico

Cindy in her bikini (under three layers of clothing)

La Gaviota Resort, Beach of La Pesca, and Poza Rica

WHAT WILL WE DO?

I hope Mexico travel will be in our future.  We don't know what tomorrow will bring,  do you?  More to come.  H, C, and Boo too

Dogs Vs Cats

SMART CAT

Today, I was visiting with my neighbor (who, by the way, have three small dogs and a cat living with them in their fifth wheel), when my neighbor pointed to our door and our cat, Boo Boo, was neatly opening the sliding small door that covers the latch and then, he just pushed down on the latch and opened the door for his escape. He goes outside and will not be caught, but eventually he always returns to his home to us.

The lap cat

OUR LIFE AS DOG OWNERS

We read so many blogs that the writers have such happy times with their dogs and their pets are just simply part of their family.  We never had such good luck with dogs.  I could write a short book on my dog experiences.  Perhaps, dogs are too smart for me or we are just bad dog parents.  We had a robbery in our house in CA years ago and we went to the pound and adopted a small (we thought yappy) poodle.  The dog never barked, but he peed on every square inch of our house.  We tried every possible way to train her and she finally shot out the door one day and never returned.

BOO BOO, THE BLACK CAT IN OUR RV

For a cat, he is pretty social.  He sleeps with us and pretty much just hangs around except for the occasional trip to the outside.  He likes to get up under the rig and hide,  likes others rigs too.  He uses his litter box without fail and travels well.  Not all cats travel well.  We took this one on a test drive to make sure he would not howl or mewl.  He just rides in his carrier and sleeps. We have a Class C Rig and he is always up on the dash when we return in our towed.  I wonder if he is 1/2 dog?

Boo's view of the world

WELL, NOT ALWAYS A GENIUS

Today, I was boiling eggs in my mini kitchen and the cat loves to get up on the cabinet.  He did that in the big house.  Bad Boy, but I am a solicitious Mother.  I smelled something burning and his tail was starting to singe.  It didn't hurt him, but made a kind of black dusty mess.  Sure did smell.  Oh well, more to come,  Herb, Cindy, and Boo too

Cat's eyes are like snake eyes

HOME AGAIN

HOME IS WHERE YOU PARK IT

Well, there are many homes for RVer's.  We are enjoying reading about folks who boondock in the deserts of Arizona and other SW states.  It whets our appetite for upping our rig to a standard that would allow such freedom.  We had the generator fixed, but you can't run it all the time.  So, solar panels are a tempting option.  I admit to being a bit of a TV addict.  Luckily we have a satellite dome up top.

OFF TO QUARTZSITE

Cock-a-doodle-do and we are staying in a downtown RV park. BUT....we are there to look at all the good options that are out there for RVers and we hope to see fellow bloggers.  Surely with only 100,000+ folks in attendance, we will run into someone we know.  We are looking forward to the Big Shew.

A  shout out to the Bayfield Bunch.  Al is dealing with some health problems and their blog is so great, with amazing pictures.  Kelly certainly takes good care of her guy.  We wish them the best of what medicine has to offer and continued travels.  You can find them at www.thebayfieldbunch.com   Enjoy!!!!

MEXICO CALLS

We also follow a blog by a young couple visiting and RVing in Mexico.  Such an amazing country and these folks are enjoying it to the fullest.  Look up www.travelswithkevinandruth.com  They are in one of our favorite places now.  Folks carry on about the dangers of Mexico and we know, from five years of traveling there that Mexican's are just good and hard working people.  The drug dealers don't want RVers in their part of the economy.  Crime is more rampant in American cities and even in small towns.  The front page of the Majave Valley newspaper was filled with real crimes, murder and mayhem.  I'm just saying....

Cindy, Herb, and Boo too.  More to come!

GENERATOR BLUES... OR I DON'T GET A CHARGE OUT OF YOU

Well, it finally happened.  And I feel an obligation to warn others.  Take care of your generator if you want it to take care of you.  Yes, if you ignore your duty to run your generator, perform regular maintenance, and follow manufacturer’s instructions, the generator will not give you a charge when you need it. 

 
We had parked in a RV Park utilizing full hook-ups in Denton, TX for the summer.  For four months, I failed to run my generator (at least 30 minutes, twice a month).  It is not really hard work to perform this task.  You press the start button, put it under a full load for 30 minutes and push the stop button.  Yes, neglect not laziness was my shortcoming. I finally got around to performing my duty five months later, but it was too late.  Mr. Generator felt neglected and would not start.

Just press the Start Button!

I had read horror stories about generators that would not start.  Repair costs exceeding thousands of dollars, generators that needed to be replaced with even more expensive new generators.  I might need to get a night job to pay for my neglect.

Not able to stand the suspense any longer, we finally drove our RV to the Camping World Service Department and explained our problem.  Gratefully, the service tech made an adjustment in the overhead valve and it fired up – generating a fully 120 volts, 40amps.  After an expense of $178.00, we had, once again, a functional generator.

Let this serve as a warning to all those neglectful RVers who do not give their attention to their worthy generators.  Love your generator.  Give it your full attention and it will loyally serve you with a full charge.

THE VIRGIN VALLEY

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
Starting far north of Mesquite NV, the Virgin River wends its way south.  From St. George, Utah for some miles it forms a deep canyon that is the way I-15 finds its way to the south.  About ten miles north of Mesquite, NV where you will find yourself in Arizona, the land becomes less of a gorge and eventually forms the Virgin River Valley.

The River runs into Lake Mead

THE CITY OF MESQUITE

This town starts at the Arizona/Nevada border and would be considered a boom town.  Most everything in the town is almost new.  The population has grown from 7,000 to 25,000 in ten years and expected to reach 75,000 by 2025.  Most everything in the town is the Virgin this or that.  The town we moved from called the mascot of their town, "The Demons".  Lady Demon's basketball, Demon football, you get the idea.  The Church-going side of the town decided that this was not good and it was put on an election ballot.  The Demon name held its ground.

Resting place on the walking trail

Jet trails into Las Vegas to the south

LADY VIRGINS ?
Nope, guess it just didn't sound right.  The Virgin Valley Schools call their team The Hawks.  Probably since the bird is a commons sight in these environs.  The schools, like everything else, are almost new.  There is a new hospital and an airport.  This is what the Del Webb retirement sites (a big one here) say is required to make a happy senior citizen.  It doesn't hurt that the three big casinos seem to be full of the happily retired. Add to that six championship golf courses.

A typical landscape in Mesquite

FELIZ ANO NUEVO
We filled our propane and the nice senor' wished us the above.  Ah, my Mexico memories all came flooding back and that is what I wish for our friends and readers.  Cindy, Herb, and Boo too

NAVIDAD EL PASADO

THINKING OF MEXICO

We had a very nice Christmas.  We went to a Candlight Service at a local church with two other couples who work where we are camping.  It brought back memories of candlelight services in Mexico.  Christmas day, we 6 went to the buffet at the casino.  The Casinos here in Mesquite are about the only place to eat out.  They make it very tempting as every time you play, you get points for food.

The lovely church in Mesquite

The six of us dolled up for Christmas Eve

The Children were the best part

Social Gathering, with cookies..yum

SECOND HAND SMOKE

In the State of Colorado,  smoking is not allowed in the casinos.  We think that will not happen soon in Nevada and we have read that for every twenty minutes you inhale second hand smoke, you inhale the equivalent of one cigarette.  We are long time non-smokers and really find it irritating.  So, we have tried not to go to the casinos, even to eat and that means pretty much cooking at home.  Today, Herb grilled hamburgers.  They were so delicious.  The weather here is perfect.  Snowbird Heaven.  Blue skies and no wind.

NO TREE TO DEDECORATE

Probably not a word but, a nice day after christmas anyway.  One of the not so guilty pleasures of living in a small space.  We have new pics of our Grandchildren and they are a lovely sight. More to Come.  Cindy, Herb, and Boo too

Christmas Eve

New format tonight.  I guess a present for Christmas.  I have enough trouble figuring all this out without a new format.  Oh well, we must change to grow.  We wish happy travels and Christmas joys to all of our traveling friends and to all of our friends and families everywhere.  Cindy, Herb, and Boo Too

RV SIGHTS AROUND THE HOLIDAYS

DRIVING IN THE DESERT

If you are shivering in the snow, take a ride with us as we make our Camping World deliveries to places where folks move south from the far north to spend the season with old and new friends in great campgrounds that eagerly await their arrival.  Small towns swell from 2,000 to 10,000 during the "snowbird" season.  We visit three states on our rounds.  Nevada, California, and Arizona.  The time always changes in Arizona as they do not suffer daylight savings.

Remember Hillary,  Bill on the other side of Park Entrance

NEEDLES ARIZONA

During the summer you often hear weather reports that Needles, AZ is the hottest place in the nation.  During the snowbird months, the temps are perfect during the day and cool, seldom freezing, at night. The parks are close together,  Some only feet apart.  The Colorado River runs next to many of these sites.  It is a wide and rushing river.  Many nice sites are right on the river and folks are lined up fishing on nice days. It is amazing how many folks from Europe rent RV's and travel in the US.  This couple shipped their own rig from Germany.

German built, 4 folks traveling in this creation

non sprechen duesch, they nicely speak English

BULLHEAD CITY AZ

This is the place you will find the London Bridge and kazillions of snowbirds.  I had one fellow tell me while we were in Texas that he used to go there , but it got too cold so, he heads to South Texas now.  Bullhead City is just across the river from Laughlin, NV.  Another town where gambling is king.  There is one large RV park in Laughlin, Riverside.  We have stayed there in the past on a trip to CA.  VERY LARGE PARK.

Really, in the desert

Fall in the desert?

Mountains in the background

BACK TO VEGAS

You might think that this is a long trip.  It is about 90 miles from the south of Las Vegas to Needles and then the parks are just miles or yards apart.  The drive in the desert is always a treat.  We see the turnoff for Christmas Tree Pass on the road from Laughlin to I-95.  We see where it meets I-95.  Hmmm....wonder if the HHR would or could make that sidetrip.  We are always tempted.  Are there trees?  How high is the pass?  Our next trip will be to Pahrump.  Another story altogether.  We see now why our desert friends get mesmerized by the landscape and endless vistas. A  big shoutout to our special blogger friends,  www.thebayfieldbunch.com  Great blog with amazing pics of the desert. They are dealing with a rock and not a good one.  Give them a shoutout and a prayer.  More to Come...H, C, and Boo Too

The Lifestyle as RVer's

LIVING SMALL IN A BIG WORLD

Life in a Recreational Vehicle requires adjustments that most folk could not make.  You cannot be a hoarder.  The first year we full-timed, our RV gained 1,000 pounds.  When something new comes in, something must go.  It is a cathartic thing to find that all that "stuff" you so needed is not even missed.  Even then, often there is stuff that you don't use and it can be discarded, donated, or dumped.  We always try to leave our books in campground social rooms.  I am now reading on a kindle.  Now that is getting really into new technology.

THE HUMAN BODY

Things do happen as the years pile on and we follow a lot of blogs and bad things happen to good bodies.  It is a challenge to leave the Medical care that you are familiar with and see different doctors and facilities.  I am awed by some of the people in our blog list that just tend to their ailments and go on down the road.  I also read today about a couple who just threw in the towel and settled down...they knew it was time.  Even then it was not an easy decision for them.  Luckily, they have a close family near-by.

MOMENTS TO PONDER

I guess Christmas is a season to look around and see where and why you are where you are.  We are working in the Las Vegas area and it is beautiful and glitzy, but life does go on.  The country here is very different than where we grew up.  The desert is its own kind of beauty and I revel in the diversity of the landscape.  Sometimes I look at the patch of green grass in the RV park and think...hmmm miss the water bill, maybe not.  So, have a great and healthy year and one more time....Happy Holidays.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN NEVADA

BEHOLD THE EIFFEL TOWER

Well, certainly a beautiful photo of a great rendition.  Also, you might notice the full moon just to the left of the tower.  We took the picture as we were watching the dancing waters at the Bellagio.

Pavarotti sings from FAR away

OUR CHRISTMAS CARD THIS SEASON

Our favorite solarium in the Bellagio was decked out in thousands of amazing flowers.  I read that the director of horticulture at Bellagio "Andy Garcia" is not the movie star but, a gentleman who immigrated from El Salvador in 1984.  He was one of 17 children.  He worked hard and rose through the ranks of the landscaping business in Las Vegas, worked hard to succeed in his rise to the top of the garden world of the desert.  These pictures, taken by us, are great but not as amazing as the real thing.  The smell of the Bellagio and Conservatory Gardens cannot be sent in a blog.  Factually, 22,000 people visit these Gardens every day. 

The Penguins are skating in the background

The bears are white carnations...sweet

The annual Christmas card

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

We are enjoying this season with friends in the RV park and co-workers at Camping World.  Family is too far away for a quick trip to enjoy a good dinner and seeing our grandchildren and children.  But, we think about all of them and love them just the same.  We wish a safe and happy season to friends in all parts of the world.

Still Enjoying the glitz

The Penguin pops in and out

US.....NOW

For our friends and family who wonder where in the world are Herb and Cindy, we are currently workkamping in Las Vegas, NV for Camping World.  We are living in Mesquite, NV in our Class C RV.  We are selling our Lake Home and going on the road for as long as our bodies will let us.  We just finally gave it up to the gypsy spirit in both of us.  We will move on West to Napa Valley in May and serve the Camping World stores in Vacaville and Rocklin.  That ends in September and who knows after that.  We enjoy our life and tie ourselves to our chairs as there are three BIG casinos in the small city of Mesquite.  They have great food and other temptations for us. We travel with our cat Boo Boo.  He makes it feel like home and greets us when we return.  Follow our blog.  It might get wild and crazy.  More to Come C, H, and Boo too

Our Christmas Decorations 

Santa's Helicoptor lands in the RV Park

The Desertscape from Homebase

Memories of Christmas Past: Christmas 1950

As Christmas Day draws near, memories of past Christmas holidays flash through my mind.  How I spend the Christmas holiday today has changed as I pass through different stages in my own life. 

 As a child, everybody would meet at Grandma’s house.  We brought a mountain of food, traditional holiday meats, vegetables, desserts and candy.  The Christmas tree was heavily decorated and at its base, presents were stacked two and three deep.  Card tables were set up and the games began.  Card games, dominos, Monopoly, Sorry, and Potato Head were set up on the tables.

Of course, Grandma Lily was there along with Uncle Jay and Aunt Glee from Denver, Uncle Herb and Lois from Velma, Uncle Brock and Kitty from Duncan, mysterious Aunt Oma Pearl from Hollywood, and Mom and Dad.  Cousins Lee, Lynnanne, Karen, Susie, Norma Lou, Brother Tom and I chased each other through the Grandma’s small two bedroom house. 
 
The ladies would all congregate in the kitchen preparing Christmas Dinner.  The men gathered in the living room playing cards and traded tales, jokes, and laughter.  The kids were everywhere, in closets, bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and on the front porch, running from one end to the other.

Once dinner was prepared all would gather around the dining table along with card tables set up for the kids.  A Christmas prayer was given and the feast began.  The mountain of food was reduced to a few leftovers.  Aunt Lois was a star at dessert time.  She made the most delicious pies I have ever tasted.  And, of course, there was Grandma’s skillet cobbler – Wow!

After dinner the grownups would resume the game playing and all talked at once, each telling a story or two.  The kids would be taking a nap on quilts laid out on the floor and after nap time all of the kids would walk a few blocks to the downtown area and watch an afternoon movie at the Palace Theater.

After Christmas day, all would return to their respective homes and we would look forward to the next Christmas gathering.  My dad was the first of our family to pass, then, Grandma died leaving us without a gathering place.  The family met a few times, but as time passed, the kids grew up and had families of their own.  Those were good times and the memories will keep the past family gatherings alive in my heart forever.



What are your childhood memories?  Maybe the next blog I will recall Christmas 1964 – The college years.

PLANNING AHEAD

AGE IS FACTOR FOR FULL-TIMERS as things in your body seem to start to change, if you are lucky, it is gradual and not overwhelming.  If not so lucky, it can be a serious illness that can put you down for awhile.  We have been lucky.  In our 10 years, we have not really had anything that kept us down.  Oh, we had our gallbladders out and Herb had a kidney stone.  Both considered day surgeries in this age and time and there was a quick recovery in both cases.

Eat Right and Stay Healthy

STAYING IN ONE PLACE AND WORKKAMPING can make life less iffy, if you are close to a town.  Walmart will transfer meds most everywhere and Medicare and a good supplement works most everywhere.  Those folks who boondock tend to be younger, well late 50ish or so.  We read of a 70 year old lady found in the Old Fat Man blog on backpacking in the desert.

http://40yearsofwalking.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/canyonlands-n-p-needles-section-1111/
She is much more healthy than I ever hope to be. Kudos to her and the amazing photos in her blog. Today, we went to visit a dermatologist, a frequent event as the skin begins to show its many years of soaking up the sun.  Because this is a small town, it was simple as they took our insurance.  That made it easy for us to tend to newly arising bumps and lumps.

The Future - A Snowbird's Dream

FULLTIME RVERS TEND TO BE HAPPIER, WITH A BETTER OUTLOOK AND ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW ADVENTURE including meeting new folks, places and sights. 

The Past

If you are planted in your reclining chair and this is your future....boring.  More to Come C, H, and Boo too  PS  most fulltimers have pets.  Pets are good medicine.

Sin City Revisited with Pics

WE VISITED LAS VEGAS ON TUESDAY TO PICK UP A FEW THINGS AT CAMPING WORLD AND SEE THE FALL DECO AT THE BELLAGIO in the solarium.  The flowers are just spectacular and we treat outselves to a good lunch in the restaurant that looks over the amazing display.  I am always surprised at the bustle and hustle on the strip in LV.  Lots of folks and many with children,  small children in strollers.  We lucked out and saw the dancing waters in front of the Bellagio.  Luciano Pavarotti sings beautifully with the extravaganza.  We will stay at the Paris in December when we go to deliver our Camping World literature.

Front of the horses

Pumpkin wagon

Mr. Tree talks and winks

Herb at the water wheel

A lovely water feature

The Back of the horses

All flowers...sweet

Mr. Tree is happy

Lunch at the Bellagio Cafe...YUM

GREAT MEAL AT THE MESQUITE SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER on Wednesday.  We went with another couple from our RV park and enjoyed the great food.  It is for everyone in the town.  There are few people who are down and out in Mesquite.  So, everyone there was mainly just seniors.  They didn't have a great turnout and we could have eaten twice.  I felt badly for all the homeless people we see in Las Vegas as there would have been plenty for them.

After our Thanksgiving dinner, it was time to work off a few calories.  Bright sunshine on the desert made for a beautiful day.  Starting at the Solstice clubhouse, we took a brief tour of some of the resort's amentities.

The club house at Solstice

The fire pit on a great day

Wow, the scenery and the grill

Bocce Ball court

Looks like a picture, walking trail

THANKSGIVING DAY AND BOO BOO ESCAPES from his leash.  Herb decides that since it is such a nice day that the cat should take a walk.  The cat had other ideas.  He quickly wiggled out of the collar and headed for the biggest, fanciest rig and its underside.  We had all our neighbors trying to lure him out, but he finally just came home on his own, like it was no big deal.  Everyone in the park was outside celebrating the nice weather and good company...a really great dias de gracias.  More to Come.  C, H, and Boo too.