February 28, 2021

Temperature 90 Degrees

Sunday Worship At Our Home Church in Colts Neck, New Jersey

Forms, Forms, and Even More Forms

Furniture Shopping

Route Planning

What a beautiful day we awoke to.  Clear blue skies, abundant sunshine and comfortable temperatures.  A quick cup of coffee and a double chocolate muffin and we were ready for worship.

Scott began with the Call to Worship

Special music was provided by the Youth Choir.

Scott is continuing to focus on Pslam 23.  Once again, he read a contemporary version of the Psalm, this time from the Good News Bible.  We then sang a version of the Psalm.  Finally, a member of the congregation read it again from the King James Version of the Bible.

Today he emphasized the role of the shepherd.  He spoke of how the shepherd’s role is to guard and protect the sheep, to see that they are guided to abundant pastures, and to see that they are able to rest free from fear of predators.

He then spoke of Jesus as our shepherd.  He went on to say that if we put our faith in Him he will guide and protect us, and enable us to know an inner peace that passes all understanding.  He went on to say that the world hasn’t really changed, it is as frightening and demanding as ever; but, when our faith is in the right person, the person of Christ we can live with hope and certainty no matter what is going on around us.

A great message for the start of a new week.

What else have we been doing since Friday?

We/ve been filling out reams of forms.  I dare say we/ve probably filled out enough to wall paper the whole of our new house.  And just when you think you’ve filled out the last one, someone sends another one.  Unbeliveable.

We spent Saturday furniture shopping.  Here, there, and everywhere.  First, on the internet then to the stores.  We have, we believe, a good idea of what we want.  We’ll make a final decision on our living and bedroom furniture the end of this week.

Finally, my favorite task.

Route Planning.

We’ll leave here the last Sunday in March and make a brief trip to Fort Myers for some work on Elvira.

The we’ll move up the East Coast as far as Ives Run State Park in PA.  Then it will be back down to Jacksonville.  We’ll  be there approximately three months while I undergo Proton treatment for my prostate cancer.

We’ll go home for a month (it sounds so weird saying that) and then we’ll be gone for the months of October and November.  Finally, we’ll go back home for December for a brief period and then we’ll be off again.

Like I’ve been saying, we’re not about to sit around for very long.  Three to four months at home will be more than enough time for us.

So, that is what we have been up to on The Road of Retirement.  We’re taking it one day at a time getting done what we have to get done.  Life is good and you’ll not find us complaining about a thing.  Hope your life is the same.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

 

 

 

February 26, 2021

Temperature 87 Degrees

We Bought A House – Did We Really Do That?

When we left here this morning we had a really good idea of the house we wanted to buy.  We had a list of questions we wanted to ask.  And a number of items we wanted to look at again.  In essence, we had a plan.

But just before we left we decided to check the community web site to see if any other homes had recently been listed.  There it was.  A definite contender.  A larger manufacture home.  A lower price.  And it checked all the boxes for us except one.  It was worth a look.

As soon as we saw it we both had a good feeling about it.  It had more of a home feel about it from the front.  The spec’s said it was built in 2002.  The piers that support the house are sitting on a concrete slab. It has up-to-date plumbing that meets current code requirements.

The AC/Heat Pump unit is only two years old.

The concrete slab for the port is in great condition.

The RV port is not as big as the other house but it is large enough.  It is 60 feet long and 19 feet wide and 16 feet high.  I won’t have any problem parking Elvira here.  As with all the ports this one also has FHU with 50 amp available.

At the end of the port is a hugh two story workshop/storage facility.

Inside

We have a good size kitchen with a separate eating area.  The cabinets are what Ms Barbara called utilitarian which she stated was just fine by her.

We have a really nice size living room.  This carpet has just been replaced so what is down now is brand new.  This house also has in internet thermostat so when we are on the road we can monitor the temperature anywhere we have internet.

The front room will be our office and sitting room.

Our bedroom is in the back and has a small bathroom and shower adajcent to it.

Rest assured we will not be coming off the road.  Not by any means.  We have lots of miles to go and states to visit.  Rather, this will be our permanent winter home going forward.  Our mortgage has been approved and a contract has been drawn up.  Time now for a home inspection.

Is it perfect?  Of course not.  In time we will replace all the single pane windows with more energy efficent ones.  We also want to put down new flooring in the kitchen and living room.  We’re in no rush.

  That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We went to puchase one home and instead we purchased yet another.  We’re excited and overwhelmed.  So much to do.  We just keep telling ourselves one step at a time.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020/2021

February 25, 2021

Temperature 83 Degrees

Another Day, Another Test

I really can’t decide.  Which is worse, an early, early morning test?  Or a mid afternoon test that requires fasting prior to the test.  All I know is that by the time the test today was finished I had a whopping big appetite.

This was the last test for now at Advance Imaging.  Now, we wait for the results which we hope to have by next Monday or Tuesday.  Once all the results are in then my care team at UF can put together the best treatment plan for me.  Ask me and it can’t come soon enough.

Time for lunch.

The decision was an easy one.  We were off to Culiver’s for a delayed luch.  Ms Barbara had a salad and I of course had the fish platter.

And that my friends was the sum total of our day on The Road of Retirement.  We had a very enjoyable day and accomplished all that we set out to do.  Tomorrow, we run the roads again.  We’re going to look at two more manufactured houses with RV posts in Polk City.  The one is a house we’ve already looked at and we’re going back for another look.  The other is one that just came on the market.  So, time to get some sleep so I’m nice and well rested for the ‘morrow.  Sleep tight.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020/2021

February 23, 2021

Temperature 81 Degrees

A Long, Long Day

House Hunting Again

Another early morning since I had

a 7 am appointment here.  Knowing that the cancer has spread the question yet to be answered is how far, and where has it gone.  Sometimes I feel like I want to reach inside my body grab hold of that nasty C character and stuff him in a box.  Since, however, I can’t do that, tests like this are necessary.  Hopefully, we’ll have some answers by this Thursday.

Now, the way this test works is real simple.  They inject a bit of a radioactive substance into your body and tell you to come back in two hours after it has had a chance to work its way through your system.  Then they take a picture of you from head to toe and back.

So what to do for two hours?  Easy decision.

Time for breakfast.  This restaurant has never disappointed us.  Their breakfast menu is absolutely fantastic.  I had what is called the Whole Hog – two eggs, pancakes and french toast, two types of sausage, baccon, a slice of ham and some home fry potatoes.  Plus a couple of cups of coffee to wake me up.  Unfortunately, I have to say it got the best of me.  I just could not finish it all.  Barbara on the other hand had a much simplier breakfast and managed to finish it all.

Breakfast over we went back for my picture taking.  It’s really a neat kind of test.  First, they lay you down on a special tray face up.  Then, they have this special camera that floats over the top of you and moves from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.  Then, then it goes under you and goes from the tip of your toes to the top of your head.  And that’s it.

Tests over it was time to go house hunting.  Today we took a trip to

Mount Olive Shores in Polk City, Florida.

This is a deed restricted community which requires homeowners to own or rent a class A motor home the first year of home ownership.  It is a beautiful community that is neat, immaculate in every way, and oh so quiet.

I had the opportuniity to talk to a current homeowner and listen to what he had to say about the community.  He stated that he had been living here a year and that he and his  wife were absolutely delighted that they purchased a home here.  Now, that’s the best kind of recommendation as far as I’m concerned.

What drew us here were the unique types of homes that are for sale in this community.  In a sentence, they are manufactured homes with RV ports.  We were here to look at two houses

House number one.

It has a sun room in the very front.

Behind that is a living room.

A good size kitchen.

A dining room.

Master bedroom with it’s own bath.

Then there is the RV port with full hookup.

At the back end of the port is a storage shed/workshop with a full bathroom.

And up above the workshop is a loft bedroom.

There are a few things that would need some attention but nothing that we couldn’t handle on down the road.

Next on the list.

House number two.

 

A living room as you walk in.  Then down the hall

is the master bedroom with its own bathroom.

On the other side of the living room is the kitchen and eating area.  Then down the hall

we find the second bedroom with its own bathroom.

Then there is the RV port which I immediately fell in love with.  I mean, look at the size of it.

And at the end of the port a 400 square foot storage shed/workshop.

So which one are we really interested in?  Good question.  Ms Barbara really likes one.  And I really like the other.  This one is going to be tough.

But our day was not done.  Oh no, a good friend – Max – had suggested that if we were in this area we should definitely stop at

The Parkesdale Farmers Market.  Yes, they had fruit, and more fruit.

But we were here for the ice cream!  In particular for me, option number 2, Strawberry Shortcake with Vanilla Ice Cream and Whipped Cream.  Ms Barbara went with option number 3, Sunday Boat, strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Yes, there were as good as they looked.

They had a wonderful outdoor seating area.  And can you believe it, everyone we saw was wearing a mask!

I believe the one on the right is a whole lot better looking.

I’m looking forward to having this on the strawberry bread that we also purchased.

And with that we were on our way home and our day on The Road of Retirement was drawing to a close.  It was, indeed, a long, long day but one in which we managed to acomplish quite a bit.  Time now to sleep on what we’re going to do about a house.  Good night one and all.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!