SUMMER NORMAL?

To continue our absolutely non-sequential and non-essential and non-logical series of posts -- we've moved!

As  the Old Man (our daughters' occasional name for their Beloved Father} approached his annual birthday -- yes, I still recognize one each year and count myself fortunate to have gotten there -- we noticed that my Driver License was about to expire -- on my birthday. What a wonderful present! And Suzy's license was to expire six months later.

To renew our Driver Licenses in our legal domicile, the State of Oregon, would have required a hasty trip across I-10 into that morass called Southern California, then a quick segue onto I-5 for approximately 900 miles to get to Salem, Oregon. And of course then, there's the return trip, assuming we pass the eye and other tests! That's going to be about a 3000 mile round trip. In the motorhome, twenty driving days, at least as many recovery days along the way. By car, ten driving days, ten motel nights, thirty restaurant meals. Nooo-o-o-o--o--o---o!

So we decided now is the time to switch to being Arizona residents. Suzy had done some research, of course; biggest question was the cost. Every one we had talked to told us that vehicle license fees would be well above Oregon's, and we found that to be true. But first, how about getting Driver Licenses in Arizona? We had to drive all the way to Sierra Vista, about 30 miles (but we had to go there anyway for other things), took a number in the MVD office and waited our turn. We needed to take an eye test, with our glasses. They found out we could each see, so they took $10 each and told us to wait to have our pictures taken. Then they issued our licenses, good for five years. That easy!

In the meantime, we have now settled into what could be called "summer normal" for our park. Only 93 leaseholders (out of of 297) are still here, along with 13 "guests" (folks who are renting a site). The monsoon season officially began on Friday, June 15, with a caution from forecasters that the rain doesn't necessarily begin right away. In fact, it waited until Saturday, June 16! Nothing since, thank goodness, because we have a major erosion project underway in the park that was supposed to be finished before the monsoon rains hit. The rain won the race!

Cleaning out the old wash that has flooded a few times in the past.

It's a BIG job!

Getting set to build a "plunge pool" to receive the water coming down from the properties behind us.

They moved out mountains of dirt, and brought in mountains of boulders.

The first course of boulders in place.

In the usual "summer normal" around here,  not much is going on. The kitchen is closed down from April till maybe late September, we don't bring in entertainment. We call it the "unseason." This year is different. One of our leaseholders, a former restaurant manager, has taken it upon himself (with help from his friends) to prepare and serve a series of meals once or twice a week. The few of us in the park have responded with enthusiasm to offers of such treats as breakfast omelets, grilled chicken breast, tacos, roast pork loin, and other delicacies. And on occasional Saturday evenings, we have live music for listening or dancing up at the clubhouse.


Summer time has brought out the wild life for sure!

This is "Our Family" of Gambel Quail, the ones born on our back porch. Seven youngsters have survived this far.

Black throated sparrow.

House finch

Don't know this fellow's name, but a few of them call our site home.

Silver Cardinal getting a bite of a peanut cake.

And of course, you've already met our Gila Monster and the Drill Sergeant!

Sunbathing

The Gila Monster on the prowl.

Things are quiet during the heat of the day (we've been running right around 100 degrees most days) but the early morning and late evening walkers still come around, and some folks, including us, will drive the park in our golf carts in the evening. Other evenings may find us just sitting out in our yard, enjoying a quiet time in ... Our Life on Wheels!

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Let us wrap up on a somber note. We recently learned that our grand nephew Stefan LeRoy stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. Ten in his platoon were injured, one has since died. Stefan had both legs amputated, one at the knee, one just below, and other injuries. He is presently at Walter Reed in Bethesda, MD, and some of the others in his platoon are there as well. Stefan is looking forward to a new set of wheels this week so he can move around on his own steam. Messages of support and encouragement can be sent to him and his parents through Caring Bridge.