Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Out With The Old, In With The New

AJ, AZ   Rollercoaster Weather – 99 last Friday and 83 Today

Jim and I sold our house in Billings last year and have been trying to decide if we were going to make any changes in our RVing lifestyle. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of years.

Over the years we have had a Class B, three fifth wheels, a motorhome, and a travel trailer. We learned that we are definitely not motorhome people. There are a lot of reasons we prefer a fifth wheel over a motorhome but a couple of the major determining factors was how much Jim missed his truck and the fact that if we wanted to take the boat with us in Montana, I drove the truck and pulled the boat and Jim drove the motorhome. Just not for us.

So we went back to a fifth wheel and eventually started leaving the fifth wheel in AZ year round and traveling in our much smaller travel trailer. That really works for us. However, our fifth wheel was getting older and things were starting to fall apart. It was time to make a change.

So out with the old:  (thanks to Ginny for the pictures)

goodbye fiver

goodbye fiver1

And in with the new:

hello cedar creek1

hello cedar creek3

hello cedar creek6

hello cedar creek7

Our new is a 2018 Forest River Cedar Creek Cottage Destination Trailer. It’s 40 feet long with three slides. As the name implies, this is not a trailer that you move around the country but leave it sitting in one place. We love the park we are in and the people who have become our friends and family. I think we have become snowbirds.

Packing up the fifth wheel and unpacking in the Cottage just about did us in. We did survive and are now pretty much settled. Still can’t find a few things but they’re here somewhere.

I tried taking pictures but none of mine turned out very good so I am posting pictures from the Forest River website.

Print

The dining area – has an extra leaf and storage in the chair seats.

8L3A1998

The kitchen island

8L3A2001

The dishwasher

Cedar_Creek_38FBD_dishwasher_corrected

Additional counter and cupboard space

8L3A2006

Love the big deep sinks.

Cedar_Creek_36CK2_large_sink

Just look at this pantry

pantry

And what’s not to like about this fridge

fridge

The sofa couch

8L3A2004

Power recliners

Cedar_Creek_36CK2_theater_seating

The TV and fireplace are across from the recliners

Cedar_Creek_40CCK_front_2_back

This shower was a huge selling point

Cedar_Creek_40CFE2_bathroom

The bedroom has a closet with hookups for a washer and dryer but it has become Jim’s closet for us. Jim had to do some remodeling for me in the bedroom. I couldn’t reach the hangers in the closet. So he took those out, put in a bar that he lowered and built a shelf over it for me.

8L3A2012

Cedar_Creek_40CFE2_bedroom

We really love our new home and are already looking forward to returning in the fall.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Jim is Amazing

AJ, AZ   High 103  Low 72

We are still in Apache Junction where it has definitely warmed up. Our high yesterday was 105. The RV park is really getting empty. There are a few folks left but more leaving every week. Ginny and Mickey are here because of doctor appts until after Memorial Day so we have company here on the back row because we won’t be leaving til after Memorial Day either.

This has been a very sad year here in our RV park. We have had four of our friends die and at least two more are in the hospital with serious problems. I know we are getting to that age when death comes more often, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept.

We have been beyond busy but the reason for that will be in another post. In between all the busyness we have lots of doctor appointments. Appointments for Jim, Rocky Joe, and me.

RJ’s second surgery on his mouth was a success and he is now our toothless wonder dog with no holes in his mouth. He is 100% Jim’s dog. He tolerates me if he has no other choice but if Jim is anywhere around, I get deserted. We think the barking is getting a little better but we’ll know more when we try to do some sightseeing on our way north.

I established a primary care doctor down here and she decided to do some blood work. I’ve now seen a kidney doctor and a urologist. I like the urologist but I am not at all impressed with the kidney doc. So I will continue to drink lots of water which is what he told me to do and worry about finding a different doctor when we get back. I still have one more appointment with the urologist.

Jim is the amazing one. At least that is what all his doctors keep telling him. He is now in REMISSION from his lung cancer. It has been five years since his surgery and he only needs to be checked once a year. That is about the best feeling ever.

I’m also glad we’re done with the oncologist. They were bought out by another cancer group and even though Jim has been going there for five years, they wanted all of this paperwork filled out. I don’t understand why they couldn’t just transfer his information but I was willing to fill some of it out. But they went crazy – they put a wrist band on him like they do in the hospital. Then half the paperwork was dealing with being admitted to the hospital and they wanted his signature on everything. We were not going to the hospital, we were going to spend five minutes being told everything was great. I think the final straw for me was the fact that they wanted to know who our mobile phone carrier is. At that point, I told Jim we were done with paperwork and he was not going to sign all of that stuff. So he took it back to the desk on our way out and said see ya. Just ridiculous.

His pulmonologist and his cardiologist both said his blood work is fabulous and his breathing is really good considering he is minus half of his left lung. His internist is amazed at his great blood sugar levels. So he is done with his doctor appointments and good to go.

Skittlez needs a quick visit with her doctor and they both need nails trimmed.  We’re slowly getting things ready.

Need bearings packed and tires and axles checked on the Bungalow. Truck got an oil change and tires rotated. It’s really hard to remember all the things that need to be done when you’ve been in one spot for so many months.

Look at what my dear friend Jeri made for me. I love it.

skittlez purse

We are still having some beautiful sunsets.

sunset

Until next time – safe travels and great adventures.