Day 47!

For some reason, I can't get my images to upload this morning but I feel I owe it to my public (hi Mom and Dad!) to post an update. Well, here I sit in the parking lot of La Mesa RV in Harvey II, waiting for Jeff to get back from Walmart (filling a prescription before we go to Mexico). We're off to south of the border this morning. We had a low key Thanksgiving. Jeff made the most awesome lasagna using Mary White's (of Snapper's fame) fabulous recipe. We left Palm Creek, home of the Stepford Seniors, on Friday and let me tell you, it was bittersweet. LOVE that place! Managed to finish all of our Christmas presents there.

We arrived at La Mesa in Tucson Saturday. Tucson has some nice pockets but basically it is a huge sprawl of chain box stores and the number of homeless in many of the parks is stunning. We saw The Mexican Homeless Park, The African American Homeless Park and even The Integrated Homeless Park. So great was his White Man's Guilt, Jeff was practically throwing money at them. Let's see . . . something positive . . . hmmmm Oh! There are tons of excellent Mexican restaurants.

Well, we took possession of Harvey II and the moving process began - took about 12 hours over two days. Exhausted! How in the world did we acquire so much STUFF? I must admit I felt some buyer's remorse while moving out of Harvey I. Jeff said, Liz, you can't anthropomorphize an RV. Excuse me??? WE named him Harvey! Hello?

By the way, if you ever want to buy an RV, come to La Mesa and see Keith. He is mahvelous! Very nice, smart and cute too. I took his pic with Sophie and I'll try to post it later. OK

Lucy and Sophie went to the vet yesterday to get their health certificates for Mexico. Scary little office in a scary part of town with boarded up windows and acres of razor wire. At one point, we were in the waiting room and the door opened and these two really really tall women covered in tattoos walked through the front door and Sophie went insane, barking and snarling, "danger! danger!" Like I said, scary. The vet had these intense staring serial killer eyes and the exam room was at least 100 degrees. It felt like that show, One Step Beyond, remember that? Anyway, they both checked out fine although he said Lucy's eyes are a bit cloudy, meaning cataracts down the road.

Jeez, get us outa here!

So, we’re here in Casa Grande, Arizona, in a “senior community” made up of a combination of 2,000 trailers of various type, from (actually very stylish) double wides, to mostly huge rigs like Harvey, known in the trade as a “class a” or motorhome.

On a tangent, here’s a tutorial of RVing, that I guess most people never know or care about. Like in sailing, there are specialized terms no one not doing it needs to know.

Class A- The classic Winnebago type, by other brands as well.
Class B- Modified van, often with a raised roof.
Class C- RV with the head of a pickup or van up front.
Travel Trailer (or TT)- a camping trailer that connect to towing vehicle with a ball hitch.
Fifth Wheel (or “Fiver”)- Trailer that attaches to the bed of the truck pulling it.
Popup- Very low profile trailers that unfold into sort of tents.
Toy Hauler- these trailer have a back wall that doubles as a ramp, so you can haul ATV’s or motorcycles, usually with drop down bunks for when the toys are removed.
Park Model- a trailer that will be hauled once to a place it will never leave.

Anyway, the amazing thing at this senior community is how totally enthused, engaged and almost rowdy the old folks are here. Across from our spot here the pickle ball (think squash with a net) players are at it from 7 am to late, with hearty banter and genuine competitive effort. In the afternoon the variety of pool volleyball players are actually really good, often keeping the ball in play for 30 or 40 volleys.

I guess I think of Tony’s mom on the Sopranos when I think of old age, yet these people are “Inspired. And inspiring.” (Dr. Malfi, anyone?- first season.)