December, 2023
Here we are again, at the end of another year. As we think about the events of 2023, it has been a year (as usual) of ups and downs. And there were a lot of downs.
We spent the first 2 months of the year, still in Texas, as we could not get any reservations in Florida. The weather was cool and wet for the most part. The first park we stayed in was in Whitney, Texas. A young man stopped one day to ask if we were REALLY from Wyoming. He was elated when we said yes. Turns out that he was from Rock Springs and thrilled to meet some “home folks.” As he spent his free time fishing, he brought us some great striped bass to enjoy. We gave him some of our Michigan Bratts.
Since Bill really hated the fifth wheel, we spent time looking for a replacement for it. We settled on a 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B, which is a bunkhouse model, so it provides some additional flexibility for inside storage. The fifth wheel had space in the cap closet for a small chest freezer, and the bunkhouse model provided us with a place for it as well. When we got to Lake Conroe for 3 weeks, we had a local satellite business install an in-motion Starlink on the roof. It has been great, as it provides 24/7 internet, even while going down the road, so we always have access to map applications and internet searches, while underway and we can stream as many movies as we want, as the plan has 1 terabyte of data each month, before we are throttled, which never happens.
All totaled, we were in Texas for 3 months, after which we moved to Florida for 7 weeks, where we got to see many of our Florida friends. We returned to Wyoming, by way of Decatur, IN where we began having initial warranty issues on the new motorhome resolved. We were there approximately 2 weeks. We took that as an opportunity to travel to Shipshewana IN and Buchanan, MI to pick up our favorite brats and other favorite selections at Lowery’s Meat and Seafood Market. One day while in the REV waiting area for the day, Mary saw a coach being towed into the parking lot! It had been in a serious accident, but the heart stopping part was that it was IDENTICAL to our rig. The front end was completely smashed in. Turns out, fortunately, it was not our coach, but one that had been on its way to a dealer for sale. WHEW!
Just before Memorial Day, we arrived in Wyoming. Fortunately, the snow had all melted and we were able to start getting the house ready to put on the market. First, we had to arrange to repair two broken windows. They were both double pane but only the outer pane had been broken. Apparently, as the snow shed from the roof and slid down, it curled in toward the building and the pressure broke the outer pane of glass in the process. That was fortunate, because the inside of the house was still protected. Because so many folks had the same issue, it took us 2 months to get even the small projects done.
We started interviewing Realtors to market the house for us. THAT was an experience. The first Realtor, gave us a partial CMA, but with an incomplete analysis and no follow up. The second Realtor handed the lead off to a new Agent, she did a CMA, and she brought it to an interview, but said she needed to complete it after meeting with us. Never heard anything more on the CMA. The third Realtor, came prepared with a CMA and we had a thorough conversation about the marketing plan. However, after that it fell apart. When she entered the information for the listing, there were some entry errors, and she did not appreciate it when Bill called her attention to the errors, i.e., ‘0 square feet in the house’. So, she fired Mary, who has NEVER been fired, especially by someone she is paying! A friend mentioned that there was an Assist-2-Sell in Afton, so we reached out to them. BINGO! They came prepared with a CMA and a marketing plan!! They only charge a 1.5% - 4.5% commission, are energetic and follow through on all promises. Every time the house was shown they called with a report of how it went. Sadly, the house did not sell over the summer, but not because it was not marketed well.
With the house on the market, Bill was able to complete getting his dental implants. He can now smile fully and chew on both sides of his mouth. YIPPEE!!
I said at the beginning of this letter that there were ups and downs this year. We have met many folks during our travels over the years. Sadly, tragedy struck 4 of the couples. The husbands in all four couples passed away from cancer. It was a sobering reminder to take advantage of every day.
Then, in August, Roxy took a turn for the worse. It was a very sudden and precipitous deterioration. The Inflammatory Bowel Disorder was no longer being controlled with her diet and medication and then suddenly one day, she could no longer climb the steps into the motorhome. We made plans to spoil her more than normal for her last days. We planned to rent a golf cart so she could enjoy the golf cart rides she loved so much when we lived in Arizona, beef bones and ground beef in her food. Sadly, the only thing she got was an afternoon to chew on a bone. We ended up taking her to the local Vet on Sunday afternoon.
We left Wyoming in mid-October, before snow started falling. Having learned our lesson last year, with not finding a camp site for the season, we arranged to have an annual lease on a site in a 55+ RV Resort just north of The Villages, FL. The lease runs until September 30, 2024. The cost is about the same as 6 months on a seasonal rate, and we have flexibility to come and go as we please. Our plan is to purchase a small place in The Villages to use as a winter base, but to continue traveling in the summer. However, whatever we purchase will NOT be a fixer upper, will NOT be 3 stories and will be much smaller and all on one floor!! Looking forward to more travel and adventures in the coming year.
We hope this finds you all in good health,
Bill, and Mary
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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