10--08-2026: Book Signing with Fox News' Trace Gallagher with some Common Sense.

We are both devout Conservatives and Republicans, and as such FOX News is our news channel. One of the personalities that we watch constantly is Trace Gallagher on "Fox News @Night w/Trace Gallagher". We like many of their newscasters... Sean Hannity (Hannity), Harris Faulkner (the Faulkner Focus), Martha MacCallum (The Story with...), Laura Ingraham (the Ingraham Angle), Shannon Bream (Fox News Sunday), Dana Perino (The Five and America's Newsroom), Emily Compagno (Outnumbered), Brett Baier (Special Report), Jessie Watters (... Prime Time and The Five), Brian Kilmeade (Fox and Friends), Steve Doocy (Fox and Friends), Lawrence Jones (Fox and Friends, weekdays)Bill Melugin (Fox News Report), Johnny Joey Jones (The Five Cohost and others), Kevin Corke (Correspondent and Fox News @Night occasional co-host), to mention a few, and definitely one of our favorites, by far, is Trace Gallagher, a Fox News Channel original. 

Mary especially has always commented to me that she really likes Trace Gallagher as much for his Common Sense segment as for his open and friendly personality with everyone no matter where they stand on their political views. Recently he has been promoting his new book "Turns Out They Were Right All Along", which everyone that has read it raves about it. So I found out that he was having a book signing in The Villages, but it was after we had already left to go up North. Then on our return trip I found out hat he was doing a second book signing in The Villages, and I tried to get a reservation for it, but was unable to do online. So not one to accept defeat, I started by getting a book. Barnes & Noble in The Villages was sold out. Barnes & Noble in Ocala was also sold out. I finally was able to locate 1 of 2 copies left at Books A Million in Leesburg and called Barnes & Noble to see if I could get in to the book signing with my own copy of the book. They said NO. So, not one to easily give up, and knowing the open and obliging personality of this great man, I thought I'll just write him and explain my situation and maybe he'll agree to meet me after the book signing, to sign Mary's book. Well he did reply to me, even as late as the same day of the signing, with everything else that he must have had going on, he wrote me back and indeed offered me to get a hold of his wife, Tracey (yes his wife's name is the same as his) to arrange signing Mary's copy. 

Still, we only get to see him one way... working (on TV). However, every bit of his exuberant, open and friendly personality on air, with everyone he is in contact with is the same as he was that day, with us and with everyone that showed up (in the pouring rain) for his signing their book. Whether signing books or doing shows or speaking engagements or reporting on fox News, the man seems a lot like our Donald J. Trump. He is always going and doing, and never shows getting tired. He has A LOT of fans here, in The Villages, and why not... he is a Common Sense man and an American Patriot.

He promotes "Common Sense" on Fox News, in political rhetoric not as an ideology or a party, but as a movement, with a populist framing and rhetorical strategy, which appeals to the everyday man or woman (yes there are only TWO genders) who value well... "common sense". The things that make sense to achieve the best option for America and Americans, as opposed to those on the radical, far left, who seek only do destroy it. As Republicans and Conservatives we have nothing against Democrats and Liberals, as long as we can BOTH solve our problems and achieve our goals jointly and amicably with open dialog rather than forceful antagonism. We are each a part of this great social experiment called America. We are also not opposed to Socialism or Communism, as long as it stays in the nations that subscribe to such philosophies, and don't try to bring their craziness to our nation. . We are not against immigration, as long as it is applied for the correct way, NOT forcefully, and hen done so then we need to deport the culprits (in my opinion the same way the got here. IF they came in through Mexico, escort them to the border and push them back to the country that let them through their country. If they came on a row boat by sea, have the Coast Guard put them on a rowboat (with a set of oars) and point them in the direction of their country. If they were brought here by the George Soros, take then to the country that houses George Soros. And if nothing else works, send them to the residence of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris who are equally responsible for their being here. I am an immigrant from The Dominican Republic in 1973, but I did it the right way. I applied for it, came in as a Permanent Resident, then served in the U.S. Army for 6 years to get my citizenship in 1980. I fully support immigration, but one the right way, NOT forcefully breaching the border or falling back on 'birthright citizenship' loophole. I happen to know that my own nephew and his wife did so, getting a government 'consular' post in Miami, so that her daughter was born "American" so they could get US admittance through her. That's just not right, and I no longer even talk to my nephew.  

The phrase "common sense" actually dates back to Thomas Paine's 1776 revolutionary pamphlet  "Common Sense", which argued for American Independence by framing it as a matter of plain, self-evident reasoning rather than complex royal tradition. In modern political usage, figures like our President Donald J. Trump and many of his administration, as well as many conservatives and even moderate politicians often use the phrase "common sense" to describe their policies on taxes , the economy immigration or government spending of his cabinet as well as many other issues of importance.

Yes, it was a bit of work to get a copy of his book and then more so to get him to sign Mary's book for her, but she is worth any effort needed to make her happy, because she does as much for me. Her birthday is coming up in December and I never know what to get her that she would really enjoy, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity to do so, with a signed copy of a book from a man she truly admires, aside from me, perhaps. As Mary introduced herself to Trace so that he could autograph her book, she thanked him for replying to my email, to which he responded:  "OH! You are THAT Mary!"  He then walked around the table to come out and shake my hand, thank me  for contacting him and apologize for taking so long to get back to me.  He is just an all around nice, genuine person.  After Trace signed Mary's book, we also met his wife, Tracy, who is a wonderful person as well, and obviously of great help and support to him. They actually met while she was his scuba diving instructor. Following are some photos of that event. Mary said that we could both go have our photos taken with Trace and Tracy, but I wanted this to be all about HER, and I could do what I do BEST... which is to take photos, as you can tell from most of our blogs posts. I seldom appear in photo, because I am behind the camera. But that's OK, because she's my STAR. I am just the 'paparazzi' as she likes to call me.

 

Trace Gallagher, an American Patriot.

This is Trace's wife, Tracy, another Patriot.

I guess she was happy, because otherwise, whenever I 

take a photo of her she usually gives me a frown.

Thank you Trace, for a beautiful day.

September 2026: Our TRIP to visit friends and explore the Entegra and Newmar Factory Tours to decide which motorhome to buy for our following adventures back on the road again.

 So, with our Villages housing settled, we started thinking of how we could continue the Roughing It Gently RV Travelogue, and do it more in tune to actual TRAVEL, rather than just having to go from pace to place to solve one problem or another. So now, if without the major expenses of a large diesel pusher motorhome that had so much expenses and offered so little opportunity to travel to places where a large motor home was not allowed, as was the case with our last 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B, we intend to change all that and start to enjoy RV'ing once again.

Mary wanted to get back to doing some traveling... and to get away from this excessive Florida heat, as well as to visit our Wyoming friends, who we miss. So it was decided that since our The Villages issues have all been resolved... new house bought and relatively settled into, the first house listed, sold and closed on, and the diesel pusher sold, we would take off to take care of some business in Texas, and visit our friends in Star Valley Ranch WY, and then go to our favorite haunts in Indiana to our meat market at Lowery's in Buchanan MI, and Cheese shops in Shipshewana IN, and while there take a Factory Tour of Newmar in Nappanee IN and of Entegra in Middlebury IN. The trip put on 5,985 miles on the 2022 Ford Explorer XLT, which now has about 20,000 miles. 

Newmar
A = Mobile AL, B = Katy TX, C = MHSRV, Alvarado, TX, D = Kemmerer, WY, E = Newmar in Nappanee, Entegra in Middlebury; E&S Sales and Yoder Meat & Cheese in Shipshewana IN and Lowery's Meat in Buchanan, MI, F = Hotel stay in Bowling Green KY and Not Marked Hotel in Millbrook AL

In Alvarado, Motor Home Specialist RV (a Blue Compass dealership they said they had lots of our interested RV to see, but they only had an Entegra 34G and no Newmars. What a disappointment. That's a good way to lose business.

In Kemmerer, WY we missed seeing our friends Darren and Rozz (they were out hunting). However, we met them for lunch in Afton and then saw them again a few days later, when we returned headed back south and east, from a one-week stay at a rented Park Model in Star Valley RV Resort. While at SVRRVR we were able to visit with our other friends Richard & Carolyn Hensel, Brent Shever, and Sue Hazen and the kids (Charly and Red). Jerry Hazen was away hunting. However we had a good 'dog fix' visiting with Charly and Red. We tried to visit with our old neighbors John McDaniel and Karen Ririe, who no longer answer any emails or texts, but there was no answer on their door either. Hopefully they are OK. 

Then continuing our trip we stopped in to visit Darren and Rozz Housley, after their hunt and spent two days visiting with them It was a good thing that we had brought then some burgers and brats that they like, because their hunt was uneventful, given all the rain that had been coming down. About a week later they did send us a photo of a good looking Buck with a big rack they took down. So all is well that ends well. We loved seeing them again and spending some time with them. We have a very diverse set of good friends, age wise. Bill calls Darren and Rozz, 'the kids', because they are in their 40s, whereas Jerry and Sue are in their 50s and 60s, compared to us in our mid 70s. It must be our youthful attitude, like Clint Eastwood, who "doesn't let the old man in". 

Then on to Indiana we stopped at our favorite Lowery's Meat & Seafood Co in Buchanan MI and restocked on breakfast sausage and brats, then visited Yoder's Meat & Cheese  Co. and L&S Sales (where all the Amish shop) in Shipshewana IN. We also visited the Newmar Factory Tour and visited with a Product Manager and visited the Order/Design Center for Newmar, which was very enlightening. The next day we visited the Entegra Factory Tour which, by contrast, was a really big let down. It is actually not really the Entegra Factory, (just called that) as it is no more than the Jayco factory that Jayco shares with Entegra to make their RV there as well. It is the Jayco Factory, which shares its facility with Entegra to build 'some' of their class A gas coaches, but by all appearances they only build and service 'a few' Entegras, compared to the majority being Jayco products. We only saw about 10 Entegras in the factory and none being serviced. Even their Service parking/hookups' area' only had about 15 spaces in it, and only three customers motorhomes were there for service. Even seeing how they build their RVs (Entegras or Jaycos), they are clearly a step (or two) below the Newmars. Another thing that Mary noticed and pointed out is the difference in cleanliness of the factory floor. At Newmar they are constantly brooming the floors and they have these grates in the floor that they sweep all the trash into, with a mechanism to sweep it all the way from one end to the other, so even the grated track stays clean. We estimate that at the end of those sweeping tracks the trash is disposed into a container that can be easily dumped. But at the Jayco/Entegra factory the floors are only swept into trash barrels in areas, not always totally picked up. Actually, while walking the factory floor we were constantly being warned about debris left on the ground. At Newmar there are also marked walkways for people to stay out of dangerous areas; yet at Jayco/Entegra there are none and tours can wander in any area. Newmar does seem to be at a level above that of Jayco/Entegra, as to how they make them, as well as to how reliable they are after the sale.. Among several things that Mary picked up on, for example, is that Entegra (or Jayco) don't do their own painting of the coaches (they outsource it to a non-Entegra or Jayco painting company. So if there is ever an issue with the paint and one takes it to the Entegra plant service department, they would have to refer it to the other company or let a dealer, deal with it.  By contrast Newmar service everything of their coaches and services ALL coaches that were ever built at their factory, no matter how old they are. Our tour driver said she has a 2019 Newmar travel tailer that they no longer make and they still service it right there at the factory. Also during the fabrication process, Entegra and Jayco send their wall sections to have the windows and other cut-outs done by another company, which then returns the wall or section built into a storage compartment door as applicable, to be stacked until mounted on the chassis for that model, at the factory. One item that Bill picked up on is that their roofs are rubber coated, like most 5th Wheels, rather than being fiber-glassed and solid like the diesel pushers, which subjects them to easily being scratched/torn by overhead branches, as happened to a 5th-wheel we had. 

We timed these visits just right because soon thereafter, on our way back home it started to rain 'hippopotamus and elephants' (not just 'cats and dogs'), just as we started to head back to Florida. The first two days it was just light rain, but by the end of the second day, getting into Alabama and the next day headed home into Florida, all hell broke loose and at times we had to slow to a crawl because visibility was almost a white-out in sections. But, eventually we got back safe and sound. 

On the way to Nappanee IN

In Nappanee IN... Mary's Lil' Red Truck at Coppes' Plaza

In Shipshewana IN...

It always amazes us how neat they keep their lawns (and they are BIG lawns)

Love these RED BARNS everywhere...

Our favorite Meat & Seafood Market (Lowery's) in Buchanan MI

Our favorite Meat & Cheese shop in Shipshewana IN... YODER's 

Some Amish ride bicycles, so how to tell them apart from Mennonites. IF black pants and white or dark shirts, probably Amish; colored shirts and sometimes khaki pants, probably Mennonites.

A Mennonite buggy with a trailer to carry tractor tires. Mennonites are allowed to use some machinery and dress a little more relaxed than the Amish. Notice this guy's shoe choice (sandals).

Meijer's Market, where Mary finally was able to find and buy her 

Hot Dam! Cinnamon Schnapps to mix with her Apple Cider.

She hates it when I take photos of her. I hate it when she gives me THAT look.

A Nappanee Amish couple, typically dressed.

Typical Amish modes of transportation.

An Amish Parking Lot at the supermarket. Not seen in this photo, the horses have a covered canopy to keep them cooler and drier, when the sun is hot or weather is wet.

We made one other "shopping" stop on our way back to Florida, in Red Bay, AL.  We discovered Big Star Grocery Store's Deli on our numerous trips to Red Bay to have work done on our Tiffin Phaeton.  The Deli makes a Signature Baked Bean recipe that contains ground beef.  It is delicious and is one of Bill's favorites.  They also smoke pork butt, which is also very yummy.  Mary called the Deli on Friday and placed an order for Sunday pick up.  We reached out on Sunday, about an hour before we expected to arrive and the response was awesome!  "It 's all ready for you!"  And it was, 6 containers of baked beans and 2 smoked pork butts.  We could definitely recommend this store!

We are always so glad to get back to the Free State of Florida.

Except for all the rain we encountered on our last day. 

NEXT POST: 10-08-2026: Book Signing with Fox News' Trace Gallagher with some Common Sense.

The Search for Spock... actually for another Motorhome to continue our travels.

Continuing from the last post...

The Search for Spock (or the next RV to buy).

We originally came up with the idea of getting a 'used' but late model Class C or small Class A (GAS) motorhome and researching the ones that seem to have the least maintenance issues, so we have narrowed it down to a few possibilities, but quickly discarded then due to 1. the spaces were too small (after being used to a 44 foot diesel pusher), 2. most had only a Queen sized bed and we have always had a King (homes, motorhomes, etc.), 3. the features and amenities on class C's are what we sought. Next was possibly a small gas Class A (30' to 33') because our driveway is 34 feet long. Our house is on an inside corner, so we have no curbing/front lawn to speak of in the front of the house, other than the concrete driveway, which is 25 feet full width. We are allowed to park a motorhome on our driveway (or in front of our house (if there was room without overlapping in front of a neighbor's house), so we are limited to the 3-day parking restriction on our driveway, to load and unload it when preparing to leave in it or upon our return to unload it. 

So, an Entegra Odyssey XL or Vision XL or the Esteem (29' - 31') OR a Newmar class A Bay Star (31-34 feet). After careful consideration of these RVs on paper and online, we decided that since we have been wanting to travel to Wyoming to visit our friends there, we should also make appointments to visit BOTH the Newmar and the Entegra factory tours (which are less than 50 miles from each other in Indiana (Middlebury and Nappanee) so we figured we would extend that trip to go visit the Entegra and Newmar factories. Plus Mary wanted to exercise the Explorer, so we drove 5,985 miles round trip.

Newmar is more expensive but by far apparently a better built RV. Entegra is owned by Jayco who in turn is owned by THOR (the Death Star). Entegra gas class A coaches are all built in the JAYCO plant in Middlebury Indiana. The Entegra Class A diesel coaches are ALL built in the Tiffin Motorhomes  facility in Red Bay, Alabama. So, not only does the Tiffin facility have to build and service all their own, but now they have to build and service all Entegra diesels coaches as well. The same is true for the Entegra Class A coaches, having to compete with ALL the Jayco products. Can we say that such seems to be a recipe for disaster and no wonder how errors can occur, one coach on the line being a Jayco Class C, and the next one being a Jayco Class A, and the  next one being an Entegra class A and the next on an Entegra Class C or Class B, etc. This comingling of products and sharing of factories seems a popular operation for all THOR coaches, and does not surprise us why the THOR products all have such a poor reputation of their workmanship and issues to have to fix after the fact.

We have not seen how the Entegra Diesel Motorhomes are built at the Tiffin plant now, but we suspect it is similar to the Entegra Gas Class As and Cs at the Jayco plant. The JAYCO factory, has no major "Entegra" designation and seemingly is no more than an after thought in that place. When we toured the factory there may have been 10 - 15 Entegras on the line compared to well over 200 Jaycos. When we asked them what the "Dry Weight was on any given model, all we got was 'mumbo jumbo' as to why there was no way they could determine that, because they can all differ by as much as 200 pounds, even though that is an essential figure to determine how much weight they can carry and tow. Newmar, by contrast, not only has no problem disclosing the Dry (or Unloaded) Weight of an RV with the standard features of each model, but they actually even publish it on their brochures. Therefore, we 'mox-nixed' the thought of owning an Entegra, which like anything THOR has a hand in on, does not seem to measure up to a worthwhile investment.. Entegra does have a TWO YEAR Bumper to Bumper Warranty vs Newmar's only 1 year, but seeing the way the Newmars are made in their factory, we feel more assured with a Newmar with just ONE year warranty than with an Entegra with TWO. We have also narrowed it to either a model Bay Star 3114 or a Bay Star 3225, which is the same as the 3114 but with a slide on the dinette, which opens up the social area and aligns the TV more directly in front of the theater seats. The 3114 is 31'-11" long with a Dry Weight of 20,050, a GVWR of 26,000 lbs and GCWR of 30,000 lbs; and the  3225 is 32'-11" long with a Dry Weight of 21,450, a GVWR of 26,000 lbs and GCWR of 30,000 lbs. The 'toad' (2023 Ford Ranger Lariat Super Crew FX4) weighs 4,300 lbs The way this works is that despite the hitch being rated for 5,000 lbs. it technically cannot tow 5,000 lbs, because the difference between the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and the GCWR (Gross COMBINED Weight Rating (RV + Toad weight) is only 4,000 lbs. (GCWR less GVWR). This means that technically the Ford F-53 Chassis that this motorhome is built on being rated for 26,000 lbs (with a full tank of fuel and all included lubricants), so one can only load it with a maximum of 5,950 lbs (3114) or 4,550 lbs (3225). IF one intends to tow a vehicle behind the RV, it can tow (flat or on a trailer) 4,000 lbs, including the base weight of the toad and 500 lbs of "tongue wight (10% of the tow hitch rating). So technically one can only tow a vehicle that weighs 3,500 lbs (difference between GCWR less GVWR, less the tongue weight (so, 30,000 - 26,000 - 500 lbs). However, since our 'toad' weights 4,300 lbs with a full tank of gas, and perhaps may carry 200 lbs of gear on it, so say 4,500, it is 500 lbs above the 4,000 lbs difference between the GCWR and GVWR, even though within the 5,5000 lbs hitch rating. So, this is still able to meet the ratings by "borrowing from Peter to pay Paul", so to speak, by reducing the amount of Payload weight that can be  put on the motorhome itself, by 500 lbs, as it will still be within the 5,000 lb trailer hitch. So the 5,950 lbs on the 3114, (or 4,550 lbs on the 3225) can each be reduced by 500 lbs, and still allow 4,950 on the 3114 and 3,550 on the  3225 of payload.

The similar compared Entegra models (Vision XL 31ul and Vision XL 34G, by contrast can only tow 4,000 lbs and there is no way to know how many pounds of payload (weight of cargo) it can be loaded with, because Entegra does not say what its Dry Weight is. Their engineers say to look at the yellow Tag on an RV, as it lists the 'dry weight' on it, but that's not the point, as to consider one model over another I have to have an RV physically on hand to see the yellow tag. Whereas Newmar provides it on their brochures. 

That aside, I did look at an Entegra at General RV and noted it's dry weight. Using it in the calculation it showed me that the allowable cargo (payload) allowed is only about 1/2 of what the Newmars are. So what is the difference (apart from a Thor product vs an Entegra product? The difference is the chassis that the RV is built on. There are different chassis systems used, such as the Spartan, chassis, the Freightliner XC/SLChassis. Most Gas Class A motorhomes are built on the Ford F-53 Motorhome Stripped Chassis, which have been used to build motorhomes for years and years. However, there is no one single Ford F-53 chassis. There are several with varying GVWRs ranging from 16,000 lbs. to 26,000 lbs. So why are the Entegras limited as to the Payload (and why does Entegra NOT want to disclose their Dry Weights)... BECAUSE the ENTEGRAS are built on some of the lowest rated GVWR F-53 Chassis. The 31ul and the 34G both use a 22,000 lbs. rated GVWR chassis, with a 26,000 lbs. GCWR, which by contrast is Newmar's Bay Star 's smallest (the 3114) GVWR, with a GCWR of 30,000 lbs.

In addition to the above, we learned that the Entegras only have 2 house batteries, while the Bay Star line has 6 house batteries.  Enough said, as far as we are concerned. The NEWMAR won, hands down. So we disqualified Entegra and will get a Newmar. Of course, now the question is which Newmar?  The Bay Star 3114 or the 3225?. We'll have to find a dealer that has BOTH models available so we can see them side by side, to decide. There is also the issue of that the 2027 comes with Starlink already installed in it, as a standard feature, whereas the 2026 does not. I suppose we can always add a Starlink Mini, which is a Roaming & Motion system to a 2026, but there are also some other benefits to the 2027. However, the 2026 does offer an additional $10,000 DISCOUNT on 2026 models sold by November 15, 2026, on top of their negotiated sales price for being a 2026 model. Otherwise we'll get the 2027 model. We shall see.

Another model we liked is the Bay Star 3626, which compares more to the Entegra Vision XL 34G, includes a Washer/Dryer Combo and a little more pantry space. However, due to its length of 36-11", it is way too big to fit on  our driveway, where as both other models will fit, as our driveway is 34 feet long, and we are allowed to keep the motorhome parked on our driveway for up to 3 days upon returning and on preparing to leave on a trip. Being that our house is on a n inside corner, we have no room to park it on the street. So regrettably we had to pass on the Bay Star 3626, and will simply have to take our laundry to a laundry every now and then. But then, it's only for 4-5 months out of the year, while we travel.

Following are the two models we are considering of the Newmar brand and their specs. The third one we had to disqualify due to its length.  ALL are built on a Ford F-53 chassis, and powered by a Ford 7.3L V-8 Gas Engine (the "Godzilla" engine) with 335HP and 468 lb/ft Torque and a Ford TorqShift 6-speedAutomatic (6R140 Transmission with an Axle Ratio of 6.14, and Michelin 22.5" wheels/tires, and 25 gallons of Propane.

Bay Star 3114

 Length 31'-11" Gas: 80gals, Fresh: 75gals, Grey: 60gals, Black: 40gals,

7,000W Generator: Dry Weight 20,050 - Payload 5,950lbs

GVWR: 26,000 lbs., GCWR: 30,000 lbs.

Bay Star 3225

 Length 32'-11" Gas: 80gals, Fresh: 75gals, Grey: 60gals, Black: 45gals,

7,000W Generator; Dry Weight 21,450 - Payload 4,550lbs

GVWR: 26,000 lbs., GCWR: 30,000 lbs.

Bay Star 3626 (No longer Considered)

Length 36'-11" Gas: 80gals, Fresh: 75gals, Grey: 60gals, Black: 45gals, 7,000W Generator; Dry Weight: 22,600 Payload: 3,400lbs;

GVWR: 26,000 lbs., GCWR: 30,000 lbs.

NOTE: This one was disqualified as our driveway is only 36 feet long, so we would not be able to park it on the driveway, when leaving and returning from a trip.

NEXT POST:  September 2026:  Our TRIP to visit friends and explore the Entegra and Newmar Factory Tours to decide which motorhome to buy for our following adventures back on the road again.

August 2026: The Adventure continues... but as of yet without an RV.

UPDATE of the last 2 years: As we get ready to re-start our RV travels again.

Well, it has been quite some time since our last post at Christmas in 2024. We have had a lot going on and not enough time to do much traveling, as well as too many changes in our lives. Irresponsible teenagers that we are (as Mary likes to call us), first we sold our Star Valley Ranch home and decided to relocate to The Villages FL, where life is better for Winters, and Bill has his VA Care at a major Outpatient Clinic here. Had we not had the diesel pusher (with a small mortgage on it), we could have gotten the type and size of home that would best suit us, (one with a golf cart garage) and other amenities, but we opted to get one when we got here and settled into a smaller one that we could pay "cash" for. 

In Florida we purchased a smaller house (1,865sf vs the 2560sf one we had in Wyoming), and a 1-story house vs a 3-story house. It had been empty for about 8 months, as the previous owners had died (first her and then him a few months later). The heirs fixed it up some (used insurance $ to replace the roof after a storm putting on a totally brand new roof, and had it painted in and out. It had carpeting, which we opted to replace with LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) everywhere, except the bathrooms and laundry room, which we left with the original tile. The lanai was also upgraded with motorized blinds and we added a patio on the front of the house, with a 12ft x 10ft awning (with lights) to sit out in the evenings and chat with neighbors walking by (especially if they had their doggies with them).

We had planned on enlarging our lanai (9ft x 32ft) to enclose an open porch patio to the end, but were misled by WHITE ALUMINUM (an otherwise and previously established birdcage and aluminum windows installer). They said that with a deposit (over $2K) it would take at least 5 months to start the project, but by the end of the 5 months, they still had no plans to start the project and would not give us a guaranteed start date. So we cancelled the job. Even having failed us and making us wait over 6 moths to have to cancel the job, it took yet another two months to get (most of) our deposit back, keeping $515 from our deposit without even giving us any explanation for the deduction. White Aluminum USED TO BE a reputable company, but it is NO MORE. So IF YOU NEED A BIRDCAGE in The Villages, stay away from White Aluminum... or don't complain when you get cheated. 

However, not long after settling in it we soon became aware that it was just too small for us and one of the vehicles (the 'Lil Guy' 2023 Ford Ranger "Lariat" Super Crew FX4) had to be kept outside to fit the 2022 Ford Explorer (yes we are Ford Snobs) and Golf Cart in the garage. Why couldn't we just sell one of the vehicles? Because Roxy drew her last breath in our arms in the back of the Explorer, so we can never get rid of it. And the lil' guy Ranger is such a great truck with only 18,000 miles (and paid for) that keeping it seemed a good option so we can travel with the Lil Guy (since it is flat-towable) and drive the Explorer while in The Villages (because it is not flat-towable), so it will keep the mileage and condition in tip top shape on both of them. 

We listed the house for sale with The Villages but though they claimed a market sale-ability of 3-4 months, they took 8 months to sell our house. We had been hanging on in The Villages hoping it would sell so we could start to travel again (even if in just our car and staying at hotels, cabins and with friends, but when it wouldn't sell and the listing was just about ready to expire, we decided to take it off the market when it expired in a few weeks. Would you believe it... on the LAST DAY of the listing, we got an offer and it sold. So it finally closed on September 4, 2026, and we left the next day on a short trip in the Explorer, to visit our extended (adopted) family, who had just moved and built a house in Kemmerer, WY. The funny thing is that such is exactly how the Wyoming house sold too. Months of many showings but no offers.... THEN, after we had decided to just leave town to take our RV to the factory service center in Decatur IN, when arriving in Decatur, (1,500 miles away) with just a few days to go for the listing to expire, we got an offer, countered it and it sold. We even joked about our WY house, that such is what we should have done so that this one would have sold sooner, too... and so it was. 

So then we started to think about our 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44ft diesel-pusher motorhome.

We were keeping it at an RV Resort ($770/month), but even after our lease expired there we would have to store it for about $300+/month (just to sit somewhere covered). Anyhow, in The Villages, while the diesel pusher had been stored for 6+ months without having gone anywhere, we decided that for the little amount of traveling that we plan on doing (maybe 4-5 or 6 months a year) it was not a good option to keep the 44' diesel pusher, as storage, insurance, maintenance, etc. and the cost of diesel and low mpg it gets (about 5mpg) it was not feasible to keep it either... so we sold it. Once it was sold and we had a surplus of available cash funds, we started looking at bigger/better floor plan houses and found one that seemed to provide us with everything we wanted (about 3/4 of a mile from the first one), so we bought it, and moved into it, and then put the first one on the market. Regrettably, it took a bit longer to sell than we had hoped for as the market was soft due to interest rates not being reduced, but eventually it did sell and closed, and we still did OK on it. 

3540 O'Brien Place, The Villages FL 32163, which still has not sold       

In that interim, before the current purchased home, our first find was a very nice home which had 3 bedroom and 3 full baths. (see it ABOVE). However, it needed some work to it as the owner had died and the widow just left it to move with her sons up north, as she was unable to take care of it and they were all too far away to help her with it. So we made our offer subject to the list of deficiencies (which included replacing five (5) 'fogged' windows that needed to be replaced) prior to closing, but the selling Realtor and the Owners could not live up to the terms of our contract, so we withdrew from it and got our full deposit back, which led us to an even better, brighter and nicer house, which we did buy and closed on (shown BELOW). 

This current house (front & center with palm tree image on driveway) has all the features we had in mind, including a larger 2-car garage, plus a golfcart garage... and then some extras, like a view of a golf course (across the street behind us), a huge covered screened 'birdcage', which included both a covered and uncovered screened birdcage, with a hot tub and seating for about 12 people, as we love to entertain our friends. Well, the only negative is that there is a regional Fire Station, but they are not allowed to turn on their sirens after dark (lights ONLY) and during the daytime the sound is muffled by the double-pane Andersen Renewal windows, and after awhile one gets used to it. The view from the Lanai and the relaxing birdcage spaces vastly make up for any offset by the fire trucks and emergency vehicles. Inside, the lanai it is glass-enclosed with Andersen windows/door, and that room has been included in the house's A/C'd floor space and the floor leveled with the Livingroom (having enlarged the A/C from a 3-ton to a 4-ton unit to comfortably cool/heat that area without detracting from the rest of the house. The floor was leveled to that of the living room. However, the sliders were left in place, so that the area is not taxed as 'living area' and that too also aides to quiet the house inside the main area... Even during the daytime, in the living room when the lanai sliders are closed, one can only see the trucks drive by but hear no sirens. In the lanai is also a huge BAR for entertaining, which the previous owners left stocked even with glasses and booze. 

There is actually a very sad story behind it. After many years of marriage, the husband went to a high school reunion in Nebraska (by himself) and when he came back he told his wife he wanted a divorce and was going back to his high school sweetheart, who he met at the reunion. What made it worse is that they had just spent over $65,000 on upgrades to the house, (Andersen windows, new bigger A/C, leveling the lanai to living area level, covering ta part of the birdcage, etc.) which they were not getting back. So IF your wife (or husband) wants to go to a high school or college reunion, BE SURE TO GO WITH HIM/HER.  Following are some photos of this new house, which all our friends are welcome to visit. Some of the photos are of furniture that came with the house, as we have not finished photographing the new arrangements with furniture that we have replaced.

The Entrance

The main Entrance has a warm inviting foyer to welcome you to our home

The Housley or DRH Suite, or alternatively The Guest Wing

The second bedroom (as big as the master bedroom) was converted 'officially' to become either the "Housley Suite" or "DRH Suite", (whatever they want to call  it, they know its theirs) for our dear Wyoming friends (who are like  family than any family we have), to let them know they also have a home here, with us. There is a pocket door that can separate the bedroom and ath from the rest of the house. They are always welcome in our home and can stay as long as they wish and will have priority to use their suite, but when they are not staying in it, it will also be available to our other friends to come visit. Yes, we love company.

The Great Room

The Great Room (Main Dining Room, Living Room Secondary Dining Room and Foyer and Kitchen (viewed from the Master bedroom). The 'Housley Suite' is next to the front door, off the foyer. 

The Office (3rd Bedroom)

The third bedroom was converted to an office with two desks/chairs, printer cabinet and a 4-drawer file cabinet, plus a Twin sized Bed Sleeper Sofa, for the occasional extra guest.

Originally...

                        

Now turned into an office.

The Lanai (second Entertainment area)

The Andersen windows double-pane glass enclosed lanai is also a great second entertainment area as it is dead quiet (no road noise at all) but with a beautiful view of the golf course across the street. In the far end (in the photo) is a fully stocked bar and the door at the end leads to the huge birdcage, which includes a covered area, an open area and the hot tub. In the future we will be adding a 10'x20' gazebo to cover the sitting area and hot tub, so one can enjoy sitting around a fire table or enjoying the hot tub, even when it is raining, and with side curtains privacy is always assured.

       

The Bird Cage (our Exterior Entertainment area)

Outside the Lanai is the Birdcage (totally screened) with some parts covered and others open to the sky. We have Wi-Fi Joeys on all the TVs so they can be moved anywhere in the house or yard wirelessly, and as such we can place a TV on a cart ANYWERE (even in the Birdcage).

Secondary Dining Area: Informal Breakfast Nook (seats 4) 

We had some of our own furniture, but then this house was sold mostly furnished, so we mix and matched some of it, selling some of our own to keep some of these ones, and selling some of these to keep some of our own, and some we just bought new pieces that seemed to fit this floor plan better, as it is bigger than the last house. 

The Secondary Dining Room (next to the Foyer) 

where we usually have Breakfast when not outside

  

Main Living Room

What used to be the Breakfast Nook is now 

our more elegant Main Dining Room (seating for 8-10)

BEFORE

and AFTER

The Kitchen

The Owners' Suite

Our Bedroom (orange rugs were donated to charity)

There are Plantation Shutters throughout the house

Master Bathroom with a large Roman (Party) Shower, as Bill refers to it

In the NEXT POST:

The Search for Spock...  i.e. "Our search for another motorhome" (though gas-powered, not diesel) and smaller (about 32' - 34'). ALSO, a lesson on how to calculate the safe towing weights that a motor home can 'safely' tow. Don't ask an RV salesman, because most of them don't really know, and the answer they give, as we have found out, will only get you into trouble. However, the calculation I shall be presenting has been confirmed true and accurate by two Product Managers directly at their RV Factories.