What a year this has been.

• Finding recipients for a vast collection of children’s books and teaching paraphernalia in readiness for Maurene’s June retirement from a 40 year career.
• Many laptop hours logged preparing for our fall RV escape.
• Back surgery for Chris, and the purchase of a 2015 Subaru Forester for a towable.
• Mass consolidation of “stuff” on the home front so that Kyle could assume the “Lord of the Manor” role, and organization of electronic/paper records.
• Heartfelt farewells to Jazzal (Courtney’s Arabian), Copper (Chris’ Appaloosa), and Boomerang (our Golden Retriever) as they were heaven sent and adios to Savannah (Chris’ green wing Macaw) who transferred to the loving care of a new owner.
• Lots of time spent at Camping World and Bed Bath and Beyond to outfit the motorhome.
• The usual acknowledgments of birthdays, a final Puyallup Fair excursion with Courtney, lunches with long-time friends before bon voyage in September.
• A month and a half of fun on the road with new acquaintances along Highway 101 and our arrival in Casa Grande, AZ, in November.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas in the southwest! (Appreciative of Skype and other digital media.)

No regrets, nor any grand resolutions for next year. Looking (and moving) forward!!

First, a cookout lunch at the clubhouse, then a round table discussion on full time RV living hosted by a couple from Red Bluff, Alabama, who are considering becoming "lifers".  Topics included banking choices, states of residency, insurance (vehicle and person), mailing services, social ramifications, etc.  We were greeted with the easily-remembered pitter patter of raindrops as we emerged from the gathering so we hastened back to fold and stow outdoor furniture.  The remainder of the afternoon was spent assembling a 300 piece jigsaw puzzle.

Chris got busy with the vacuum on the car and the screens of the RV.  We received our  Amazon packages (so glad to have Prime fast and free delivery!).  With a little trial and error, Chris got the switcher hooked up so that we could view DISH programming on both sets.  With such success bolstering his confidence, he unpackaged the 32" television set we had purchased for outside viewing.  What a great bonus to discover that once it was plugged into the connections provided in the RV's lower bay near the door - presto, we have three televisions that receive antenna and satellite channels as well as show any movie on our BlueRay player.  We are not even going to explore the internet/network capabilities of the new television!!  This is more than enough media for us.

We were entertained by a classic cowboy quartet tonight in concert on the Central Arizona College campus which is only a few miles from the resort.  Riders in the Sky (Ranger Doug, Too Slim, Woody Paul and Joey, the Cowpolka King) have Grammy Awards for their work on Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc.  With a bass, a guitar, an accordian and a fiddle, these musicians sang old west favorites and some Christmas oldies in Sons of the Pioneers style. 

The college has quite a line-up of of events scheduled, and we have purchased tickets to several upcoming performances including one of Chris' favorite musicals, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. 

We have added a decorative flair by plugging in our pine trees both indoors and out.  Exchanged the brown bear on the dash for a Boyds SnowBear and two small caroling bears.  Bought ourselves a 32" television for outdoor viewing and accomplished Christmas shopping for Kyren on line so there will be plenty of time left for the hot tub!

Chris donned his rain apparel and walked Georgia in the rain on 12/4.  All of the park's streets are designed to drain into the dog park which fills like a lake.  Unfortunately, this runoff water is not suitable for swimming and so Georgia now does her ball chasing in another area of the park or is taken to a nearby city dog park.

New neighbors, John and Jean, arrived and he graciously lent his technical talents to get our DISH receiver operating.  He even went the extra mile and researched a special switching device that I have ordered from Amazon so that we can easily change from BluRay to satellite on both televisions.  Chris will be able to watch Hallmark Christmas movies for the rest of the month!