I've seen 2 lizards so far. I am trying to make peace with them. I don't want one crawling over my bare foot.
And just 3 boxes of Kleenex later, we're here in our new desert home!! I didn't get much blogging done on way because I had the flu. We managed to make the most of our trip, stopping for a few days in Pismo Beach and enjoying all it has to offer.
There has been way more to do once arriving than we anticipated. Besides cleaning the dust/dirt layer in the Arizona room (which is an outdoor screen-in room with tile floor, counter and sink that we can't wait to use for our BBQ parties, that had to be hosed out, then mopped with soap and a scrub brush and whew, it was a lot of dirt)...we discovered something burrowed up our wall, (later finding out from a pest control guy that it is termites...a way different breed of termite than lives in the Northwest)...and other little frustrations.
I said a million times while living in the RV, "I can't wait to get to Arizona where I have a washer and dryer!" But the washer isn't spinning and draining. We found out that getting a repairman to come out here is next to impossible. We're fine on clothes, but running out of hamper space. And I'm running out of underwear. And I refuse to hand wash them so don't suggest it. Enough of an adjustment hand washing my dishes. Desert life is hard. The pioneer struggle is real. We are scheduled for a repairman next Thursday. I'm hoping for a miracle before then...or maybe Sparky will decide to try and fix it.
Speaking of...he's had a touch of a different type of flu for a couple of days...which was totally frustrating both of us. My "moving in" came to a standstill because I can't lift, so I'm unable to fill tubs with stuff from the motor home to unload into the house. He was frustrated because he couldn't get out and continue pulling weeds (I'm talking like tumbleweeds) and pruning palms and doing all the stuff he loves outside. He has quickly found out that every single plant here has either needles or thorns, so gardening is risky business.
This move has been a bigger transition than the others. I can't really say why. Way less "stuff" to deal with, as the casita came furnished and I'm only adding some kitchen stuff and small decor items. It is just very strange when it dawns on me that we live TWO STATES AWAY from our family, and everyone we know. But the people here are all quite friendly. The folks we met last time, from Canada, haven't shown up yet. Not sure if they will still want to be our friends after the shoe incident last year.
The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, and they never get old. We are learning to get outside and walk or do outside work in the morning before it warms up. Tiffy and I have been enjoying a morning and evening walk. The other evening a nice young man rode by us on a unicycle. And we discovered that walking under certain trees causes the flock of birds that were hiding in the tree to suddenly flap their wings and fly out, startling us both! The first time it happened, I was sure it was bats...and very thankful when I discovered it was only doves.
In all, I think I am going to like Arizona life. The dry weather seems to energize me. But I'm still praying for a pool. A girl can dream...
There has been way more to do once arriving than we anticipated. Besides cleaning the dust/dirt layer in the Arizona room (which is an outdoor screen-in room with tile floor, counter and sink that we can't wait to use for our BBQ parties, that had to be hosed out, then mopped with soap and a scrub brush and whew, it was a lot of dirt)...we discovered something burrowed up our wall, (later finding out from a pest control guy that it is termites...a way different breed of termite than lives in the Northwest)...and other little frustrations.
I said a million times while living in the RV, "I can't wait to get to Arizona where I have a washer and dryer!" But the washer isn't spinning and draining. We found out that getting a repairman to come out here is next to impossible. We're fine on clothes, but running out of hamper space. And I'm running out of underwear. And I refuse to hand wash them so don't suggest it. Enough of an adjustment hand washing my dishes. Desert life is hard. The pioneer struggle is real. We are scheduled for a repairman next Thursday. I'm hoping for a miracle before then...or maybe Sparky will decide to try and fix it.
Speaking of...he's had a touch of a different type of flu for a couple of days...which was totally frustrating both of us. My "moving in" came to a standstill because I can't lift, so I'm unable to fill tubs with stuff from the motor home to unload into the house. He was frustrated because he couldn't get out and continue pulling weeds (I'm talking like tumbleweeds) and pruning palms and doing all the stuff he loves outside. He has quickly found out that every single plant here has either needles or thorns, so gardening is risky business.
This move has been a bigger transition than the others. I can't really say why. Way less "stuff" to deal with, as the casita came furnished and I'm only adding some kitchen stuff and small decor items. It is just very strange when it dawns on me that we live TWO STATES AWAY from our family, and everyone we know. But the people here are all quite friendly. The folks we met last time, from Canada, haven't shown up yet. Not sure if they will still want to be our friends after the shoe incident last year.
The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, and they never get old. We are learning to get outside and walk or do outside work in the morning before it warms up. Tiffy and I have been enjoying a morning and evening walk. The other evening a nice young man rode by us on a unicycle. And we discovered that walking under certain trees causes the flock of birds that were hiding in the tree to suddenly flap their wings and fly out, startling us both! The first time it happened, I was sure it was bats...and very thankful when I discovered it was only doves.
In all, I think I am going to like Arizona life. The dry weather seems to energize me. But I'm still praying for a pool. A girl can dream...
