RV-Dreams Journal

New Year's Eve Work & Fun - (Benson, AZ)

Another gorgeous day!  No clouds, blue sky, and temps in the 70s.  :)

Once again the morning was gone before we knew it.  Linda prepared for beading and I got to work on financials.

Financials and working with spreadsheets is oddly interesting to me even though the level of detail we monitor can be exasperating at times.  Still, our financials and budget play a major role in our full-time lifestyle, and they are too important in our situation to become lax about them.  They mold our travel plans, our travel habits, our working/volunteering, and many other aspects of our life.

We have to know where we stand and where our money is going so we can adjust.  It's all about being financially stable enough to maintain life on the road for as long as possible.

Even though we may not get to see quite as many places, hike as many hikes, paddle as many rivers, or travel as much as we would prefer, our life is grand, flexible, and filled with freedom and joy.  I cringe at the thought of being back where we came from over three years ago.  I'll take the current financial challenges over the financial "security" we had any day.  Life is just so much better for us this way.  :) 

For December, we killed a few budget categories, but overall we were only 18 cents over budget for the month.  :)

We had some large one-time expenses for the year, but I was very pleased with our normal living expense results.  I'll be posting the December Financial Summary in the next day or two.  I'll post a year-end summary in a few days after I've had time to digest all the numbers and what they mean.

I worked financials through Linda's beading time, through the pitiful display of basketball from my Louisville Cardinals, and all the way up to time to get ready for our New Year's Eve party at the clubhouse.

Linda got "dolled up" for the occasion and was looking lovely as usual.

Tonight was bring-your-own drinks.  You could either bring snacks for free or you could pay $5 each and take part in the hors d'oeuvres buffet.  We chose the buffet which was a very good move.  The food was excellent.  :)

We sat with a couple of RV-Dreamers from Calgary - Esther & Steve.

You can sort of see them in the dark sitting next to us.  :)

They just got into the park yesterday and started their full-time adventure in November after selling their house a little more quickly than they expected.

Bob, Steve, and I were stylin' in our plastic fedoras.

It was a pretty laid back New Year's Eve party.  There was live music and some dancing, but it was all pretty tame and a little too "retro" for us if you know what I mean.  :)

We started at 8:00.  By 10:00 I was yawning.  I was hoping we'd bring in the Eastern time New Year and head home.  :)

By 11:00, I was counting the minutes.  We made it until midnight, made noise, toasted, and got our New Year's kisses and hugs.  By 12:05 half the crowd was on their way home.  :)

They're no fun.  We held on and partied until at least 12:10.  :)

Here's to the entire RV-Dreams Family!  We wish you happiness, safety, and success in the pursuit of your dreams!  :)

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December Financial Summary

December 2008 Results

Campground Fees $406.60 (13.12 per day) - Budget $450.00

We've stayed in the SKP Saguaro Co-Op all month.  Three weeks were at the monthly rate since we arrived before Thanksgiving, and the last week was at the weekly rate.  Also, you pay for electricity separately here and our total electric bill for December was around $75.

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $35.49 - Budget $10.00

We filled up two propane cylinders for December.  Even southern Arizona gets cold at night and the furnace has to be run some.  :)

Cell Phones $85.39 - Budget $85.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is not included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense.  We paid $798 in December 2007 for all of 2008. 

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $79.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $0.00 - Budget $150.00

We drove the truck a whopping 3 miles in December.

Gas $44.42 - Budget $170.00

We only drove the Jeep 466 miles in December doing some local exploring.

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Jeep Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $20.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $624.70 ($20.15 per day) - Budget $450.00

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget for 2008 is based on $12 per day per month for groceries PLUS $90 for dining out. 

This month we dined out over a dozen times at about double our budget for dining out.  Had we known we were going to do that, we wouldn't have bought so many groceries early in the month and this category could have looked a little better.  :)

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $58.73 - Budget $75.00

Linda stocked up on hair supplies at Sally's Beauty Supply.

Entertainment $433.51 ($13.98 per day) - Budget $200.00

I played over a dozen rounds of golf and some poker.  Between Linda on bingo and me on poker, we won $90 but that doesn't get used to offset the expenses.  :)

Still, we were over $1,000 under budget for the year in this category.

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $195.07 - Budget $200.00

Monthly health insurance premium. 

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $207.23 - Budget $150.00

I bought a new hose, a new electrical adapter, and a new water pressure regulator.  With the holidays, we also had some gift purchases.

Emergencies/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $500.00

Totals $2,170.18 ($70.01 per day) for normal living expenses - Budget $2,170.00

Totals with Emergencies/Budget Cushion $2,170.18 - Budget $2,670.00.

We were a whole 18 cents over budget in normal living expenses.  :)

Even the extra dining out and golf didn't hurt us.

For the year, we were almost $5,000 under budget on normal living expenses - $25,248 actual vs. $30,000 budget.

For a look at the final numbers for 2008, go to Our 2008 Actual Expenses. To see our budget month-by-month click on Our 2008 Budget.

On the business side, we took a loss of ($419) for the month.  December is a big business expense month for us, so we were glad to keep the loss that low.  For the year, we ended up generating just over $10,000 in net income.  Hopefully, we can keep going up a little each year. 

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2008 Business Financial Summary page.

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More Golf, More Beading - (Benson, AZ)

Well, we continued to turn off our electric during the day and use our solar panels and batteries.  I was keeping track of our usage on a spreadsheet until the electric meter at our site stopped working Christmas Day.  Free electricity!  :)

Actually, we didn't want to take advantage, so we reported the broken meter to the office.  They replaced it today.

It was another cloudless, blue-sky day, with temps reaching the 70s.  I was back in my shorts.  :)

Don & I decided to drive over to Sunsites today for the Tuesday two-for-one out-of-towner special at the Shadow Mountain Country Club - $25 for two including cart.  We had a 12:20 tee time and went about an hour early to have lunch.

The highlight of our day was pretty much .... lunch.  :)

I played okay on the front nine, but blew up on two holes on the back.  Don struggled all day.  He's much bigger than I am, and I've been instructed to say no more.  :)

For a "country club", the course is in horrible shape.  I certainly wouldn't play it for more than the $12.50 special price.  :)

We got back a little after 5:00 and arrived at our site the same time Linda was getting home from social hour .... on her bike.  I was shocked.  I can't remember the last time she rode her bike.  I was so surprised, I left my cell phone in Don's truck.  :)

While we were gone, she had been to the grocery, done some beading, put on a crockpot of chili, and worked out a tentative plan to attend the bead shows.

And it's a pretty good plan since we get to continue with the original travel agenda, and I don't have to attend any shows.  :)

She will drive the Jeep back to Benson from wherever we are in early February and spend a few days in a casita of one of the beading ladies.  They all know where to go and which shows to attend, which is the reason Linda wants to go with them.  Problem solved.  :)

I got a shower and settled in for the evening while Linda returned to the clubhouse for Bingo.  Sadly, no wins this time.  :)

We got more RV-Dreams 2009 Photo Calendar orders.  Thanks!

We have a few more on hand and can order more.  Click on the link above if interested.  :)

Well, that about wraps up another day.  One more day of 2008, and then on to 2009.  It's hard to believe we are now 3 years, 5 months into the full-time RVing lifestyle.  And there is certainly no end in sight.  :) 

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Kink In The Plans - (Benson, AZ)

I was out of my PJs fairly early this morning since I wanted to be at the propane pumping station to fill a cylinder before 9:00.

They pump propane here on Mondays & Thursdays starting at 9:00.  Today's price was $1.90 per gallon.  I got my 9 gallons and was back home before the line got too long.

It was a cold start to the day, but we had cloudless blue skies.

Linda made a post office and grocery run.  At the post office she received a copy of the Louisville newspaper article her Mom sent that included her jewelry.  Also, we received a new water pressure regulator I recently ordered.

Apparently, I left our regulator out in freezing temps one too many times, so I had to get a new one.  :)

I order our regulators from the RV Water Filter Store.  That website has been very helpful in my education about water flow versus water pressure.

From experience, I've learned the cheap water pressure regulators often restrict pressure more than necessary for modern RVs.  When we first added a better, adjustable regulator that allowed up to 60 psi of water pressure, I couldn't believe the difference. 

This time I got the Watts H560 with 1 1/2-inch gauge shown on the pressure regulators page.  The regulator we had isn't shown any longer and this was the closest to the one we had.

Now, I wish I would have gone with the Watts 263A.  It allows more flow and adjusts to higher pressures.  However, I sort of like the regulators that limit us to 60 - 65 psi so I can't misadjust and cause us problems.  It is nice having the gauge and I would definitely recommend that option.  :)

Don & I played golf again while Deb & Linda beaded.

The temps got up into the mid 60s and there was almost no wind.

I hit the ball pretty well, but putted horribly.  I can't remember having that many three-putts.  Sheesh.  Don started out shaky, but played great on the back and made his goal of breaking 70.  I shot a 68 and he shot a 69.

We finished early and played the back nine again in scramble format.  We're playing in a two-man "Hangover Scramble" on New Year's Day.  :)

He continued playing well and we shot 3 under par.  When we finished, the ladies were waiting for us at a table for wing night.

We ordered our batch of wings before it got crowded and they arrived within five minutes.  Linda declined the margarita this time and our dinner was under six bucks.  :)

During dinner, Linda brought up the Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase.  Uh oh.  The beading ladies have been spreading propaganda and brainwashing my wife.  I think it may be too late for an intervention.  :)

I had our travel plans sketched out for when we leave here next week until we have to arrive in Moab, Utah at the end of February.  We would hit a couple of state parks, a county park near the Sonoran Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park, head to Quartzsite for the last part of January and make our way up the Colorado River into the southeast corner of Nevada before venturing into Utah.

But now, the Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase that runs from January 31 - February 15 is in the picture.  This "thing" has 40 - 50 separate shows and many of them are dedicated to nothing but beads and bead supplies.  I'm afraid the prospect of riding into town with a fully outfitted beading posse is going to be too much for Linda to resist.  :)

Now what?  Do we just stay here until that "thing" is over?  Do we stay longer in Tucson as we pass through?  Do we skip Quartzsite?  Do we go to Quartzsite and then backtrack?

Maybe someone here or in Tucson can put Linda up for a month and a half and she can track me down in the Jeep when she's done.  She's already made it clear that she wants to go to the bead shows with the ladies and NOT with me.  And, of course, I want absolutely no part of any of it, so leaving me out certainly doesn't hurt my feelings.  Making me go would be horrendous torture.  :)

Stay tuned to find out the resolution in the saga of "To Bead Show or Not To Bead Show".  :)

I must admit Linda's suggestion at dinner for her & Deb to stay in Benson while Don travels with me until the gem show was over had some appeal.  We could just golf our way through Arizona.  But then I thought about the sleeping arrangements.  Hmm.  Maybe not.  :)

After dinner, the four of us went to the SKP clubhouse to play cards.  Don & Deb taught us a golf-related game called "Play Nine".  The guys won.  :)

Then we played a game called "Ten Penny" which was sort of a cross between rummy and hand & foot.  The guys won again.  For the sake of the girls' dignity, I won't mention the score of the first game.  :)

Don & Deb got to see a new side of Linda.  Hope we can still be friends.  Just kidding, Honey.  :)

We had a good time and wrapped things up around 10:00.

Linda & I tried to watch our movie again after cleaning up the disc as suggested in yesterday's comments.  No luck.

We put in another movie Linda had picked up.  It was terrible and we didn't get through the first half hour.  So we watched TV for awhile and went to bed.

I'll be dreaming up methods of getting Linda to the bead shows in a way that makes us both happy and keeps me out of the doghouse.  :)

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Recliner Potato - (Benson, AZ)

Yep, it was really cold overnight.  I made up my mind early that I wasn't going anywhere today.

Since we don't have a couch, I was a recliner potato.  :)

I returned several emails in the morning, but I put the laptop down for rest of the day.

Linda wanted to donate our copy of the animated movie "Happy Feet" to the SKP video library.  I asked if she was sure or if she wanted to watch it one more time before she gave it up.

So, we watched dancing and singing penguins for a couple hours this morning.  :)

After that, I switched back and forth between NFL football and the "Highway 18" marathon on the Golf Channel.

The "Highway 18" show was about five teams racing across Florida playing different golf challenges.  I had seen the first show and the last show, but missed all the shows in the middle when they originally aired.

The intriguing thing was watching the teams travel to places I've been and play on golf courses I've played.  And after experiencing too many temps in the teens and twenties, I was longing to be in south Florida.  :)

Around noon, Debbie arrived from next door with a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  What timing.  We were just about out of cookies and Linda was thinking about baking some.  :)

Though it wasn't a regular beading day, Linda has become a part of a "secret beading society" where a few ladies show up on "off" days.  She was gone most of the afternoon and didn't have to watch sports all day.  :)

Well, even after she returned, she beaded and watched sports with me until the "Highway 18" marathon was over and all the NFL playoff spots had been settled.  :)

After that, we tried to watch another movie from the clubhouse.  Unfortunately, those DVDs have places in them that skip and stop.  Sometimes we can get through them, but not tonight.  Frustrated, we canceled that idea.

For the rest of the week, our days are supposed to be sunny with temps in the 60s.  It got up in that range today as well, but I was perfectly content to stay in my pajamas all day and remain a recliner potato.  :)

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Boys Trip To Tucson - (Benson, AZ)

Yikes!  It was 22 degrees when I got up.

But that wasn't going to matter since the plan today didn't include much in the way of outdoor activity.  Ed and I were going to the Casino Del Sol in Tucson and play in the 1:00 poker tournament.

Ed picked me up and we made the morning drive.  We got there plenty early enough to get registered and have some lunch.

Ed has played a lot more poker than I have, but most of it has been in online tournaments.  He hadn't been in a live casino tournament.

The tournament started with over 50 players.  They were going to pay the top ten.

I completely got away from my normal game and played horribly.  I managed to last an hour and a half and saw several players go out, but I made a dumb move and found myself on the sidelines much too early.

I saw that Ed was doing well as I left the poker room, the only non-smoking place in the casino.  I played some blackjack and checked in on Ed every once in awhile.  I returned to find he was in the top twenty.  The next time I came back, I found he made the final table.

And the last time I returned, I found him in the final six players.  Rather than play the tournament out, the finalists decided to divide the top six prize money evenly.  I was hoping we would both be there, but I was very happy for Ed.  :)

We decided to make a stop at a Mexican restaurant for dinner before heading back to Benson.  I gave Linda a call and reported the news and our expected return time.

While we were gone, she went to the grocery and ran some errands.  She did some beading and was going to the clubhouse to work on her puzzle.

We got back about 8:00 and Linda was still at the clubhouse.  I watched the Louisville basketball game I had TIVOed.

Shortly after her return, I was dozing off.  We prepared for predicted temps in the teens and headed to bed.

It may be one of those relaxing days at home tomorrow waiting for the temperatures to go back up early in the week.  :)

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Snow In Southern Arizona? - (Benson, AZ)

We had probably the dreariest day since we've been here with the dark cloud cover.  It actually snowed most of the afternoon.

Though it never accumulated, there were plenty of folks not happy about seeing the white stuff at all.  :)

We attended our leftovers dinner at 1:00.  Yep, it was all still delicious.  :)

Though the time was shortened, many of the ladies got together for beading after dinner.  Linda was right there with them.

That was about it until 6:30 when it was time for the Friday night poker tournament.  We had a record crowd of eighteen.

Linda went with me so she could work on one of the jigsaw puzzles started in the clubhouse rec room.

I made a few missteps tonight, but still managed to make it to the top five.  In a big pot, I was one card away from the top four (we were paying four places tonight) and having a big stack of chips.  But it wasn't meant to be.  My opponent won on the last card, knocking me out.  He went on to win the tournament.  That's poker.  :)

I was ready to head home, but Linda wasn't ready just yet.  "I'm on a roll!  We can't go yet."

I helped find a couple of puzzle pieces and she finished a section.  Now we could go.  :)

The temps hovered in the mid to upper 30s most of the day, but they were dropping rapidly.  I disconnected our water anticipating temps in the 20s overnight.

We decided to watch another movie we picked up from the clubhouse.  Tonight was "Cinderella Man", the story of boxer James J. Braddock set during the time of the Great Depression.

Another pretty good flick.  After that, it was definitely time for bed.

Just another day of entertaining ourselves .... amidst southern Arizona snow flurries.  :)

 

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Christmas At SKP Saguaro - (Benson, AZ)

Merry Christmas.  :)

It was a very laid back day.  I returned some emails.  We finished off the family recipe Christmas cookies Linda's mom sent to us. 

We opened packages my mom sent.  We both got "Payne University" t-shirts and Kohl's gift cards.  Good timing on the gift cards as we need to replace some clothes.  With a limited wardrobe, our favorites tend to wear out fairly quickly.  :)

Then, while listening to Christmas music, Linda prepared her deviled eggs and oriental slaw for the Christmas dinner at 2:00.

We spoke to our parents and Linda's brother last night.  Linda called her sister this morning.

Soon, the morning was gone and we gathered at the clubhouse.  There were eight or nine tables of 20 people.

Our table had a traditional meal of turkey, ham, the usual sides, and some really tasty desserts.  It was delicious and I was quickly stuffed.

The table next to us had a Mexican Christmas dinner.

They even got up and sang Feliz Navidad.  :)

Linda was having a good time and looking lovely in the Christmas outfit she brought along just for this time of year.  :)

We had great food and, being RVers, we talked about where we all originated, where we are going next, and where we have been.     

About 3:30, we started cleaning up.  But tomorrow at 1:00, we get together again and have leftovers.  :)

Linda & I settled in at home and watched a movie we picked up from the clubhouse video collection.  "Elizabethtown" is a movie set in Louisville and Elizabethtown, KY and much of it was filmed in Kentucky.

There were several shots of roads and signs and scenery we were familiar with.  Of course, Hollywood took creative license as we found ourselves saying "That's not how you get to Elizabethtown from the airport" or "He's going the wrong way" or "That's not in Elizabethtown".  :)

But other than that, it's a great little character-based, feel-good movie.  It's sort of a hard movie to describe, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Soon, it was time for cards.  We assumed no one would be playing cards tonight, but there were three different games going on in the clubhouse.  I have to admit, I'm starting to get bored with the game we play.  :)

Back home after 9:00, we watched a little TV and went to bed.

This is our fourth Christmas on the road.  Two we have spent in Escapees Parks and two we have spent with fellow volunteers in National Wildlife Refuges.

Each one has been different in its own way.  But the common thread is we have all been RVers enjoying life, good food, good company, and a little fun.

There are those that think it's sad us full-timers aren't with family during the holidays.  But it's not sad at all and we are, indeed, with a wonderful "family" wherever we may be.  :) 

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Christmas Eve 2008 - (Benson, AZ)

Today was the opposite of yesterday.  Almost no wind, clear, sunny skies, and temps in the low 70s.

We started out with a pinkish morning glow over the Dragoon Mountains.

Linda's agenda included coloring her hair before beading.

While she was doing that, I set up a new DreamLife Creations page for her recently designed bracelets.  It seems it was time to stop dragging my feet as folks wanted to order.  :) 

Don brought Deb over a little early for beading, and we hit the golf course before noon.  That gave us a chance to play 27 holes.  :)

I didn't play quite as well as the other day, but I can't complain about being on the golf course wearing shorts in bright sunshine on Christmas Eve.  :)

After golf, the four of us went for Christmas Eve dinner ... at the local pizza place.

Back at SKP Saguaro is was time for the Christmas Eve Brown Bag party.  This seems to be sort of a tradition at RV parks during the holidays.  :)

Each guest brings a gift valued at around $10 or less in a brown paper bag.  On the bag is marked "Male", "Female", or "Either/Unisex" and they are all placed on a big table in the front of the room.

Everyone puts their name badges in a box and "Santa" draws them out one at a time.

When the first name is called, that person selects a gift from the table and opens it in front of everyone.  The next name that is drawn can either select a gift from the table or "steal" someone else's gift.  If the gift you have chosen gets "stolen", you can steal one from someone else or select a new one from the table.  You are not allowed to hide your gift from others.  :)

Here, they set a rule that a gift may only be stolen twice.  Once your brown bag had two "X"s marked on it, it could no longer be taken.  Several elves were present to mark bags and assist in the opening of gifts and announcing them.

This particular elf, we'll call her "St-elf-a", also colored her hair today.  :)

At other parks, we have seen unlimited "stealing" so that a really good gift may change hands all night until the last name is drawn.  We actually thought that made it more fun.  :)

During the festivities, everyone brought their own snacks and drinks and shared snacks with others at their table.  We sat with Debbie & Bill and some other new friends.

One couple, David & Nancy, were sitting alone at the table behind us, so we squeezed in and asked them to join us.  They are full-timers traveling through and arrived in the park yesterday.  They spend several months each year volunteering for the NOMADS group.  I enjoyed talking to them. 

When Linda's name was finally called, she stole a tea & mug set.  Now we have more than two mugs and can offer tea of coffee to others that visit us.  :)

I stole two big bags of trail mix from my buddy, Ed.  Once I got them, they already had two "X"s and couldn't be taken from me.  :)

The most popular items seemed to be consumable - wine, chocolate, tequila, beer, snack mixes, etc.  However, $10 Wal-mart cards and lottery tickets were also passed around quite a bit.  :)

It was a fun evening, but not quite as wild as the party we had at the Escapees Sumter Oaks in Bushnell, FL a couple years ago.  :)

It was a fairly warm, clear night as we walked home.  I decided to go back out and take some photos of the Christmas lights in the park.

Some of the "leaseholders" go all out.

Of course they have a place to store all their decorations.  Those without lots, decorated their rigs with a few strands of lights or maybe a small Christmas tree on the motorhome dashboard.

These leaseholders filled up milk jugs half way with water and inserted lights into the top.  A pretty cool effect at night.

This is Linda's favorite decoration in the park.  :)

I continued to walk around admiring the stars more than the decorations.

Those that have been reading awhile know I'm not a big holiday guy.  You can label me a "Scrooge" or whatever.  :)

Yes, I know what the holidays represent and I want everyone to celebrate in way that is personally meaningful, whatever that might be.  And I recognize that holidays offer the opportunity for folks to take time out of their busy lives and reflect.

However, for me (I won't speak for Linda), this full-time RVing lifestyle offers lots of opportunities for reflection and most days are like holidays to me.  So we have more time to be thankful and more freedom to feel the holiday spirit throughout the year.

A song on one of Linda's Christmas CDs has a line that says "It's not the things you do at Christmas, it's the Christmas things you do all year long".

In our former, fast-paced, high-pressure working lives, we certainly didn't do "Christmas things" all year, and we often over-compensated during the holidays.  We're certainly not saints, but now we take advantage of our freedom, and we act from the heart much more frequently throughout each year.

Again, speaking just for me, having an open heart throughout the year relieves some of the commercial hype surrounding the holidays.  And it relieves the pressure of packing in "good will toward men" into a few short days each year.  That pressure can often lead to guilt about what we "should" do during the holidays, and guilt, in my opinion, is not what the holidays are about.

So, I'm sort of a casual observer during the holidays.  I'm not an exuberant guy anyway, so I take a very low key approach to almost everything.  :)

I do like watching people enjoying their traditions and I even enjoy participating myself ... to a degree.  Linda, of course, gets more excited about the holidays and traditions.  I know I'm in the minority, but it's just the way I am and trying to be something I'm not usually gets me in trouble.  :)

Just my perspective.  :)

With that said, Linda & I sincerely wish the entire RV-Dreams Family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

May your hearts be filled with joy that is absorbed by all you meet.  And may this wonderful "family "continue to expand and open up the hearts of others.  :)   

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Lucky Us - (Benson, AZ)

The wind blew all night making it tough to sleep.  It continued into the morning making us want to be somewhere else besides the rig.

We checked emails.  One of our readers, Ken in Tennessee, is a lifetime member of the Great Smoky Mountains Association.  He asked that we inform our audience that 2009 is the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and that there is a special 75th anniversary website.  Those that love the Smokies may also consider joining the Friends of the Smokies to help preserve and protect the park.

Linda & I are great supporters of the public lands in this country and they have been struggling for funding.  Many "Friends" organizations exist and partner with the national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, etc. to assist in continuing to make those wondrous places available to all of us.

Of course the lack of funding is, in one way, a good thing for us full-time RVers as our public parks have to supplement their workforce with volunteers.  There are numerous volunteer opportunities to work on public lands in exchange for a free RV site.  Check out Volunteer.gov/gov and type in keywords "RV pad" or "hook-ups" for examples.

Back to our day.

We were supposed to play in a free nine-hole golf scramble at Shadow Mountain golf course, but it was too cool, too windy, and too rainy.

Linda decided it would be a good day to do laundry.  I dropped her off and ran some errands in town.

There was a rainbow over Benson all day long.  I took this shot from the Benson Birding Trail parking lot.

By the time the laundry had finished, the winds had died down, but it was still sprinkling off and on.  We hung out at home until time for social hour.

I didn't want to sit home tonight and watch reruns, Christmas specials, or the "Only The Schools That Are In The Game Care Bowl".  :)  So I suggested we get up an impromptu poker tournament.

Since tonight was bingo night, Linda decided to play while I was playing poker.  From the poker room, we heard a scream.  Linda had turned her $4 entry fee into a $40 win.  :)

We had twelve folks show up for poker.  The game had lots of unusual twists and turns and I was on the verge of elimination several times.  But, I managed to hang in long enough to get third place and get my $5 entry fee back.  :)

A night of fun with a net increase in cash.  You gotta love those kinds of nights.  Lucky us.  :)

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