Simple Living and Simple Travel

A RV park. Guano. Both surgeries are done. Had my last surgery on November 6. And yes, once again I remembered to thank every one in the operating room for their help, before I was put under. A simple thing, but how often do you think it happens? Left foot still in splints. The surgeon had trouble with my big toe. It had moved outward over the months so it was laying under the #2 and 3 toes. Didn’t want to come back to its original position. So not only is there a titanium plate with 7 screws but there is also a rod driven through the top of the toe to just past the bottom of the plate. Wonder what all that is going to feel like when walking. Probably be out of splints in another 2 weeks or so and into a boot for another couple weeks. Is this what is referred to as, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel? I will then get back to daily walks. Boot equates with short ones. But the ball will be in my court and I’m gonna pick it up. Don’t think I will be running with it. Fina...

I had a slew of tool and supplies from years of silversmithing. Including all tools and materials for teaching a class of twelve, so students did not have to purchase anything, other than the sterling silver. This a a photo of the last of my stuff sitting in the back of my pickup. Sold it through craigslist Las Crusus. Now I am down to one Large toolbox with enough tools to make whatever I would wish to make. I’m good. I decided to not have my MacBook Pro repaired. Purchased a MacBook Air. I never needed all the power and features of a Pro, but it is such an awesome laptop, that I just wanted one. Anyway, for what I use a computer for, the Air is plenty. So much for purchasing a Chromebook. I enjoyed learning how to use it, along with Google Drive, Docs and whatnot. Might use it when staying in a spot with wi-fi. No regrets. There were some procedures I needed help with so I called a friend in Moab. Yep, the one who initially told me about ChromeBook years ago. She set up a Goog...

Back at Timberon (on the 20th). Why am I having so much trouble taking off for a couple months looking for property elsewhere? One can see the winter chain stretched between a ponderosa and a pinion pine. When I looked for the key, it was not there. Tried the alternative spot, and no key. Luckily the spare was in my spare-keys spot. This is how the Nash is positioned in the spring with the large back window facing east. The rig heats up quick, with the inside temps down in the upper 30s-low 40s when I get up. Don’t recall ever getting back here this late. I was keeping track of Timberon temps and the nights were still cold, mid-30s to mid40s. While driving along rt. 6563, the scenic highway from Cloudcroft to Timeron, there was still snow in places. Bummer. Little one still has some of his winter coat on. My 20° rated sleeping bag wasn’t warm enough, even with socks and shirt. Purchased a 10° rated bag which works for these temps. Granted, these are not quality bags lik...

A view out the back window from another site I stayed in this winter. The light rock wall is the retaining wall for the dam holding back the Pecos River. Bill is not here. One more state park, then back to Timberon. A guy pulled into the site next to mine at a park. He lives in Montana and has a mobile RV repair and service business. Traveling with three magnetic signs on his truck, picking up some business as he travels. He also buys older RVs, makes repairs, then sells them. I forgot his name, but he was traveling in one, making repairs as he travles. Efficient. I learned some things, which is always good. When in a laundromat, I went up to a man who was wearing a Vietnam cap. I wanted to hear about his experience. It was a good conversation. Back then it was the time of the draft. I was driving a beer truck out of Paterson, NJ, making deliveries in Jersey City, Union City and Hoboken, and taking college courses at night. On the day the draft came out, as soon as I got back ...

From back in the life. Well, the mouse had to go. Most of my staples are in glass jars but some are in sealed, thick plastic bags. Two were in the oven (which I use for storage). No holes in the bag of, Snyder’s pretzel pieces jalapeño (tasty). But there was getting to be way too many droppings. Not healthy. I’m hoping there was just the one. There was a line from the main character, Lieutenant Eve Dallas, in a J.D. Robb novel. “People are a hazard to the damn human race.” One can chuckle at this. One could also think, Sounds about right. Our species has come a long way over thousands of years. But in some ‘secondary’ areas, it seems we have leaned squat. When given a gift, some respond with ‘Oh, you didn’t have to do that.’ What? I would think an acknowledgment of appreciation is more warranted. Maybe, That was kind of you. And generous. Thank you. When one responds to a gift in such a manner, it shows that one is thankful. And is also a gift back to the giver. Just seem...

This is an unused photo from my eight years of off grid hard-wall camping. Sure had quite a few wonderful experiences from those years. I think M&M and I were camped an hour or so east of Silver City, NM, for this photo. Well, I downloaded the next book in the L. Ron Hubbard’s Earth series, ‘Black Genises. $7 for the ebook. Got home and went to open it. The ebook is locked by DRM. Guano. My converter program could not format it into a readable format. Again, guano. It would be nice to inform a buyer before hand if it is locked by DRM. Not the first time this has happened. Looks like I’ll have to get the paperback, $29. For a 30 year old sci-fi novel?! Eight more to go. I’ll order the book when I get back to Timberon, so I have a place to receive packages. Remember these books from Stieg Larsson? I checked out, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, when my library in SLC acquired some. I was in Lisbeth Salander’s corner pretty much from the start. Read the second book, but never...