When I think back to my working days, I see myself as a different person.
I used to get up at 5:30 every weekday so I could have breakfast, put myself together (including make-up!), and drive the 45-minute commute in time to arrive at work at 7:15 or so.
Now I’m lucky to get myself and the crew ready to leave home by 10 o’clock. I love being retired!
We have the routine we must keep: coffee for me, supervised potty break for the crew, back inside for our breakfast, answer emails and reply to blog comments, long morning walk, tidy up the BLT, nap for the crew, bath for me, get ready to go . . . and the morning is pretty much shot!
We eventually pile into the PTV to make the short drive to Wickenburg.
Everything I want is at one intersection. First I stop at Bank of America. The teller is cheerful. Looking at my driver’s license, she says, “Oh, so you’re a Georgia peach!” Next stop is ALCO, a discount store I’m not familiar with. It turns out to be a cross between a dollar store and Wal-Mart.
I score some good buys.
I find Nu-Finish Polish. I ordered some through Amazon.com when I was in Ajo, but it couldn’t be delivered to General Delivery by UPS, so the order was cancelled. Rick recommended this polish for both the PTV and the BLT. I saw what it did for his Scamp and his Jeep, and was very impressed. Consumer Reports raved about it, too. I see it’s $7.99 a container which is a good price. I pick up two.
I buy a load of non-perishables I don’t need because the prices are good.
Dog beds are on sale!
The right size for Spike is marked down to $19.99 from the regular price of $24.95. It’s not the high quality I was hoping for (the kind with a removable, washable cover), but it’s got plenty of foam in its sides and bottom. Spikey’s gonna love this!
The crew is really restless when I come out of the store.
Fortunately there are a lot of landscaped islands with bushes and trees. Bridget and Spike act like they’ve been dropped on another planet. Eventually they get their bearings, sniff the vegetation, do their business, drink from their dish, and happily jump back into the PTV. Good. Now I can get some groceries at Safeway.
Back home, Spike tries out his new bed!
What a sweet boy he is. Sigh.
He likes it! Spikey likes it!
Of course, every day when the sun is low, we take another walk in the desert before supper.
Tomorrow we’re making a new camp!
rvsue
2/20/12 . . . $0 2/21/12 . . . $0 2/22/12 . . . $27.09 groceries 2/23/12 . . . $0 2/24/12 . . . $1o.25 laundry 2/25/12 . . . $66.52 for 16.63 gal. gas, $13.56 for 4 lbs. propane, $2.44 groceries (convenience store snacks) 2/26/12 . . . $0 2/27/12 . . . $0 2/28/12 . . . $0 2/29/12 . . . $9.65 groceries, $39.92 for 10.03 gal. gas
Great post….great pictures. So glad that precious Spike likes his bed. He is such a sweetie.
Hi, Pauline! Spike loves to luxuriate . . .
Spike looks very comfy !!! Your evening desert photos are beautiful !
Thanks, Sue.
That bed is just the perfect fit for the space – and for Spike! Glad he likes it. Those last three pictures are just beautiful. The desert is greener than one might imagine.
Glad you like the photos, Donna.
My blood pressure dropped yet again, thanks to your story today. Your medicine is good for me and it’s FREE! Thanks!
You’re welcome, gumo.
We could all take a lesson from our pets: contentment can be found in simple pleasures. And I think you’ve learned that lesson, Sue. 😉 Thanks for sharing your day with us.
My pleasure!
😉
Your new morning routine sounds a lot better than your old one…
Ain’t that the truth.
I like to start my mornings pretty low also. Glad you found what you needed in Wickenburg.
New camp huh?
We’re not going far.
I can’t wait to retire ( maybe in 7 years)
Love reading your post about how you are enjoying your retirement
I never could understand people who have trouble adjusting to retirement. What’s not to love?
New camp? Wait, you just got there and in your pictures it looks so lovely. Glad to hear Spike is still in command, getting his human to spring for such a great looking bed! Way to go Spike. Is Bridget jealous??
Bridget settled in for the night in Spike’s new bed, while he was on her/our bed. I had to switch them because Spike falls out of bed and Bridget doesn’t. The logistics of living with these two is mind-boggling.
hahahahahahaha! 🙂
Bridget stole poor Spikey’s bed? Shame on her.
So glad Spike loves his new bed. No more falling off your bed.
As usual your pictures are beautiful. Wish we were there.
Hi, guys!
Glad you found a bed for Spike! Another camp, so soon?? Will be fun to see where you go next!!
Elizabeth in NC
Since we’re keeping to the dirt roads, we’ve explored this area already.
The pictures are gorgeous. you and the bayfield bunch have been giving me a nice little adventure.Hope I get to see it for myself sometime.
My morning routine seems similar to yours,I have a hard time getting out of the house in the morning even tho I’m up about 5:30 or 6:00 am. Got to have that coffee time and do computer.
Have a save move. and like the others I can’t believe you got the hitch itch already.
Did Bridget try out the doggie bed yet?
Oh yeah, Bridget tried to lay claim to the bed. I don’t think she’d make it through the night on the floor though. She likes to cling to me and cuddle.
HITCH ITCH!!!!! Love it, Darlene!!!!! We start getting itchy feet!!!! And we’re getting ready! Chuck n Geri n the Hound Herd
Wow moving already? That area looks so pretty.
It is pretty, but it’s a relatively small area. I’m moving to another BLM nearby.
How much propane are you consuming? How often do you refill a 20 Lb. tank? You seem to be using much more than I do.
Hi, John,
You can see from the out-of-pocket list I put at the bottom of entries how much propane I’m buying. At present I have a full tank. The other’s probably at least half-full.
The propane runs the refrigerator, of course. I turn on the heater a lot for a few hours in the morning, like from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Every morning I perk a pot of coffee on the stove. I also cook on the stove every day. As you know, I don’t eat out much.
Your style of living is probably different than mine. The weather plays into it, too. I don’t know where you are and whether you turn on a propane heater much.
ADDED LATER: I checked the receipt. I didn’t pay $16.96 for 4 lbs. of propane. I paid $13.56. I bought a drink and snacks for the drive from Ajo to Congress ($2.44) plus $.96 tax. Glad you brought this up . . . I’ll fix my numbers in the entry.
So happy to hear Spike loves his new bed, he looks happy. Beautiful pictures and I can understand the move, that is the nice thing about your adventure, if you don’t like your property or view you can always find a new one, can’t wait to see your new spot. Love those pictures there is just something to be said about the dessert. Take care – stay in the sunshine.
Good morning, bearwise!
Spike is very happy with his bed. He loves to be pampered, even though most of the time he acts like a stubborn, tough guy.
Actually I like it here at this campsite and the view is nice. I want to try out a new place before I leave the area, so I’ll know what’s available if and when I come back.
You’re right about the desert. It’s dusty and rocky and prickly and hides scary dangers, yet it’s strangely beautiful.
You stay in the sunshine, too, loyal reader!
Awww! Spikey looks so thankful for his new bed. Thanks for the pictures, Sue. I love following your blog. I have a friend who is headed to Tuscon in a couple days to spend a week with friends. She commented at lunch the other day that she hoped the cactus/desert would be in bloom. Hopefully she can bake some of this Minnesota cold out of her body and enjoy the beauty that the AZ desert has to offer.
Hi, Karen!
I’m so pleased you like my blog. Thanks for telling me so.
Your friend should see flowers in the Sonoran Desert around Tucson and where I was last camped around Ajo. Thinking of the flowers makes me want to go back to see them! I hope your friend has a memorable desert experience.
Oh dear, a Minnesota winter . . . I don’t think I could do that!
Hi Sue
You write the best blog of all and I know it is going to be a great day for me when I open my email and see you have a posted on your blog. I don’t have a dog (a couple of my grandchildren have asthma) So I really enjoy your spike and bridget. I was wondering if you could prolong the life of your doggie bed if you put it in a pillow case that would be easy to wash?
or maby put a towel or small blanket…….. You can pick them up cheap at a thrift store thanks again for your bolg it is great.
Sincerely,
Grandjan
Hello, Grandjan!
What a nice thing to say . . . “the best blog of all” . . . thank you very much!
I probably should put a pillow case on his bed, like you said. You reminded me to fish the tag out of the trash to see if it’s machine washable . . . It is!
Oh Spike looks wonderful in his new bed…..aaaaaah so snuggy! Hubby is in his third day of retirement and LOVING every minute of it. He thought he would have a hard time adjusting, but his is so glad now that every minute is not scheduled. If a stroke of luck hits us and we can financially swing it, we will be out on the road too, but for now it will have to be long weekends. I am excited to see your new camp. These cliff hangers you post remind me of the old serial westerns, and I just can’t wait to see your next post for the next chapter. Take care of the crew and you, and see you at the next camp. www/tripswithtwo.com/blog/.
Good morning, Maribeth!
Spike had a great sleep last night in his new bed. I checked on him a few times and it was like he was velcroed into it!
Congratulations to your husband on his retirement. The no-schedule part of it is great, and doing what you choose to do, not what someone else (job) demands that you do! Enjoy those weekends together.
I’m not trying to make cliffhangers. Last night I would have written about where I plan to move, but it was time for American Idol! See how selfish I am! LOL We may not move today — the wind gusts are strong this morning.
Thanks for letting me know how much you look forward to my postings about my ordinary days . . .
Mornin’ Sue! Spike looks content! Great pics as always. Could I ask that when you do your “expense report ‘ that you include the price per gallon on gas……please. T or C is up to $3.52 for reg and $4.09 for Diesel.Thank you and treats for the dogs, please!!!
Hi, Chuck!
So you want me to do the math for you, huh? LOL I topped off the tank the other day here in Congress at $3.97 a gallon for unleaded. There probably are cheaper prices elsewhere, but driving to elsewhere eats up the difference. As we all know too well . . .
Glad you like the photos!
Doing a Garage Sale With Neighbors today, downsizing more….
Good for you! Good luck!
We also are trying to downsize. Talking to realtors. Gonna sell the house. Need to get back to the desert for the winter! Oh my! We need to destress. Too many decisions!
Oh, wow! You DO have some big decisions! I’m so looking forward to seeing you both again. Good luck selling the house. Unfortunately you’ll probably have to accept a lower price than you’d like. I did and I don’t regret it one bit. Living life the way I want is more important!
Hoooooray to Bill and Ann and your decision! You two are born desert rats! 🙂
Hope we see ya’ll out in the desert soon or up in Utah!!!!! You have a campsite in T or C whenever you need it!!!! Full hookups for free!!!!!
Dang. That’s some high dollar propane. FWIW, I read that the cheapest gas in the country right now is in the central rocky mountains. I believe Colorado averaged $3.09. I wonder if there’s still snow?
Hi, Bob!
You know, I don’t even look at the price of the propane. At this point in my newbieness, I find it best, whenever I need propane and there’s a sign saying propane, I pull in and get some.
[ADDED LATER: I printed the wrong amount for the 4 lbs. of propane (see John’s comment). That amount includes some snacks I bought at the same convenience store (and subconsciously wanted to forget, I guess!). The price of the propane was $3.39 per lb. I edited the numbers at the end of the entry to fix my mistake.]
As long as we’re on the subject of propane, is it okay to have the tanks filled while still on the tongue of the trailer? Anyone want to comment on this? Do you always remove the tanks, even when you can pull right up to the hose?
We had a tank filled while still on the tongue of the trailer on our trip last October so YES, you can just pull up to the hose unless the location states otherwise. We usually see propane prices in lbs instead of gal but the cost seems reasonable to completely fill an empty tank. And you can definitely fill a propane tank once a month a lot cheaper than you can pay for campgrounds.
I asked because the last time I bought propane, I was told to remove the tanks. No one previously required that. You’re right about lbs. instead of gallons, my mistake . . .They’re 20 gallon tanks.
Yeah, I don’t even think about scrimping on propane. With my no-rent, no-electric-bill lifestyle, it’s a small expense and it does so much to make for an enjoyable day . . .warm coziness, hot coffee, home-cooked meals, cold drinks, ICE CREAM IN THE DESERT!
I hope your trip to Arkansas is/was enjoyable!
Please do NOT use exchange tanks….you never know what was in that before you got it. OK for BBQing but to depend on it for heat is a little scary.
Love reading the blog. Retirement is great. The realtor asked where we went for five months. What did we do with our time while in the trailer. Hmmm.
Hmmm…. You’ve got an assertive realtor there!
Sue, Husband and I are looking for the dog harness like your. Where did you get your from? Did you order from the internet????
Hi, Joan,
I bought the harnesses from a pet store. I can’t remember if it was Petco or Petsmart. (I think Petco). I got the idea from my sister in Florida whose Westie, Marg, wears a pink one.
The cost for one is about $16-$18, can’t remember exactly. I see them in pet stores a lot, although usually only the small and extra-small sizes. When I come across some black ones that will fit the crew, I’m going to buy them. The ones they have now are holding up really well, in spite of Bridget chewing on Spike’s. It would be nice to have spares for when they need washing.
If Spikey is happy, EVERYBODY is happy!!!
Hi RV Sue, Im just checking on you…love reading your posts. Dont know what the weather is there but its raining actually pouring here. Just wondering if Sasha and I need to come rescue you!
LilNomad & Sasha
Future Full-Timers
(Would send pict but not sure how to insert here)