Sunday - Day 49 - Joyful Wanderlust

Today was full of joy and memories were made. It was also full of anticipation and worry.  I find it interesting how our emotions can multitask at any given moment.

The day began with my happy little Ty running around the RV laughing and giggling.  He was trying to climb on his brother's top bunk with so much excitement. I plopped him on top and he sat with his brother watching "Kipper," a huge smile on his face. He is such a happy little man. I hope his life is always full of joy.

Happy Boys first thing in the morning.

Soon later, we discovered Elmo, our cat, was no where to be found. He was last heard walking and meowing on top of the camper, around one am.  I wasn't worried, but my husband was. I was sure Elmo would be back to eat soon, but I was wondering why he didn't come home by the time we left for the beach at eleven am.

We met our teenage children at the beach, including the boyfriend of our soon to be seventeen year old. Her birthday is on Tuesday.  When I met Haley she was nine, only a few years older than James is today.  A few years can make a huge difference.  I have no idea how she matured into such a young woman.

We had a great time at the beach, even though it was cloudy. I was happy to have the family all together enjoying life and having nothing we needed to do, other than to be together. We are all infatuated with the beach. Even James and Ty have effortlessly adapted to their new beachy environment spending hours playing in the sand and running in the water.

Marcella & Ty
He fell asleep on her while she was standing in the Ocean

James in his element

We made it back to the camper mid-afternoon. No trace of Elmo. I was getting concerned. John was worried someone would take him home. I felt that was extreme, who takes home a strange cat?  I thought Elmo was either lost or had found a new family to feed him.  I promised myself I would look for him later, I love that cat.

We watched a movie with the kids, cooked dinner and I made Haley's Birthday cake.  A perfect, lazy afternoon and evening with all our incredible children. James was so happy when we told him we were spending the day with the kids, he said, "Yeah, my sisters and my brother.  All my favorite kids!"  His world is complete when we are all spending time as a family.

John with his first little girl, 17 years doesn't seem so long ago!

Weather was bad outside while we watched bad, adult cartoons on TV.  There was a tornado warning for about an hour.  We were cozy in the camper, listening to the rain pound on the roof. It's loud and can be intimating.  I thought seriously for the first time in my life about the possibility of a tornado.  I was borderline anxious. While in the restroom, I thought, "Here I am in the RV bathroom, this would be the time the tornado would hit."  I finished extra fast just to be safe.

Rabbit was shaking in his fur the entire evening.  We joked he was concerned about Elmo every time he looked out the door. When we least expected it, Elmo came running out from under the camper.  John brought him in and we were all extremely happy, we all loved on that silly wanderlust of a cat.  We were all worried about Elmo, especially since the weather was so brutal out.  The kids were able to leave in between down pours, with reassurance the cat was safe at home.
By then, it was Ty's bedtime.  He started his day happy and joyful and he ended his day the same.  His belly was full of Haley's yummy birthday cake and he was all smiles until the minute I laid him down in the bottom bunk, kissed his fat little checks and told him to have sweet dreams. His two fingers in his mouth, lovey snuggled close and off he fell into a peaceful sleep.

These are the days we will look back on with awe.  Our oldest soon crossing over into adulthood, and our youngest without a care in the world. It doesn't feel like Haley's grown, yet she'll be on her own, off to college before we know it.  Little Ty will be seventeen one day, and Haley will look at him and say, "Ty, I can't believe I have to look up to you, how'd you get so big?  I remember when you were the cutest little baby, with sweet chubby checks, running around screaming without your diaper on!"  Haley's little brothers won't be so little anymore.

Our Oldest & Youngest.  How sweet it is!

Our first camper cake.
We ate almost all of it.

Saturday - Day 48 - Island Girl

I love days that start one way and end totally unexpected. Today was one of those days; I have a few friends to thank for that.

I started my day at my girlfriend's house.  She and her husband had to work and I happily volunteered to watch after her wonderful boys for part of the day.  I packed my own boys in the Jeep, along with all my dirty laundry and headed to their house at 8:30 this morning.

All four boys and I had a fabulous morning, the three oldest boys swam in their pool, they hit T-balls in the front yard, ate pizza and watched Cars 2, because that is what boys do.  I managed to get two loads of laundry done before my friend came home and it felt like we all had a productive day.

My girlfriend and I met in Lamaze when we were having our oldest boys.  They were born three days apart.  We call them brothers from a different mother.  We have always stayed in close contact and considering we didn't live in the same state most of their lives, the boys are closer than ever.  They play on the same T- ball team and get along exceptionally well.  Our second sons are two years apart; having all the boys together is always an adventure.

Brothers by a different Mother

 (in their younger years)

We keep telling our friends to park their camper next to ours and I think they are planning to do it soon.  Not to live in, but maybe just for a weekend.  I'm wondering if I make Jell-O shots if they'll decided to stay for a while.

When I arrived back at the campground mid-afternoon, John was at the pool.  I parked the Jeep and spent time at the pool with him, the boys and my new found friends from this week, Bob, Alex and Daphne.  They were enjoying the gorgeous weather at the pool, I quickly introduced my husband and everyone seemed to hit it off immediately.  Of course  my husband had already read all about my day meeting them while he was out of town, my Day 46 blog.

I eventually ran back to our RV to change into my bikini and came back to see the girls,Alex and Daphne hula hooping.  I love that they do this and was looking forward to watching them.  Within five minutes, they were encouraging me to Hula Hoop.  I was seriously thinking there is no way I will be able to do this.  I cannot hula hoop, absolutely not!  After alittle coaxing from the girls I had one of their hoops around my waist and I was moving my hips in ways I didn't know they could move.  Their weighted hoops are pretty incredible, and after a few failed attempts, I was miraculously hula hooping.  It felt sexy and fun.  I was hooked. I secretly promised myself once I mastered the hula hoop and find my hour glass figure, I'm taking belly dancing lessons. 

Future Belly Dancer  ;)

I had no idea how much work it really was and I was out of breath when I finally sat down after about thirty minutes.  Daphne is truly a pro; I enjoyed watching her move with little to no effort.  She did her tricks and was trulyinspiring.  I can't wait till she's back next year when I have improved.  She and I will be having hula hoop contests by the pool.  

Daphne being her cute self

I told Alex about the fish we had caught Friday and asked her if she had a good recipe to cook it with.  She suggested a picatta, with fresh lemon and capers.  Perfect, let’s pool our resources, get together and break bread. I had already invited my friends, whose house I was at earlier, and before I knew it, they were texting that they were on their way.  It was our first impromptu get together at our camping spot.  John and I went back and did a quick Tasmanian Devil clean inside and out.  With help from our old friends swinging by the store and our new friends whipping up a fabulous side we all managed to pull together quite a nice meal.  We mingled inside and out, cooked and ate, shared and learned.  It’s the way of the world at the campground.  It’s what people do here.  They spend time together, giving and understanding one another.

I made a decision today.  I want to be here to see everyone come back next season.  I want to see the cycle of people that come and go.  I look forward to seeing how life will change and who I will be in a year while I call this place home.  It has really grown on me and I am sure I will a different person by then. I am on this journey for a reason, and in time I will be able to reflect and know exactly what that reason is.  I have this uncanny intuition things are going to keep getting better, but I have no idea what’s on the horizon.

John shared a few music videos online with me this evening before we went to bed. This is our favorite, it's our theme song for our new life.  We both got it bad and I love that we are on this journey together.  We've hung our "Pirate Flag" and I'm the Island girl.

  The New Theme Song of our life : "Pirate Flag"

 (and an Island Girl)

Friday - Day 47 - "Nice Job Catching A Fish"

 When I was a little girl my Uncle used to take me fishing every weekend.  We fished on a beach in Long Island.  I learned a lot, but didn't know it at the time.  I haven’t thought much about those weekends in a long time, not until today.

My neighbor, one from yesterday’s blog, “All The Good People,” the same one who asked about Rabbit yesterday and helped fix my sewer pipe, invited us to go fishing today.  I wasn't sure at first, but figured why not, it would be good experience for James and he’s never fished before.

We surfed fished with three poles out at Canaveral Seashore, which is really close to where I use to live and where John and I were married on the beach.  It was a great, isolated location today, weather was warm and breezy.  I had a good feeling we were going to catch some fish today.  I already knew Bob had successful fishing trips walking by his camper when we initially moved to the campground.  He’d be filleting big fish and James would watch in awe.

It was one of those days on the beach, when you inhale the air, listen to the waves and are one with the ocean.  I looked out into the ocean and felt at peace with my life.  I traveled to Montauk Point many summers as a child and I was reminded of all the reasons I am always drawn back to the coast.  I smiled knowing we had made the very best decision to move here.

'my little beach bumm"

I reminisced how different it was fishing with my Uncle when I was a kid.  He'd send me in to purchase bait, long, squirmy worms.  They would draw blood, biting our fingers, when we tried to hook them.   It was disgusting, but I was a pretty chill little girl and I took it all in stride.  After maybe a month, I started getting bored, and didn't want to go fishing with my Uncle anymore.  We never caught much, mostly eels.  Which were fired or put in spaghetti sauce.  My dad loved those eels.  They reminded me of big snakes, but I would occasionally nipple on one after they were all cooked.

Today as I reflected on my little girl years, I found myself relating to her, but with grown up knowledge.  Here I was an adult; exposing my son to the same things I was exposed to as a kid.  I imagine one day he will take his own children fishing and he will fill their minds with fresh knowledge.  Today, we were not using slimy worms for bait, we used plump shrimp and a special synthetic bait.  James had no issue carrying the shrimp around to help 'Mr. Bob'. 

Pretty soon, one of the lines started pulling, and we patiently waited while Bob reeled in the line.  Was it a fish, a big fish?  We watched as he used his strength to reel in the tight line, and sure enough he had caught something.  It was big and it was long, it was a big, long, twisted rope.  For the first catch of the day it was a quite the prize.  James could not believe it,“Why are we catching ropes?"

"Mom, where are the fish?"

James' interest really peaked after we caught our first fish.  It was small, but it was a fish and it was cool.  James was excited, he touched it and made funny faces.   Not long after that we caught our second fish, it was a little shark.  I was just as excited as James.  We are actually catching fish and sharks.  I have been fishing quite a few times in my adult years and haven’t caught a fish.  Even when I fished in a stocked pond near Helen, GA, while pregnant with James, I could not catch a dang thing.  Today was my day to feel like a real fisherman.  

This little guy was a welcomed surprise.

Although, Bob did all the work, he cast the lines, reeled them in and baited all the hooks.  He knew exactly what to do and when.  I enjoyed our conversation, Ty enjoyed a long nap, and James was in the moment.  When we were not reeling in fish, he played with the sand flea catcher and actually caught one.  Bob used it for bait.   

James and his sand flea.

Throughout the day, we caught eight fish, one was quite large, it was worthy of pulling the measuring stick out.  I was pretty darn impressed.  I’m ready to go fishing again. James was such the little man today, touching the fish, attempting to hold them while putting them in the bucket.  At one point, James turned to Bob, pats him on the arm and says, "Nice job catching a fish, Bob!"  

This was our catch of the day!

We went back to the campground and Bob filleted all the fish while I chatted with his wonderful wife Debbie.  We shared many things.  I asked her questions about being snow birds.  She asked me about my blog wondering if I write about what I do each day.  I gave her some insight on how it is evolving, and I mentioned something about the falling squirrels.  She instantly remembered that day; she was the same woman who asked if it was a bat that just fell.  I love my life.  I laughed and told her she made it to my blog, even before she shared her Jell-O shots.  I can not make this stuff up.  I am just starting to know these wonderful people, and they will be headed back home on Monday.  This gives me an incentive to stay right where I am in Area 51 so we can be neighbors next season.

I was honored when Bob took all the filleted fish and gave them to our family to eat.  It was truly unexpected, but I know we will enjoy the fish likes it’s the first fish I have ever eaten.

Overall, I think my day really allowed me to understand something I never thought much about.  It’s not about whether you catch the biggest fish, but more about capturing those special moments in time.  Taking the time to really reflect on who you are, where you've been, and where you want to be.

Life at the seashore

I also figured out, men who fish don’t do it for the fish, they do it for the peace of mind that comes with fishing and the fish are simply something to smile about after you had such a nice day.  

Thursday- Day 46 - All The Good People

People are good.  I find myself being reminded of this on a daily basis.  I am grateful and feel fortunate when people come in and out of my life for whatever reasons and often touch my heart with simple acts of kindness.

Today, I had multiple encounters with new acquaintances,old friends and newly befriended neighbors. I am amazed how open people can be illustrating the best of themselves.  I contemplate the world we could live in, if all people, were open, all the time, in all aspects of their lives.

This morning, my brave dog, Rabbit went for a run without permission.  He eventually came back, tired and dirty, but more importantly I had two wonderful neighbors who asked about Rabbit.  Both had recently met me, and they were there if I needed them.  One actually knocked on my door when Rabbit first came home to make sure I got him back inside.  It’s the little things that really count.

Later in the day, James, Ty and I went to the pool.  No one was there when we arrived, but by the time I had left, I was all the wiser meeting all the people who had flowed through.  I met the most interesting family.  It all started with Hula Hoops; the mom, Alex, was impressively using an extra large, weighted hula hoop wrapped in decorative ribbon.  “It’s a new weight loss program!”  She announced to the few of us who were at the pool mildly gawking, as she effortlessly moved the giant hula hoop around her waist.

One conversation lead to another, and before I knew it I was immersed in their family history.  It really is such a small world, and I say this with and an inspired mind.  Let’s begin with their beautiful daughter, Daphne, who assembles the Hula Hoops by hand and sells them via personal orders.  She personally lost 20 pounds using her hula hoops ten to fifteen minutes a day, twice a day.  She also progressed her hula hooping talents to include tricks.  Check out her YouTubeVideos, she is actually pretty good. Daphne travels the country with her parents, is currently home schooled, has her own blog and is one of the brightest, articulate teenagers I have had the opportunity to meet.  We have similar views on life regarding travel and she has enthusiasm to travel the world, already planning a backpacking trip through Australia and New Zealand after graduation.  I could only hope my own boys have similar life desires at eighteen.

I casually mentioned I would tell the world about her amazing weight loss hula hoops that have given her an hour glass figure.  She thought that was pretty great and was open to allowing me to include her in my blog.  I have to be honest though, I had no idea there was so much more to learn about Daphne, her hula hoops and her family.

I continued talking to Daphne, her mom, Alexand dad, Bob.  They are the family who owns the Schnitzels N’ Giggles, German Bratwurst truck.  I have seen them around  the campground.  John and I meet their beautiful, silver dog on Saturday.  She is a Weimaraner. Thedog sitter was walking her, while the family was at the New SmyrnaBalloon Festival & Sky Fest this weekend selling Schnitzel.  I mentioned to John we should stop by their truck for a Brat and introduce ourselves, but we never made it.  At the pool today, when they told me they owned the food truck, I knew exactly who they were.

A Weimaraner: never barks and has the best disposition

They also owned The Inn at Danbury in New Hampshire and Alphorn Bistro.  After doing a little research, I learned they were on Sneak Attack and have had other TV slots.  Their food was so well received that many customers wanted them to open more restaurants throughout the country, they compromised and decided to take their restaurant on the road, Oktoberfest on wheels, coming to a town near you.  It’s  been a huge success. 

I snapped this photo on my way back from the pool.

A lot of their publicity was created when their family was catapulted into homes across America on the hit reality show WifeSwap back in 2008.  Their episode still airs and coincidentally re-ran today on Lifetime at 7pm.  I had just missed it, but then again, I’m not sure if I get Lifetime.  

I discovered after sharing my Long Island roots that the family Alex was swapped with lived in Bayville, NY only thirty minutes from where I spent my childhood. They shared a few highlights of their show with me and I’m glad I asked. It seemed like quite an extraordinary experience.

I did my homework for this blog and learned  more interesting tib bits about The Graf Family, much more then I can share this evening.  Here are a few of my favorite highlights.  Bob is a world traveler, an award winning chef and quite the husband for agreeing to swap his wife.  Alex was born in The Haque, The Netherlands, speaks four languages and was Mrs. Salt Lake City in 2001.  (A detailed history is linked appropriately) Their food is award winning and I look forward to sampling some before they move on next week. Their entire list of events are listed on their website, http://www.schnitzelsngiggles.com/.  I strongly recommend, if they are coming to your area, to stop by.  It will be worth your time visiting with them and trying some of their fabulous German food. 

Alex & Daphne

Bob & Alex

The final piece meeting the Graf family is they are getting ready to start their very own reality show.  I look forward to following them on social media and learning about their journey along the way.  If their show gets picked up by a major network,I’m confident people will be tuning in, they just have that way about them, personable,friendly, open and engaging.   I’ll be rooting for their success, and look forward to seeing them when they find their way back to New Smyrna Beach next year.

I thought my day had peeked after meeting this lovely family.  However, an old friend from Georgia gave me a call outof the blue.  He is what I would call one of my secret blog readers.  He's been following along, and I had no idea he'd been keeping up with us since day one.  He told me he is impressed with what our family is doing. He verbalized what I feel in my heart, that we are doing such a fabulousthing for the boys and creating life experiences they will never forget.  We are molding their minds to be creative, toexplore, and it will allow them to be unique individuals in their adultlives.  It meant so much to me considering all of hischildren have grown up to be exceptional adults.  I was given reassurance from someone who counts.  He also shared hehas been living the ‘less is more’ mantra, and feels most people can talk thetalk, but won’t walk the walk.  Yet, herewe are doing it and succeeding.  Itfeels right and I would not change athing.  Thank you my friend, for givingme a gift today, your support and honestly wrapped in a big bow of hope.

My last little happy moment today was seeingthree of my male neighbors hovering over my sewer drain.  It was disconnected most the day.  My son told me a ‘squirrel’ did it.  I think my son’s middle name is ‘squirrel’.  Or maybe a squirrel fell on it!  Regardless, I couldn't get the thing back together, I decided to leave it, and not empty mytanks until John came home tomorrow.  Myneighbors were not going to let me go shower less for another day.  They looked at it, messed with it, and put itback together probably better then it was before.  Thank you guys for taking the time to work on my sewerpipes.  I will be happily showering latertoday. 

I took this photo to show John earlier today. 

Damn Squirrels!

Good people are all around us.  I try to take the time to talk and share withpeople.  I could probably do a better jobsometimes, but when I do take the time, I learn so much more about people, who theyare, what they do, and what drives them in this life.  Good people who do good things, that’s what Ilove about being here; it’s a never ending revolving door of interestingfabulous individuals. 

Thanks to the Graf family, thanks to my fabulous neighbors and thanks to my old friend from Georgia for allowing me to share our moments of goodness today.

Wednesday - Day 45 - "CoconutSunCat"

I woke up with a throbbing headache today.  It was one of those headaches when you bend down the headache feels like it moves to a different part of your head.  The kind when the baby cries or the dog whines you close your eyes and pray they will quiet down soon.  I can imagine it was caused by one of three things.  

I have had a dull headache on and off since Monday, and I know it was caused from too much sun at the beach on Sunday.   I was sure of this and confirmed it on-line.  I drank a lot of water, tried to ignore it and pushed through my days.  Overall, it was bearable, just annoying at the least.  Today I was wondering if it could still be the remnants of my ‘sun’ headache, but it felt worse today then on Monday and Tuesday.  Maybe it was something else....

New Smyrna Beach on a beautiful sunny day

Maybe it was from the three Jell-O shots I ate last night.  They were green with coconut rum and mighty tasty.   I rarely drink shots these day, but when my neighbors, from up the road, twisted my arm how could I resist?  My neighbors are newly befriended neighbors, ones James took the time to get to know yesterday evening.  He was riding his bike back and forth and he’d come home and tell me, "Mom, I’m going back to see ‘my’ neighbors.  Is that okay?"  He has that way with people. 

I eventually walked over with Ty to make sure James was not being a nuisance and to be sure they were nice people.  There was a group of snow birds, young and old, gathered eating and drinking.  They seemed more than happy to have James spend some time with them on their last days at the campground.  James was feeding dog treats to their dog, who had so much fur she looked like a Star Wars character.  She was such a sweet dog especially towards James and Ty.

I was told James was being well behaved and was a very good boy.  He reminded them of their own grandchildren and I was assured he was not infringing on their adult time.  A relief to hear.  As I continued talking to one couple in particular, I learned they knew and were friends with many of the people I had already met since we moved here.  My kids seem to draw in just the right people at just the right time.  Not only had I made new neighbor friends, but I relived my Jello-O shot days as well.  Although, three Jell-O shots could not have caused a throbbing headache, it must have been something else.   

Check link below for creative Jell-O shot ideas

http://www.thatssomichelle.com/2011/02/fancy-watermelon-jello-shooters.html

Maybe it was that dang cat meowing at 5am, pulling me out of my deep sleep.  He was on top of the RV peeking down through the little ceiling window.  I took a stand yesterday after I stepped on my last kitty litter piece while using the rest room.  I will admit, I recently bought a great brand of kitty litter that sucks in all the the odors like magic.  However, stepping on those little blue and white crystals, with my bare feet, in the mornings is just not cutting it.  I warned John I would be moving the litter outside, so I did it.  I put the litter tray under the RV and showed the cat.  I was happy to see that he understood and used it during the day.  

I realize the cat doesn't need a litter box outside, but I wanted to be sure he knew to go outside and not to be looking for his litter box inside the camper.  I am still amazed at how this cat always knows where to go potty considering he never had a litter box the first three years of his life.  Our cat use to be an outdoor cat and now he loves being both in and outside the house.  I can be confident he can handle himself even with all those falling squirrels outside.  Unfortunately, last night was not one of his finest moments as he got stuck on top of the RV roof and was not quite sure how to get down.  This is why he was meowing, loudly, in the little ceiling window at 5am.  

Picture my cat's head up there meowing for help!

I begrudgingly got up, opened the door and called for him, he finally came around and ultimately fell off the awning railing, but landed on his feet.  Yes, cats always land on their feet.  The cat came walking in looking stupid. I think he learned his lesson. 

Ty had woken up by this time and it took awhile to settle him back down.  We were both still asleep by 9am until the dog incisively whined at my bedroom door to go out.  Damn dog. 

Now that I got that all out, my head feels slightly better, maybe it’s the coffee, but more likely the water.  Sometimes our brains just hurt. Or maybe it's that dang "CoconutSunCat" thing going around.    

"CoconutSunCat"

Tuesday - Day 44 - Potty Talk

For those of you who use traditional toilets, using the restroom is a pretty mindless act.  You never have to think about what you did, where it goes or how it goes down.   It works and it works all the time.

Living in an RV opens an entire new world of ‘potty talk.’ All of a sudden there’s talk about solids and special RV toilet paper, grey water and black water.  I personally think it should all be called brown water; because that’s what it is, brown!

You can't throw things in the toilet other then just a few squares of special RV toilet paper which is crazy thin, unless you buy the two ply version which is slightly better.  It's specifically made to breakdown faster in the tanks.  It's found in the camping section of major box stores or at local camping stores.  I'm sure Scott brand would suffice, but would you want to take that chance?  I am extremely mindful, no Qtips or tissues or anything else can be flushed down the toilet.  It's a serious 'No-No.'

There are tanks under the RV.  The tanks get filled depending on whether you’re washing dishes, brushing your teeth, taking a shower or flushing the toilet.  Grey water is from the sinks and showers.  Black water is from the toilet.  It’s really a very basic system, but until you get your hands dirty and learn it, the simple system can backfire and if you don't know where your water is flowing, disaster awaits.

Beneath this sign, (posted on the side of the RV), are two levers. 

Make sure you have a good connection before you pull either one, 

especially the black tank lever. 

We discovered our tanks were full the hard way last week.  I found a puddle on the floor of the bathroom, John investigated, opened the shower door and it was filled with water along with a tomato sauce ring around the shower, sprinkled with coffee grounds.  It was gross, but it would have been one thousand times grosser, if it was water from the toilet.  Coffee grounds I can handle.

John had thought the tanks were all drained properly, but something had gone awry and he was still wrapping his brain around which drains connected to each tank and whether the grey tanks overflowed into one another.  Considering he had drained the tanks earlier in the day, something was either clogged or not draining properly.

Our model RV actually has two grey water tanks.  The shower and bathroom sink drain into grey tank one, while the kitchen drains into grey tank two.  Or maybe it's the other way around.  Outside the RV there is only one lever to drain the grey water, and one to drain the black water.  We use to keep our tank drains open all the time and let our tanks drain out into the sewer hole. The hole that comes with our camping spot.

Everything ultimately finds itself in this small little hole. 

However, a good friend, who owns a fifth wheel, suggested we keep our tanks closed all the time and drain them on a daily basis.  There is good reasoning behind this method, but I put little to no thought into it until my husband, who takes such good care of me, leaves this task to me while he's out of town.  I have since become a pro at draining the tanks each evening and I'm absolutely amazed at how much water we actually use in one day.

This is what I have learned.  When you let the water flow directly into the drain, the solids are more likely to get stuck, unlike a traditional sewer system, the hose does not have the advantage of gravity and a high tech plumbing system to push everything through the pipes.  When we flush our toilet, it will initially flow downward, but the outside sewer hose is lying more or less on the ground, with only a small plastic elevation tool to keep it in place, slightly above the ground.  In order to keep things flowing smoothly our friend’s suggestion was the way to go.

I have to admit, my first time draining the tanks, I was a little intimated and mildly skeeved out, simply thinking about what I had to do.  John prefers we use the public facilities for solid business, but with two young boys and no idea when nature is going to call, that is just not practical for me, especially when he’s not home.  I may as well take full responsibility for my own business.

I go out to drain the tanks and I have no idea what to expect.  I was told to drain the black water first, so I did.  All the toilet water and other ‘stuff’ flowed through with no problem, as far as I know.  It doesn't however make it all the way to the sewer drain.  I try not to panic, we have quite a long pipe outside.

Right lever is to drain Black water - Left is to drain Gray

Pipe reaches half the length of the RV into the sewer hole.   

Next I drained the grey water, it rushes out like Niagara Falls.  The force was pretty impressive, I could hear all the water I used to wash dishes and take a shower flow super fast, pushing all that nasty black water down the sewer drain.  Success!  I felt proud and very much satisfied.  The unknown just became known.

I walked inside the RV and checked my tank light indicators and all lit up empty.  Mission complete.  I felt I had crossed over into the full-timer world of knowledge and it really wasn't so hard after all.  My neighbor asked if I needed help, and I really didn't.  I had things under control and knew exactly what I was doing.

This was taken before I drained the tanks 

Tank 2 was lit up like a Christmas tree indicating 3/4 full.

Monday - Day 43 - A Colorful Past

My personal journey took me from New York to half way across the country. New York is a fast paced environment, with a lot of people in a rush, a lot of stress and a lot of pressure to be one thing or another. I can still remember the day I announced I was moving to Texas, it seemed very far away to my New York natives. Cowgirl jokes were all the rage. I knew nothing of what lay ahead, but I took a leap a faith and had everything to learn.

I left my New York bubble, the one that molds people to be tough, street smart and fearless. New Yorkers are expected to have judgments and opinions, there are jokes only New Yorkers understand and an undeniable self importance that guarantees success to those who strive for greatness. The saying, ‘If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.” absolutely has an element of truth to it.

If you were not born and grown in New York, you may never know New York the way New Yorkers do. There is a special kind of mindset, and no matter where you meet a fellow New Yorker, there is always an instant bond.  We understand one another immediately. There are mannerisms, certain looks and nods, that are characteristics of New Yorkers. We can sniff each other out a mile away.

Pull a New Yorker out of New York, and there is an unlearning of the New York way, which can be challenging for some.  Life is very different outside of the New York bubble. So different, that I found myself relearning many things the minute I ventured out.  Today, more than ten years later, with two moves to Texas, two to Florida and one to Georgia under my belt, I have learned we are who we are based on our attitudes and our willingness to adapt to new environments and new people.  I work hard on both of these attributes every day.  I have also discovered, most people, regardless of where they are from, do not like to venture far from their childhood roots, they stick close to home and expand their families in the most familiar environment they know.  Living in my own childhood town until I was twenty-three and deciding to move out of state at twenty-seven, I was simply ready for a change.  It was time for something new.

Leaving all my comforts of home forced me to reevaluate everything I was taught in life and also understand how other people think in other parts of our own country.  Interesting to me, each state has it’s own personality and it’s own set of values, based on the people who live there. This is why the United States is a fabulous World interest.  Americans are so similar, yet so different depending on where they were born.  I also have found visiting other states does not compare to the immersion that takes place when you live there with respect to politics, local news, and how people treat one another.  There’s level of respect that forms when you share your life and break bread with people you never knew as a child, people who did not grow up thirty minutes from your hometown.  It creates a deeper understanding of who we all are as Americans.

I can expand further on this. When we live in another country, this same understanding moves deeper, learning and sharing new cultures and different ideals. I can only hope I get the opportunity to do this eventually in the future.  I have friends who live in the UK, Spain, France and Japan. I embrace the idea that who they are at the core has changed, simply due to their own journeys through life.

I currently have had the opportunity to meet people from Canada, France, Germany and many parts of the U.S. while using a campground as my home base.   Individuals who come here share many things in common, their love for camping, the beach and travel, regardless of their upbringing.  It’s a fascinating environment that I feel privilege to be experiencing at such a young age.

My New York roots have often come in handy to make connections, but I am also aware that I can’t always rely on them. There are times when people hear I’m from New York and their face drops with uncertainty. Everyone does not love New York the way New Yorkers do.  I say this with a smile, as my own bubble burst once I left my beloved state.  There truly is a fine line between love and hate. People either love or hate New York and New Yorkers. Those of us who didn't grow up in New York, are intrigued and either have longing desire to visit NY or fear it. Those who do visit, often share they could never live there and felt overwhelmed, too much to take in, in such a short time. Occasionally, I meet the adventurous soul who would move to New York in a heartbeat, but have not made the leap of faith just yet.  And of course there are all the wonderful people who do move to New York and embrace it and love it making it such a fabulous melting pot of interesting people.

It’s a leap of faith to move from New York. But, no matter where New Yorkers find themselves, you can never take New York out of the New Yorker. I still find myself looking for incredible Pizza and my favorite bagels when I visit my family in New York.  I could drink New York City in any day of the week and I get that baseball is a big deal.  I can't say I've gone unfulfilled over the last ten years, but I will always appreciate and enjoy my colorful past.

The Journey will never end.

New Smyrna Beach, FL

A colorful past, will lead to a colorful futue

New Smyrna Beach, FL