Cold time's, January in Florida.

Cooler now is something we are used to in winter, but in Florida we didn't expect it, and neither did many others. Not a bad place to be anyway, cool here still can be short's in the afternoon, and an extra blanket on the bed, rather that sleeping with just a sheet on. 

Change happens fast here as the weather comes usually from the south, but now we have a cold thrust of air from the north, today we can't get away from Canada's cold northern influence. 

Polly and I woke early this morning, 4:30, too early to get up, so we both got up for a pee, then back to bed and cuddled, as we talked about many things. Our travels, past and future, we laughed at some of the funny times, along with planning some future trips. So many fun times we've had, was really nice going over some of the really special time's we've had during our lives together. 

We talked about the beginning, of how we'd take short trips as we were both working, and weekends away mostly. Then after we got married, we took weeks together for our anniversary, and a couple weeks in the winter to go south for a warmup 😎. Was good to know we had so much to relish from past times, that a couple hours talking in bed before I had to get up and make coffee ☕ went by fast!

Yep, all the traveling, the many different places and people, so happy to have these memories together ❤️ 

Now we are in one place awhile, and meeting others here has been really nice too. Truck a problem, but we are not going anywhere soon, so no big deal. Polly has friends that like to play cribbage, so Wednesday now the meeting happens here in our trailer, Claudia first came, then she brought a friend, then another, Sharon, getting to be really fun for them. 

I take off and go to the pool, or like yesterday, as it was cool, I've taken on a few projects now, helping Steven assemble an electric train track. I got the plywood, and sanded and painted it, today maybe we'll start with figuring out how the train goes on the plywood, to make it a track. Nice to have a project to do, I also got a sign to make for a person here, something creative. So it starts.

         The sign I'll make later today.

Once someone said to me that I leave a piece of myself as I travel, through my woodworking, I'm thinking this is true now. As Polly leaves her love as we travel, through her baking 🥧🍞🎂. We all have our talents, writing is one I love too, and here I am doing what I love. 

Polly is up now and as she drink's her coffee ☕ she's asks asks if I'd like a big breakfast 🍳 🥓 🥔 😄 I smile, and say yes, even though I know I need to loose weight, I love to eat, and Polly loves to cook. Man I'm a lucky Guy!

What more to say today? Polly looks at me and says, well we can't watch the lawyer show anymore, as we finished the series called "Goliath" yesterday, was really good, and the "Landman" series is coming to and end till next season on Sunday, so what will we watch now? 

Talking with our granddaughter Shayla last night she mentioned "Ozark" so maybe we'll check that out later. 

Our days start out slowly now, we have our coffee ☕ ☕ quietly, then I usually go for a walk, then breakfast, but cold out, so stay in, watch a show or two before I get active at all, today breakfast early, then a walkabout later. We watched a show Polly had started last night, with Cher in it, as a lawyer, was ok. Tubi, Polly's new go to! Many old movies, we are seeing the actors we know, when they were young. Kinda neat to see.

Well here goes another day, in our warmer than yesterday weather, 72°f,  I'll be off for a walk soon, after this breakfast settles a little 😀 

Love our life ❤️, even if cold out 😄

It's a New Year 🥂🥳🎉

    Peter & Claudia at Dinner last night. 

The murial behind is a puzzle assembled 

We partied late, 1am before we hit the hay, was a good night. Went to the dance here late, 🎵🎶 started at 8, we turned up at 9, fashionably late 😁 sat close to the door at an extra table that was put up when the Sugar Shack was all full, and people we still coming. The table had 4 people, we introduced ourselves, to Two Mike's, a Linda, and I'm not sure right now the other ladies name, but I do know her and her husband are from Cape Breton. 

Imagine that, coming to Florida meeting people from our own country all the way from the otherside. Was a fun group, the dance was well on its way, and two a big huge tables full of all sorts of appetizers as you came into the hall, right next to us. We had a 6 pack, Heineken for a change, we have been abstaining for awhile. Was nice to see and hear all the music 🎵🎶 and dancing, everyone really ready to party 🥳🎉🎉 

Our friends were at the other end, Claudia and Peter, she said we could join them, but woulda been crowded at their table, was full already, so this worked good too, met others, new friends. Linda, she was a native of Clewiston, I told her of the man living beside us, Ed Crosby, she knew him, they went to school together she said. She explained to me where her dad lived, he's 90 they came here 11 years ago to look after her parents, Mom is gone now, but Dad still in his house, where she grew up here. 

I learned alot from Linda, about Clewiston, how they used to swim in the canal, and the lake, but now as the aligators are protected, nobody be going swimming there anymore. We used to Hunt them, but silly people now protected them, now over population keeps us away from the water. I listened to her describing the town as it used to be, she was relaying how it was when she was a kid, just like I woulda talked about Port Alberni. Was really interesting.

The dance floor got a little less as the night went on, sometimes nobody dancing, as the song played was not great. But the DJ managed to get us all up often with a really good dancing song, or two, then a sit for awhile. I did notice around 11oclock some looking at their watches, but the last hour went by fast, we stopped in for a visit with Claudia and Peter just before midnight, then the music 🎶 got really good the last 3-4 songs and everyone got up to dance 💃🕺💃🕺, then the quick countdown, and we all yelled "Happy New Year" 

Then the hugs and handshakes, all around the hall. Sure was a great send-off to 2024, and a fantastic welcome to 2025 looking forward to another really good year hopefully. 

That's the one thing we have is hope, if we loose that that would be sad. Looking forward I see a wedding 💍 in our family, a cruise ship for Polly and I with friends, more friends moving into the park here in the New Year, and more excitement as many planned events take place now, as the park will fill up and all that's been planned will be unfolding now. 

Polly was talking about the trip to Yuma when we leave here on our walk home from the hall, looking forward to it I'm sure. We tried calling Lyn on the way, but no go, we did get ahold of them when we got home though, was a fun conversation,I can't repeat it all here,but loads of laughs 🤣😂

Today January 2nd, I'll deal with our truck again, still a problem, thought we had it fixed, but still hard to start. Frustrating, but I'm sure will get resolved. Just good we are here, in one place awhile. 

New Year's dinner yesterday was nice, lasagna and salad, with a nice cupcake 🧁 for desert. We sat with Claudia and Peter, learned a little more bout them, was a nice dinner and got hooked up on FB now, so will see what each other does, and where we go, so can connect in the future. That's something I like about this RV life, we connect easily, and friend each other to continue to develop our friendship as we all travel through life.

It's getting light now, 6:55, the owl outside still hooting, traffic outside going by a little more right now, people all back to work now, Holiday is over. Snap, 🫰 it's done. Now people leave, and more come, beginning of the month, and a new year. 

Always happens so fast, I'm always amazed at, as I look back how fast it all happened. Took a long time to get here, the bang, and it's done. Polly said yesterday that she was reading a Valentine's advertisement already, I laughed, yeppers that's just how it goes, retail always from one celebration 🎉 🎊 to the next, whatever it takes to sell! 

I'll buy a card for Polly for Valentine's, that's our way now, but the other stuff?? Maybe some Rose's 🌹 🌹 🌹, but mostly we stay away from purchasing much now. I'm more in the get rid of stuff mode, I'll give another good cleanout of the trailer basement before we pack up. We have the starlink mini now, so need a place to store that as we travel, maybe on the roof, hooked up as we travel, or the dash? All will be tried, to find the best place to stay connected as we travel. 

Well, and early walk I'm thinking this morning, see what I can see, I saw a white squirrel here yesterday, that was something new to see. Today going early might see something new again?

Love our life ❤️ 2025 here we are.

Tough days at the pool 😎

Listening as a sat by the pool today to 4 people talking about there parents passing away, one person gave a story about a man that was 95, saying all my friends are gone! I'm just tired, Grandma has been gone awhile now, and I'm just tired, I just wanna go too. Did he die then? Was asked. No but he finally did a few days later, she said. 

I thought about our lives now, are we just waiting for this? Are we just treading water till we pass now? What's next? 

I just heard one woman say "But anyway we're down here and..." Another woman cut her off, wanting to continue with the complaining. 

Plans, we all have them, what are our plans as we age? What's next? 

I lay my head back and look up at the sky, Swallows are high, eating the bug's above, the breeze is really nice and warm, water when I was in was just perfect, lounge chair is a little hard, clouds are moving by fast, leaves are dropping every gust, geez how bad can it be! 

I noticed only one women talking to another by the pool now, the others went for there chairs, heads back sunning, the one guy that was in the pool, now reading the book he brought. 

Yep only one would continue to listen, while the main talker continued her talking. 

Me with my phone pecking on the screen writing as I think how beautiful it is here. Will we return? I'm not sure, but the memory will be with me for awhile of this very different place. 

I'm finishing this blog this morning New Year's Day, we had a fun night last night, we made it to 12, with Happy New Year to everyone, a call to Lyn & Andrew after the sugar shack emptied. We dialed up on our walk home, but no answer, we called again once were inside our home, had a fun conversation with them, a few drinks and we all be very funny and happy 😁 

Yesterday was a golden day, I had a chance in a call to Ciara and Colton to enjoy a sucker with Colton, never really entered my mind before, but in the moment when he was really absorbed in his sucker, I realized we had some suckers here. So I asked Polly to get me one outta the cupboard, and as I unwrapped it in front of Colton he was so happy, seeing I had a cherry 🍒 one, he had a grape 🍇 one. 

Show me your tongue he said, as he showed me his, all purple 💜 

Yep that was a stellar moment for me to share a sucker with Colton over the screen of a phone. He even wanted me to hold his sucker for him, as he was trying to do something where he needed both hands, that's how close it felt to him we were. 

There are moments in life that strike you, never know when they will be, and not even really sure exactly why they imprint on your being so deeply, but it happens and somehow you never forget ❣️ 

I think it reminded me of my many moments I shared with my own kids, and our other grandchildren, just this time was over the phone, and so much like being right with him. 

Well enough of the memories created, today starts the 2025th year, and all going well will be a really good one again as last year was stellar! 

Happy New Year to y'all 🥳 🎉 🎉 

Loving our life ❤️ here in Florida