Canada wins, the world's mess is still the Same.

Waking this morning felt great 👍, our team won last night, was some of our first words as we woke together this morning. Polly watched all the joke's placed on the Internet after the game now, I read about the players, and what they thought before the game. 

As with most mornings I hear a bird chirping outside, the temperature is a cool -3°c I had to run the water awhile to get it full throttle, almost frozen this time, lucky I caught it this morning. Sun's up now, and the world still turns. Polly is now watching her soap, with her ear buds in, and I'm writing, well pecking on this phone. 

My thoughts as I read what about Russia? What about other countries not invited to play? Was this just another way to have an all-star game? I really like it, much better than the fluff the all-star game of past. But! There are many really good players left out. I hope by next year we can have representation from all the countries that have team's that could, and should be playing in this competition. 

I read what Alex Ovechkin had to say about it, along with what it means to others, some fighting for Canada, some for USA. Right now we are in the USA, and will be until April. My thoughts are what will come of this division ➗ created by politicians and business that want to divide us? I always try to see what's really going on, what is it that the elite want? 

I'm not sure, I really don't know right now, but I do know that the sun's shining, the birds are singing, just like yesterday, and likely same will happen again tomorrow. So today, as Polly asks now "What's on the agenda today?" I don't know I say, I guess we'll figure it out when Darcy and Pat wake, we talked about a parade, we learned that here in Mobile is where the marti gra started, that it's been going on here for many years. Learn something new every day! 

Right this moment I feel no desire to do anything, one more cup of coffee ☕☕, then maybe I'll move. But for now, I'm content to peck on this phone, and simply drink my coffee ☕. Sun's really bright now, higher in the sky, going to be a really nice day, that I'm sure of. 

Sure do love this life ❤️ 

I think a walk about this new to us RV park be a good start today, then, well we will see 😎

Leaving one place heading to another.

           Took my last swim yesterday 

Was great to cool down after packing up.

The trip is always exciting to start, also exciting to see just what's next around the corner as we start our way west. Yuma Arizona our destination, even now not sure our route, always like to keep our options open when we travel. Today we will travel about 4-5 hours north to a ranch campground that is past Tampa. 

We always like to start out on a Sunday if possible, less traffic when passing a bigger city. The campground we are headed too is called Hitching post trail's a camping farm, be interesting to see what that's like. When looking for a place to stay I found many that were advertising how close they were to Disney and Legoland, also other attractions in the area. All of these had extra $$$ attached to the price of camping.

 I was looking for 1-2 nights, so a cost of $122.00 a night was not in our budget. I was really surprised to see this come as a price when I booked a place by calling and giving my information as they were away from the office. The reservation I got floored me. I called back and cancelled, thinking maybe they would insist I have to go as I had made the reservation, but no it was ok. 

So I looked a little further away, and got this place. Be a new experience, the woman asked if we had horses, nope I said, but I'm interested to see what the place is like, even without a horse 🐴.

We spent most of the day packing up yesterday, was a good way to do it, I got most of what I needed to do done by 1:00, Polly did the cleaning and laundry, she was really givinner. Stove got a complete cleaning, sink too, I watched as Polly scrubbed and organized the inside of the house as went in and out doing what was needed outside.

Organized the basement, found a place for everything, having gotten rid of a few things this time, gave just a little more room for stuff now. Every time we stay awhile I try to downsize a little in the basement. I got Polly's air fryer oven in there this time, instead of it being in the living room as we traveled. I was always a problem as we traveled, would be in the way on the floor when we stopped, so be nice to have our living room floor open now. 

Yep, all packed up, have the last of the hoses to stow, slides in, the electric cable, hook the truck to the trailer then off we go. 

Valentines dance last night was fun, last night with our friends Peter and Claudia

I'm sitting here pecking on the phone, dark out yet 6am, we'll soon start to get stuff done. We will both miss our friends here, and the warmth of the place all around. Been a really nice winter here, Cool December, but excellent weather the last few weeks. "Will you return" is a question we've be asked by many here, "Not sure" is my answer as we are headed to Yuma, we love it there too, and it is closer to our home. We'll see, the rise of the cost of a trip to the States due to the dollar be part of the decision this year, but we I'm sure will be talking about on and off this spring. 

I'm starting to look forward to returning home, to places I'm so familiar with, the smell of spring, the sounds of the river, the smell of the ocean. Familiar faces, friends and family. Ya miss them all when traveling, be nice to settle again at Arrowvale, and get to a little building again. 😁

Lots of travel before that time comes yet, and a cruise ship trip too! That'll be fun I'm sure. 

Life's pleasures, sure do love our life ❤️

Sunday morning, 1 week to Go.

We like to leave on a Sunday early, as that's a good time to travel, most are staying home early in the morning, so we get through the city area's before people start hitting the road. Tampa be the next city we'll want to get through on our way north, out of Florida. Heading towards Yuma, Arizona. We hope to visit a few places we haven't seen before, so much to see along our way.

We have three weeks to get to our destination, but really I'd like to get there a little earlier, just get settled in before we leave our home for the cruise. On our way we hope to meet up with friends that are traveling east, not sure where yet, they are in New Orleans area now, so be interesting if there heading further east after the Superbowl. 

We had a casino night here last night, was really lots of fun, after entering the setup casino in the sugar shack, I headed for the poker table right away, after awhile, when we got enough players we started, John the dealer always something to say, or ask people, "Where ya from?" That went around the table till we all got settled, then game as always was fun. Polly sat in on poker too, first time she's playing since we been here, kinda a men's table here on Tuesday and Thursday. Although she would be welcome, she just didn't wanna go as the only woman at the table. 

7pm till 10 pm, went by real fast, with stop's for calling out ticket numbers for envelopes from the money tree central in the hall. Many winners were called, I even won an envelope, $25, was a bonus. All our play money was spent, I started using Polly's $$ at the end, I ran out. No use keeping the money, as wasn't worth anything at the end, just a really fun night. The draw at the end was a 50/50 and the winner was John the owner of the park. He donated his winnings to the wounded warriors, so the whole amount went to the wounded, was over $1000.00, that was applauded by everyone! 

The final draw was won by a woman, that jumped up quickly saying mine, I got it showing her ticket, happy as ever. 

All in all a really fun night was had by all, 10pm we all helped put away the casino game tables, and chairs and tidy up the hall, then before ya know it we were walking home, and talking as we walked about what Sunday was going to be like, Super Bowl today! 

The game will be watched by the Tiki hut, and I'm thinking in the sugar shack too. Another fun time I'm sure, Polly already talking about the commercials, the excitement of the day. Also the possibility that the game is rigged for the Chiefs, I've heard this a lot lately, but my comment always, "Well see" never know till the game is on. 

Early get up today, planning our route outta here, above Tampa be best stop, away from the city. 

Bird's chirping now, just starting to get light out, halfway through my second cup of ☕ now, won't be long an be bright out. I'm going to walk earlier today, gets warm fast now. Be another fun day here, 6:30pm eastern time game starts. Could last late night 😃 will be a good game I'm thinking, see how it goes. I have no clue who will win, and no favorite. 

Another day at the Hook, all good 👍 

Retirement!  Sure do love our life ❤️ 

We will continue our time south, But!

We are now close to traveling again, which I really do like, I think Polly does too. Although we have made good friendships here, our future is that we will travel towards a new place to setup for a short time, then back home again in Canada, on Vancouver Island for the spring and most the summer, in what has been our home town for most of our lives. 

I like many am concerned about how the new reality "tariffs" will effect us. I'm not saying this will change our plans right now, but I'm "Terrified" the tarriffs will cause change that we might not be able to endure, or at least may have to alter our way of living. 

We made a plan when we retired to travel, as we have, but this change in our Canadian dollar, worth almost 50% less in USA, which might get even worse before it gets better, a long with a 25% tarriff, both sides of the border will likely make our plans to spend winters south in USA end. 

I do understand that sometimes this way of negotiating gets changed up as ya go, but this I believe this is going to become, or could be the end to the very good relationship USA and Canada have had for many years. I think it's going to hurt both of us, yet how do we, the average people like us, how can we pull away from this? Feeling like we are entering Hatfield-McCoy type of battle here, nobody wins!

When something like this happens I usually look around at what's not being talked about, what's going on on the sidelines, what's really happening here? 

We may find out in the future, but I'm not convinced it's about a war on drugs or immigration. 25% of good's of our countries is a lofty amount of $$$, so who's getting the dollars that will be tarriffed? Who's going to profit from this? 

Not likely me, the average guy,most of us will have to pay more for most everything. I saw this happen with covid, and I'm thinking just be another cut into our "the average people's" earnings. The Rich, that's who's going to profit from this! Always the Rich, they will profit from this, that I'm sure of. 

At this time in my life I'm not too worried, I've only got a few more years to travel about before I'll be drooling in my soup, but the young, the people working now, they're going to find life getting harder at every corner. Just when they think they might have just about got enough to buy a home, or pay off what they have, it's going to change, the goalposts are moving again. 

What's the goal? Getting ahead we have been trained is the goal. I'm not sure that's really what's going to happen. 

Birds are calling now, chirping their songs, I'm happy to just listen to this and forget now what's changed. Tomorrow the tarriffed people will pay more, I'm thinking the companies will raise prices right away, see they will have paid less, but have an excuse to raise prices, due to a terrible terriff that they can't control, so we'll have to pay extra. 

I'll like many will change my plans, buy less, maybe eat less 🤣😁 I don't think so, but our dollars are limited, and unless the pension we are getting goes up, we are like everyone else going to be loosing a big chunk of change in our buying power, so change will happen. 

I'm just wondering now what I'll notice first? What price will change overnight? Tomorrow what will the news say happened, what price went up right away? 

Trucks will still travel, people still go to work, birds will still chirp, and I'll still be having a cup of ☕ coffee early reading what change took place while I slept. 

Spring is coming fast now. Change happens every spring, mostly from winter to the renewal of most animals, spring is when all young are born, and the growth starts again, trees bloom along with 🌹 flowers. Heading back to the island will be nice again, Arrowvale always a pleasure, seeing friends and family again, I'm looking forward to this again. This next couple months going to go fast I'm sure. 

Worries aside, I do love this life ❤️ 

Rambo is back, so is our warm weather 😎

Yesterday I picked up our truck from the mechanic, injectors were ok after testing, so reinstall with a different wiring harness gasket the mechanic says was the problem. I'll be driving it here a couple weeks before we leave, so have a good test at "is the problem solved"? Hopefully it is, had to install a new battery too, mechanic recommended, so I went to a shop had it tested, yep new battery too. 

Sometimes a situation like this can cause frustration, both for me and the mechanic, this is one of those times. I didn't pay him for doing it twice, he's says not his fault, I'm not sure yet, but I'm hopeful the problem has been fixed. Will see over the next couple weeks. 

Pool is cool, I tried it last couple days, weather is warm, going for a little drive today, or tomorrow, a visit to the beach on the west side of Florida, Fort Myers, and areas. Having no transportation has held us back from looking around here. 

Maybe will be a weekday, as weekend be busy as been awhile since the warm weather has been here. I have a few packages to send back too, so try to combine this with the trip. I've found out that there are UPS places you can drop stuff off at, if you have a label, but can't print a label if a QR code.

I'm learning there are drop of places in other businesses, but a UPS store, that's where you get full service. 

I'm getting labels sent to me, so I can attach and send my parcel, by dropping it off at a UPS access point, as the UPS stores are all in bigger locations. Lots to learn about getting the correct address on the parcel, something the driver will recognize easily, and getting the parcel shipped to the correct address. 

Like old-school, going shopping at Sears, or going to the catalog office in a small town. 

February 1st today, I'm thinking about the 25% tariff and how it will change my world 🌍, how & if we will continue to come to the USA? 

I'm always hopeful, but this would be a deal breaker for us I'm sure, and many others. I've seen the empty trailers here, I'm sure next year there will be more if that 25% is added onto the poor dollar exchange. We just operate in what we can control, the playing internationaly with our dollar, and restrictions is just something we have to deal with. I've already started looking elsewhere in the world, places warm, and different sights. Portugal, that's one possible, but I'm sure others are looking too, so next year be one where we don't spend our winter in our trailer, but possibly in another different house or home. 

Adapting to what comes is a quality I noticed Polly is better at than me, she rolls with the punches better than me. 

Polly just announced it's, February 1st, and I ask what's that mean to you? Just that January is done, then as she looks says, we'll be on the road for Americo's Birthday 🎂. Funny how we see things differently. Here I am thinking of the tariff and the dollar, and Polly's thinking of our trip back, and a friend's birthday 🎈. Different, but all good as they say now, all will turn out ok!

Ok, out for a walkabout I'm going now, get the blood moving this morning. 

Sure do love this life ❤️