I know it’s been awhile…….

I’ve been very busy in my new life in Adkins Texas.

A quick recap of the last 6 months

Awhile back I decided to do something about my single status and joined a dating site for silver singles, I met a very nice guy, you remember Colorado man, it didn’t work out for us fortunately, because after that discouraging episode I got back on another site and met Richard in June. We wrote and talked on the phone until SEPTEMBER WHEN I DECIDED TO BITE THE BULLET, and move to Texas while keeping GG close by just in case I needed to skidaddle. No skidaddling happening here. I now live in a lovely home a bit larger than GG, she could easily fit into my dining room! This is a photo of a bit of my living room.

I’ve had fun rearranging everything, rearranging Richards life, his furniture, his Knick knacks, and trying to make it feel like home for us….adding lots of plants has helped me feel less homesick for my friends in Caballo.

Charley fits right in, hasn’t worn a leash since we got here. But the best part of the move is not the large beautiful home, the best part is definitely the man. Generous, gracious, kind, loving, all describe my Richard. I am very fortunate and do my best to deserve my good luck and am happy to say that he feels the good luck is his.

Home sweet home!

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Lots to tell you!

The studio is sold, I’ll believe it when it rolls away but a young couple is getting the money together as I write this now, they expect to take it not far from here and live in it! I put it on Facebook and have had about ten calls for it, I didn’t expect it, it’s really a good deal for them and a relief for me.

Sold my car too! I need to wait for the title to arrive and fix a small brake issue this week, do my errands then call the buyer to come to pick it up.

Monday I have an appointment to get GG ready for travel, pick up my art at the gallery and off we go to Adkins Texas, 10 hours driving to finally meet my man Richard.

No worries, he has been vetted by friends and family and especially me and comes out true, honest and thoroughly lovable. I’ll have a good space to work on my brushstrokes and won’t miss my studio at all.

We’ll drive up to meet my family in Dallas area, I’ll fly to the wedding in South Carolina ,and return to Dallas and finally home to Adkins with either my sis or son to meet my new Home Sweet Home. We are so excited about these new possibilities!

Getting rid of my stuff has been a joy, I’ve never felt so light and free of the weight of Stuff. Giving it all away brings a smile to the face of both the receiver and me, hoping I’ll be remembered as a generous friend not easily forgotten…plus I wrote cards with my new address on them!

JP has been a great help to me during these days, surprised? All good, forgiven and forgotten, he filled up his dumpster with my junk saving me a dozen trips to town with trash. And shared a few glasses of wine and conversation. I’ve made friends and met some fine people while living here and hope we keep in touch, of course I’ve invited them all to visit!

Some People Say……You are so brave

You must be brave (at your age implied) to start out on your own in an old RV.

Can you see me in here?

I don’t see it that way.

I’ve done due diligence to avoid potential problems. The truck is older, 1991 it has a powerful ford 350 chassis, I have had the brakes updated and repaired as needed and other expensive stuff repaired or replaced.

I have insurance of many kinds, accident, tire, road side help, new tires, I have an extra air conditioner for just in case the rig ac dies. plus whatever else anyone has told me I’ll need. My fridge is new, stove, microwave & bathroom fixtures all work. I have a backup camera and new computer, web cam camera (that I haven’t installed as I not traveling great or small distances now.) I have one solar panel on my roof.

I did one thing that I may regret to the RV, I removed the heat coils because they took up too much space so I don’t have heat from the rig but my space heater does a good job and I don’t expect to go anywhere too cold. If I’d left them I wouldn’t have my book case and table, choice made.

This is a great option for me. I’m loving my small space, my absolute freedom to do or not to do…anything. I’m not dependent on anyone or causing grief to anyone I can be social or not as I wish. My time is mine unless I chose to share it.

And my finances are not a problem, I can make it carefully and maintain my quality of life with just a few carefully chosen loans to help me get started.

Its a simple life.

And now I’m getting a used smart car to enable me to get around town without having to take my home everywhere with me

Closest small town Truth or Consequences, is 20 miles south, not much there besides Walmart for shopping (and that’s not a bad thing)

El Paso Texas is just 104 miles south

Las Cruses NM is 60 miles North.. 2nd largest city in New Mexico

I can get anything I need on Amazon!

I haven’t even started to do any boondocking yet, I’m too comfortable where I am.

(For those that don’t know what that means boondocking is when you camp on public land without facilities( for 14 days,) no water, sewer or electric power. )

I have all that here at very low cost and plan to stay here awhile. There are mountains and lakes to explore, ghost towns, and art galleries, and classes to take. I like New Mexico but I’d never experienced so much wind that the RV shakes and my chimes sound while hanging inside the RV!

My First Travel Stop, I need a toad

I’m so happy I found this park!

When I started out on this journey I had no idea where I was going or where,  I would settle.  I watched the u-tube videos of course but until I was ready to go I still didn’t know where I was going.

Reading about different parks on websites helped me find this gem, the reviews convinced me I should start here.  I was planning to just stay awhile before going to Arizona for the January RTR in Quartzsite, but (I only put this out here because almost no one but family and friends and a few curious read this) I’m going to pause here and pay bills while I can do it  paying $150/month rent.  It’s pleasant, nice people live here, the park sites are nicely spaced and there’s a happy hour every day if you wish to participate.  Closest town is 20 miles away, shopping means Walmart and one grocery store.

I am at a disadvantage here because I don’t have a “toad” so I have to disconnect and reconnect  electric, water and tanks, every time I want to go anywhere. Means I have to reorganize my space each time because stuff moves in transit making a mess each time I’m out and about. I need a toad. (a car that you tow with your RV)

You probably know you should buy a car in your state rather than outside your state. I  didn’t.   I tried to buy one I liked in NM , couldn’t do it as I wasn’t a NM resident nor do I have a NM drivers license.  All is not lost though because this car can be shipped to El Paso and I can buy it there, I’m excited, my little smart car will get me mobile again and I can discover what’s great about New Mexico besides the sunset.