Overall, we are enjoying settling into Carefree Village Resort (CVR) in Yuma, AZ. When we first arrived the end of September it was often 100+ degrees. To handle the heat Barry and I visited the larger, deeper pool every afternoon. It was like having our own private pool. As more people began arriving for the season, we met more and more people at the pool. What was crazy was how when it was 105 out but the wind kicked up a bit we would get chilled lounging in the pool and actually enjoyed about 10-15 minutes in the jacuzzi! Yep, we must be acclimated to warmer, dryer weather!
Cheryl offered us her wind screens to use while we are on the RV site since she is staying in a friend’s home, and not needing them this year. They are awesome! Putting them into the ground was so cool. Tom had a tool for putting water into the ground where the post goes. It makes the hole for the post just appear! Unfortunately, we were so engrossed with the process that Barry and I neither one thought to take any pictures or videos! So many seasonal RVers here have these wind screens. With the winds that can kick up around here, they are essential. They turn your open patio and gravel site into a cozy, outdoor room to enjoy. We no longer have to worry about our chairs and things being blown around when you aren’t around. THANK YOU, Cheryl!!
Kelly and Bob Robinson arrived mid-October. We met Kelly and Bob October 2019, when we were at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Kelly and I hit it off and stayed in touch. We got together briefly when we came to Yuma in March 2020, just before things got shut down due to Covid-19. We knew we’d be seeing each other this winter since they signed up to be work campers for the season here at CVR. It is going to be great with them here!
It’s pretty nice having a 4-lane AMF bowling alley in our park! We aren’t big bowlers, but will come in occasionally, especially when our friends, Kelly and Bob are working. Limit of 8 bowlers and use of only 2 lanes due to Covid, and masks are required.
Connie, the Activities Manager, ending up asking me if we would like to work camp. I would help her in the activities office and Barry would be her set-up/tear down man. We agreed. I was really looking forward to it since I would be right in the heart of the social heartbeat of the park. Plus, it would be a great way to save money since our lot rent and electricity would be fully covered each month. I guess Barry wasn’t starting till Dec 1 since she didn’t have much for him to do.
I basically just filled in for Connie when she was going to be out for various medical appts for her or her husband, Rob. I asked to do more–especially the notices of events and activities on Channel 2 within the park TV cable, and bulletin boards. The lack of attention to detail, too much info on one page, and regular spelling/grammar/punctuation errors were all glaring to me. Anything published for other eyes MUST be accurate on all accounts! Well, by Thanksgiving, I was no longer working. Connie told me she no longer needed me. This totally caught me by surprise and was disappointing since we would no longer get lot rent and electricity usage covered. I have to wonder if it is because I kept asking to work on Channel 2 info for the park. Also interesting, is that Connie kept almost reminding me that she had someone arriving in January to work for her. Frustrating, that I was here, but she supposedly no longer needs me, yet he will arrive in another month or so, and be fully employed by her! (Or at least 1/2 of it if Barry didn’t work.) Easy come, easy go, I guess.
It will be better in the long run to simply concentrate on getting our home set up, and focus on activities we enjoy without any constraints. We can come and go as we please without having to consult a work schedule. We will have the freedom to go to Quartzsite for a week in January, if we choose. Plus, when I need to return to southern California for my next ortho appointment, we will be able to stay for a few days to include a visit with our grandkids! In another year or so, I may consider a work camping job of some sort, but only with management changes. This place has so much potential. The community itself is fabulous. All the Rvers and homeowners we have met have been super nice, and the facilities meet our needs for play and relaxation.
I absolutely love living in a place that is like a summer camp for adults! We knew this from when we stayed Feb-April 2019 at ViewPoint RV and Golf Resort (an Encore Resort) in Mesa, AZ. But that location was twice as far away from our grandkids, and cost more for everything. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic has caused activities to not be fully up and running as in a typical season, we are keeping quite busy. I usually play pickleball for a couple hours twice a day! Even Barry has been playing pickleball on a regular basis, and is getting good quickly.
I ordered a new paddle for my birthday. The new Pro Flight by Kinetic. I have 30 days to try it out. I loved how light it felt, the replaceable edge guard, and the color. But…
Unfortunately, it didn’t have the soft touch at the net as I hoped. Therefore, I sent it back. John and Letha Rodrigues arrived at CVR for the month of December! They are amazing players. Together, they do clinics around the country. We were lucky enough for them to do a free 1 1/2 hour session of skills/drills. John is a great instructor! I hope to take a lesson later when they return for the month of March. They allowed me to try a demo of the Selkirk Vanguard S2 Hybrid paddle. I loved it!!! It has a great, soft touch around the net, yet I can still hit a “power shot” (for me). Barry really liked the Vanguard Hybrid Epic version. Looks like we both may soon be switching to these paddles. Availability in the lightweight category for both paddles is extremely limited. We are on a waiting list. I’m so grateful that John and Letha let us use the demos for a week! John noted that he could tell I was trying to implement what he taught me about position on the court, and “full cadence” of hit to ready position. John and Letha will be doing a clinic in La Mesa at Collier park on Dec 19. We are in that area visiting our grandkids for Christmas! I was able to jump in due to a cancellation! Score!!
I really enjoy hearing what you and Barry are doing and following the progress on the new home. Keep up the good work with the blog and say hi to Barry, my favorite step-brother.
Sorry, I missed seeing this. Thank you for your comment and the compliment! Hopefully you can really see how the house literally came together in my latest blog this week. (Barry says hi. 🙂 )