2 months in

I've spent almost 2 months in the Southern AZ desert.  I have to admit , there have been challenges that have led me to the conclusion that the honeymoon is almost over.

Rain:  It rained pretty hard for a night and a day.  Where I was staying turned into a bit of a quagmire.  The dogs and I spent the whole day in the trailer (reminder: 6x12 cargo trailer).  I decided the wisest thing was to just sleep as much as I could. 
When it stopped, the ground was really squishy.  It took a couple of days for it to harden up. 
On the BRIGHT side, there's no substitute for experience.  I now know more of what to expect and will make plans/changes to the trailer to deal with having to spend time inside when the weather is really bad. Also, to look for the subtle gradations in the spot I park in so that I can find the highest ground and avoid low spots.  Those low spots can turn into creeks with a real heavy rain. 

Money:  Even with some money borrowed from a good friend, I spent the last week with not much.  I had $6 , and sitting on empty in my truck.  The closest gas station (in Felicity, CA) was $3.59 / gallon.  I was down to one bottle of the small green propane tanks.  So, I didn't cook anything if I didn't have to.  After the rain, my solar was a little depleted, and I was out of petrol for the generator, so I avoided using any electrical plug ins.  The situation was almost like being on a backpacking trip.  The bright side:  I had a roof over my head, I had books to read, I had canned food to eat (one of my more sensible purchases) as well as some food that two guys, John and Bob, left with me when they went back to El Paso.  Also, I came away from that experience with a new determination to do some financial planning like other adults do.  And do a better job of stretching my money.

So, I have to admit, there have been times when I missed living in sticks and bricks over the last month.
But I remind myself that when I was working as a cog in the Corporate Machine, I at times was just plain tired of living.
Now, I occasionally miss the comforts of the old lifestyle, but I love my life.   This last 2 months have been some of the best times I've had in my entire life. 

One of the big factors has been some of the remarkable and helpful people on this forum, and those I've met and spent time with on the road.  Once again, I must thank AKRVBOB for starting all this.  And thanks to all of you.

Pat

First SSA check today!!!! Not broke anymore!

My very first Social Security (SSA) check was deposited into my Bank last night! Yay! I'm actually proud of myself for accepting my situation and living within my limitations for the last week. Heading for Co Springs today. Need to get some important stuff out of my Storage unit, such as my PASSPORT.  I've been to Mexico twice in the last month and only had my CO Driver's license for ID.
Since it's a "RealID", they accepted it without issue.  But if I want to go to Baja, for example, I would prefer to have my passport.  And I need to find somewhere to leave my guns.  THAT could land me in Mexican prison.  So, THERE'S an example of me being careful! :)

Mojave Road?

I've been wanting to go here since I first heard about it.

I'm contemplating going here next.  This would be my route if I did leave from here.

I'm trying to embed this map into the blog here, but am not sure how to do it. For now, I'll just leave the HTML text in there.

Here's the pointer to the National Preserve website

https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/mojave-road.htm

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m26!1m12!1m3!1d3383446.6824834705!2d-118.2259738403983!3d34.09137059882707!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m11!3e6!4m3!3m2!1d32.74317!2d-114.7833824!4m5!1s0x80c5a3bb06df65fb%3A0xe5c0652f9a876c81!2sZzyzx%2C+CA!3m2!1d35.14278!2d-116.10388999999999!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1487652613379" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

map (from Felicity to Mojave Road)

Personal Hygiene

I was asked recently if I ONLY shower once a week. I have to respond, there aren't any showers out here in the free camping spots. Even tho I have a truck and trailer, think year-long backpacking trip as far as AMENITIES go. I'm on the "minimalist" trek. People with the BIG Motorhomes and even smaller travel trailers have showers. I don't. I close the door to my trailer and take "cat baths" , except for those times that I splurge and pay for a shower. And I don't spend much time near any metropolitan centers where they have 24-Hour Fitness and such. Quartzsite only had the amenities it did because it's a 3-exit stop on the Interstate AND the town increases population 10-fold in the winter. In the summer, it's largely a ghost town. So, no, I don't take a lot of showers. I hope I don't offend! :)



I do plan on getting a Helio shower in the future... such as this:

Helio shower on Amazon

Got a summer job!

I followed the information provided on Bob Wells forum (cheaprvliving.com)  and his YouTube channel "CheapRV Living" and looked for a campground host job from California Land Management.  I went to their website and found several campgrounds that appealed to me. 
I applied for jobs at 2 of them.  They are in Inyo National Forest, just east of Yosemite.  They are both at about 10000 feel elevation and have no hookups.  That is no electric, water or sewer service that most RV's rely on.   So, it caters mostly to campers, which is just fine with me. 

It does have pit toilets, so I will need to get my very own Hazmat suit.  That is, one of my responsibilities will be clean up.  YUK.  Hence, the respirator and Hazmat suit.  :) 

The job is stated as Mid-June through October, depending on the weather.  In other words, it could start later and/or end earlier.  Still , Yosemite is on my bucket-list, and there are miles and miles of hiking trails around there...

So, I had a phone interview with the hiring manager this afternoon.  He offered me a job, and I gladly accepted! 

I think I'm going to love it.

Seeds and Stems, financially

This is the brokest I think I have ever been.  My truck is just a hair above E, I've got one can of propane left, I'm out of dog food, and I'm down to $5 .  I DO have food to eat, I DO have a roof over my head, I've got my health (as far as I know!)  and I SHOULD get my Social Security check Wednesday.    It's a challenge, but one I caused by not being frugal enough, and I've still got it better than millions of others around the globe. 

So, I think it's a good experience for me to go through.  And I've still got lots to be thankful for.

Q&A session

A friend from back in the Springs asked some questions... I thought they and my answers would make for a good post of what's going on.  Currently, I am still in Felicity CA.

So what is next? Saving the Pacific coast for spring?

It looks like I need to go back to the Springs for a week or so.  My dog Taz needs to see a Vet and there's only 3 in the whole city of Yuma.  I also need to get some things out of my storage unit and also get rid of stuff in there.  

After that, I am considering visiting my Son, Sister and Niece in Texas. 

Then back to the West.  I've applied for a job as a campground host  at 2 campgrounds on the East side of Yosemite.  If I get the job, it will be from June to October.  It won't pay much, but will provide a stable site without having to move, and near Yosemite! 

I am curious… is it costing more/less than you expected?  How are your beasts liking it? 

It costs about what I expected.  During the earlier transition time, I ate at the McDonalds in Quartzsite for Sausage Egg McMuffin more than I should have.  I paid to shower at the truck stop in town about once a week.  That was $12 each time. Other than that, camping has been free because I always stay in free campgrounds or just out in the desert.  I DO have to buy water for drinking, since I'm mobile and don't have a mountain spring in my trailer! :) But it IS the desert and there are many places to do that.  And drinking water is 25 cents / gallon everywhere I've been.  

Taz and Lacy seem to love the life.  They're both good dogs and seem to just want to be where I am.  Taz is still having anxiety issues with actually riding in the car.  Getting a little better, maybe.  But I don't look forward to going on a long drive. 

Anything that you didn’t think of that caught you off guard? 

I had the idea that I would be able to have more space around me where I parked and camped.  There are a LOT of people out here, most from northern states and Canada. 
I've had to park near a few Class A motorhomes and giant 5th-wheels.  Most RV parks are full of them, but surprisingly, so are the free spots on BLM land. 
Where I am now, I'm about 50 yards from one that has 2 shelties that bark everytime they see us.   I HAVE found some places on the other side of the Interstate  that are more deserted. 

Another thing that I've found out here is that I can just keep going on dirt roads and end up in Yuma without getting on the Interstate.  When a sign says "No outlet", that isn't completely true!  Especially if you have a 4X4 and are stupid enough to try to keep going.  :)  It often means that state or county maintenance of the road ends at that spot.  

Post more pics... can you stand up in your trailer? 

I CAN stand up in there.   It's about 6'3".  I will post more pics of the inside after I've done some more work in there.  I'm taking my time customizing it in order to get a better idea of what I want/need.   I know a few things I need to do... and am getting more realistic about what I CAN do..  I've seen a few cargo trailers that are REALLY nice on the inside, but most of the guys with them are carpenters and such.  

Pictures from Felicity CA

That , at the horizon, is the Mexican border.  I walked out there yesterday.   The sand got real soft, so I turned around. I was probably still a mile from the border.

There are LOTS of planes, choppers , Border Patrol trucks patrolling CONSTANTLY ....

A nice full moon with a little sunset thrown in.  It's a shame the other motorhomes and the power lines are there!

My new hot water heater

Take this and fill with water

Then add this:

Wait an hour or two , and you have hot water for shaving and bathing.  I left it out there most of the afternoon, and the water was nice and warm.

Moved to Felicity, CA

Have moved to Felicity CA , about 2 miles West of the Q Casino.. I was feeling claustrophobic! Too many dang Class A motorhomes! Felt like there was an HOA! I can see the Imperial Sand Dunes from where I'm sitting. Beautiful! And it's HOT! Taz, Lacy and I are sitting in the shade.
I've included a link to a thread in the CRVL forum about my first month on the road. Feel free to peruse at your leisure.

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-1-Month-In

 

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-1-Month-In 

I'm a celebrity! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeZ3abCpxJo&lc=z13zjrpw3n3jivl5n04cingy4m20hlfh4bc.1486118694788497

me at 1:33 and4:05

RESCUE!

Friday of last week, Jim and I went to rescue our "compadre" from the CheapRVLiving forum; a gentleman nicknamed Gunny. He had jacknifed his trailer on I10 just West of Palm Springs. About 200 miles. Neither of us had ever actually MET Gunny in person, but had communicated with him online. A really decent fellow. Jim pulled his trailer with HIS truck, and we drove him back to our spot in the parking lot at the Q Casino. Saturday we spent taking him to an RV repair place, to get his trailer up to snuff.
Sunday he recuperated some before heading off for Fort Worth, TX! It was quite an experience ; and I felt good about paying forward the many acts of generosity I've received from family and friend! This is the kind of guy my friend Jim is.

Q Casino (near Algodones, MX)

I moved away from the skeeters and the constant traffic on the road near the lake. I'm staying in the parking lot of the "Q Casino" on the Quechan Indian Reservation, just about a mile from the Mexican border. I would never in my life have imagined I would enjoy staying in a parking lot , but no kidding, it's like being at the beach. 
This stuff is crazy... and I've been doing it for about a month!

This is where the doggies and I went for a long walk this morning. 

Taz and Lacy outside Jim's trailer. 

Jim's new baby , Max... 

Mittry Lake

Mittry Lake (outside of Yuma, AZ) This is BLM land... free camping, but only 10 days a year.

the trailer campsite and Mittry Lake... it got HOT here today! Geez... Lisa and Marvin, you need to come visit. There's enough skeeters to make you think you're back in the South! hahahah