This is the final blog entry for the year 2022. It has finally been composed, edited, and proof-read several times, however, I am sure there is that elusive "typo" that we find after posting.
What follows are the last two months of 2022. I was amazed at how much we actually did last year and how many posts I needed to write in order to get most of it documented. Hopefully, 2023 will contain what we all want out of life - more moments to cherish. How much do we really need to be happy? Once we decided to live full-time in the RV, I found that there is truth in the saying, "Less is More." I had no difficulty releasing and letting go of the objects I had, but didn't necessarily need. I discovered that I needed more "moments" and time with family. An armchair will lose it's stuffing, a table can lose a leg, a mattress can "sprung a spring," but you can't beat the feeling of a new sunset or a sunrise and all the possibilities that await you each day. I wish all my readers many "happy moments."
Thanksgiving was spent at the Tampa Home. Unfortunately, I don't have many photos to jog my memory as to what our turkey dinner looked like, but I do remember cousin Charlie and his wife joining us for the day. It would also be tradition for Meily to have purchased her favorite Brazilian pastries. I surely brought some nice wine and we ate too much. Christmas gift lists were provided and I sat with each of the girls to see what they wanted and/or needed. I try to get something from both those categories and avoid some of the outrageous requests.
I was able to get my Christmas shopping complete and we got ourselves into the Christmas spirit by visiting Disney Springs and the Town of Celebration, where both take decorating to a higher level.
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| One of the many trees at Disney Springs |
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| I believe this was in front of Ghiradelli |
Below, photos from Celebration:
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| Market Street closed to traffic. |
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Soap snow that looks so real.
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Friends of ours from Citrus Valley (formerly called Elite Resorts) announced that they were going to participate in "Wreaths Across America."
This has always been something I've wanted to do, so we joined them at a participating cemetery and was proud to be a part of the honorable ceremony and wreath laying tradition. We found many veteran graves from the Spanish/American War, WW I and WW II, but I searched and found a Vietnam Veteran's grave, since that was the first war that effected me and my views of war, loss and the sacrifices of men during and after service, who were only a couple of years older than me. It turned out to be both rewarding and touching at the same time.
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We actually grabbed four from the first and second batch. We took as many as we could hold
Back to front: Wayne, George, me and Chrystal. |
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"Madison L Harvin," Spanish/American War
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| Laying wreaths. |
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| George and I laying Madison L. Harvin's wreath. |
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| Still smiling at the end of a tiring and rewarding day. |
This Christmas the Tampa girls were booked on flights to spend Christmas with their dad, little brother and other family in New York. This would end up being a much different Christmas for us, so George surprised me by booking a week at Big Pine Key Campground. This had been a long-desired location for me and was one of the best gifts ever - it fit perfectly and was the best color. It's only 33 miles from the tip of Key West- Mile Marker . Ho, ho, ho and Merry Christmas to me!
As we prepared to leave for Big Pine Key, we were all unhooked and ready for the last couple of tasks when one of our rear slides would not retract the whole way. It would only stop and go part way in or out. George played around with resetting the slide mechanism enough to get it in most of the way. We knew that we would need to address this ASAP once we reached our destination.
We checked into Big Pine Key on Christmas Day 2022. A look back in history will uncover a news- worthy event about a boat of Cuban refugees who landed on The Dry Tortugas that same day. The weather was cold and rainy. I couldn't imagine the conditions they experienced in search of freedom; our right as an American and something e tend to take for granted. Despite the weather, we were able to make it to the furthermost point of the US.
We were fortunate to have found a certified Mobile RV tech and he was able to order the parts and "sort of" fix our slide, however, with the two holidays and limited UPS deliveries to The Keys, we needed to book a another week. We ended up at a premium, canal-front site. It was tough, but we managed to make the best of the situation. (Hee hee)
We explored Key West for one day before it was closed to tourists while the refugees could be bused to boarder crossings. It rained the entire week, so we were glad we got to see the "Furthest-Most Point" in the USA and the weather forecast for our second week was perfect.
I really enjoyed our time there. I felt as if I finally found "my place - my paradise." I didn't want to leave, so I went into the office and booked two week in April 2024! Doing so made it a bit easier to leave.
Below are some photos of my paradise:
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Crossing the 7-Mile Bridge on overcast Christmas Day 2022
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Office and General Store of our Cove Resort
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| Nice, clean and well-stocked |
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I'll survive....
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Bertha in her stall on the canal.
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| Community Gas Fire Pit |
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| The view from the fire pit. |
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My new "beverage" buddies, Amanda and Chris
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| Sunset somewhere. |
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| A great sunset from Cudjo Key |
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| Sunset from Sunset Grille. |
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The protected bird of The Conch Republic - the rooster!
They are all over The Keys. |
Finally, 2022 came to an end and we rang in the New Year at Big Pine Key. What a way to start the year.
Deep thought for the day: Paradise means different things to different people. I can say with strong conviction that The Keys are my paradise. Everything about it seeped into my body; through the warmth of the sun, the soft sand, the music, the smell of the salt on my body and in air and the beautiful, clear, aqua water. Combined, they filled my my soul with a comforting peace I've never known. ~ vc
