bad bad blogger

For the few people who still follow this, Mea Culpa, I have been very bad.
Why..... this year in Florida was different for me. The dogs did make me crazier then in the past, the weather was cool to cold and wet, I felt at drift ( whatever that means) . I was glad to head home to all the creature comforts, a fenced in yard for the dog, and my own vehicle.
I still love living in the bus it is just the dogs seemed more demanding this year, or I was less able to deal with them. Or it could just be that I had alot more on my mind and was more anxious /stressed then last year. Need to deal with that.

So, I list my sources of angst> house still not sold, money a bit tighter then I would have expected, children continue to have multiple issues, I have yet to find my "groove".

So let's go to the last one, what is my groove ?
The first year of retirement I reveled in all the time I had, now I feel adrift with it. Funny feeling, I think I need some external structure, a part time job perhaps. I feel isolated, especially in Florida, where all the relationships are more then casual in an RV park. Filling my time with shuffle board doesn't do it for me. My sister suggested that I was too cerebral and that small talk irritates me. I am not sure that is totally true , makes me sound like a snob, however.....

I am not sure this answers the "why" of why I didn't blog, but I didn't want to let my frustration show and I had fewer moments of actual peace this year.

I did get to some trials with the dogs, and I found some other dog people so I could do some training, that was a plus. But I found the dogs so much more confining this year, the walking and trying to keep them quiet, and giving each one time out of the crate. Flee especially needed more time outside the crate and yet he is the one I can't have out with the others- difficult. But, the dogs did not buy the bus, we did, and I will just have to learn to cope.

Not a happy blogger but a truthful one. Goal, to find a part time job to give me some structure and an outlet, some external socialization and some silly money.
That being said I may volunteer at the Seaport which would also get me out of the house with others. I find my world getting a bit smaller then it should be, need to put myself out there.

Sorry for the woe is me blog. I will figure it out, thought we could take a few short trips with just 2 dogs, I know that would be more restful.

Need to get the house sold, I am between lives right now. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I buried St Joseph so long ago he is probably fossilized.

For my part, more blogs- upbeat ones at that.
thanks for hanging with me
Lindsay and her golden year crisis

What's happening

Here is my very lovely granddaughter who came for a week in Florida. The weather has been very iffy here, a lot of cool weather, like jeans and sweatshirt weather, but we lucked out while she was here and were able to pull out a few good days.

We went to Everglade City and took an airboat ride and saw alligators, went to Fort Meyer Beach and to Sanibel. One morning to the Manatee Park, saw Valentines Day at the movies, ate shrimp at Pinchers and watched the Olympics. Always nice to have her with us.

The last few days have been Florida warm, and about time. The park had a pool party yesterday Now this means everyone goes to the pool for one dollar hot dogs, with a bag of chips and soda or a beer, and then we all sit around listening to the music of our youth ( Beach boys etc) and watch those who are in the pool. One fun lady started a line dance, and proceeded to all those other silly dances and a few people joined in Ahhh life in the fast lane !!

On Wednesday mornings I go to dog class with my new found friend Esther. Great class and it serves to keep Deco on his toes and i get to meet new dog people. Thank god for the dog and agility. It is one of the things that helps me keep sane

On the subject of insanity, traveling with 4 dogs is a pain. It would be better if they all played nice together, but they don't and it makes things difficult. I know I have been through this here before, but.... it does not get easier. I am going to buy a nice bottle of wine for the poor couple next door to us who have had 6 weeks of barking at 7 am , at breakfast, at dinner.

Jim's daughter will be here for 2 days and then my sister the end of next week Can't wait to see her.

Hope everyone is staying warm up North, almost into March, a month I have always hated, but then comes Spring, maybe

TaTa

finally - the delinquent blogger

I am truly negiligent but I never feel I have anything exciting that will add to my reader's lives. However, for the sake of blogging I will "blog"
The weather this year has been iffy . Last year we never saw rain and it was warm everyday. This year we have had alot of rain and cloudy days and cool days. When the florida sun comes out it is warm but those clouds cool things off.
Last weekend we went to Palmetto and an agility trial. We got to see our 2 good friends from Conn. who actually live in Maine and florida most of the time. That was fun, they are only about and hour to an hour and a half away from us but schedules seem to always conflict and then there is the dog thing - meaning I only have a short window of opportunity to leave the BARKERS.
The agility trial was great and Deco did me proud. My new friend Esther was there. I meant this great lady last year and we have been exercising the dogs together and going to an agility class together. She keeps me sane as we both come from the same spot re dogs as opposed to the numerous RV people in the park with their foo-foo dogs.
I do know a bunch of people through their dogs and have people stop by with questions, I guess they figure anyone with 4 dogs either is completely insane or knowledgeable- and they figure they have a 50/50 chance to get a correct answer.
I am beginning to look at places to stay on our way home, that is the end of March. We stay here as we have friends in the area but we could cut it down to 2 months. Next week my lovely grandaughter arrives for a week and then Toby comes for a few days, so February is pretty full. I am looking forward to both visits.
March my younger sister arrives in Fort Myers and it will be great to see her, she is staying with friends which is a good thing as the bus doesn't really handle overnight guests well- could be the 4 dog crates that take up one whole side, and then we only have one bathroom.
Again, nothing exciting happening here. I am hoping to go see AVATAR this weekend if the weather is crappy. Esther and I are going to see Precious next week. Her partner is a prof at the U of Michigan and Esther is retired except for a grad course she teaches . Again, I am lucky to have a dog friend who is also intelligent but ....wait all my dog friends are intelligent !!!!! ( although there are those who would question those of us with more then 2 dogs- right?)

I am making a promise to blog more regularly and add pictures. How about one of me at 7 am , sweatshirt and sweat pants and dogs, ahhh what a sight.

Bye all
Lindsay and the corgis 4

Florida-or how cold can it get down here !

I know I have be negligent with my Blog. so let's catch up

( and by the way just so you all don't think I am sun bathing, it is 41 degrees here at noon, and raining)

We had a great time in Marathon and it was fun to see our friends. We left on the 29th and headed to Palmetto and a 4 day agility trial. Palmetto is a great site and nice camping. Deco did a great job and got his MJP- which is his master jumpers title. We picked up 2 more standard Q,s for his master standard title. He did everything I asked, and even tolerated my poor handling at times. It was chilly and we had a downpour one day, but with long pants and a sweatshirt we all survived.

We arrived in Fort Myers on January 2nd and moved into what will be our spot for the next 3 months. We have a sunny spot with a full concrete pad and it is one of the bigger sites, we had checked it out last year. We won't be back here next year but for now it is fine and one of the better bargains at only $850 a month. The site we had in the Keyes is about 1800 a month. Would hate to spend that kind of money to be in this cold.

It has been chilly since we got here. I have been in jeans and a long sleeved shirt and the other morning it was 35 when I got up to walk the dogs. The sun has been warm in the afternoon so I have sat outside with a book for an hour or so.

Today is the worse as it is raining and the temp is not supposed to go over 45!! But the weather is expected to improve by mid next week.

This place is like a bee hive and activity slows right down in this weather with few golf carts out there ( did I mention this was golf cart city?) Actually I haven't seen any golf carts out today. Lots of Candaians, all from Quebec and only a few speak or choose to speak english. We looked at another campground for next year, closer to the beach and about $700 more a month, to soon to make those plans though.

Dogs doing well, lots of walks and everyday we go play frisbee and the fenced in area. It would be so nice if they would all run together but we have to keep Flee away from Abbie and Deco as he is such a bully and the others really challenge him. This weather is tough for him as he seems stiffer lately, he will be 9 in May, hard to believe it.

That is pretty much my update. I am incredibly lazy, today I am planning to watch UConn men at noon and girls at 4- so my day is full. And inbetween I can read using my wonderful Kindle, yes, it is all that it is rumored to be. With my iphone and the kindle I feel very "with it". My next purchase , luxury purchase on the list of not needed but a want, will most likely be the WII on the premise that I will exercise on the bus. All this cool weather and lazin' around is not helping the waistline.

I promise pictures next week, To all my friends out there, a Happy New Year