Life in the RV Lane ... part 1...

This is our third year at this site! Site Number 3 at Playa Del Rio on Perdido Key. (this shot was from year 2)

This morning is gorgeous here on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico on the Florida panhandle as it joins 1/2 mile away with the Beaches of Alabama! I am compelled to share a few insights about life in an RV parked for a time away from home.


One meets so many people on the road. Some stay with us, as lasting friendships are formed. Some one hopes to never encounter again (thankfully these are few and far between!). Some have an eccentricity that one cannot help but notice. Some expect more from the campground that one would reasonably do. Campgrounds are a community and as such, folks need to get along and there is an essential balance to be struck between the community and the service provider that is predicated on trust and fairness.

Campsites come with services that are more or less the same wherever you go; Internet access, Cable TV (which I could easily do without except for HGTV! :-) ), water, sewer, power, and land mass. One can survive for some time without any of these, except for the land mass; it is of course, essential to have a place to park. For Richard and I getting adequate space to park is our first priority to get the truck and Airstream out of harms way. We have a generator so wherever we are we can power up the trailer, But if we are parked for a long time it is very nice to have sewer, water and power so we do not have to move the rig to address those issues.

We have been having some issues with Internet here at our campground that could be remedied for the higher paying sites with a third router up at this end of the campground. Internet is VERY important to us, I have a need to skype with my grandchildren and right now I have to walk down to the clubhouse to get a good signal! That is just not acceptable for me. Also, since I am working on my business as well, consulting is difficult without solid and continuous access. So we are going to get a solution that can travel with us while we are here in the US to de-couple us from our dependence on the adequacy (or inadequacy) of the parks internet services. Having said that I am ready to hit the showers and get ready to visit Verizon and AT&T today ... unless my state of relaxation compels me to unwind and enjoy the sunshine for another day!

Merry Christmas to All...

Well it is Christmas again and Richard and I and Rudy and Reggie are enjoying some warm weather at the Beach. It is always hard to miss family at this time of year but they all know our hearts and thoughts and spirits are with them. It is a busy time for everyone and we often do not get time to sit back and relax and just enjoy the scenery, whether it is palm trees and rolling oceans, Christmas trees and crackling fires or southwest sunsets and cactus flowers. As you enjoy this holiday season remember to think about what is truly important in your lives and be thankful for all the blessings you have.

One of my facebook friends wrote this morning "may you be filled with the meaning of the season, be with those who matter, heal the relationships (where needed) and give voice to the love in your heart" and I could not have said it better myself. Life is so short and the time flies by whether we like it or not!

My message for my daughters and son-in-law and my grandchildren is that I love you all and every day you are filling my heart with joy! Have a blessed Christmas and enjoy all the time you have together this holiday season with family and friends. In the photos selected for this post, I just wanted to show the grandkids three things: Reggie as a Reindeer, my smiling face.. :-) and that Santa goes to the Beach to sun himself before he makes his rounds! Merry Christmas...

Ottawa was Cold, Snowy and Windy!

Madison happy to see me home for a week...

Payton and Brooklyn came for a sleepover together...if was fun.

Rudy held down the fort at the Airstream with Richard and Reggie.

Because I came home for a visit before Christmas it was essential to get a little tree....It was little but charming and Brooklyn and I both loved it.

The weather was snowy, blowy, freezing rainy and cold the whole time so we spent lots of time indoors keeping warm. I was able to get the contract in place for the next work I am involved in so that was very good. Next time home will be for a while longer.

Returning to Pensacola was very nice, the temps have been around 60 to 65 during the warmest part of the day. About four weeks ago we ordered a new la-z-boy for the Airstream and it arrived early. Very nice addition to the interior!

There is a Christmas party tonight at the Park complete with a Santa exchange and lots of good food and company. I may not be able to go because of my cold but we will see how the day evolves...

Cooler Days In Florida...

Rudy likes that he gets to cuddle up under blankets when it is cold. He is such a sweet dog. His face is getting a little grey!
Happiness is a good friend...Reggie and Rudy spen hours sleeping on the couch on an old wool blanket from the Mill at Blythe, Ontario. These blankets never seem to wear out!

This morning the temperatures had gone down to 29F overnight and the wool socks Richard brought down feel good on my feet. Trouble is they are hard to wear with my flip flops! :-) I am headed for Ottawa for a week tomorrow morning and so if I think this is cold....well I guess I will see....

Chilly Morning On Perdido Key...

The beach is just over the hill and beyond a gulley and the weather is cold this morning. It was 37 F overnight and right now, at 08:00 am it is up to 38 F (3 C) . today it should get up to about 60 F (16 C) here on the beach.
Our new friends, Donna and Duane from West Virginia left today after a month here at Playa Del Rio. They are headed for Emerald RV Park near Navarre Beach just about 45 minutes from here. Their big 5th wheel had 4 slides!

Off they go leaving site number 1 vacant again and returning a view of the horizon to us from our site 3. We will see them again soon since we are planning a day trip down the coast to Destin, Florida.