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Published: February 21st 2020
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The one with the need to catch up
Been a long time, right? Where to begin, where to begin. I will go back and look at my pictures and Facebook check ins and share the great memories with you.
Breaking camp at Thousand Trails Clermont is always tough. Sad to say goodbye to good friends, and doubly sad this year because it will be my last visit there in my RV. I did check out the cost of renting a permanent structure in 2021 and that will be cheaper than all I spent on my RV for a year. And some of them are dog friendly, if that should happen.
The drive to Florilow Oaks is an easy one, over the river and thru the woods past cattle farms and “cement mines and factories.” My loyal readers will remember, Florilow is a small over age 55 campground with permanent structures, trailers and fifth wheels that have been semi permanently mounted to the ground and spaces for transients like me. This is a winter community of approx. 80 campsites, maybe 50 “owners” the rest being renters. As near as I can figure out, somewhere between 6 and
12 are here year round. The rest are snowbirds, like me. My assigned site, 512, is right next to the rec hall complex. This is a good thing, I don’t have far to go for all the activities, mailboxes (yes, I have my own mailbox here) and laundry room. I am right near the back door, which gets limited use, so that’s not an issue. The only issue is the air conditioner for the rec hall. It is a massive unit attached to the exterior of the building next to the back door. When it cycles on the earth moves. I can certainly deal with it as it gets turned off overnight. Really, no complaint there.
You must be 55 or older to own or rent here, and they prefer singles. There are some couples, pretty much people who have met here and continue to rent or own. There is a good amount of turnover, because you can’t live here if you cannot take care of yourself. The occasional ride to the doctor’s office by a neighbor is ok, but meals on wheels or dialysis is not ok. I remember years ago there were sites/units for sale for years,
but all of a sudden, a few younger people have bought in and really snazzed up their rigs. A new manager has made other owners clean up the junk piles around their sites, and many buildings were painted and roads repaired. There is only one site and unit for sale. You must buy what the current owner says……just the lot, or lot and rig, and I think the price of the rig on that lot is overpriced. Most other sites sell quickly. Current owners have right of first refusal on any new listing, and that happens frequently – trading up to a nicer place. Once you are a ‘shareholder’ you have annual dues, which fluctuate depending on current needs. I think the winter renters supplement the income greatly. I met up with friend Joanne here whom you should remember from earlier. There are many old friends from other Loners on Wheels groups who I have camped with in the past, and I met many new friends as well. I have tried to meet one of the more senior residents when I can. Marci is an example. I wanted to go to Mass my first Sunday here and I asked who
Flea Market Finds
Large bag of assorted thread, $5 might take me. I was hooked up with Marci for my 4 Sundays here. She was hurt the Sunday I begged off for the craft show and left me the weekly bulletin tucked in my door. Eileen is here with her daughters (yes, over 55). She is frail, really needs some help, so the girls come and help her out for 2 months. She plays Mexican Train like a fanatic. David has some neuromuscular disease, and he is updating his entire unit to be one level….very challenging. He is selling his electric bike, and talked to me about it, but it is too much bike for me and my short trips around Wilmington.
The residents range from the newest who was just 55, to over 90. Some are frail and don’t drive, but most lead active lives. Many my age go on distance bike rides and kayak, and there is a talk of a Segway trip next week. Every night there are a variety of games played, from poker to cribbage to hand and foot, Mexican Train, pegs and jokers, and the ever popular 31. I join in for Train and hand and foot, and they play a variation
called hand, knee, and foot, which I have not been lucky enough to join yet. There is a weekly hot dog roast on Sundays, and social breakfast on Wednesdays. There is pot luck every other week, and holiday parties abound. A few of the residents have a specialty they make to feed everyone, and a minimal amount is charged to cover expenses. Day trips are planned by the residents and renters and include bike rides, kayaking, breakfast, lunch, or dinner, movies, plays, you get the idea. I could be busy all day every day. Saying no is tough to a trip to a newly discovered thrift shop. I have been watching what I eat, so lunches out at local eateries is sometimes salad or other times fried catfish. I passed on the hot fudge sundae the other day and that was painful.
A day trip to a wonderful craft fair near Ocala gave me a new orchid/bromeliad combination plant, a twig to start a new plumeria, and a few air fern holders. I love that show!
A trip to the local SPCA was sad. So many homeless dogs, so many pit bulls and pit bull mixes. All look
so sad. But, nothing there for me. No way will I take a pit bull with an unknown past. I have stopped everyone I have seen with a greyhound and spoke to them about the experience of owning a retired race dog. All say the same thing, loveable couch potatoes who need exercise once every three days. I can handle that and will contact my local rescue association when I get home.
A day trip to Webster Flea Market where I met Ginnie and Kim, put nothing in my bag, but Kim got some Fiestaware from the nice ‘fiesta lady.’ I walked 12K steps that day knee hurt. The very next day 3 of us visited 2, yes TWO wildlife refuges with Springs and Manatees. Another 12K step day, and my knee really ached. I took 2 days off from anything while I let my body recover.
The Valentine’s day party was great. The one-man band entertainment played lots of great music, and everyone danced, I was impressed, and got asked to dance myself. Some have been practicing line dancing and gave a demonstration. I know, sounds hokey, but it was fun. Fireball jello shots and spiked sherbet
punch were big hits with all!
I have been trying to ride my bike every day. I guess I am doing 4 out of 7 days. This is a 20-inch tire size collapsible bike, not the easies to ride. For 3 weeks I was riding it in 12
th speed. No wonder my legs felt like jello after a short distance! It was so hard to initiate pedaling. Now I am used to it. Hopefully that will translate to 4 miles when I get home to my bigger bike which is easier to pedal.
There is a yard sale planned for my next to last day here. Very good for me! I will put my table up right in front of the RV and sell everything I can. I will donate some items to Florilow so they can add to their recreation fund, but I will price everything else to sell. Rug, Weber grill, camp chairs, Coleman lantern, the bike, you get the idea. This is really good for me, because much of this stuff would never sell at a regular garage sale at home. This exercise will help me really get used to the idea of not having
an RV in my life.
Kat out
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