We have not been on a trip really this year as each time we planned one, something happened. We traditionally go away for my birthday and planned to be away for 5 days for it. We were to leave on Monday and return home overnight Friday to Saturday. Once again our plans went awry. A huge nor’easter (for those not from the U.S. this is a MAJOR wind and rain storm and is considered a winter storm, even though it does not involve snow) was to hit us Sunday through Monday. Luckily we had not made reservations at the RV park in advance - this time of year the parks are usually not anywhere near full here in the northeast U.S. and since we go midweek - we avoid the possibility of the park filling with weekend guests - as well as avoiding the crowds that come to the Pennsylvania Dutch country.
When we going on Monday we planned to start packing the RV on Sunday night with plenty of time on Monday to finish doing so as we would not be in a rush. I made up the bed in the RV last week to have it done in advance - I pull the blanket and sheets over the pillows to keep them free of dust.
I have a checkoff sheet that I keep in the computer and print out each trip to make sure we don’t forget anything. The check off sheet includes a section on things to be done in advance - making the bed, filling the water tanks, checking supplies such as toilet paper, tissues, paper goods, soaps & paper towels, and so on. Then there is a section on personal items - clothes, shoes, jackets, my embroidery - I don’t list the clothing items individually as we know what we need in clothes. I have a food section as we bring items for snack - soda, cracker, water, cereal - and on longer trips I will bring soup, peanut butter and bread - just in case. We have never used the latter, although one lunch time in a bad rain storm we came close. There is a section of electronics to come - laptops and such. There is a section of paper items to bring - coupon holders, directions, reservations (I actually keep an envelope for each of our regular trips for reservations, coupons and other papers I want to bring). There is also a section of what to do before we leave - unplug the washer, turn off the dryer and stove breakers, take out the garbage when we leave. And, lastly, there is a section of what needs to be done when we return - what not to forget in the RV when it is unpacked, turn off the refrigerator, lights and RV battery, and related matters. Very organized -right?
We were planning to go to a farmers’ market on Tuesday so we had to be out and on the way early (for us). I packed the RV Monday night except for our “last minute bag” which has things we need the night before so they cannot be prepacked and my laptop computer. Our plan was for me to call and make a reservation Tuesday morning just after 9 am as the RV park office opens at same. I called. I got a message telling me the office opens at 9 am - at 9:10 am. I left a message to call me back and we kept going. Husband was upset about what would happen if there was no RV space available. I pointed out that he keeps telling me the RV need to be driven; he was looking forward to going to the farmers’market, and I wanted to be away for my birthday (if you have not calculated - this is Halloween - there is much less of same where we were going than at home). I told him that at worst we would have had a day trip and accomplished all 3 things and would come home that night. We left. When we leave I direct him to back out of our driveway using walkie talkies. We also use these for me to direct him into the space at the RV park. Since it was Halloween we wanted to make sure that the house did not look too different as if we were away, so when he was out of the driveway, I drove one of our other cars into where the RV usually sits - and then ran and got into the RV and we were off.
Along the way - around 11 am - I finally was able to make reservations, although not for any of the spaces we prefer - and so far this trip 2 of the 3 spaces we prefer have remained empty and the 3rd was empty tonight. The trip down was actually better than most - much less traffic. When we got to the farmers’ market it was freezing - or at least it felt so to me. I had on 2 sweatshirts and wished I had brought gloves. I had thought of treating myself to ice cream
for lunch for my birthday - there is a stand at the market (actually they are at both markets we go to) that always has a crowd and the ice cream looks yummy, so I thought I would go off my diet and have it for lunch - I planned this last year and the stand was closed. This year it was open, but I was so cold, I could not imagine doing so. We went around at the market and then had dinner (mine was free as it was my birthday) took a walk around Walmart (as we normally do) and went to the RV park.
Being level is very important in an RV - or doors will not open or will fall open and one is uncomfortable. One problem, while driving today on the trip here, I realized that we only had one walkie talkie - the other one I had left in the car at home when I moved it! I waited until we were in Walmart to mention it to husband and quickly suggested alternatives - including buying a pair of walkie talkies in Walmart (which is why I told him then). We decided we would deal with it by using our cell phones. The only level spot we could find in this space was on an odd angle - which we would have to duplicate the next two nights when we came back at the end of the day. We then settled in for the night.
I checked email on my (this laptop) and unpacked the last minute bag. Then we went to get ready for bed. The bed in the RV consists of two bench seats which face each other and two pieces of wood which slide between them and then the bench seat cushions are rearranged into the bed. I was kneeling down to store the laptop and some other items under the bed (the center which would be the aisle between the bench seats is used for storage) and as I bent down towards the bed - WHACK!!! I slammed my head into one of the insert wood pieces. I figured out that I had not pushed it all the way into position between the beds, so where I thought was an open space or wood covered with cushion - was the wood. Owwwww! We checked and there is no bump or bruise. I checked for signs of concussions - none - I made sure to stay awake for several hours to make sure. Tonight, 24 hours later my forehead still hurts if I move the muscles in my face a certain way or if I (or husband who of course does so often to make sure I am okay) touch it.
It was so cold that we had turn on the propane to run the propane furnace in the RV. We had to be very careful and many things could not go where they normally go at night and that nothing flammable was near the furnace. We made it through and should not need the furnace tonight (there is alternate heat down to 40F from a heat sink in the air conditioner).
I then took our medications to take and to replace in our pocket pill boxes to take today. I forgot the over the counter vitamins and such that the doctor has I take - they are either sitting on our kitchen table or my dresser at home. Oh well, at least we have the prescription medications.
Unfortunately all of this mess is becoming more and more common when we take trips. No matter how organized and prepared we think we are - we are not. Well, somehow we always deal with what needs to be dealt with.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK -
Mistakes happen. There is nothing to do but go ahead as well as possible. No matter how much I try to figure out in advance what can happen and what to do - something else will happen and will need to be dealt with all one can do is one’s best.
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