Moving Adventures

I had known for months I was going to eventually move, but I did not know when or where to.  A couple of years ago my parents gave me a pick up to use for moving my trailer because they knew I would be moving and it would be helpful for me.  In the last several years it has not been road worthy.  As my need to move became more obvious and it became more apparent I would be moving sooner than later my Dad began to work on the pick up.  It needed a catalytic converter kit, new tires, spark plugs, registration sticker, inspection sticker, brakes, etc. 

I was offered and accepted a position with an agency in Austin and began looking at RV parks closer to work.  I called the RV park I last lived in while in Austin and was told they did not have any current vacancies and did not have any openings in the for-see-able future.  When I spoke with a friend who still lives in the park he said they currently have openings.  I deduced it sounded as though the manager did not want me back.  My friend confirmed this and said the manager came to this decision a while back.  In hindsight I think it has something to do with me informing the owner that one of the staff members was living in the office, which has no private living space.  This staff member was using the public bathroom to wash and hang his laundry.  I was sad to not be able to return to this park since it would have been close to work and I already had something of a community here.  I was somewhat relieved I would not have to return to some of the drama that continues in that community.

I continue to find it difficult to find a place to live because my trailer is more than 10 years old.  Some parks will not take an RV that is older than 1989.  This time I found out it has to do with the electrical wiring that makes it a fire hazard.  Holiday Rambler, my make, changed their wiring to meet this code in 1988.  In calling various RV parks I found one close to the lake that seemed appealing.  When I called to inquire about the regulations I was informed they do not allow people to leave the park to go to work, but their residents live in this park for recreational purposes only.  That is the first time I heard of this regulation.  I began to wish that when I bought the trailer five years ago and stayed at an RV park in downtown Austin that I would have put my name on their wait list, which at that time was 2 years long.  I stayed for two weeks, paying a weekly rate, which was not practical long term and would have negated one reason I chose to buy an RV. 

I found one park that is both RV park and Donkey Farm.  In my traveling around looking for RV parks I found a sign that said, "RV park next right."  I turned right, into an RV park, and as I did I noticed the sign that read, "55+" and realized it was an RV park for people over the age of 55.  As I entered I recognized several empty spaces and convinced myself they would allow me to park here, even temporarily because it would be better to have the space filled and income than empty and no income.  I noticed the lots were somewhat large with considerable space between each lot.  Several mature trees.  The road could use some maintenance as it was rather rough.  Although I followed the signs I ended up pulling in to an RV site and had some difficulty backing out, which could be a problem if I moved in.  As I continued to drive around the park I realized there were no RVs parked here.  Then I drove by the laundry facilities and saw the sign that the park was closed.  I contemplated whether it was closed for the season or permanently.  Bummer!

Co-workers told me of an RV park that I went to check out.  The park has culture, a "down home Texas" atmosphere with art and stuff.  The rates are about $75 more than others and it is further from work and the things I enjoy doing, so I passed on it.

I found a place to move the trailer to and live.  The owners live on site and when I visited they were cleaning the bathroom, which is more than the park I moved from ever cleaned their bathroom. 

Moving day has come.  Dad is coming down in the pick up.  He has taken "my truck" to U-Haul and had them install the electric brake hook up.  Staff told him they installed it according to current standards.  Dad was prepared to drive in one day and move the next day.  One of the first things we found was my trailer hitch is 2 5/8inch and he had a 2 inch ball hitch, so off to find a new hitch.  When Dad packed he thought he would drive the truck down and fly back, so he did not bring his tools with him.  So, we had to buy tools to change the ball hitch.  None of my friends in town had the right tools, which are not commonly found in a tool box.  We get the ball hitch changed and the trailer hooked up.

Before we leave the park Dad realizes he does not have brakes on the trailer.  He had trailer brakes installed in the truck and nothing was working.  We pulled off to the side and he had to change the way the electric brake mechanism was hooked up.  Neither of us knew the schematic and how it was supposed to be and apparently every maker has a different system and it varies by year.  We hit the road.  We are on a small two lane road in rural Texas.  Dad calls me and informs me he needs air as he thinks he either has a flat or is about to have a flat.  It's miles and miles and miles before we see a gas station.  He did not have a flat, but all of the tires needed air.  Because of the time we decided to pass on lunch.  I was hoping to take Dad to the Antler Cafe, which has antlers of all kids, mounted on the ceiling.  We'll have to do it another time on another day.  Later we find that one of the trailer tires has a hole in the sidewall, although it is not leaking air.  In moving we avoided the interstate and took the most direct back road, which means some of the roads were two lanes for long stretches of time.  Sorry, but we can only go so fast and we'll try to give you room to pass, but there's only so much one can do.  We hit the suburbs and it's dark.  Dad realized he did not have any lights, no tail lights, no brake lights and no running lights.  I called a friend to meet us and follow Dad so I can then lead Dad to the trailer park.  We pull the trailer into a site and unhook it. 

One of the things I do when moving the trailer is to pour some dish washing granules in the black water tank and add ice.  This helps clean the tank as traveling down the road.  The weather was so cold the ice in the tank did not melt during the move or over night.  Dad and I hooked up the electric, water and sewage the following day.  Since I had food in the fridge it was important to get the electric hooked up, although it was cool enough at night I was not concerned about it.  It was the following day, two days after the move, that I realized I had turned the fridge off for the move and had never turned it back on.  So, regardless, the food in the fridge spoiled.

The week of Thanksgiving I had three friends whose fathers' died.  I was very grateful to be able to spend time with my Dad and to have his help.  I have always enjoyed tackling projects with my Dad and this was just as exciting.  The owners of the park I left informed me to call them when I was preparing to move because they wanted to be there to help me.  I have moved this RV more often than them.  My first thought was, "Really, when I have asked for help in the past you've not been available or willing to help and now that I don't want or need your help you are offering it?  Really?"  I planned to call them as I was pulling out of the park to let them know I was out.  One of the owners saw us and asked if we needed help.  I responded no, but thank you.  That was all.  I was anticipating so much more drama, like punches being thrown!  Although, grateful it was much less dramatic! 

The new park is cleaner than the last!  I am right off of a County Road and across the street from a construction site.  The road noise is loud, so I often plug in a movie to act as background noise so I can sleep.  The road noise acts as an alarm clock in the morning.  The park does not have a lot of full timers and it does not appear people just hang out outside and chat, so I  have not met a lot of my neighbors.  In some ways that's cool, more anonymity.  In other ways, I wish I knew more of my neighbors to build a community.

I'm looking for that community in my new neighborhood.  I have a few ideas and have been trying them out over the last several weeks.