RV Lifestyle in Midst of Pandemic

I think the things mentioned in this article  crossed my mind at one point, early in the midst of COVID, but there wasn't a lot of time to develop the thought 

Benefits of RV in midst of pandemic

Full-timing during COVID19

I moved to a very rural area almost two years ago.  Rural as in, my neighbors are cattle,  I can throw a rock in any direction and not hit a neighbor and there's owls out here. As a result this park does not have laundry facilities or a shower.

I have not used the shower inside the RV for an extended period of time,  three years or more.  The trailer was built in 1989. The plastic in the shower has gotten brittle and has been for an extended period of time.  I've patched it, or tried to, several times. When I moved the plastic tubs I use for camping no longer fit under my trailer, so I stored them in the shower.

I have been visiting the gym on my way to work.  This allowed me a shower with more than 6 gallons of hot water. After a period of time I began actually using my membership to workout.  I was making a healthier routine.

COVID19 hit almost two weeks ago.

First they shut down the gym. I started using the sink to bathe.  I used either the office or the porch to workout. Again, settling into a new routine. 

Before COVID I had been kept awake a few nights by the distinct sound of a mouse!!! I went looking for bait. I don't need a mouse. Don't want a mouse! He must go!! I started cleaning up anything and everything thst could attract a mouse.

They closed the office where I work a week ago. I informed my manager I would not be able to work at home because I don't have internet.  I don't have cell phone reception once I leave my drive way, so how could I have internet.  There wasn't any other conversation about it. I focused on getting rid of the mouse. If I was going to have to  move to work at home, this mouse and I were not going to share this space.  I bought some bait. I got focused on cleaning up, and not on plans for work during the COVID outbreak. 

They did close the office. The city and the county where the office is issued a shelter in place order.  I had to move to work at home, or take PTO. There's one internet provider in my area, and its satellite internet, which can be unreliable. I have no where to set up a work station.  The only place for me to sit is my bed. If i hadn't been so focused on getting rid of that mouse I could have taken some measures to create a work station, but I was focused on the present moment.

I began to take steps to move in with my parents outside of Amarillo, TX.  There would be advantages to this. I could have a private office space and internet.  Management came back with a letter stating I'm essential staff and I could continue to work from the office. At that point,  I had been making moves toward moving in with my family and found it hard to put the brakes on that plan. So I continued with that plan.

That night I packed the car. I was ready to go. I would have room to move, free internet and I'd be moving from urban area to rural, with hope of being less likely to contract the virus.  The next morning,  I woke up with a sore throat.  Maybe it was allergies, maybe I was dehydrated or maybe it was COVID.  All plans to stay with my family came to a screeching halt! I ended up sleeping ALL day. That night I had a headache. I called in, as that too, is one of the symptoms.  Now that the day is done I've determined the sore throat was related to being dehydrated. I was focused on packing up my work station and then my car, not drinking water.  I determined the headache was from caffeine withdrawal.

I spent the day trying to get rid of the mouse. I've seen him, and named him Henry.  It's easier to curse at a named creature, than an unnamed creature.  I also got the shower ready to use. With the gym closed, I have been trying to take sink baths. In the midst of the virus, somehow I don't think that kind of bath is enough.

I've got the shower ready to be used as it was intended to be used. 

In a month I'll think back on this and laugh, right?  Not quite, maybe three months, or closer to six.

Some wise person, most likely my brother, taught me as I was learning the RV Lifestyle that if the TV or radio are so loud you can hear it outside your trailer, then it's too loud.  Doesn't everyone know this? Does anyone around here have any common sense?  It doesn't look like it.

I know I need to find another RV Park and move.  If I were to leave by morning that wouldn't be soon enough! 

While I was out Saturday I received a call from the RV Park.  I let it go to voice mail and later found someone had complained my septic hose is leaking.  The previous neighbor ran over it, more than once, with his truck.  I have seen the small children who now live there stomping on the hose.  Of course it's going to to bust a leak.  I contemplated what to do.  I could 1) cut holes it in the hose with a pocket knife and then empty my tanks, (2) I could let it be and not do anything, or (3) I could go buy a new one.  Option 2 would be doing exactly what the neighbors do, take my time getting around to it.  Option 1 sounds fun, but I took option 3.   I spoke with a friendly neighbor who is a plumber who helped me protect the hose inside of a PVC Pipe.  The kids may still step on it, but PVC is stronger than the hose itself. 

The neighbors who most likely made the complaint are the same ones who had a busted grey water tank 2 months ago.  They are likely the same neighbors who park so close to my space and evidently have no concept of personal space. But....

So last night I called it an early night.  Usually quiet hours are 10pm-7am during the week.  I don't know what the quiet hours are during the weekend.  As I was trying to wind down, there's sounds of loud booms outside.  I have no idea what it is and I'm too lazy to go find out.  10 o'clock rolls around and it's still going on.  I give it another hour, since it's the weekend, and it's still going on.  At some point I called the office and left a voice mail.  Banging on the door.  Slamming car doors.  Sounds of someone running.  An hour later and it's still going on and someone has leaned up against, or propped themselves against my trailer because it's rocking, on more than one occasion.  Really?  Really?!!!  I called non-emergency law enforcement.  They came by and nothing.  No one was outside.  I should have asked the officer to check on the small children inside.  

I called the office again, before it opened and left them a message letting them know about the situation.  But now I wonder, will anything change?  It hasn't yet.  These folks have no idea of personal space. 

Can I have my space back please?

I'm tired of this SHIT!  I pay for the use of this space for this period of time and I would hope that gives me my privacy during that time. 

This is "My space" for this time.  As long as I follow the rules shouldn't I get my privacy? 

I'm so tired of people using my space!  Whether to park on or give them something to do.  My other neighbor, not the one with the car, rakes my leaves.  He is not part of the Outdoor Maintenance Crew. He just does it.  I have asked him not to, on more than one occasion!  He moves my stuff and gets under my trailer, that's my private space.  I don't need anyone rooting around under my space.  I have nothing to hide, it feels like an invasion of my privacy.  If he wants to rake the leaves then ask.  The same for laying the ant poison.  If he would ask I wouldn't come unglued!!  I keep my space clean.  I don't have trash laying around.  I do not let yard waste accumulate.  Why my space and not the guy on the nice side of the park with trash and empty boxes on his site for months at a time? 

I have wanted to let him know how very uncomfortable this is in the last few weeks.  I had some leaves in the yard that I got pulled out on Saturday.  I came home two days later and they were raked.  I called the Management Office left a message to let them know it had happened and I did not appreciate it. I went to the neighbor and calmly reminded him I had asked him not to rake my leaves.  I gradually climbed the stairs to his trailer as a demonstration of how uncomfortable it is when someone is in his space.  I told him to stay out of my space.  Things escalated and he told me to get out of his house.  I was not in his house, but I am sure he felt like it since I was close to him. 

Granted this neighbor does not work.  He sits around bored as a result, so cleaning people's yards gives him something to do, but I am not his project.  

It is my space!  I pay for the use of this space.  I consistently feel my privacy is being invaded.