Here is an experiment. I have written a post on substack and am forwarding it to you. If you have a problem reading it please let me know either with a comment here or by email – reply to the email I sent you.
Paul
3 Generations at Letchworth
Yechiel, our eldest son, has been visiting in Rochester as he flies from Israel to Lod Angeles. His 59th birthday, today as I write, prompted the stop. As we planned the time he asked to visit Letchworth State Park and we set out to comply. As happens with all plans things change and instead of five of us we ended up with three guys, including Josh, Yechiel and me in order of age. Josh has been to the park recently. Yechiel thinks maybe once when he was growing up here and I have not been in several years although it was a regular trip as the kids were growing.
We started out with a wrong direction which took us to the Mount Morris Dam on the east side of the river, the park is on the west. This was serendipitous. The Visitor Center, staffed by one ranger, offered explanations of the reason for building a “dry dam” in this location. Dry as in there is no reservoir routinely backed up upstream of the dam, there are no turbines to generate power, just a dam to protect the region downstream from flooding. Four Corners in Rochester flooded about every seven years before the construction of the dam.
We moved on to tour the park from the northern end beginning with the western view of the dam and continued down to visit, briefly each of the significant overlooks and the three falls. We hiked down to the view of the Middle Falls from a stone bridge built by CCC in the thirties over the river. 137 steps down and back up resulted in my near total exhaustion. During our next walk to view the lower falls I begged off and let Yechiel and Josh go to the next overlook without me – see the distant picture of them from where I stopped.
Josh declared we had earned a hard cider, referring to a recommendation from the ranger to a hard cider place in Castile (note long I in Castile). We made a stop there in preparation for the drive back to Rochester. Highly recommend stopping at Three Falls Cidery in Castile both for the ambiance and the excellent selection of hard ciders.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5dmyzdG5jhMU7EdeA
Note I will be posting this on Substack as well, and I am considering moving this blog there. Use this link to subscribe
Planning ahead
In Jewish tradition we say life expectancy is 3 score years and 10 or by reason of strength 4 score years. So at age 83 it is time for a second bar mitzvah.
I have consulted the Rabbi and the Temple B’rith Kodesh Calendar and we have agreed that Parashat Bereshit is the ideal time for me to do that. A quick translation: Parashat is the weekly reading from the Torah that enables us to read the entire Five Books of Moses each year; Bereshit is the very first portion of Genesis and the word is most commonly translated as “In the Beginning” although a wonderful friend who is no longer living insisted it be read as “In the Big Inning”. This year that reading falls on October 18 a mere one day after my actual birthday.
The event will probably include a small celebration on the preceding Friday night with some fun treats for attendees – this is called an Oneg Shabbat – Oneg for Joy. Saturday morning during the Torah service, I will be called to come up to read from the Torah. This requires some practice since only the consonants are written. It is assumed tht is sffcnt t knw wht th wrds r, in a language that I am not fluent in. After the service we will have an extended Kiddush (read that as grazing food and spirits and wine).
The entire service will be available on zoom for those of you unable to make it to Rochester NY. Sorry, we will not arrange to provide remote Kiddush, maybe when we get together at another time and place.
In other news the motorhome remains unsold. I have lowered the asking price – $79,900. We have a “Rochester car” a Hyundai Hybrid that should not have to experience winter driving for many years.
Missing from this blog – Jazz Fest 🙁 The extensive walking and large crowds are daunting. The festival has started and we took time today to drive to Canandaigua to see a performance by the Garth Fagan Dance Company. If you have forgotten, Garth received many awards for his choreography of Lion King. It was a wonderful performance.
Next Friday we will be attending the opening of the Fingerlakes Art Show. A Juried show and Rohma, our grandson’s partner, got a water color in. Hers was one of 90 accepted out of over 2000 submissions. We will be there to cheer her on when the Juror’s awards are announced. We will also get to vote in the Member’s Choice award. Here is a link to her web site and some of her work.
We are not sitting back and watching the world go by.
Waiting
Not to hurry time. Not even particularly anxious, but waiting. Not for Godot either. Back in January as some may remember, we decided to keep our place in Jojoba Hills SKP Resort, but to replace GeeWhiz the 36 foot motorhome that has been our home on wheels since 2012 with a destination trailer, that is a trailer we do not plan to ever move once it is sited on our lot 801. We waited for word that it was in production. We waited for word that the dealer had it in Ohio. We waited for word that the driver was finally hooked up to the trailer and then we waited while he drove it across the country, pausing for a day in Kansas to avoid windstorms.
He pulled into the parking area outside our gates at midnight and waited for us to wakeup and come down to let him in. I had measured carefully and was almost sure the trailer would fit with our hard awning. It does, with no inches to spare. One slide out topper awning is pressing lightly against a support for the awning and the space on the utility side is barely adequate for all our connections. As I am writing this the electric, water and sewer are all working and I have no doubt that the internet and phone will be fine when I connect them tomorrow, Sunday May 4.
We are waiting, still. To sell the motorhome, to fly to Rochester on May 22 for our Summer and Fall sojourn in the community we are from.
There is other waiting as well. Not anticipation just acknowledging the passage of time.
My Writing
That last post, mostly written by ChatGPT was accurate and totally without any sense of my own voice. I promise not to do that again.
Way too much time has passed since I have written anything. In that time we have had a tragedy in the park – a murder/arson – that fortunately ended with “only” the loss of one life; another Carol who was known and beloved and who never stopped working when others were falling over and the one site. We have had birthdays, in 80’s and 90’s and even some 70’s. We have had a peaceful transfer of power and somehow, now that I am no longer on the Board, I find myself chairing the Finance Committee.
Carol tries to keep up with all her activities and spent 5 days in hospital for cardiac problems. She is home and working as we prepare to replace the coach with a trailer. Here is a link to pictures of the new trailer on the dealer’s lot as sent by the salesman: https://www.couchsrvnation.com/inventory/view/30800 There is much more interior storage space and almost no external storage. Since we won’t be traveling in it the external storage space which we have used for campground essentials will not be missed. And it has a dishwasher!
We are only now seeing how much stuff we have accumulated that will not be transferred to the trailer or to our shed. Its not the stuff we use everyday and is readily visible, but stuff we have squirreled away in hidden compartments under the bed and behind the sofas. Some is just our inability to part with perfectly good things we don’t need, others are things we “may” need again someday. I think we have a minor case of packrat here, mostly me. We are making weekly trips to the “Yard Sale Shed” all this stuff will be offered in a massive yard sale run by the social group in the park in early October. Each year the sale nets over $15,000 which is used for social events in the park and to provide some benefit to the community around us.
I’ll stop here (actually did that yesterday) and post what I have, maybe I’ll even get back to writing more now.
Oh in case you missed it, here is a link to the for sale page for GeeWhiz
From Mobile Lifestyle to Fixed Location A ChatGPT Response
It has been a while since I have posted anything. Life has gone on with its ups and downs. Our new trailer is at the dealer and will be here in a week or so and so much more. BUT I was thinking about the transition we are experiencing from extensive travel to planned dual location stability and I posed the issue to ChatGPT to write a blogpost on the subject in the title. What follows is the output of that query. I doubt I will do this again.
From Mobile Lifestyle to Fixed Location: Embracing Stability in a Changing World
In the age of rapid technological advancement and a culture of constant movement, the mobile lifestyle has become the epitome of freedom. The ability to work remotely, travel at a moment’s notice, and experience new places at every turn has captivated the imaginations of millions. But for some, the allure of stability and a more rooted existence has started to shine through. Moving from a mobile lifestyle to a fixed location can seem daunting, yet it holds potential for a deeper sense of belonging, productivity, and peace. In this post, we explore the journey from a nomadic existence to settling into a fixed location, and why it might just be the lifestyle change we need.
The Appeal of the Mobile Lifestyle
The concept of a mobile lifestyle—whether it’s working from different cities, living out of a van, or constantly being on the go—has gained significant popularity in recent years. Digital nomads, remote workers, and even full-time travelers have embraced the idea of mobility. With the rise of Wi-Fi, flexible job opportunities, and the desire to see the world, it’s no surprise that many people are opting for this lifestyle.
Some of the major benefits of a mobile lifestyle include:
-
Freedom: The ability to pick up and go wherever your heart desires, without being tied to one location.
-
Flexibility: Creating your own schedule and working from virtually anywhere, whether it’s a beach in Bali or a café in Paris.
-
Adventure: Constant exposure to new experiences, cultures, and opportunities, making life feel like one big adventure.
-
Personal Growth: Living in different environments pushes you to adapt, learn, and grow in ways that would be difficult in a static location.
However, for some, the thrill of mobility can start to wear thin. The constant flux, the feeling of always being in transition, and the search for the next destination can lead to burnout or a longing for deeper roots.
The Shift to a Fixed Location: Why It’s Becoming More Attractive
In contrast, a fixed location offers the stability and grounding that a mobile lifestyle lacks. This change isn’t necessarily about rejecting adventure or personal growth, but rather about embracing a more settled existence that prioritizes long-term stability and deeper connections.
Here are some reasons why many are making the switch to a fixed location:
-
A Sense of Belonging and Community
When you’re constantly on the move, it can be difficult to forge long-lasting relationships or become truly integrated into a community. A fixed location allows you to build meaningful connections with friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Whether it’s finding a tight-knit group at a local café or joining community events, feeling rooted in one place fosters a sense of belonging that can be hard to achieve on the road. -
Improved Productivity and Focus
A mobile lifestyle often involves juggling multiple tasks in different environments, and while that may sound exciting, it can also lead to a scattered or fragmented routine. In a fixed location, you can create a dedicated workspace, develop a more structured daily routine, and establish clearer boundaries between work and personal life. For many people, this is a game-changer in terms of productivity. -
Mental and Physical Health
The stress of constantly planning your next move, dealing with travel logistics, and adjusting to new places can take a toll on your mental and physical health. A fixed location allows you to establish a sense of stability that can lead to improved mental well-being. The consistency of knowing where you’ll be each day can reduce anxiety and create space for self-care routines, exercise, and quality sleep. -
Financial Stability
Although the mobile lifestyle can be financially freeing, it can also be unpredictable. Constant travel can mean fluctuating income, unstable living costs, and the challenges of maintaining long-term savings. By committing to a fixed location, you can budget more effectively, establish a steady source of income, and plan for the future with greater ease. -
Space for Personal Projects and Growth
A fixed location provides the physical space you need to start a home-based business, nurture personal hobbies, or dive into long-term creative projects. The absence of constant movement gives you the opportunity to invest time and energy into things that matter to you, whether it’s writing a book, learning an instrument, or cultivating a garden.
How to Transition from Mobile to Fixed Location
Making the switch from a mobile lifestyle to a fixed location is not always an easy process, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Here are some steps to help you ease into this transition:
-
Choose the Right Location
Think carefully about where you want to settle. Consider factors like cost of living, lifestyle amenities, weather, and proximity to family and friends. It’s important to choose a place that aligns with your values and aspirations. -
Create a Routine
Establish a daily routine that incorporates work, exercise, social activities, and leisure. Having a solid routine will help you transition from the chaos of travel to a more grounded lifestyle. -
Build a Support System
Invest time in building relationships with people in your new community. Join local clubs, attend events, and reach out to others who share your interests. The sense of connection will help you feel more at home. -
Set Goals for Personal Growth
Even though you’re settling into one location, there’s still plenty of room for growth and adventure. Set long-term personal goals, whether it’s taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill, or traveling to nearby places. -
Embrace the Joy of Stability
Don’t underestimate the power of stability. Sometimes, the most fulfilling moments in life come from simple routines and being present where you are.
Conclusion
Moving from a mobile lifestyle to a fixed location may feel like a step in a new direction, but it offers unique rewards that can enhance your personal and professional life. It’s a shift from the transient to the lasting, from freedom to rootedness, and from constant change to lasting stability. Whether you’re seeking stronger connections, better mental health, or a more balanced lifestyle, embracing the fixed location life can provide the foundation for a deeper, more fulfilling experience. So, while the mobile lifestyle may continue to beckon with its sense of adventure, settling down in one place can offer a sense of peace, purpose, and connection that is equally valuable.
Time for Change
We left Mary Poppins in high spirits, It was a marvelous performance of a timeless wonderful musical. The next morning we prepared the coach for travel back to Jojoba Hills with some mixed feelings. This was likely to be the last time we hooked everything up for a road trip. After some negotiation with Carol we agreed to take the short route over the mountain with many switchbacks up the Palms to Pines Highway eventually bringing us through Anza to Aguanga. As we setup back on our site in Jojoba Hills we still were not sure of our next step.
Fast forward 3 weeks past a wonderful New Years Eve Dinner Dance in our Friendship Hall. Past one last Board Meeting as a board member. And past getting together with several members of the park who have a variety of trailers. What better way to shop than seeing units in use in the park and hearing from friends and neighbors about the pluses and minuses of their units. We noted that the most common new units in the park are Cottage Destination Trailers by Cedar Creek, a division of Forest River. Here is the floor plan of the trailer we decided on:
We are replacing the King bed with a Queen since that is what we are used to and it provides more space in the bedroom.
The order has been placed and we hope to see it delivered by late March or early April.
Shortly after our return from Palm Springs we got word the Bolt was finally ready to be picked up. I drove the Jeep to the shop and left it to have some dents and scratches sorted out and drove the Bolt home. I look forward to selling the Jeep and reclaiming our status as a one car household in California. We will need to buy something for use in Rochester. GeeWhiz will be placed on the market as soon as we have transferred our stuff to the trailer.
Today we drove to Julian, 6,000 feet up in the mountains. It is a former gold mining town that discovered apples when the gold played out and we brought home a Julian Apple Pie. We enjoyed the drive and Julian was mobbed on a sunny, warm, winter, Saturday.
Shalom Roamers Rally
On the 17th of December we left for a long planned rally of the only FRVC (formerly FMCA) chapter we still belong to. We have not been very active since most of their activities have been east of the Mississippi and mostly in Florida. When this Rally in Palm Desert was announced, we decided to participate without even considering the likely activities. We have spent plenty of time in the area and have been to most of the sights.
The chosen venue, Emerald Desert RV Resort is pricey, but it offers the amenities needed for a rally, comfortable spaces near a rally room where we can gather for meals and conversation. It also offers nearby (very nearby) I 10 and a transcontinental railroad main line with plenty of traffic to keep us alert. Often when the big trains role through, the coach actually rocks.
But I get distracted. No RV trip seems to be complete without some sort of equipment mishap! About 45 minutes into a supposed 2 hour trip I got a fault alarm that a leveling jack was not fully retracted. A stop in a pull out let me determine that there was a problem that was not a show stopper, but I needed to silence the alarm which meant crawling under the dash to find a small annunciator and unscrew one connection. This took more time that it would have if I was 10 years younger. On to the rally with the alarm silenced. West Wind will come to our site in Jojoba Hills on Thursday to fix it.
Meals with the gang, all of whom are younger than us, have been fun. However the wonderful food is not generally on either of our diets. When the gang went off to tour the wind turbine farm we stayed back because we had done that with the Poleshuks several years ago. The next day they were going to take the tram to the top of the mountain and have lunch, neither Carol nor I felt the urge to repeat that experience. She elected to stay back while Bob and I went to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Once there we split up and I got to read labels and talk to many docents who were eager to share about the planes they were stationed near. I was particularly interested in the B17 “Memphis Belle” which was used in the movie of the same name. It is in the process of being completely rebuilt with the engine covers off and various major pieces, like the tail assembly, removed for repair.
Friday night we all went to Shabbat services at Temple Sinai (maybe the most common name for a Reform Temple). 15 of us were greeted and welcomed by members at a pre service oneg (happy time). The service was lively and very musical as the Cantorial Soloist, Wayne Abravanel, lead the singing from his seat at the piano and Rabbi David Novak lead a very relaxed and friendly service with a wonderful retelling of the Chanukah Story from a more realistic perspective than the children’s story. Dinner followed for the congregation and Carol and I had the privilege of sitting with the rabbi and cantor.
We are planning to go to a gallery or two as soon as we have some lunch. Tonight we will have dinner together with a football game on in the background then go off to Mary Poppins as a group.
Decisions Made and Remade
As we traveled It was becoming clear that driving cross country was no longer as much fun as it had been over the years. When we left Las Cruces, it was obvious all we wanted was to be off the road. We stopped at Saguaro SKP Resort in Benson AZ for the night. We rolled out early (for us) and sort of thought about going all the way to Peg Leg Road near Borrego Springs. We pulled in there just at dusk after 7 hours on the road. Since this a bare hunk of desert, setup consisted of leveling with the jacks and putting out the slides. In the morning we reversed the setup and Carol took us over the mountain pass to Jojoba Hills SKP Resort in just over an hour.
We considered this her last shift at the wheel as we had decided to sell the coach and release our site in the Spring. Enough, or so we thought. On Thanksgiving day we were driving to LA to be with Yechiel and Miriam K for the holiday. I suggested that we reconsider leaving Jojoba altogether. We knew we would need to have someplace to go when winter got to be too much for us and what better place than our winter home. As we talked it became clear that neither of us really want to leave Jojoba yet.
For now, the plan is to keep the coach on our site and fly in to use it in the winter and continue to be part of Jojoba Hills community for the time being. All of this planning is made with the knowledge that people plan and God laughs, but without a plan where is the humor?
Report from the Road
We had a great time in Dallas visiting friends and battling road construction to get anyplace. Also rain which found its way into the coach in a couple of places dampened our pleasure.
We had a lovely Shabbat with Deb Friedman and Scott Mackler going to Kabbalat Shabbat and then out to dinner. We mostly spent time catching up on 10 years and talking about our plans for the next 10 years. Given the rain and traffic I agreed that Uber was the way to get around Dallas with the least strain. It was great, I was even able to have a drink at dinner without worrying about driving.
Saturday we got in the car and drove to Aubrey TX, just north of Dallas, to visit with Dora. For those who don’t remember Dora was the aide who took care of my Mom in the Jewish Home for five years as the primary daily caregiver. We had become quite close and have visited with her as travels and time permit for the ensuing 13 years.
Fortunately the rains stopped and the interior of the coach dried out as we continued west with a stop in Clyde TX, just east of Abilene at a Boon Dockers Welcome home where we managed to add another stripe on the Jeep getting out the gate. The next stop was Monahans Sand Hill State Park just west of Odessa where we arrived early with no reservation and got a great spot. The Ranger who spotted us after we setup told us we needed to stop at the office (4 miles back) to pay for our stay. We have usually arrived after the office closed and just took what we could find and paid the Iron Ranger (a lockbox with forms to complete). We needn’t have worried as the park remained almost empty – 3 other campers in the place. I had disconnected the car and driven back to the office to secure the site and pay.
Since leaving Dallas we have been following the route of the Union Pacific RR and finally managed to camp within 250 yards of the track for a night in Van Horn TX. This town is wedged between the railroad line and I 10. Great white noise for sleeping with the exception of the occasional train horn. We actually sleep fairly well and find the silence of the desert a bit disconcerting.
The route from Monahans brought us through El Paso – OY. We lost an hour to an accident which forced all four lanes of traffic off onto the frontage road for one exit. Then as we got rolling into NM there was another significant slowdown costing another 20 minutes. We were very happy to pull into Hacienda RV by 3 PM and just setup and rest.
Oh, the roof leak! We have spent enough time in Las Cruces over the years to know a really good mobile RV Tech, Richards RV Service. With the hope that he was still around, I called the number in my phone and got in touch with Richard. As I am writing he has just left after sealing all the penetrations in the roof. This is something I have done faithfully every 6 months until the last couple of years. I am no longer willing to climb a ladder up to the 12′ foot high roof. Falling would really hurt. While he was here he verified that the problem with the windshield washer is the pump has failed. If he can find one in town he will bring it back and install it.
We are here until Saturday morning. When we leave we will have three nights more to get to Jojoba Hills on Tuesday morning. I doubt I will make the 10 AM Board working meeting, but you never know.