A Winter Home

We have landed in Casa Grande at the Fiesta Grande RV Resort... very probably will be staying here for 5 month winter season. It is south of Phoenix 45 miles. A mid-size town about 25 thousand, I think. Bike-able when I get in shape.

It is a park restricted to 55+ ages which means we aren't exactly legal but people tend to think William is over 55. The restaurant last night gave him a senior citizen discount. If they only knew what a youngster he really is!

This resort has a rather decent paperback novel collection. Haven't checked out the city library yet. The grocery and shopping mall is in biking distance. The laundry (2 of them) are here at the resort. Very clean too. They use a credit card kind of gizmo instead of having to dig up quarters. So 21st century!

There was a craft show today in the "ballroom". We walked up and found a local woman who sews RV sun shades. They hang down from the canopy and we bought one. The sun is so low now that they are almost a necessity.

Monday I am going to play bridge or at least watch enough to brush up on the game. Nothing scheduled for Sunday! Lordy, I could run every day!

I played bridge yesterday- I don't think I disgraced myself too badly.

I never thought I would be living in a resort for the winter, but at least I can say I had the experience. Very different way of life.

I am going to buy an electric blanket today. Nights are a bit chilly and it seems easier to use an electric blanket than run the furnace at night. The nearest mall has a JC Penney as well as Walmart. I think I will get my hair cut off too. Its texture is so different in this dry weather, it is hard to handle. Tends to stand out at odd angles.

Oh! We are getting a land line in today - a regular telephone line for the modems. William is excited!

Will is working out on the patio today; someone just walked by and waved, saying "Another day in paradise!" I think he is happy not shoveling snow.

How to describe this resort... It is actually a small community- a *very* friendly community. It is laid out in streets with about 750+ spaces. The spaces are larger than many parks - about 35 or 40 ft wide. Room enough for the rig with a cement patio and then about another 12 feet until the next space. Our canopy goes out over the cement patio and we have a sun screen which give us a sense of privacy. Will likes to work out there. We bought me a lounge chair and I can recline out there and work or read. Bugs are not an issue for whatever reason. NO mosquitos! And the sun shines about all the time.

There are two recreation buildings- one is just being finished so we only have access to its laundry room so far. The other has a ballroom with a wood parquet floor in the middle for dancing, a card room, another laundry, a weight room, a library, a craft room, a pool table room. There is also a nice outdoor pool- I need to get a suit.

And there are planned activities a person can take part in about every minute of the day. Plus occasional tours are offered.

But really what makes this a unique living environment is how *friendly* this place is. Where ever you are, people speak or at least say HI. I told Will it sometimes reminds me of the "Stepford Wives" except *everyone* is affected. Everyone has to wear their name tag to use the facilities or take part in activities which adds to the atmosphere. It is difficult to maintain anonymity and I am used to flying under the radar and being rather invisible!

Yesterday I had thought I would go to "Casino School" but I was just too weary to be out and about. I stayed home and read and dozed on the patio.. I did play Bingo Wednesday evening- sorta fun. I think I will play cards this evening. A person has to really try to get bored here! Which is good since we will be here a loooooong time (5 months!)

I did middlin' in the bridge game yesterday. It is a group that isn't quite lethal about "table talk". I learned from some of the better players. So I am going to take the plunge and play again tonight.

There is pinochle but it is one game I could never get the hang of. Just off enough from bridge to be mighty confusing to me. Also have bunco, cribbage, canasta, pokeno (whatever that is?), poker and some I have forgotten. I could play cards every night if I wanted :) (I don't wanna.)

William's favorite grocery around here caters to the Mexican population so they have interesting foods. He picked up some juice from a fruit I had never heard of called guanabana. Tasty!

Todays treat was a patio sale- (think garage sale) Anyone who wanted to have a sale put up balloons to mark their intentions and everyone came out to "buy". Will and I went out this morning at 8 am. (People get up with the chickens around here- every thing seems to start at 8 am.) We went around on our bikes, as did most folks. A few people have golf carts to run around the resort in but bikes are more common. We bought books, books, and the game Myst- a computer game I played a long time ago. Bought it on CD for 3 bucks.

Not "big" doings but lots of wind. We even had rain yesterday complete with thunder. (One boom) In Indiana it would have been called "scattered showers". Here it is called a monsoon. Perspective is everything.