The Christmas Banter
Volume XXVI Dear Friends
Two places in the US were warm last January: the tips of Florida and Texas. We got to Padre as fast as we could. Even so, shorts and sandals were unnecessary.
As we reviewed last year’s Banter, we were reminded that 2013 was much less stressful than 2012. We actually got to choose travel destinations based on our love of warm weather and beautiful scenery rather than their proximity to RV repair shops or medical facilities.
Our complacency soon turned to panic – what could we write about for 2013? A chronological report of our wandering travels to beautiful places and fun visits with family and friends would be boring; commentary on the sad state of U.S. politics depressing. So we thought we’d share 13 things we learned – or relearned – in 2013.
Traveling the U.S. 1. We are not speedy. It took us 11 months to drive 10,000 miles. We made a big circle from Dallas to south Texas, west to California via Arizona, and wandered up the west coast. After a In April we reached California. This is Cap brief foray into Rock at Joshua Tree NP, famous as the Canada, we headed site of the immolation of Graham Parsons. east to Wisconsin before heading south.
A glorious spring day on Joshua Tree’s Mastodon Peak, just the first of many courageous climbs for Suzanne and her fear of heights.
suzanne.shelton2@gmail.com 972-897-7394
2. We enjoy full-time RVing much more when everything is working right. We had a few rocky months getting our newly installed refrigerator to quit belching carbon monoxide, but once we got that pesky little detail fixed, we have largely been trouble-free.
Christmas 2013
3. We haven’t missed Dallas or our house, but we occasionally miss having a home base and community. And sometimes we both miss having somewhere else for Suzanne to go.
Meeting Friends and Foes 4. There are great people everywhere (including, of course, everyone we know personally). This year we hosted our first dinner party in the Little House with nine guests. We served “free meat” we won at a meat raffle at the VFW Club in Lanesboro, MN. 5. And then there are the vast numbers of jerks who believe the rules about not feeding the animals or keeping Spring moved north and so did we. This is the gateway to Yosemite, one of our favorite places. their dogs off trails do not apply to them. Yes, Mike got bit by a dog this year and is still a little bitter. But sometimes the animals get their revenge. Bison abhor dogs and will attack them and their owners. In North Dakota, an impatient motorcyclist cut through a bison herd and got stomped by one of the bulls. The biker recovered but his Harley wasn’t so fortunate.
Life in the Little House 6. Sadly, we have discovered the adage “If you can’t get it at Walmart, you don’t need it,” is true about 90% of the time. Our acceptance of this fact proves that low prices and easy availability trump our ethical scruples. And yes, if you’re wondering, we have become Along the California coast, we searched for elusive whales and abundant seals “those” people who overnight at Walmart. 7. No one we visit ever understands that we actually prefer to spend the night in our RV when possible rather than in their luxurious guest beds. If you insist, we’ll probably accept – but then you’ll have to mail us all the things we left behind.
136 Rainbow Dr. #3646; Livingston, TX 77399
mikesump53@gmail.com 972-897-7406
8. If we each weren’t so good at entertaining ourselves, we wouldn’t be able to live in such a small space (which Wizard Island is a volcano in Crater Lake, a seems volcano full of water. When Mike hiked down somewhat into it, he was in a volcano in a volcano. paradoxical). Ear plugs help a lot, too. And while the most important glue in any relationship is laughter, wine can tide you over a rough spot.
Health and Fitness 9. Mike has a demonstrated proclivity for strange accidents. This year’s was a dog bite that required a midnight trip to an emergency clinic We saw incredible sequoias and redwoods and loved the ferns and where he received banana slugs in the Redwood Rainforest, 8 stitches. but it was still a bit cool in late June.
11. It is impossible to improve your golf game when you only play once a month. This especially kills Mike, whose once respectable handicap is now climbing to beginner levels.
Future Plans 12. We’re not ready to buy a stick house and settle down yet. This year we got to enjoy “spring” for 6 months and “fall” for 3 more. But September is way too late to begin visiting friends and family in the Central Time Zone, as we learned when we wound up back in Dallas for an arctic winter blast. 13. We’re parking the Little House and heading off to a new adventure in Our quest for spring ran out in the Midwest. January. We “Winter was coming.” hope to spend 4-5 months in Costa Rica taking immersion Spanish courses and traveling until we become fluent. If next year’s Banter is in Spanish, you’ll know we succeeded. ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!
10. The Pacific West has a much different definition of “rolling hills” than the rest of the country, particularly when it comes to bike trails. Which is why we now own a winch.
Love, Suzanne & Mike
Favorite photos we couldn’t fit into the text:
Glacier National Park
Mt. Rainier
Glacier National Park
Mt. St. Helens
We owe much thanks to the men of the CCC and an array of great Presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin Roosevelt who did so much to create our glorious National Park System (and many State Parks).