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| My Tumbleweed Life |
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| After 40+ years, I finally decided to stop griping about winter and do something about it. Little did I know that it would lead me into a new lifestyle, that of seasonal worker. The adventure began in 2004, and it shows no sign of ending. I now drive across the country a couple times a year, and it's getting monotonous, so I look for new diversions and experiences along the way. Things like letterboxing, state high points, oddball attractions..... |
| I bought my van on eBay for $900. The shelves were already in the van, and Dad helped me build the bed frame. I just fit! Of course, I made a mattress for it. My friend Barry helped me install a second battery and an inverter. As I loaded the van with everything I thought I might need, it got crowded real quick. |
| I took off for Arizona in October, sleeping in Walmart parking lots along the way. As soon as I got to Arizona, I learned that they were having their coldest and wettest winter in eight years. I lived and worked at a hot spring spa near Phoenix. Here is my Arizona home. |
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| I met some wonderful people. We worked well together and had a great time. Here's where some of my new friends lived all winter. |
| In December I went to Texas. Ten days after I arrived, they had their first snowfall in 100 years, along with unusually cold temperatures. This is the beach where I lived. It was on an island, so I had to take the ferry to get there. The seaside dreariness and the bad restaurant food finally depressed me so much I went back to the hot spring. |
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| In March I went to Mexico for two weeks. |
| I returned to Ohio, where they were enjoying gorgeous weather, in mid-April. Immediately, the temperature plunged and it rained for two weeks. So much for getting away from winter weather this year. I stayed in Ohio for the summer, working at my former job. When September rolled around, and with winter looming in the not-too-distant future, I escaped once again. I returned to the hot spring, this time as manager. |
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| The Beginning.....2004 |
| Round Two.....2005 |
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| Life as hot spring manager was stressful, and full of new experiences. For the first time in my life, I had to hire and fire staff (I fired three people!) The hot spring had been sold, and my main role in managing this year was to facilitate the change in ownership. It was a role I was uniquely qualified for, since I was the only current staff member who had worked there before. My home was in a different, and much nicer, spot this time. |
| I ended up back in Ohio again for summer 2006, except for the three weeks I spent traveling with my friend in his 18-wheeler. That was an experience! |
| Round Three.....? |