I’m trying to focus on both working the now at Bryce Canyon while thinking of the future at the end of the summer season. Like repairing the camper and where to park the 5th-wheel. How I wish for a handyman and private land instead of a RV Park.
So after last week’s high temperatures and sunburned lips I had three days off to heal and do a little shopping in Kanab with lunch at my favorite Escobars. High reached 103° and I didn’t stay long. I hightailed it back up onto the 8000 foot Paunsaugunt Plateau to our livable high 80s. Where I winter near Quartzsite was 128°. And that’s why I don’t summer there.
Chatting to an old friend from high school in Illinois who has moved back to her original hometown in Michigan to a small house with a huge yard in a forest near a lake. She says there’s plenty of space to park my RV. Sounds nice except for winter cold and snow, plus summer humidity and mosquitoes. Still I put her on my list of people to visit if/when I travel east. Let me know if you’d like to be added to that list.
Saturday saw a little rain, very little actually, with dark skies that mostly teased moisture yet dropped dry lightning that started many fires in Utah and Arizona. Discovered one more “needs to be fixed” on the 5th-wheel when I emptied the blackwater tank. The valve opened, but the cable must be either loose or disconnected because now the valve won’t close. Damn system is hidden behind walls and an underbelly skin. Not something I’m going to be able to fix myself. Thank goodness it’s opened and not closed and full. Must run more water through the system to wash everything out of the tank and down the sewer hose. May be TMI. Same problem with the kitchen graywater valve except it’s stuck mostly closed so I don’t run water down the kitchen sink too much right now. Joined some friends in town that night for dinner.
Back to work with a late schedule on Sunday. Ranger T presented the evening program about the “Allure of Outlaws” in southern Utah which includes a lot of Butch Cassidy legend and lore. Visitors love it. After she set up the PowerPoint I walked to the rim and spent about 45 minutes slowly roving not too far away enjoying the last evening light. Makes working a late shift worth while.
Worked the information desk the next morning for an hour then out to the rim for the 11am Hoodoo geology talk with my supervisor attending to observe and coach. She loved it. Then after lunch I roved the rim for several hours before returning to the desk to close my day.
After opening the visitor center in the morning I spent the day at my happy place, Yovimpa Point. In fact because my watch battery died I spent a couple more hours than scheduled. The view was smoky, but I’ve seen, or not seen, worse. So glad there’s no fire now at Bryce Canyon. Talked to over 200 wonderful people out there about geology and fire ecology. It’s not that fire is always bad for the land. In fact many places in the west need fire badly due to over 100 years of fire suppression. But it’s scary stuff when close to residences and primary transportation routes plus the health issues breathing smoke.
The next day I was also scheduled for Yovimpa and because it was my Friday—on Wednesday—I thought about staying after work for the moon rise. However, after opening the visitor center under cloudy skies with predictions of thunderstorms I instead decided not to drive out the 18 miles and mostly sit in my rig. Instead, I went home for the day. I am trying to use some of the hundreds of hours of sick leave I have accrued over my 29 summers of federal service and walk away from once I don’t work any more. Seasonals don’t retire with benefits. That made for a 2 1/2 day weekend when I probably should have driven the 1 1/2 hours to Cedar City to buy a watch battery, but instead I took a nap. Woke up to news that both the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in Arizona were going to close to recreational uses in the hopes of stopping human caused forest fires. The Coconino had already reported over 20 illegal campfires during fire restrictions. What is wrong with people? It’s so hot, and dry, there is no reason for a campfire. Thank goodness, as worrying about lightning strikes starting fires is bad enough. Some areas have seen a little rain, but not much and it’s more dry lightning instead. Come on monsoon rains bring moisture to the thirsty Southwest.
With a little more rain Thursday, and a lot of clouds, I didn’t hold much hope to see the rise of the full strawberry moon.
But it did seem worth dragging my lazy ass out to the rim for a potentially colorful sunset. That didn’t disappoint at all.
Yet I didn’t figure to see the moon rise, or at all with cloud cover. Glad I waited around and got a brief glimpse even if the photo isn’t great hand held after dark.
On days off I give more thought to what and where next after the now at Bryce Canyon. That’s only about three months away. I’ve contacted a couple RV parks located between Prescott and Yarnell, my old stomping grounds, and the prices have doubled in the last four years. How I long to park the 5th-wheel on private land without neighbors as close as 20-40 feet away. Rent would be cheaper over a six month agreement in Quartzsite near where I usually spend a lot of time in the winter, but that means moving again for next summer. I know, having a house on wheels should be easy to move yet not when owning two RVs that I can’t move together. My head’s in a spin trying to figure this out and make a decision.
Thank you for all the wonderful comments, support, suggestions, and empathy over my recent posts as I still work through what’s next in life after the now at Bryce Canyon and on to retirement. I continue to be open to suggestions.
Oh dear me Gaelyn, you sound a little unsettled, mostly caused by problems with Rv’s etc.,,but it seems you know how to handle them. Even so, try to slow down a little and relax I am sure you will benefit by this. You have retirement on your mind which in one way is a good thing as you have devoted your life to being a Ranger.OK I know you enjoy it but as I said before you can still be involved with, maybe teaching online where you also meet new friends. i did this some time ago with an interest I have with the North American Indians and this resulted in a lovely visit of a friend from Colorado whom I had met online through this subject. I wish I could think of something more to suggest Gaelyn however, I guess you will sort it out eventually and once you do you will enjoy retirement. Take care..
I am a planner so need to figure out some of my next move onto this new road to retirement. I truly appreciate the suggestions and everybody listening. Meeting people IRL after internet is how I ended up visiting South Africa. If I had more money I’d meet all of you folks over the pond. Guess I need to stop fretting and just get on with life.
If you find either of your two wishes, will you share them with me?
I’m whining about days of 94/95 degrees and feeling guilty after seeing your experience of 103 and 128 in Quartzite. Does anyone live there year round? Can’t believe it’s in the high 80’s even at Bryce. Where are the 70’s??
I absolutely want to be added to your list when you come east. We’ll have to coordinate to get together on the road. I hope I’m not going west while you are going east. I’m getting dissuaded from western travels by this horrible drought and extreme temps in the PNW. I don’t have to drive that far to sweat.
Of course your supervisor loved your talk. What’s not to love? You are a seasoned ranger and they are SO lucky to have you. Wish I could have gotten out there to hear your talk in person. Your story about the forests being forced to close because of stupid tourons with no brains spoiling things for those who care just made me furious! There are too many people on the road these days and far too many of them are plain stupid, selfish and greedy. Color me increasingly misanthropic.
Really really hoping for your monsoons. Hope the Native Americans are doing ritual rain dances. I’d like to be there with them if they are. Love those pictures of the dark and cloudy skies over Bryce. Beautiful!
Two RVs does make your winter/summer situation more difficult but I know you’ll figure something out. So sorry to hear prices have gone up so drastically at the places you want to be. Could you work camp? Or been there done that? Are you on any of the women RVers facebook pages? Maybe put out a feeler there for a spot to park for a small fee? Sorry my blabberfingers got away from me.
Thank goodness I wasn’t in Quartzsite at 128°. Yes, people live there year around, no thanks just winters for me. Now we are back to the high 70s in Bryce.
You are definitely on my list for visiting. That’s an “if” I get east.
I’m sure to find someplace to park myself this winter, just don’t have firm plans yet.
I am not comfortable saying this but you are a few years younger than me and as we age our body makes less of one substance or another and a complete blood test and talk with a doctor could make a major difference in your life.
Thanks for your concern. It is certainly past time I had a checkup and you could be right.
Great photos, especially love the vertical sunset one with the orange reflection on the bottom of the clouds. Also checked out your post to your hoodoo talk, thanks for linking it!
Beautiful sunset photos – glad you got out there 😊 I know you’re figuring out retiring but this is a good site – coolworks.com They have some interesting posts. I horsebacked a couple years ago at Paria Ranch and as we’re riding I looked over at a home and a small camper nearby. My guide said the home was owned by someone who came only periodically and the camper was where the person lived, hired by the homeowner to basically be a “presence” on the land. Now THAT was a lucky person in my opinion! Keep those thoughts rollin’ round Gaelyn. You’ll get a plan. Even if it’s only the first step or two. It’s all about options. Have a good week!
Thanks. I’d do care taking on land but no guarantees I’d be around all the time. I’m still thinking out loud.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the geo talk.
Hope those tank fixes are easy and get done sooner rather than later! It’s always something 🙁 Sure hope we get real monsoons this season as the drought is horrible over the whole Southwest. The recent PNW heat wave is grueling but very short, just a couple days and we’re cooling down. Still could use some moisture us here too. Sierra Vista, AZ has a few long term parks but they are just parking spots with no views. Quail Run is very reasonable I think and can be leased year round so you could leave the 5er there. You can always come spend some time in the camper at our place with electric and water and views. Check with Empire Ranch to see if they have interpretive hosts on site. I know there were a couple sites for hosts and the views there are gorgeous.
RVs are just houses that get wiggled on wheels and always need repairs. It will happen eventually. Got a few drops of rain yesterday and more predicted today. I so struggle with the idea of living in a RV Park with neighbors for my views. Thanks for the Sierra Vista offer. You may see me there at some point to visit. And thanks for those recommendations.
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Bud
Thanks. Problem is getting past the handle in a sealed wall. Just glad the black is stuck open instead of closed.
You are so right to think ahead and try to plan your ‘retirement’ I wish we were in a position to offer you a place to park but……. I just love your photos as always, but I think the one of the moon is fabulous, it is different, and I am amazed it was with the phone. I am sure mine would be a black shot if I tried with my phone.
Looking forward to hearing that someone has offered you the perfect place to park. Hugs from us both, Diane and Nigel.
Thanks, just wish I’d thought ahead a little further back in time. Not much good at planning life more than six months at a time. Moon shot wasn’t with phone, but was hand-held.
I’m not the one to offer advise on retiring, I stayed on (part-time contracting) for 6 yrs after I retired! Still have not found my perfect retirement, but it is a good life and has options. looking forward to learning your approach and the adventures that you share along the way.
Have always thought of myself as “semi-retired” with my half year job, but I’m ready for a lot less hours. Still working on a plan.
I wish I had some good suggestions. Retirement planning is hard work and never perfect. I wish we had space to offer you a place to stay during your travels — heck , I wish we had a spare bedroom for my sister and bil when they come to visit us next month. Our apartment is just like our RV was though — (four can come for dinner, only two for sleeping) . I keep telling myself that living small was our compromise so we could travel. And I answer myself that it has definitely been worth it. I am sure whatever compromises you make will be worth it as well. It’s just finding the right ones.
I sure appreciate the thought of offering, but when I get to your neighborhood, if you’re still in OR I’ll find a place to stay nearby so we can meet. I like small.
I remember the constant mental battle I went through before I retired, and I even had benefits. Hard to imagine that after so many years you get none. Something is wrong there. I am sure it is all part of the planning. Hire seasonals and you don’t have to pay benefits. Infuriating. We even went through that in my agency. The only thing that saved me from myself was that I met a friend who was willing to share life and space with me, and that I did have an actual retirement benefit. Still it wasn’t enough. My social security was very low thanks to that offset thing the government does to federal employees but my husband passed away much too young, and because we were married 13 years my SS went way up. I didn’t know when I retired that would happen and I was seriously concerned about my income, but I knew I at least had a place to life. I can’t imagine what you are going through, in the midst of trying to deal with all the (can I say this) idiots bombarding you on a daily basis. It is why I chose soil science instead of ranger work, I hated dealing with people all the time! You do it incredibly well in spite of the challenges. I loved teaching soil survey, though, and can hear that same love in you when you talk about your geology talks. Such an unsettled time. I have no helpful suggestions, except that maybe two rigs isn’t the best way to go. Maybe time to make a choice there? Just another thought that I am sure you have already thought about.
Much needs to change recognizing seasonals. But I did know what I was getting into. Sort of. I still need to talk to SS and get some things straightened out. Hopefully I can live on that, but maybe add some how. I love my job, and people, for six months but couldn’t do this for 12. I’m working on the RVs situation. Really like both my homes for different reasons. And best part, I own them both. I appreciate you sharing this story so I don’t feel so all alone.
I hope you figure out how to retire. Michigan would be definitely be too cold for me in the winter.
Maddening about the number of illegal fires! Even here we get campfire restrictions. When Logan was in the scouts we would put a flashlight in a bucket and call it the campfire and the kids were okay with it.
Thanks. I’m working on a plan for at least the six months after this season is over. It doesn’t include Michigan during winter. I love the idea of a flashlight in a bucket. Take a pic of that and share please.
I’m loving your photos. Sorry you’re getting those storm clouds and very little rain. Suddenly, about 12 days ago, the monsoons started for us, giving us daily rains and sometimes hail – luckily only pea-sized but forceful enough to shred some leaves and bruise plants. I know there are so many more RVers vying for space just now. I wish I could think of a solution to your problem. Somewhere with moderate temperatures and not so many people would be paradise for you.
Thanks. We are starting to see a little more rain. I’m working on the RV issue and probably have a couple choices of where to park the 5th-wheel.