Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Yesterday morning, the kids and I hopped in the truck and drove to a park to meet a friend of mine who I have not seen in 10 years.  She happens to have a daughter who is around the ages of both my kids so the kids played while we caught up.

Needless to say many things have happened since we saw each other last, so there was lots to catch up on. That said, she and I have that kind of relationship where we can just pick up like we saw each other just the other day.  Facebook has certainly helped us keep in touch over the last couple years, but even before that, we always seem to pick up where we left off.

In the afternoon, the kids and I picked up Jon and headed off to our friends to help them with their air freight pickup as well as some final packing.  We also had dinner with some friends of theirs (who happen to be moving into their house once they are gone).  They are a very sweet couple and I can certainly understand why they get along so well.  If we lived in the area, I would guess we would get together with them on occasion as well.

Days like yesterday just make me so thankful for the friends I have (especially the once I've had for many years and who still like me and "get" me) as well as the opportunity I have of making new friends.  Friends have a way of enriching our lives like nothing else can.

Preparations

Well, the bitter-sweet preparations have begun for us to pack up and leave the Manatee Hammock.  I am happy to be heading North to see family and friends, but we have spent 7 weeks of our 12 weeks camping thus far, here.  We've seen dolphins, manatees, and alligators in the wild here, Jason learned to swim without a life jacket, we saw 2 shuttle launches, 1 rocket launch, and hopefully a night rocket launch tonight while here.  We've also gotten to know the area and the people who work at the campground.

We have every intention of coming back here again some time.  This campground is a good location for getting to Cocoa Beach and we both have the surfing bug (unfortunately the weather the last 3 weeks has not cooperated even a little for that to happen again).

It's really sad to think how different things could be when we return.  I was talking to one of the staff the other night and there are predictions that because of the shuttle program shutting down, they think unemployment in the area in 6 months will be 28%.  The county parks department (that he works for) just laid off 14 workers.  I really hope for the sake of the people in this area that NASA and government officials can get their act together and figure out the next goal that needs to be achieved, or this area is going to be hurting in a big way and very soon.

What a day!

Yesterday, we changed campgrounds.  Not only did we change campgrounds but we changed coasts (OK, we moved from the East coast of Florida to the West coast of Florida), but they are very different.

Anyway, yesterday was quite a day.  We had a few issues getting the camper packed up to leave (some of the pieces we use while driving were misplaced and we either had to search for them or find something else that would work).  Luckily we found what we needed and we were good to go.

The drive was rather uneventful.  The only problem we had was when we got to the new campground.  The place we are staying is so large (it is affiliated with a sales office, service center, Cracker Barrel, and gas station) that we ended up going to the wrong building initially.  Once we got to the campground we were able to find our space with no problems.  Then the fun began...

We parked the camper, unhitched, and got everything leveled only to find out that we were 1/2 in. too close on the side where the bumpout is (we would have pushed into the pole that holds the electric and water).  That meant we had to undo everything we'd just done and hook up the truck again to move it (for just 1/2 in.)!  ARGGG!!!  Did I mention that our campsite has NO shade and it was close to 90 out when we were doing this?  By the time we had gotten the camper repositioned we were balls of sweat and it was 3:30PM (we got to the campground at 1:30).  Lesson learned:  Make sure to measure and give enough space for the bumpout before unhitching in the future.

Then our daughter complained of an ailment that required medical attention, so I searched for local urgent care centers.  Luckily we found one and were able to get her an antibiotic to help speed her recovery.  I lucked out with this too, because the pharmacy I picked just so happens to GIVE AWAY the antibiotic the doctor prescribed for her.  By the time all that was done it was 5:30PM.  I hadn't eaten since breakfast, Jon hadn't eaten since dinner the night before (I was able to feed the kids lunch during the may-lay of setting up the camper).  In the strip with the store where we got the antibiotic was a Little Ceasar's.  Yeah!  "Pizza!  Pizza!" to my rescue.  I haven't eaten there in YEARS and it was as good as I remember. 

After we got back to the campsite, we inhaled our dinner so that we could make an 8PM movie by the pool (complete with free popcorn).  The kids crashed as soon as we got back to the camper and Jon and I were not far behind.

The day was certainly eventful.  If anything, I think this helped me remember that we are not on vacation.  We are now living out of a camper and "life" will still happen.  I'm just thankful we didn't have a vomiting episode to remind me.