HITTIN' THE ROAD (Again) !!!!

I'm Baaack!!! I know it's been a long time, however, I want to share my new life with you. I stopped writing a year ago because I thought I was done. WRONG!

Three months after moving to the Old Folks Home I met the man I have been searching for and had given up looking. I was looking at a garden spot and right next to the one I was "granted" was a very friendly man. We were like twins. No kidding! We finished each others sentences! It was uncanny!

It was love at first sight! But we took it easy and really got to know one another. We went to Karaoke and he sings really well. We danced at the Friday night social. Gardened together and really enjoyed life. I felt feelings that I hadn't felt in a very long time. He is 12 yrs my junior and that it fine with both of us. We moved in together in January of this year. It was kinda crowded, but we made sacrifices and then we boght our own Karaoke equipment and began hosting a show once weekly. I found out I can sing! Our first duet was "I've Got You Babe" .

In May we went to get his guitar adjusted and ended up looking at motorhomes because we both always wanted to travel around the US of A. We bought one!!! OMG ! We just did it that day. It is 40 feet long, diesel pusher and very nice with all the bells and whistles. The only fly in the oinment is that Michael has been separated for 19 yrs! He filed for a divorce after we met and his court date is August 18 and then we are outta here! This is a lot of info for now. Tune in later!

Settled at Last!!

I have actually moved in and have enjoyed my own new bed. Emily, my nervous cat, is taking a little longer to settle in than myself. I am playing classical music for her. Mostly to drown out the noise of the street. She is nine years old and has never been close to a street with traffic. Boy, eould'nt have picked a noisier intersection. I did'nt want to wait for another apt to open up. And I have great views from my windows!

This morning I was potting flowers on my deck and my neighbor popped out to get his paper and he was nude! I wish I had had my camera. I laughed when he moved the paper to his penis and said "Oh, you're here!" That was so funny. I laughed and laughed. He stopped by later (fully dressed) and aplolgized. He explained that when it is hot he sleeps nude. I asked what time he usually gets his paper.

I am at the "Summer Dance" in the rec room. A live band! Most of the guests aren't but the ones that are are dancing and very well I might add.

Just got an alert that Blogger may not be able to save my post. I will have pix tomorrow if I have to do it again.,

WHAT AM I WAITING FOR????

I asked myself that very question last night! The family and I were talking about their vacation plans which begins on July 1. That is a week away. My daughter said "why are you not at your apartment sleeping in that wonderful new bed?" I said " I never thought of that". Then I had to explain that since I am staying here to care for her big lovely dog and stupid cat that it would be better for my cat, who is very smart and sensitive, to just wait til they return and then Emily and I can go to our new home and not have to run back and forth. Makes sense to me.

It is difficult to live out of a suitcase. I know because I have done that for the past year. I want to go HOME and know I can stay there with all my STUFF! Am I nutz or what?

WHAT DO YOU THINK???

Home Sweet Home (at last)

I have my very own home again!!! The picture on the right is my dream home. Sigh. But I am moving into a nice one bedroom apartment in and "Active Senior Community". I am close to the Pacific Ocean and get the cool breeze. I am the owner of a new pillow top mattress for the first time in my life. It is being delivered tomorrow. Also purchased a sofa that makes into a bed or chaise lounge. How sexy is that? Bought some dishes and other cooking stuff. It is easy when you live alone.

I met a very cute man at the rec. room. He invited me to play ping pong with them. I told him that I was moving and would another day. I went out and purchased a paddle and some balls. I love the area. Everything you need is within walking distance. And with gas at $4.54 per gal I will be doing a lot of walking.

I think my blog should be a lot more interesting now that I am going to be living around lots of old funny farts. Stay tuned. I will keep you posted as to when I actually move in. First, I am pet sitting for my family while they vacation in Italy!

MEDICARE--A NECESSARY EVIL

Wow! Leaving California a year ago was easy. Getting back in isn't! It was hard enough driving myself back to my home state of 40 years, but taking care of business to be reinstated as a RESIDENT is just a pain in my ASS!

My daughter welcomed me into her home to allow me to settle down and make plans for my future. I did that. Made arrangements for my money to be transferred to local bank and called Social Security/Medicare to change address. I called Kaiser Permanente to transfer my medical insurance from VA to CA. A representative came out to my daughter's home, my home as fas as anyone else is concerned. She took my information and left to complete my enrollment. I got a letter that they needed proof of residency! I went to Social Security and had a print out made and mailed it to them in order to insure medical coverage on June 1st. NOT! The Kaiser people said Medicare want my name on a utility bill that connects me to my daughter's address. I called Medicare and they said they had my change of address on file and that is all they need. I call that Passing the Buck! WTF?

So I am in the process of getting registered to vote, getting a library card and a CA drivers license and anything else that proves I live here. My question is----when did it become a law that if you live with your children you have to be on the utility bills. I am 70 years of age and should be able to camp out with my kids. VA didn't give a crap who I lived with as long as I paid the premium! California needs to get over herself!

My daughter placed a complaint with The Joint Commission. Let's see how long it takes to hear from them. Oh, I had already applied to The Orchard, Active Senior Living for an apt. which has a waiting list of 2 - 8 months. So I am screwed til then.

So plan your retirement better than I did!

"HURRY UP AND WAIT"

I learned this "quote" when I was a navy wife. I have never been known as a patient person. I think a lot. Too much. But when I sorta get a plan I want to act on "the plan" like now. It all began 18 months ago when my daughter et al moved to Virginia. I wanted out of the place I had lived in for 5 years and I thought following her to the east coast was a perfectly good reason to do so. I did. It did not work out. I left after 5 months of misery and went to New York state to visit the nearest relative, my younger sister. I was among the walking wounded and she welcomed me with open arms. I liked the area and the snow and all that went with it, but my sister began looking for a place for me to live. We did and I did. That didn't work either. So after a little thinking I made a plan to return to the west coast. Which I did. Drove my car with the company of my cat and arrived 4 and 1/2 days later.

Now I am camped out in my oldest daughter"s office. She moved her computer to her bedroom. She is an avid blogger. Spends a lot of time on her cooking blog. We have wonderful food everyday, which I am very happy about. The downside to this is that her computer is now very SLOW. I , of course, feel responsible and have suggested she move her computer back in her office (my temporary bedroom). No way!

The second part of my plan is to find suitable housing for myself and my cat, Emily. My daughter wants to help me in this plan. We want to find a place that is near her. Which is not probable due to the fact that she lives in the hoity toity part of the city. Before leaving last year I resided in a community 45 miles from her home and we did not spend much time together. We both want that to change. I found a place 10 minutes away. I love it. An Active Seniors apartment complex. But there is a waiting list. So I wait. A very hard thing for me. I help out around the house, keeping a low profile. Which is also not an easy thing for me.

Please, dear God, let my apartment become available before I wear out another welcome.

Gettin Old Sucks!!!

Okay, here's the deal. I busted my ass gettin here and now I have to make many decisions. Let's face it, I am not a good decision maker. I just am not. I jump right in without thinking and then when it doesn't work out I get my feelings hurt and run away to lick my wounds. It has always been black or white for me. No gray. That has got to change.

I am glad I had a 10 month vacation. I saw new places and spent time with family that I hadn't seen in years. I learned some lessons about relationships. I learned that I am not as tough as I thought I was. Those people I spent time with told me what a jerk I was years ago. I know I was angry but not the asshole they described. No matter.

Now I have to find a new home for Emily and me. She is afraid of my daughter's cat, Precious, and just stays in our bedroom. I know what kind of home I want. One I cannot afford. I will have to get a job to help with the rent. I am not ready for a senior home unless it was a really nice one with lots of cute old farts and activities.

I am trying to be patient. Resting up before looking for a place to live. Then I can find a bank, a job and a bar where I can walk and not drive my car as gas is over $4 in this place called Paradise. I probably can't afford a beer. And I sure can't count on someone buying one for an old lady like me. Damn, it's hell gettin old. But as they say, "what's the alternative?"