My visit to the Sam’s Family Spa was cut short. Listening to that small insistent voice that can sometimes just be me wanting or not wanting something or can be a message from beyond me, is something I listen to regardless of it’s source. I woke up and instantly knew I had to leave first thing. No soaking in the tubs or walking around the lake. Breakfast and GO!
It was while I was unplugging my home on wheels that I got a text from my daughter saying she was on her way to the hospital as per her midwife’s recommendation. I guess I haven’t mentioned that she’s pregnant. Well, she is, due at the end of April, another boy baby! She’s a perfect boy baby mom. Tough as nails. When she was little she was all pink tutus and tea parties and though she is as feminine and beautiful a young woman as I’ve ever seen, she has a steel core.
So I made my little toy home go 60 whole miles per hour almost all the way home. He won’t manage that on the hills but with a good wind, down hill, he can make it.
Evidently Mr Chips was the first to get sick and then his mom and finally his grandfather. Chips is fine now fascinated with the dinosaur book I found for him at the naked bookseller. His mom is home but extremely uncomfortable and not complaining about it. Tearful is a hot mess. Sicker than I’ve ever seen him and me, I’m scared. I know I’m next and I am not tough as anything. I’m about as tough as a soft velvet pillow. Maybe.

So here I am, at work, pondering how quickly the last week passed, how quickly and violently everyone fell ill, how blogger will not spell check this post or add my link and how perfectly this woman is carrying this duck on her head.

There is a fierce wind blowing here this morning. Here is a rocky plateau in the desert a few short miles from Quartzsite where I spent the last two nights. Two shockingly quiet nights. The desert seems to absorb sound.
Those last two nights were so still and black save for the twinkling lights of Quartzsite in the distance. It was restful and comforting. The nights were chilly but I stayed warm under all my binkies and though Tearful’s sleeping bag has a nice pad, I found it a bit too confining for my sleeping style which is to thrash and take up as much room as humanly possible. An unconscious wild dance.

 I reunited with fellow nomads. It was great to see Bob and Brad if only to say hello and goodbye and I was so happy to have spent a little time with LaVonne, though not nearly enough. She took me to breakfast and showed me the ropes in Quartzsite and we managed a couple of walks. Both she and Brad are on the first “leg” of their journey to a free life. I’m excited and happy for them.

later….

The fierce wind sounded much worse than it actually was. It was chilly and overcast but the nomads all congregated outside Linda’s rig and I joined them for a little bit before taking off. An eclectic and interesting bunch these nomads. Independent, smart and fearless.
Quartzsite was altogether a must see for me though it was an RV madhouse. I could not get my rig tended to for solar power and turns out that’s a good thing. I need to do it myself. I did get to see the famous naked bookseller.

Sorry, it had to be done.
It’s not everyday you walk into a book store and are greeted by the owner wearing a crocheted penis cozy.

I also went to the giant Gem show. Miles of tables of rocks. Beautiful amazing rocks and machines to cut and polish them. I was out of my depth but the people watching was well worth it.

Now I’m on my way home because of The JOB. This trip has been a sort of tease and though I’m glad I came, it’s been much too short.
I am taking it slow going home.
I have stopped at a place in Desert Springs called Sam’s Family Resort Spa. I’ve read about it and thought it sounded just fine for a stopover on the way home. I need a shower and a soak but more than that I needed food so soon as I arrived I fired up the propane and made myself some black beans and rappini with some pickled onions and coleslaw and since there’s power, I fired up the Chromebook and watched an episode of Downton Abbey while I ate. Power, water, mineral spa! Holy Crap! It’s a whole ‘nother way of camping.
Giant RV’s parked side by side. My little rig looks like Granny Clampett’s in town. It was quiet up until a moment ago. My neighbors are back. They have vehicles they tow behind their motor homes that they get out and about in. One of them is outside as I type this trying, unsuccessfully, to fly his remote control helicopter while his wife is inside watching a sitcom, the canned laughter drifting through the window, punctuating his cursing “the fucking thing”.

I’m proud of myself for hooking up the power and the sewer! Though I have not turned the fridge on since I will be on my way tomorrow, I see no point.
Yes, an entirely different camping scene. Not one I would like to do often. Not having power for three days though, one starts to feel a little scraggly and stinky.

A few more days and yes, I would officially BE Granny Clampett.

If you could change one thing about adults, what would it be?”
“A lot of them are grumpy.”

WE are! We are so grumpy sometimes. When I saw this I was flooded with the feeling memory of what he’s talking about.
I’m fixing to quit being grumpy tomorrow.

Go see more of Brandon’s amazing portraits  here.

I removed the bathroom door and replaced it with my sparkly curtain.

The dining room….

A temporary measure. We removed the chairs and tiny table and replaced with suitcase and pillows but it’s just not working for me.  I didn’t finish the pillows properly as I rushed to get it ready for Tearful and I didn’t yet have the legs for the suitcase “table”. I’ll be putting them on today. I’m counting on a brainstorm to hit sometime soon.

The kitchen….

We tore out the carpet and tried a couple of wood floor ideas but the floor is so uneven we gave up and I papered the floor instead and then found this old runner up in the attic. Not practical but will do for now.

The bedroom….

The lounge…..

Found the curtains at Goodwill, cut and hemmed them and used the tabs as ties. Got new foam for the bench and recovered in canvas tarp.

Buddhist Tangka from El Viejo’s first voyage…

The fridge and two kitchen walls were painted with black chalkboard paint because we had some and it looks cool. I’ll have to get more detail photos of other cute stuff but for now, here it is. My toy home.

ETD: Monday