Barbara Manatee

In an concerted effort to play tourist we all went to the local bridge to see the Manatees swim by.  I say concerted effort because by and large our self contained oasis of whichever thousand trails we happen to be at generally amuses us.  With swimming pool, good friends, activities, and pool tables we find it rarely necessary to head out.  But I forced myself this time after all seeing the manatees at Crystal River is one of the top 40 things you must do with your kids.  We did not swim with them as tempting as it was with my boys and their propensity for getting into trouble the nightmare of  $100,000 fines kept me  awake for most of the night.  So we watched them from a safe distance on the bridge. We saw little families and single swimmers.  It was so neat to see such a large creature in its natural habitat.  So after watching these lovely creatures we got pizza and went back to our simple routine of enjoying each others company.  Join us next time for.....the adventures of sleeping next to a auto shop......until then may you always find adventure, peace, and love where ever your wheels take you.

Spring shackle whatchamathing

In a never ending effort to keep our streak of something breaking everytime we hit the road. We got a flat tire on our way to Crystal Isle.  No big deal right?  After tracking down $159 for a tire we wanted to get on the road again, but after a brief inspection we realized the tires on the opposite side were super close together.  We thought maybe it was from the flat tire.  So very slowly we drove 1/4 mile up the road to a car repair shop parking lot.  Yep that is me thinking ahead.  So we checked again and still to close so we inspected further and we found these metal pieces hanging down. Not something I could fix so we prepared to hang out for the weekend.  After mailing pictures to a wonderfully nice stranger l, who was also a mechanic we got a name.  The spring shaft bolt thingamadoohicker.  Ok I added the last part of the name.  The auto place couldnt fix it for us because there mechanic got his foot run over that weekend and was out of commission, but the orange tractor shop right next door had two brilliant men who could weld the piece back for me.  A couple of hours and $200 later we were on the road.  The car shop only charged me $2, but Florida state tax was $196.... slight exaggeration,  but I thoroughly miss Montana, it is what it is, mentality. Adventure in grownup land was exhausting and rewarding.  Now back to my relaxing reality!

Kitty litter....driving time...and other impossible thoughts

As i was driving home from dropping my second son at the airport these thoughts took over.  I miss my boys alot and i have a hard time with them growing up. It was a little crowded over the holiday break, but a good kind of crowded. But it didnt stop my random panic attacks that happen, less frequently but with greater intensity, what have I done? 
Ok so to live in your RV/travel trailer you must pare down.  Get rid of all extra things that clutter your life unnecessarily.  If you are unsure what I mean read some of my earlier posts.  It is an emotional and painful process and apparantly one that takes the better part of a year. We managed to get rid of alot of stuff while we have been on the road.  If we dont use it out it goes.  But for some unfathomable reason I can't seem to get rid of the three containers of kitty litter that were imperative we bring on the road.  Keep in mind that I started with three containers of kitty litter and one cat, which preferred to be outside. So I didnt even have a litter box.  But we would when we moved into the rv.  So while I with great emotional turmoil got rid of hundreds of my beloved books, and 75% of my cherished shoes, the kitty litter stayed. What you say?  I have no rational explanation except to say I have spent three years in therapy and I am heavily medicated.   This stop I even went so far as to offer it to someone else.  It never happened and so tomorrow I wake up early, prepare to pack up and move to the next place and continue to carry with me three containers of kitty litter. So if you are in the process of packing and pairing down just ask yourself "is this my kitty litter?"  If it is, leave yourself from the burden of dragging it around and just get rid of it.  

Merry Christmas

This Christmas was very lean as Christmas goes in the Robinson household.  It was such a gift thought.  To sit outside in the sun and open presents. To walk on the beach and play together.  Then spend a wonderful evening with Madison's amazing family.  I feel we got closer to what Christmas is about more than anytime in the past.  Christmas absolutely gave me the gift of family and I loved it so much.  As my children spread out throughout the country I am grateful for each of these stolen moments.  What an amazing gift!

Andrew Christmas 4 his brothers

Despite the incessant rain while we were in Pensacola/Destin we ventured out to have a day of fun on Andrew. The boys absolutely loved having their feet off the ground.  AJ enjoyed beating Andrew in checkers and I absolutely loved lunch with Madison and seeing all my boys play together.  It was an amazing week. Andrew took Duke back and even though we miss him a bit, it is nice knowing he is home.  I love seeing the boys spend time together.