We're nearly 500 miles south of Kansas City, and our personal economic stimulus program continues! On this most auspicious day (12-12-12) we have plunked down another serious wad of cash to have the window shades I've lusted after for years installed in our moose. The good folks at MCD Innovations here in McKinney have been a gem to work with. We appreciate their Texas hospitality. We'll give you a full report on our moose's Christmas gift after we get settled in our holiday spot.
Meanwhile, we wanted to share a story about another great service experience. (We could get used to this!)
These days, Kansas City is the closest thing to a home base for us. So, it's really no surprise that nearly every visit to our old stomping grounds involves a stop somewhere to care for our moose on our way in or out of town. There are a lot of systems in our rolling home. And, they all need regular maintenance. Unfortunately, said maintenance is needed on varied schedules. So, it feels like there's always something on Bullwinkle's "to-do" list.
We've been on a mission to find a service provider we can rely on in Kansas City. We have our local mobile guys we love, but they provide no chassis service. The local Freightliner dealer will happily do chassis work, but we've been far from impressed. Our dream of finding a one-stop service shop we could trust has gone unfulfilled. Until now.
Cummins, the makers of Bullwinkle's 400-horse powerhouse, has created an RV service center (actually, several of them) that is designed to provide bumper-to-bumper maintenance and repair. There are currently 45 Cummins Coach Care facilities located across the country. We are fortunate that one of them is located at Cummins Central Power in Kansas City, a mere 20 miles from our home park. After making this wonderful discovery, we booked an appointment to coincide with our planned departure out of town.
The afternoon before our appointment, we headed north of the Missouri River with Rocky 2 in tow. No, we wouldn't normally go to the time and trouble to hook the squirrel to the moose for such a short drive. But, this seemed like the perfect time to tow our new Jeep on its maiden voyage. We're so pleased to report Rocky 2 tows like a dream!
When we arrived at Cummins Central Power, we were instantly impressed. Parking was easy, and just steps away from the Coach Care service desk. We were greeted by Chris, who was warm, courteous and professional. If you've ever taken your coach to a "truck center" you already know this is a rare combination! In most truck places, the last thing they care to see is a motorhome. But, here we felt quite welcome.
Chris directed us to the coach parking area, where we set up and settled in for the night. We were delighted not to have to face rush hour traffic for our morning appointment. This extra touch of hospitality was most appreciated. In the morning, Chris gave us a call when they were ready for us. When we dropped off the moose, Chris said he'd need a couple of hours. And, when we returned two hours later Bullwinkle was out front waiting for us. (Another rarity!) Chris gave us a full report on the service work. Everything checked out great. One item we asked them to check, a pesky leveling jack, needed to replaced sooner or later. Based on our positive experience, we decided sooner was better. A part needed to be ordered, so we extended our Kansas City stay and returned to Cummins a few days later. The work was completed promptly. Our time in the spacious, clean and comfortable waiting area flew by. Chris completed our extended warranty paperwork with a smile, and graciously offered us another night in their parking area, which we accepted. We got a fresh start in the morning, and Bullwinkle was one happy, trouble-free moose.
When it comes to moose maintenance and repair, we've had some real horror stories. What a breath of fresh air to find places like Cummins Coach Care and MCD Innovations. Gotta love it!
An Exceptional Month
We're wrapping up our month in Kansas City. Any way you look at it, it's been pretty exceptional.
Here in our old hometown, it's been a month of family, friends and food. Yes, we're pretty sure we've consumed more calories this month than usual. Many more. In addition to the big food-focused holiday, we celebrated my double-nickel birthday. (So, I no longer have to worry about getting carded at "senior" RV parks!) We met a "kid" from our childhood neighborhood who grew up to be a fulltime RVer just like us. I started and finished a quilt for a soon-to-be grand-niece. (Or is it great-niece?) We purged ourselves of a couple of tubs of stuff we deemed no longer essential to our life on the road. That felt good! And, I didn't post a single ditty to this here blog. Until today.
Hey! We've been busy!
It's been an exceptional month for our finances, as well. Without a doubt, this has been the most expensive of the last 36 months we've spent on the road. (November 2009 was bigger. We wrote a big check for a big moose that month.) In November 2012, we've given the local economy some pretty healthy boosts.
Here's a quick look at our big "cha-chings":
* New Jeep
* New baseplate
* Transplanting our auxiliary braking system
* Registration renewal for the moose
* Sales tax and registration for our new squirrel
* Two not-covered-by-insurance dental checkups
* A new crown (In my mouth. Not on my head.)
* Moose maintenance at Cummins Coach Care (But, the "camping" was "free"!)
As you can see, we're definitely spreading the wealth around. Add it all up and our total expenses for the month are about ten times our typical monthly spending.
That's right, I said "ten times".
A "10x" month could be a budget buster, for sure. Fortunately, we've planned for months like this. We had to. Why? Because months like this happen.
Yet, it's months like this that some folks seem to forget about when they tackle the question of "How much does it cost to be a fulltime RVer?" It can be easy to estimate the basic expenses, such as accommodations, fuel and food. Lots of people total those up and declare fulltime RVing a cheap way to live. (Of course, we busted that myth here long ago!) But, sooner or later, we all have to deal with (and pay for) big stuff.
It's easier (and seemingly cheaper) to focus on just the typical monthly expenses of living on the road (or anywhere, for that matter). But, the cold hard truth is that there are months that are atypical. It might be just one month every year or two or three. But, it will happen. Guaranteed.
Toads need to be replaced. Tires, too. Sometimes, so do engines. And, aging bodies need things like crowns, and knees and hips. And, all of those things cost money.
Did we need to replace our eight-year-old squirrel with a brand-new one? Of course not. But, that Jeep wasn't going to last forever. Sooner or later, it needed to be replaced. That's just the way machines are.
Is the point of this post to evoke sympathy for us having a pricey month? Absolutely not! The point is exceptional months happen. Our message is how very important it is to plan and budget for them.
We're sure glad we did!
Here in our old hometown, it's been a month of family, friends and food. Yes, we're pretty sure we've consumed more calories this month than usual. Many more. In addition to the big food-focused holiday, we celebrated my double-nickel birthday. (So, I no longer have to worry about getting carded at "senior" RV parks!) We met a "kid" from our childhood neighborhood who grew up to be a fulltime RVer just like us. I started and finished a quilt for a soon-to-be grand-niece. (Or is it great-niece?) We purged ourselves of a couple of tubs of stuff we deemed no longer essential to our life on the road. That felt good! And, I didn't post a single ditty to this here blog. Until today.
Hey! We've been busy!
It's been an exceptional month for our finances, as well. Without a doubt, this has been the most expensive of the last 36 months we've spent on the road. (November 2009 was bigger. We wrote a big check for a big moose that month.) In November 2012, we've given the local economy some pretty healthy boosts.
Here's a quick look at our big "cha-chings":
* New Jeep
* New baseplate
* Transplanting our auxiliary braking system
* Registration renewal for the moose
* Sales tax and registration for our new squirrel
* Two not-covered-by-insurance dental checkups
* A new crown (In my mouth. Not on my head.)
* Moose maintenance at Cummins Coach Care (But, the "camping" was "free"!)
As you can see, we're definitely spreading the wealth around. Add it all up and our total expenses for the month are about ten times our typical monthly spending.
That's right, I said "ten times".
A "10x" month could be a budget buster, for sure. Fortunately, we've planned for months like this. We had to. Why? Because months like this happen.
Yet, it's months like this that some folks seem to forget about when they tackle the question of "How much does it cost to be a fulltime RVer?" It can be easy to estimate the basic expenses, such as accommodations, fuel and food. Lots of people total those up and declare fulltime RVing a cheap way to live. (Of course, we busted that myth here long ago!) But, sooner or later, we all have to deal with (and pay for) big stuff.
It's easier (and seemingly cheaper) to focus on just the typical monthly expenses of living on the road (or anywhere, for that matter). But, the cold hard truth is that there are months that are atypical. It might be just one month every year or two or three. But, it will happen. Guaranteed.
Toads need to be replaced. Tires, too. Sometimes, so do engines. And, aging bodies need things like crowns, and knees and hips. And, all of those things cost money.
Did we need to replace our eight-year-old squirrel with a brand-new one? Of course not. But, that Jeep wasn't going to last forever. Sooner or later, it needed to be replaced. That's just the way machines are.
Is the point of this post to evoke sympathy for us having a pricey month? Absolutely not! The point is exceptional months happen. Our message is how very important it is to plan and budget for them.
We're sure glad we did!
Post-Vacation Life
Our "vacation" month in Arkansas is in the books (but not yet completely on our travel blog). We hit the road early Saturday out of Hot Springs for the long haul to Kansas City, where we arrived an hour or so before dark. As we traversed the 435-mile route, we passed near the two other places we had stayed during our visit to the Natural State, and then some. When we left Kansas City in mid-September, it took us five days of traveling over a six-week period to cover essentially the same distance we did in one day on the return trip.
Ugh!
It felt like we were coming home from vacation. You know the feeling: Squeeze out every ounce of vacation fun you can until the last minute, then catch the very last flight or hit the road for the long, mind-numbing ride home.
And, like those first few days after a vacation, we're a bit overwhelmed as we've gone back to "work" on the long list of "to-dos" we need to accomplish during our one-month stay here in our old hometown. In these first three days, we've shopped for a few essentials: new Keen sandals; fabric for a baby quilt the resident quilter needs to make this month; a new recliner and a new Jeep.
Yep. Rocky has been replaced.
After an unsuccessful effort to find a replacement Euro-recliner for our moose Monday morning, we took a swing by a highly recommended trailer place to see if they could handle the tasks involved with a new toad purchase. We have a high-dollar auxiliary braking system that would need to be transplanted from the old to a new toad. And, of course, any new tow vehicle we might decide to buy would have to be outfitted with a baseplate. After spending a few minutes with the manager at Croft Trailer Supply, we were confident they could do the job.
It just so happens that Croft is just a mile or so from a Jeep dealer we visited last May. So, we just had to stop by. Less than 24 hours later we became the proud owners of a four-door 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. The most important phrase in that last sentence is "four-door". Our squirrel was more than fine for the two of us. But, anytime we were transporting four, two of us (and one of them was always the resident writer of this blog) had to fold our bodies into that tiny, narrow thing that resembled a back seat.
I won't miss that! From here on out, every passenger will have his or her own door, and plenty of legroom. Hallelujah!
Of course, there's a bunch more stuff that makes our new Jeep extra nifty. There's a ton more space, a new and improved engine, smooth but still Jeepy ride, running boards, three-piece roof and a groovy navigation system. But, most importantly, it has four - count 'em, four - doors. Yeah!
Was it sad to say so long to our dear Rocky? You betcha! That dandy little squirrel has been our moose's sidekick since the beginning of our RVing adventures. After spending most of his early life in the comfort-controlled climate of a garage, Rocky lived life for the last three-plus years fully exposed to the elements. He endured heat, cold, rain and a brutal Christmas blizzard. He happily followed Bullwinkle for more than 30,000 miles from coast to coast to coast, and then some. He cruised along sandy beaches, climbed the red rocks of Moab and splashed through Spring streams in Texas Hill Country. And, he never, ever complained.
We wish our old squirrel the best in his new life in or around Kansas City. This is a great part of the country to live in and explore. We know he'll love it.
Meanwhile, we have lots to do this month with our new Jeep. By the time we head south in a month or so, we'll have him all decked out for his new assignment to fall in behind our moose. Bullwinkle will have a new buddy.
We've checked the pedigree of our new Jeep. And, guess what? Turns out he's a squirrel, too!
What's his name? Well, cue the movie theme music. It's....
Rocky 2!
Here's hoping the sequel is as good or better than the original!
Ugh!
It felt like we were coming home from vacation. You know the feeling: Squeeze out every ounce of vacation fun you can until the last minute, then catch the very last flight or hit the road for the long, mind-numbing ride home.
And, like those first few days after a vacation, we're a bit overwhelmed as we've gone back to "work" on the long list of "to-dos" we need to accomplish during our one-month stay here in our old hometown. In these first three days, we've shopped for a few essentials: new Keen sandals; fabric for a baby quilt the resident quilter needs to make this month; a new recliner and a new Jeep.
Yep. Rocky has been replaced.
After an unsuccessful effort to find a replacement Euro-recliner for our moose Monday morning, we took a swing by a highly recommended trailer place to see if they could handle the tasks involved with a new toad purchase. We have a high-dollar auxiliary braking system that would need to be transplanted from the old to a new toad. And, of course, any new tow vehicle we might decide to buy would have to be outfitted with a baseplate. After spending a few minutes with the manager at Croft Trailer Supply, we were confident they could do the job.
It just so happens that Croft is just a mile or so from a Jeep dealer we visited last May. So, we just had to stop by. Less than 24 hours later we became the proud owners of a four-door 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. The most important phrase in that last sentence is "four-door". Our squirrel was more than fine for the two of us. But, anytime we were transporting four, two of us (and one of them was always the resident writer of this blog) had to fold our bodies into that tiny, narrow thing that resembled a back seat.
I won't miss that! From here on out, every passenger will have his or her own door, and plenty of legroom. Hallelujah!
Of course, there's a bunch more stuff that makes our new Jeep extra nifty. There's a ton more space, a new and improved engine, smooth but still Jeepy ride, running boards, three-piece roof and a groovy navigation system. But, most importantly, it has four - count 'em, four - doors. Yeah!
Was it sad to say so long to our dear Rocky? You betcha! That dandy little squirrel has been our moose's sidekick since the beginning of our RVing adventures. After spending most of his early life in the comfort-controlled climate of a garage, Rocky lived life for the last three-plus years fully exposed to the elements. He endured heat, cold, rain and a brutal Christmas blizzard. He happily followed Bullwinkle for more than 30,000 miles from coast to coast to coast, and then some. He cruised along sandy beaches, climbed the red rocks of Moab and splashed through Spring streams in Texas Hill Country. And, he never, ever complained.
We wish our old squirrel the best in his new life in or around Kansas City. This is a great part of the country to live in and explore. We know he'll love it.
Meanwhile, we have lots to do this month with our new Jeep. By the time we head south in a month or so, we'll have him all decked out for his new assignment to fall in behind our moose. Bullwinkle will have a new buddy.
We've checked the pedigree of our new Jeep. And, guess what? Turns out he's a squirrel, too!
What's his name? Well, cue the movie theme music. It's....
Rocky 2!
Here's hoping the sequel is as good or better than the original!
We're On Vacation!
We really are!
And for those of you who are interested in where we've been, please visit Bullwinkle's Travels. For the first time in an eternity, our little travel blog is just about up to date. Enjoy!
Lots of folks look at what we're doing and think we're on a perpetual vacation. Of course, that's not true. As much as we love this lifestyle, and believe us we do, much of our time on the road is spent dealing with everyday life.
But, for some reason, Arkansas feels different. Since we left Missouri, we are free of any and all obligations for the first time in a long time. (It's all been fun, of course. But, an obligation is an obligation!) Arkansas is pretty. It's laid back. It's fun.
We loved Hickory Creek COE Campground in northwest Arkansas. It was relaxing. It was quiet. It was a great place to chill.
Now, we're 120 miles or so south. Here at Mount Magazine State Park something is different. The campground is small. Just 18 sites. We're sharing the highest point in the state with a splendid lodge just a few minutes away that is home to a fabulous restaurant (where we had breakfast this morning) and a most comfortable lodge with sweeping views where we sat and soaked up free wi-fi to take care of some important business this morning.
We like it here. But, we're just starting to understand why.
Sure, it's all nice. But, there's something else. Sitting here for just over 48 hours, we're starting to get it. This spacious site in the woods feels extra homey. It's quiet here. With no satellite and limited cell service, we're wonderfully disconnected. Yet, civilization, complete with cloth napkins and cheerful waitresses is just a one-mile hike or three-minute drive away. The sweeping views are breathtaking. The hiking trails are fantastic. We feel truly blessed to be here. We are, in the words of our favorite vet in Gunnison, chillaxin.
Finally, we got it.
It feels like we're on vacation!
Actually, in our three years of life on the road, most days have been fun. But, the days that feel like "vacation" are few and far between.
There's just something about this place.
It's special.
Actually, I'm not going to spend much more time attempting to explain this. Either you get it, or you don't.
And, if you do, you should put Mt. Magazine State Park on your "to do" list.
Enough said.
Meanwhile, we are lovin' our vacation!
And for those of you who are interested in where we've been, please visit Bullwinkle's Travels. For the first time in an eternity, our little travel blog is just about up to date. Enjoy!
Lots of folks look at what we're doing and think we're on a perpetual vacation. Of course, that's not true. As much as we love this lifestyle, and believe us we do, much of our time on the road is spent dealing with everyday life.
But, for some reason, Arkansas feels different. Since we left Missouri, we are free of any and all obligations for the first time in a long time. (It's all been fun, of course. But, an obligation is an obligation!) Arkansas is pretty. It's laid back. It's fun.
We loved Hickory Creek COE Campground in northwest Arkansas. It was relaxing. It was quiet. It was a great place to chill.
Now, we're 120 miles or so south. Here at Mount Magazine State Park something is different. The campground is small. Just 18 sites. We're sharing the highest point in the state with a splendid lodge just a few minutes away that is home to a fabulous restaurant (where we had breakfast this morning) and a most comfortable lodge with sweeping views where we sat and soaked up free wi-fi to take care of some important business this morning.
We like it here. But, we're just starting to understand why.
Sure, it's all nice. But, there's something else. Sitting here for just over 48 hours, we're starting to get it. This spacious site in the woods feels extra homey. It's quiet here. With no satellite and limited cell service, we're wonderfully disconnected. Yet, civilization, complete with cloth napkins and cheerful waitresses is just a one-mile hike or three-minute drive away. The sweeping views are breathtaking. The hiking trails are fantastic. We feel truly blessed to be here. We are, in the words of our favorite vet in Gunnison, chillaxin.
Finally, we got it.
It feels like we're on vacation!
Actually, in our three years of life on the road, most days have been fun. But, the days that feel like "vacation" are few and far between.
There's just something about this place.
It's special.
Actually, I'm not going to spend much more time attempting to explain this. Either you get it, or you don't.
And, if you do, you should put Mt. Magazine State Park on your "to do" list.
Enough said.
Meanwhile, we are lovin' our vacation!
100 Lasted 8!
We are tucked in our very rustic spot (with full hookups) at Mt. Magazine State Park, the highest point in the state of Arkansas. It's a small park with spacious sites that are woodsy and wonderful and cool and there are a zillion hiking trails. And when we're ready for a fine meal or a nice place to hang out, there's a reportedly beautiful lodge just around the corner. Internet and cell services are sketchy, and satellite is a most probably not.
It should be a nice, relaxing week!
Tonight we're celebrating an important first around our rolling home. At Hickory Creek, which we left this morning, we went eight whole days on 100 gallons of fresh water!
Yahoo!!!!
I'm the first to admit my general preference for a place to park this moose is a spacious slab of concrete with quality 50 amp power, full hookups and screaming wifi. But, every now and then we like to rough it. We'll go without sewer or water. We'll scale down to 30 amp. We'll park on gravel, grass or dirt.
It's fun!
For a few days.
Such was the case when we checked into Hickory Creek. We had good 50 amp at our lovely back-in site. No sewer. And, no water. But, no problem. We filled our 100 gallon fresh water tank on the way in. And, we were only roughing it for four days.
But, about Tuesday we decided that we liked Hickory Creek so much we wanted to stay a few more days. Our site was available, so we extended our stay until Sunday. A total of eight days. All was right with the world. Of course, we'd be using water like there was no tomorrow. Our fresh water tank read "two thirds". Suddenly, if we wanted to save ourselves a trip to the closest fresh water hose, we needed to conserve.
Our waste tanks were not the issue. They are huge. Together, they hold at least 25% more than our fresh water tank can. Our issue was running out of fresh water. And, while a trip to the water hose wouldn't be a great big deal, it would be a bit of a hassle. We decided to take on the challenge and see if we could make it.
We're not well versed in the art of water conservation. We own a couple of paper plates, somewhere. We love to cook. And, when we do we hardly give thought to how many pots, pans and dishes we dirty. We enjoy wine with most meals from genuine glass. No throwaways for us.
So, these last four days we've been careful. We've cooked almost everything on the grill. We ate out for lunch. We took navy showers. With our fresh water meter on "E" for the last two days, we started to wonder if we could make it.
But when the time came late this morning to head for the dump station before we hit the road, we realized our achievement. We were fed, watered and freshly showered. And, we had made 100 gallons of water last us for eight days. Every flush. Every wash. Every anything that required water.
We did it!
Tonight we're loving that we don't have to think about this anymore. We don't really miss the hum of our water pump. Tonight we made a big pot of spaghetti that cooked it a large pot of water. No worries.
Nope. We don't miss it. Not at all. But, now we know something we didn't know before. When it comes to saving water, we can do it.
Yeah! Of course, this week we do have to get by on just 30 amp. And, there's the whole lack of cell and internet thing.
Yep. We're still roughing it. But, we love it!
It should be a nice, relaxing week!
Tonight we're celebrating an important first around our rolling home. At Hickory Creek, which we left this morning, we went eight whole days on 100 gallons of fresh water!
Yahoo!!!!
I'm the first to admit my general preference for a place to park this moose is a spacious slab of concrete with quality 50 amp power, full hookups and screaming wifi. But, every now and then we like to rough it. We'll go without sewer or water. We'll scale down to 30 amp. We'll park on gravel, grass or dirt.
It's fun!
For a few days.
Such was the case when we checked into Hickory Creek. We had good 50 amp at our lovely back-in site. No sewer. And, no water. But, no problem. We filled our 100 gallon fresh water tank on the way in. And, we were only roughing it for four days.
But, about Tuesday we decided that we liked Hickory Creek so much we wanted to stay a few more days. Our site was available, so we extended our stay until Sunday. A total of eight days. All was right with the world. Of course, we'd be using water like there was no tomorrow. Our fresh water tank read "two thirds". Suddenly, if we wanted to save ourselves a trip to the closest fresh water hose, we needed to conserve.
Our waste tanks were not the issue. They are huge. Together, they hold at least 25% more than our fresh water tank can. Our issue was running out of fresh water. And, while a trip to the water hose wouldn't be a great big deal, it would be a bit of a hassle. We decided to take on the challenge and see if we could make it.
We're not well versed in the art of water conservation. We own a couple of paper plates, somewhere. We love to cook. And, when we do we hardly give thought to how many pots, pans and dishes we dirty. We enjoy wine with most meals from genuine glass. No throwaways for us.
So, these last four days we've been careful. We've cooked almost everything on the grill. We ate out for lunch. We took navy showers. With our fresh water meter on "E" for the last two days, we started to wonder if we could make it.
But when the time came late this morning to head for the dump station before we hit the road, we realized our achievement. We were fed, watered and freshly showered. And, we had made 100 gallons of water last us for eight days. Every flush. Every wash. Every anything that required water.
We did it!
Tonight we're loving that we don't have to think about this anymore. We don't really miss the hum of our water pump. Tonight we made a big pot of spaghetti that cooked it a large pot of water. No worries.
Nope. We don't miss it. Not at all. But, now we know something we didn't know before. When it comes to saving water, we can do it.
Yeah! Of course, this week we do have to get by on just 30 amp. And, there's the whole lack of cell and internet thing.
Yep. We're still roughing it. But, we love it!
Texas Absentee Voting
In case you couldn't tell, Election Day is just around the corner.
Don't worry. This post isn't about trying to persuade you to vote one way or another. (We can hear the cyber sigh of relief!)
Rather, this missive is a quick lesson in absentee voting as a Texan. (So, if you're not a fellow resident of Rainbow Drive, you're officially excused from class. If you're in search of more interesting reading material, may we suggest you click on over to Bullwinkle's Travels? We've been busy bringing that neglected travel blog up to date...almost.)
A couple of years ago, as the United States prepared for the 2010 census, Escapees sent mailings assuring us that we would be counted. We never were. With the approach of this year's general election, we looked for absentee voting instructions to arrive in the mail from Escapees. They never did. So, we took matters into our own hands. It's one thing to miss being counted every 10 years. But, when it comes to exercising our constitutional right, we aren't going to let anything get in our way. And, we want to do what we can to help our neighbors with this process.
We submitted our requests for absentee ballots today. The process took longer than it should. With hopes that we can save our friends a few minutes, here are some step-by-step instructions.
1. Get/Check Your Voter Registration.
If you're not already registered, do it now! The deadline for registering to vote in this year's general election is October 9th.
To register, Complete a Voter Registration Application online. You must print and mail this form the voter registration official in your county. This form must be received prior to October 9th.
In Livingston, the Polk County official is:
Tax Assessor-Collector
Marion A. "Bid" Smith
416 N. Washington
Livingston, TX 77351
If you are registered, find your Voter Registration Card. It has an expiration date, but if that date has passed, don't worry. Your registration is probably current. To check the status of your registration, go to the Voter Information Search page. Enter the essential info and the site will tell you your status.
Don't put your registration card away just yet. You'll need it in a minute.
2. Print and Mail an Application for Ballot by Mail
Click here to open a PDF of the application.
Complete Page 2. Your completed application must be received by the early voting clerk no later than October 30th.
Provide all of the information requested. Here are a few helpful hints.
Before you fill in your address in Box 2, check your voter registration card. Print your address exactly as it appears under your name on the card.
In Box 3, fill in the mailing address where you want your ballot to be mailed. So, think about where and when you want to receive your ballot.
In Box 6, check "Expected absence from the county" as your reason for voting by mail.
In Box 7, check Address outside the county. (The address you provided in Box 3 needs to be outside Polk County.)
In Box 8, enter a date when you can receive mail at the address in Box 3. Remember, your completed ballot must be received by the early voting clerk (not postmarked) no earlier than October 27th and no later than 7PM on Election Day, November 6th.
Mail your completed application to the Early Voting Clerk in your county.
In Livingston, the Polk County Early Voting Clerk is:
County Clerk
Schelana Walker
P.O. Drawer 2119
Livingston, TX 77351
Your completed application must be received by the early voting clerk no later than October 30th
3. Watch Your Mail and Vote!
Don't worry. This post isn't about trying to persuade you to vote one way or another. (We can hear the cyber sigh of relief!)
Rather, this missive is a quick lesson in absentee voting as a Texan. (So, if you're not a fellow resident of Rainbow Drive, you're officially excused from class. If you're in search of more interesting reading material, may we suggest you click on over to Bullwinkle's Travels? We've been busy bringing that neglected travel blog up to date...almost.)
A couple of years ago, as the United States prepared for the 2010 census, Escapees sent mailings assuring us that we would be counted. We never were. With the approach of this year's general election, we looked for absentee voting instructions to arrive in the mail from Escapees. They never did. So, we took matters into our own hands. It's one thing to miss being counted every 10 years. But, when it comes to exercising our constitutional right, we aren't going to let anything get in our way. And, we want to do what we can to help our neighbors with this process.
We submitted our requests for absentee ballots today. The process took longer than it should. With hopes that we can save our friends a few minutes, here are some step-by-step instructions.
1. Get/Check Your Voter Registration.
If you're not already registered, do it now! The deadline for registering to vote in this year's general election is October 9th.
To register, Complete a Voter Registration Application online. You must print and mail this form the voter registration official in your county. This form must be received prior to October 9th.
In Livingston, the Polk County official is:
Tax Assessor-Collector
Marion A. "Bid" Smith
416 N. Washington
Livingston, TX 77351
If you are registered, find your Voter Registration Card. It has an expiration date, but if that date has passed, don't worry. Your registration is probably current. To check the status of your registration, go to the Voter Information Search page. Enter the essential info and the site will tell you your status.
Don't put your registration card away just yet. You'll need it in a minute.
2. Print and Mail an Application for Ballot by Mail
Click here to open a PDF of the application.
Complete Page 2. Your completed application must be received by the early voting clerk no later than October 30th.
Provide all of the information requested. Here are a few helpful hints.
Before you fill in your address in Box 2, check your voter registration card. Print your address exactly as it appears under your name on the card.
In Box 3, fill in the mailing address where you want your ballot to be mailed. So, think about where and when you want to receive your ballot.
In Box 6, check "Expected absence from the county" as your reason for voting by mail.
In Box 7, check Address outside the county. (The address you provided in Box 3 needs to be outside Polk County.)
In Box 8, enter a date when you can receive mail at the address in Box 3. Remember, your completed ballot must be received by the early voting clerk (not postmarked) no earlier than October 27th and no later than 7PM on Election Day, November 6th.
Mail your completed application to the Early Voting Clerk in your county.
In Livingston, the Polk County Early Voting Clerk is:
County Clerk
Schelana Walker
P.O. Drawer 2119
Livingston, TX 77351
Your completed application must be received by the early voting clerk no later than October 30th
3. Watch Your Mail and Vote!
Remember, your completed ballot must be received by the early voting clerk (not postmarked) no earlier than October 27th and no later than 7PM on Election Day, November 6th.
That's it! Hope this helps.
Pooped!
We've come a long way from Loveland. It's been far too long since we've checked in. At long last, we're dusting off our long-neglected blog. We've been busy!
We traveled across Kansas in the heat and humidity. We're so pleased to report that our heat pump is working just fine. (Thanks again, Don and Mary Ann!) We enjoyed time with family in Salina and spent 10 days in Kansas City celebrating a big birthday and taking care of some health care business. With that activity behind us, we headed down Highway 50 to Sedalia to attend our first Escapade.
An Escapade is a rally for members of the Escapees RV Club. These days the club hosts an Escapade once a year. We've been meaning to attend since we hatched the idea of becoming fulltime RVers. It only took us four years to make it to one! But, when our calendar synced up perfectly with this year's festivities in Sedalia, we made it a date.
When we arrived last Saturday we were instantly met with familiar faces. Fellow fulltiming friends John and Bridget Hatch were just inside the gate working on the parking team. John led us to our parking spot, which was right next door to fellow fulltimers Mark and Dortha (whom we hadn't seen in forever!), two doors away from Donna and Keith and their pretty new motorhome, and just across the road from traveling buddies Molly and Bob, who are in their second of three years serving as Escapade directors.
Molly and Bob are a very special couple who have dedicated their tremendous talent and energy to Escapees. We saw them several times during this incredibly busy week, and they were always smiling. They recruited an amazing staff and volunteers to make this event a success. And, it showed. Successfully navigating five or six hundred RVs in and out of a fairground, and facilitating the education and entertainment of 1,100 attendees for a week is a monumental task. Molly, Bob and folks did it all with a smile.
That said, we can attest that Molly and Bob can do some arm twisting -- of the friendliest kind, of course! While we visited with them in Utah last Summer, they asked if we would present an informational seminar at this year's rally based on our special report we posted here on the blog last year. And, of course, we said we would. Somewhere along the way, Molly charmed me into signing up as an event photographer, too.
My photography duties were tons of fun! Seriously, I think that's one of the best jobs at an event like this. I was assigned a golf cart, radio and a badge. With all that and my camera in hand, I could literally go anywhere! And, I did. Within a few hours of landing at the fairground, I was shooting all over the place. From the start of the opening ceremony on Sunday afternoon until yesterday's closing festivities, I snapped my way in and out of almost every seminar, the vendor's marketplace, the chapter and special interest room, craft area, an RV show, many socials, a chili cookoff, pet parade, two nights of Branson-style entertainment and the Ham-O-Rama talent show. Yep. I captured hundreds of smiles this week.
Wednesday morning, I parked my camera for an hour when Paul and I presented our seminar, The Myths of Fulltime RVing. Our session was the third of seven presentations that were part of the Escapade's first-ever "Fulltiming 101", a series designed for people who are planning, considering or starting life as fulltime RVers. We had a wonderful audience. They looked so good, of course, I took their pictures! Everyone was engaged, participants asked great questions, and we received wonderful feedback. Though we were a bit nervous about it all, (It's been years since we've stood in front of a room!) it was great fun. We were honored to participate in this new program. If we helped give a few folks something to think about, then it was all worth it.
Between shooting and processing photos and preparing and delivering our seminar, we didn't have much time left for socializing. But, we were delighted to meet some fellow blogging friends for the first time. Kenny and Angela were parked just a few rigs away. We've been meaning to meet up with them every time we're in Kansas City. It was great to finally meet them. Whizzing along in our cart, we spotted Glenn and Sylvia's rig and stopped to say hello. It was so nice to actually meet these Facebook friends face to face! We dropped in on a fun happy hour at Sam and Donna's place, where we able to sit and visit a bit with these good folks and Kenny and Angela. They introduced us to fulltimers Len and Phyllis, who definitely did their part to stimulate the Sedalia economy. (Thanks, y'all!). We also met fellow fulltimers Jesse and Ginger briefly along the way. We're thrilled to move their blogs to the "Bloggers We've Met" section of our blogroll.
We've also enjoyed catching up with our dear friends Steve and Cathy, whom we last saw during our quick stop in Lincoln early this Summer. It's always good to see them, and it was a special treat to have them in the audience for our seminar and share one of their fulltiming mantras: "Your expenses may vary!" (So true!) We look forward to meeting up with this fun couple in our Fall travels.
After this morning's "Get Away Breakfast", a steady stream of RVs left the campground. With hugs, handshakes (but mostly hugs) and "See Ya's", many of our fellow Escapees hit the road out of Sedalia. Others are sticking around here through the weekend. We were originally planning on heading out today. But, a pretty stiff wind was blowing from the direction we would be going, so we opted to sign up for another night. We'll head south with the wind mostly at our back tomorrow.
We didn't really need an excuse to stay. But, we'll take it. Besides, after this fun and busy week, we must confess. We're pooped!
We traveled across Kansas in the heat and humidity. We're so pleased to report that our heat pump is working just fine. (Thanks again, Don and Mary Ann!) We enjoyed time with family in Salina and spent 10 days in Kansas City celebrating a big birthday and taking care of some health care business. With that activity behind us, we headed down Highway 50 to Sedalia to attend our first Escapade.
An Escapade is a rally for members of the Escapees RV Club. These days the club hosts an Escapade once a year. We've been meaning to attend since we hatched the idea of becoming fulltime RVers. It only took us four years to make it to one! But, when our calendar synced up perfectly with this year's festivities in Sedalia, we made it a date.
When we arrived last Saturday we were instantly met with familiar faces. Fellow fulltiming friends John and Bridget Hatch were just inside the gate working on the parking team. John led us to our parking spot, which was right next door to fellow fulltimers Mark and Dortha (whom we hadn't seen in forever!), two doors away from Donna and Keith and their pretty new motorhome, and just across the road from traveling buddies Molly and Bob, who are in their second of three years serving as Escapade directors.
Molly and Bob are a very special couple who have dedicated their tremendous talent and energy to Escapees. We saw them several times during this incredibly busy week, and they were always smiling. They recruited an amazing staff and volunteers to make this event a success. And, it showed. Successfully navigating five or six hundred RVs in and out of a fairground, and facilitating the education and entertainment of 1,100 attendees for a week is a monumental task. Molly, Bob and folks did it all with a smile.
That said, we can attest that Molly and Bob can do some arm twisting -- of the friendliest kind, of course! While we visited with them in Utah last Summer, they asked if we would present an informational seminar at this year's rally based on our special report we posted here on the blog last year. And, of course, we said we would. Somewhere along the way, Molly charmed me into signing up as an event photographer, too.
My photography duties were tons of fun! Seriously, I think that's one of the best jobs at an event like this. I was assigned a golf cart, radio and a badge. With all that and my camera in hand, I could literally go anywhere! And, I did. Within a few hours of landing at the fairground, I was shooting all over the place. From the start of the opening ceremony on Sunday afternoon until yesterday's closing festivities, I snapped my way in and out of almost every seminar, the vendor's marketplace, the chapter and special interest room, craft area, an RV show, many socials, a chili cookoff, pet parade, two nights of Branson-style entertainment and the Ham-O-Rama talent show. Yep. I captured hundreds of smiles this week.
Wednesday morning, I parked my camera for an hour when Paul and I presented our seminar, The Myths of Fulltime RVing. Our session was the third of seven presentations that were part of the Escapade's first-ever "Fulltiming 101", a series designed for people who are planning, considering or starting life as fulltime RVers. We had a wonderful audience. They looked so good, of course, I took their pictures! Everyone was engaged, participants asked great questions, and we received wonderful feedback. Though we were a bit nervous about it all, (It's been years since we've stood in front of a room!) it was great fun. We were honored to participate in this new program. If we helped give a few folks something to think about, then it was all worth it.
Between shooting and processing photos and preparing and delivering our seminar, we didn't have much time left for socializing. But, we were delighted to meet some fellow blogging friends for the first time. Kenny and Angela were parked just a few rigs away. We've been meaning to meet up with them every time we're in Kansas City. It was great to finally meet them. Whizzing along in our cart, we spotted Glenn and Sylvia's rig and stopped to say hello. It was so nice to actually meet these Facebook friends face to face! We dropped in on a fun happy hour at Sam and Donna's place, where we able to sit and visit a bit with these good folks and Kenny and Angela. They introduced us to fulltimers Len and Phyllis, who definitely did their part to stimulate the Sedalia economy. (Thanks, y'all!). We also met fellow fulltimers Jesse and Ginger briefly along the way. We're thrilled to move their blogs to the "Bloggers We've Met" section of our blogroll.
We've also enjoyed catching up with our dear friends Steve and Cathy, whom we last saw during our quick stop in Lincoln early this Summer. It's always good to see them, and it was a special treat to have them in the audience for our seminar and share one of their fulltiming mantras: "Your expenses may vary!" (So true!) We look forward to meeting up with this fun couple in our Fall travels.
After this morning's "Get Away Breakfast", a steady stream of RVs left the campground. With hugs, handshakes (but mostly hugs) and "See Ya's", many of our fellow Escapees hit the road out of Sedalia. Others are sticking around here through the weekend. We were originally planning on heading out today. But, a pretty stiff wind was blowing from the direction we would be going, so we opted to sign up for another night. We'll head south with the wind mostly at our back tomorrow.
We didn't really need an excuse to stay. But, we'll take it. Besides, after this fun and busy week, we must confess. We're pooped!
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