Spent three weeks at our Alabama “home”, Blue Herron Paradise RV Park in Guntersville, AL. We quickly realized we not only made the right choice in the lot we chose but in the park as we met several great people there. We have no plans to build a “port home” which is what they build in this park, but have some neat ideas in case we change our mind. The area is surrounded by lakes with Lake Guntersville, one of the best bass lakes in the US, stretching over 25 miles. Jack is already dreaming about a boat! However since our lot backs up to a pond, I told him he has his water front property and we can afford the boat to go on it. We are only 40 minutes from Huntsville, 1 1/2 hours from Birmingham, AL or Chattanooga, TN. So we are not really in the sticks. After planting 4 Lakeland Cypress trees and getting many landscaping ideas for when we return in April, we left our Alabama home and headed to Florida for repairs and the new MCD day/night shades.

Florida was much better weather-wise as it was only in the 80’s. While waiting for 3 days at Alliance RV Service in Wildwood, we were able to once again visit my Aunt and Uncle in the Villages. If you have never been, there are several separate villages with many shops, restaurants and nightly entertainment 365 days a year!!! What a place to retire if you want a house and love Florida. Next stop was Bay Lakes RV Resort for a few days to look around and see if we really wanted to buy a lot in Florida. This place is very nice resort for Class A motor coaches. Casitas are built here which is a 400 – 800 sq ft building which usually has a kitchen, bathroom and storage area. You live in your Motorhome, unlike Alabama where you live in the port house. The $3 million club house with theater, ballroom, exercise room, kitchen facilities and several meeting rooms/crafts room with a pool and hot tub outside is absolute gorgeous. It is much more elegant than our Alabama clubhouse but the prices of lots, HOA fees, etc. are also much higher. Once again if you want to live in Florida and own a Class A motor home, this is a great place and we may return.

Next stop was Classic Coach in Lakeland where they can renovate any type of coach at any price you want to pay. While we were there, they were renovating a 1973 Airstream and the finished look was unbelievable! With the cost of new coaches, many people are looking to renovate instead of buying. We however will settle for the new shades in the front of the coach – and love them. While waiting for three days, we were able to travel to Tampa and Clearwater to look over that area. Still trying to decide why so many people love Florida.

Time to head back to Texas for Thanksgiving with Jack’s family. We were able to finally get his mom to the Victoria mall after 5 years; a Christmas pageant at one of the local churches and even for a ride in the coach which she had never done!

As we travel to Arizona for Christmas with our RV families, we will greatly miss being with our family, especially Scott who will spend Christmas in Baltimore with Meg and her family. We wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas, safe travels and good health in 2010.