Sean and I are tucked away at Camp Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We had a good trip here from Alabama. Nothing spectacular but we did spend two nice days in Savannah Geoorgia. It is beautiful and I could totally spend more time there, but we were wanting to get to the OBX so we only spent a short time. We will go back someday and spend a few more days.
When I write our blog I try to record our journeys as they are really happening. With a mostly a positive twist of course! The good, the bad and the ugly, so to speak. Oh, usually there are quite a few days between blogs so things that might have been really negative get mellowed out with time, but generally I tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But that is life, isn't it? I spent many years as a counselor and I found no one who lived a perfect life. But then, my job was to help those whose lives were not so perfect. Most lives, like mine, were fraught with tragedy and heartache mixed with times of joy and beauty. My experience with full time Rv'ing has been the same.... Kudos to those who live this life and all is perfect. Our life isn't, just like our life before Rv'ing wasn't either. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining but I just can't really imagine all these other folks have no bumps in the road!
Anyway, I digress. Probably because as of late our life has had its bumps. When we were in Alabama, Sean did something in his leg and glute that has caused a great deal of nerve pain. He has done it before but usually it lasts a few days and then it is gone. He thinks he did it walking on the uneven beach for many miles on Orange Beach. Beach walking has kicked this problem up before but it usually lasted a few days at most. This has gone on for weeks now. After the first week, Sean went to urgent care and other then a steroid shot that did nothing and some meds that did even less, he found no relief. Each day, things went from bad to worse. By the time we got to Camp Hatteras, Sean could barely walk without pain. We pulled in and started to get our rig set up. All went well until our largest slide in the bedroom did not open. Eventually with some finagling, we got it open. Needless to say, we knew we had another slide issue. Ugh! However, we were happy to get the slide out and the rig set up
We then began our job here at Hatteras. The people are friendly, kind and helpful. Many people have come here every summer for 10 years and more! We are very happy to be here but this is no little recreation job. It will keep us very busy and getting a grasp on it all has been a bit overwhelming. Though Sean and I have a recreation background, it has been 18 years for me and 20 or more years for Sean since we have worked in the field. Recreation is a huge part of the program here and it is expansive. Another couple was hired to work with us but cancelled their commitment the day we arrived. So, we are trying to get a handle on it and it is happening but Sean is still unable to move much and there is much work to do. He has met with orthopedic doctors, massage therapists, acupuncture and now physical therapy. He is still in a great deal of pain, but I think he has seen slight improvement in the last 24 hours
A few days ago, with two doctor apointments on the to do list, along with extensive shopping for our recreation job, Sean pulled the black tank valve to empty our "poopy" water, to have the valve break. The tank emptied but the valve is no longer able to close. Having a slide not be able to close is one thing, but not being able to use your toilet is another. Yes, we have toilets available to us at the park, but Sean can hardly walk and a large storm is moving in. We called a repair man who informed us it would be a week for the part. Sean went to his apointments still to find no relief but he did get an X-ray that showed no visible damage. His next appointment is to physical therapy. Meanwhile he drives the truck the block or two to the park restrooms. I am trying to handle all the other aspects of our life that involve movement so Sean does not have to.
A storm hit and it is very cold, windy and raining. We have a bathroom where we work and as long as Sean doesn't have to move much besides using the bathroom, he is ok. However, recreation is very physical and if he isn't better soon, this job could become problematic quickly. Hopefully he will be healed before Memorial Day weekend which kicks off the summer here. They expect hundreds of campers who all want to enjoy the recreation programs. Happily, they have hired our friend Sharon Spivey, to come mid June and help us out. We will be very happy to see her!
The other little glitch we weren't really expecting is hurricanes. We had a friend mention on Facebook that we were coming to Hatteras during the hurricane season. I mentioned it to Sean and he said they are usually in September. Well, we got here and all of the work campers have stories to tell you of the hurricanes they have experienced here every summer. The good news is that you know when a hurricane is going to hit and since our houses are on wheels, you just fold them up and head inland and wait out the storm. Oops, wait, our slide is broken and won't move in! Now that could be problematic as well since we can't move our house with a slide sticking out! I guess we pray for a hurricane free summer and keep our insurance premiums paid!
We leave soon to fly to Texas for Megs college graduation. She has done wonderfully and will be receiving many honors. Sean jr. and his family, Cory and April and Lou and Ken will be attending. I hope other family and friends will make it but I know Texas is far from Arizona. Cory has also just completed his second Bachelor degree. He has gotten both of his degrees through online programs and chooses not to go through graduation ceremonies. However, that doesn't make us any less proud of him! Sean jr. Is doing amazing things with his new house and his family is thriving. As you can see, life has its bumps and its beauty. Full time Rv'ing is no different.
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