PEACE AND QUIET … the order of the day!

Hooray! Warm weather is coming! Since we arrived last Wednesday, it has been cold and wet here (first rain since October—go figure) but today’s forecast is for 71’f and warmer by a few degrees each day for the next seven days. There was frost on the punkin’ this morning; it was 30’f at 6 a.m. but the sky is clear and I’m keeping an eye out for sunrise. We are hoping this warming trend will continue as we move east in a couple days. About the only thing we have found the energy to get done is our laundry. Otherwise, we have spent our days reading and computing curled up in our blankets cursing the weather. I know, I know … compared to the cold and snow that some people up north are dealing with we probably shouldn’t complain however in the southern part of the USA we sort of expect sunshine and are disappointed when there is none. Of course, the locals all say how much the rain is needed … so we are happy for them.

We are set up at “The Ranch”, a semi-small Escapee’s (SKPs) Co-op Park (members only) in the tiny community of Lakewood, NM. At $80/week plus electric for full hookups, the price is fair. We were a bit perturbed when we called on the way in and were told we would have to stay over night in the boondock (no hookups) area even though our ETA was just five minutes after “closing time” at 5 p.m. The assistant manager had an appointment and couldn’t find anyone to take his place and wait for us. Of course, we sucked it up and after some grouching went to bed early and survived.

The interesting part of this scenario is that we are totally set up to “boondock” but just never do it. We have solar power, we have a generator and satellite Internet, we are totally self-contained … but honestly, we are spoiled and love our hook-ups. Needless to say, we were up early, in the office shortly after it opened and more than ready to move into our space. We asked about buying a lot here and were told there are only five names on the waiting list. Compared to five hundred names on some of the more desirable parks, sounds like a great deal until you consider the location. It is a long way to anywhere from here. If quiet and solitude is your desire … this is the place. I could probably manage as there is a Super Wal*Mart in Artesia (population 10,000) about 14 miles north and we hear there is one in Roswell another 40 miles north. A very small town, Artesia appears to be fairly prosperous when compared to other little towns we’ve seen around the country. There are two big oil refineries right near downtown that surely plump up the tax revenue and according to the Chamber of Commerce, they are the first to donate when the community needs money. We were told if we smell gas not to be alarmed, it is just the wind carrying the burn off odor from the refineries … the “smell of money” … well, yeah!

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Until next time,