West Coast Sunshine

This post is from November 15, 2015. 

The cold rains have settled in most days here in Victoria. Today is bright and sunny (for the moment anyhow) so Nash and I have taken off for the beach at Clover Point. I open all the curtains and drink in the ocean views on all sides. Nash loves looking out all the windows and today someone parked near us and took out some bread, so immediately, before she even had the bag open, more than 100 birds flocked to the space beside the RV. Some of them fly within inches of the tableside window. 

I'm happy to see he enjoys the scene as much as I do. I brought my cousin here yesterday and we saw some seals fishing nearby, swimming fast and breaching the water regularly. Awesome. I love you dear Mother Nature for providing me with such natural beauty to enjoy. 

I have to work later today at 4:45pm  for 4 hours. All of my shifts are 4 hours long, which suits me well enough. I had a job interview this past week at an organization that works with sex trade workers. It too is a 4 hour shift, which I have to say, really has been working for me. I should hear from the job interview in the coming week. It's only casual on-call so I hope I at least get on their list. It's more money than my current job and a way to test out the waters for social work jobs. I never know how I do on a job interview and I have to say most have been over the phone or video, with just a handful in person, well, two actually that were social work jobs, including this one. It was different to be sitting in front of a panel of workers that sat on three sides of the table, which I found to be rather intimidating.  So who knows. In the meantime I will keep applying for part-time jobs that interest me as the current job has only 6 weeks to go. 

Nash continues to grow like a weed. He is going to be a big kitty I reckon. he is only 4.5 months old and look how big he is...wow. And such an awesome kitty at that, so good with the kids, friendly with everyone, and cuddly with me, loves to play. What more could I ask for? 

So I think I will snuggle seaside with the kitten and read the afternoon away until it's time to head off to work. 

Battening down the hatches

I have 4 skylight vents in the RV and three of them are hooded and screened, and seem to be pretty draught free, however the fourth one is a different story. It does not have a hood, which I actually like so I can see clear to the skies when it's open, and it had been screened when I bought it but due to a malfunction of the crank to bring it back down one day when it started spilling rain, I had to bust through the screen to get at the lid to reattach it to the crank. The wind had caught it and pulled it off the track. Easy fix but that was when I realized what else was going on. But the screen was ruined, as was part of the screen frame too as it was brittle as hell. So I will have to replace the whole window when I get some extra cash. 

Remember the solar panels that took forever to get someone to help me install them? Well my friend who installed them did not take into consideration the closure of that particular lid - it was a nice sunny day when we were at it, so the lid was up. Now the lid will not close all the way because the solar panel is mounted just a couple of inches from the opening, and the lid is flared. 

So with all of this going on in a rainy windy Victorian autumn, it has become rather draughty and it is close to where the furnace is, so the furnace kept cutting in all the time, running the house battery down. I happened to see some quilted inserts for these types of skylights at Wal-mart but did not have the cash to spare on them at the time, so I improvised with my own solution - a pillow case filled with stuffing, just enough to keep it wedged up there. I chose a light yellow pillowcase so it wouldn't take away all of the light as well. The other three skylights are in the other spaces I am not using during the day. There's one in the bedroom, bathroom, and in the over the cab bed chamber. They let in light all the time, closed or open, which is nice. The lids are all white as are the hoods. I fear some may become damaged though, with all the trees I happen to park under/near. So I have to keep an eye on that. 

I have also purchased some dollar store foam mat puzzle pieces to provide a bit of cheap insulation under the table as my feet were cold all the time. The floor is covered in a nasty worn vinyl that is so cold to the touch now. I plan to replace it all with hardwood floors this winter but for now the foam is a start. I'll pick up more now that I know they help and do the rest of the floor under the table and beside the couch. The rest is okay for now. I have a floor mat in the kitchen in front of the sink/stove, and a mat in the bathroom. 

The last bit I want to do is some of that shrink plastic over all of the windows that I won't be opening until spring. I really only open the one above the table now, to get a bit of fresh air. The windows are single paned, so the plastic will help a great deal. The temps have been staying above 0C and below 10C most of the time which is not usual for this time of year in Victoria. I am hoping we will get a warm wind for a few days. My solar panels have been keeping up though, regardless of the temperature. As long as it isn't raining, they charge, even when it's cloudy. The sun is out now, so they are soaking it all in. 

Nash continues to grow, and is evident he will be a very large kitty. He is already as big as Dundee and he is just 5 months old. Still as charming as ever. Except when the little bastard decides 6am is time to play...if he would just play up in his room, I wouldn't mind, but he comes right onto the bed to play and the worst is when he climbs inside of the curtains above my head (they are attached at the top AND bottom) and pokes his paws out of the middle and grabs at my hair, ears, eyelids, whatever is handy...it does not go over well at that time of day. Yes, he has a room. Or even an apartment..as it is two stories. I keep some of his things up in the loft bed which is also my storage. He plays up there all the time and sleeps sometimes in a bed next to the window. He has also taken over the cab of the RV as I curtain it off for privacy and heat conservation. His litter box is up there and he plays on the dash all the time, often standing on the steering wheel and freaking people out as they walk or drive by. I hear them  now and then, talking about the cat in the RV but they don't see me as the curtains are often closed when I'm curbside, depending on the sun. Hilarious. He also enjoys sleeping on the driver's seat, and on the carpeted floor of the cab. He plays in the doorwells with his toys that inevitably end up there. 

So I am still acclimatizing to the weather here at home after four years in Australia. The summer was lovely and I wasn't cold at all but now I find it cold to sit around outside at these temps. Layers have become the key as most peoples homes are quite warm, often too warm for me, so I have to take a few layers off. So today, the temperature outside is 6C and sunny. I had the furnace on, but it ran the battery down quite quickly, so I turned the oven on instead. It doesn't require any electricity. Then I stogged that barn door in the roof and now it's quite toasty in here. I still have on woolen tights, a long skirt, a long sleeved tshirt, and a short sleeved cotton top over that, and my boots. Normally I have a sweater on as well, but since I stogged that damn hole up, I don't think I'll need to at the moment.

It's quite warm at work so I always have to peel off layers there, but if I am biking or taking the bus, I need to dress for the outside as well, with several layers. I have to work later today, and have a few things to get done before then, so must scat, root the cat awake (if I don't get to sleep, neither does he) and frost the cake I made last night, then head over to a friend's house to help her recover her sofa for her luau birthday party this weekend. Fun times!

Fall in the RV

I have finally returned to the workforce, albeit in a very different capacity than in recent years. I've been applying for mostly non-social work jobs, and part-time at that. I'm not ready to return to full-time social work and I'm not sure at this point if or when I will return. It wasn't easy as I had to totally refocus my cv and turn it into a short resume. I had been required in Australia to provide a detailed cv listing certificates, training, workshops, facilitation, volunteer, yada yada. It added up toabout 9 pages which is way too long for a non-social work job. It's probably what screened me out of everything I've applied to up until now. I was able to condense and reorganize it down to two pages plus references. And about 2 hours after I sent it out, I had a call for a job, and was hired over the phone. I started work about 2 hours after that! Keeping in mind that I was really looking for something simple with very small learning curve and no one's life was at stake. As of last night I began work for the Heart and Stroke Foundation as a recruiter of volunteer canvassers for the February campaign. It's only for a couple of months but that was all I was really looking to commit to until I see how things go. I haven't been working since my birthday last year. Things have been rough and I didn't know if/when I could return to work at all. Turns out this job was exactly what I needed to transition myself back into the workforce, part time at least. I'll be working 4 hours per day, 5 days per week for $13.50/hr. I sit on my butt and cold call people from 4:30pm-8:30pm S-T with Friday and Saturdays off - awesome! The new boss is totally cool and positive and easy to work with. The office is just a short bus ride away. I may even take my bike on sunny days. It is a far cry from being a child protection social worker making more like $40/hr+ but I am certain I will be happier and will be able to leave the job at the office. There is very little by way of paperwork, and no computer use at all. Simply tally sheets and phone lists. It's like being on a work vacation after so many years killing forests for the government. Ahhhhh...that is the smell of the forest thanking me. 

Autumn has arrived in Victoria and November rains launch us towards the grey skies of winter. I remember it well. Rains nearly every day, but not all day and sunny at least 3 times a week. I can handle that. The temps have fallen below 10C at night, so things are getting a bit chillier in the RV. I need to work out some ways to insulate things against the damp ocean airs this winter. While it may not snow more than once all year, sitting around in single digits seaside (say that five times fast) can get a bit chilly. My wardrobe has been getting an overhaul since arriving back in Canada, as I prepare for the very different climate of home. I didn't own much warm weather clothing, having shed that either before I went to Australia, or while I was there. I returned to Canada without a warm jacket, one pair of boots, and one pair of sneakers. I had no long sleeved tops, no warm socks, no pyjamas (having slept in boxers and a tank top for years) and no warm sweaters. Thin cardigans were quite popular and useful in Australia but aren't much help to me here in the coastal chill of the night. Many of my friends smoke, sometimes only when they drink, so we tend to spend a lot of time outside on covered verandahs. There are plenty in this city, so many older homes, tons of character and back then everyone had a big front covered verandah, not a backyard deck. And because it doesn't snow here, many homes have regular furniture outside on them, and we get quite comfy. I do miss having my own outdoor space here in the RV, but that's only when I'm camping curbside. When I'm camping in the bush, I can just throw my camp chair out and voila..

Nash is growing like a bloody weed. He is so gorgeous too, just fuzzy thick fur and loves to be cuddled. So nice. He has also been naughty at times, but usual kitten naughtiness, like eating plants, knocking shit off the table, chewing on things, etc. He is such a gannet though when it comes to mooching off me while I eat, no matter what I'm eating. Popcorn, chips, muffin, pizza, toast, whatever, he wants it and is often rather persistent so requires a bit of disciplining. 

I've been housesitting this past week or so, with a few days left to go. It's for a friend who lives a few blocks from where I usually park. She has a hot tub, and I can park in front of her house, plugged in. Awesome. I really needed a break from all the packing up, moving around for spaces, and tryng to sort out power issues. The solar panels are working well enough but with rainy days, it doesn't collect as much, and it rains often for days at a time. The hot tub is AMAZING and feels so damn good when I slip in. She's happy for me to have friends over too as she knows them all as well, so I've had a couple of friends over earlier this week and two coming tonight for some drinks and hot tub. With the weather cooling down, the hot tub feels sooo nice. I have a couple of kitties to look after as well, but they're easy as they go out most of the day and come in at night. One of them brought in a dead bird a few days ago and left a hell of a mess of feathers and blood...gross. So I had to clean that up. I'm not sure where the kill occurred, possibly in the house...

Halloween was fun enough as I joined my friends as they took their children around. Seems to be the thing to do here - load up the stroller with a few drinks and take the kids out. Groups of parents, friends, relatives all over Fernwood. We ended the night at the Fernwood Community Centre where they had a party and bonfire. I had a couple of parties I could have gone to but ended up just going home after that. Wasn't in the mood really. I had already been out the night before and babysat for my friends, and two nights before that I went to Evil Acres with my friends and went through a blackout maze and a haunted house - both were pretty cool I have to say. I had more fun than thrill, particularly when I got ahead of my friends and told one of the ghouls to call out my friend's name - she freaked! It was awesome...lol. 

So I think I might color for the afternoon, since I have managed to secure an income, small and short time as it is, it does take the pressure off. Coloring is great therapy!

Solar Sensation

Well, I have finally been able to get my solar panels installed this past week. It was not for lack of trying, however with the help of a friend, we got 'er done. We had delay after delay for one reason or another, and at one point he had a bum shoulder so couldn't lift his arm to do anything. So I borrowed his tools and drilled all of the interior holes myself and ran the wiring. Holes were a cinch - drill down and hope you don't hit anything inbetween. Then I had to cut a hole to flush mount the controller, and my friend could not seem to locate his jigsaw, or other small saws other than a hacksaw blade...so off I went with the drill and drilled several holes around the outline of the cutout, and then sawed my way between the holes. A job that would have taken 5 minutes with a jigsaw took 3 hours. Yes, hours. That is simply because while my mind was full steam ahead to get this shit done, my hands were protesting loudly, so I had to put the tools down every couple of minutes to shake the feeling back into them. I was super glad when my friend could once again use the tools and I could just hand them all to him. It isn't that I am not capable as I have used power tools for years and built a great many things, however the carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands is really being quite an asshole and I drop stuff all the time. It is definitely weird to scratch or touch your own body and not feel it in your fingers. Creepy even. Anyhow, the solar is complete. Now all I need is a really sunny day to test out their speed. It has been mostly cloudy since we installed them. The photos are of our installation and the chaos that reigned while it was happening, complicated each time we had to delay and I had to put it all back into place yet again. The thing about tiny homes is you really know how small it is when things are messy like this. 

I have been using the solar charged batteries since the install quite a bit and have now run them low, so am giving them a break to charge up again. I wanted to try out everything to see what kind of load it can take. I had my laptop going, phone or ipad being charged, and tv on all at the same time and it kept up without issue for hours and hours, despite the grey days. The panels do charge on grey days, but not as fast by any stretch. I reckon on a clear sunny day they could charge up in an hour or so, so we shall see once the sun comes back to us. We are heading into the rainy season here in Victoria. I'm hoping to hold out until after Christmas and then perhaps I might head south for a couple of months in the desert somewhere to escape the rain. That will depend on whether I'm working in Victoria or not. 

So with solar charged batteries and the house battery I should have enough power to run all of my tools to get down to business, literally. I have a printer/scanner, laminator, sewing machine, iron, and my television, which is not really for business although I will probably use it as my computer screen. It's a 24 inch LED tv, so low draw and looks great. 

The last important bit to be completed is a bike rack for the back so I can lock up and carry my bike on the RV. Right now it's locked by my friend's house. I did have it locked to the RV once but then drove off with it stil attached so we don't do that anymore...thankfully I noticed right away and did not wreck my bike. I have some shelves I'd like to install too in the closets, and above the inverter for putting things being charged and my laptop, where I play my shows and movies that output to the tv. 

It's all coming together, and it has been a lot of work, but I am slowly getting there. Stay tuned...

Ocean View

One of my favorite spots to go locally for the day is Clover Point. There is a lot of marine traffic to watch from Navy ships to Coast Guard ships, cruise ships, ferries, fishing boats, sailboats, etc. Nash and I love to watch out the window at the ocean and the business of the day. There are all types of fishing birds in addition to the hundreds of seagulls. I don't know their names however I think I saw a falcon at one point. There are also lots of tourists, walker/runners, seniors, and dog walkers. There are also others just like me, traveling about in a camper and parking somewhere nice for a few hours, which is the point of this post. What I was striving for most in my quest for the RV as a tiny house was the ability to change my external environment if need be without changing my internal envrionment, and the ability to do so easily. So on days when I don't feel like traveling far, or want to hang close to friends and engage in activities with them, I'll park curbside for a few days at a time without moving close to the house where my RV is registered. It's also where I've been showering since returning to the island. I haven't bothered with the hot water tank just yet until the solar power is up a I want everything working first. The solar is nearly the last thing to be completed. I need a bike rack for my bicycle so I'm not dragging it off behind me, forgetting that I locked it to the bumper. 

So today, even though it is an overcast and splotchy rain kind of day with heavy fog. Nash and I decided to come down to the point to smell the ocean. When the wind is on the land and the sea is a bit stirred up, the scent of the sea wafts in heavy with salt. Mmmm. What is it about the ocean that captures my spirit so? I can get lost watching the horizon, wave after wave rising and falling, whitecaps licking at the sky. The smell is intoxicating at times. And then an east coast song comes on and it all makes sense. I very much cherished the summers of my childhood spent seaside visiting my maternal and paternal grandparents in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, often for the entire summer. My first visit was as a 6 month old infant. Then one year I moved there and married my daughter's father and stayed for 12 years, the longest stretch I've done anywhere, given my nomadic life otherwise. The RV is my 47th home. I'm hoping to hold steady at 47. And parking by the ocean will always be in our future. How fortunate I am to live in a country with so much ocean coastline? I want to see it all. 

For now I will be happy with what is in front of me. I may go pick up this kitten who is snuggled deep into the blanket and cuddle him for awhile...

Rocking the RV Life

So I've been living in Gertie for 49 days. It has been glorious and a challenge as well. There have been snafus, let downs, tantrums, realizations, aha moments, cuteness overload, and just plain joy. Here are some bits and pieces of RV Life.

I bought a second hand bicycle over a week ago from a social worker of all things, and just love it. It's blue and I have installed a basket on the front for carrying stuff. I like the cruiser style more than a mountain bike or a ten speed. It has narrow tires for city riding, and curved handlebars for my comfort. I don't want to lean over that much, I want to sightsee along the way! I thought it might be hard to get back into riding and that I would be sore all over, but so far it hasn't been too bad. My assbones are a bit sore, but my legs are great, and I haven't gotten very winded at all. And oh how I love those gliding moments down a sloping hill. I brake often as I get a little terrified....in any case, the bike has been a great investment. I bike pretty much every single day. That's more exercise than I've had in a decade. The only issue is where to lock up and store my bike when not in use. I have locked it to signs next to Gertie, and then some asshole stole my bicycle seat. My own bloody fault. I had two locks on the bike, a u-bolt on the front tire and a thick covered cable lock on the the frame and back tire to whatever anchor I have. I forgot about the quick release seat. So I got up one morning and it was gone - and they had left their own crotch killer seat behind. Asshole. Off I went to the bike shop for a new seat. Then I started locking it to the RV, but that can be problematic when you forget that it is attached to the RV as you start driving...I only dragged it about 10-15 feet, thankfully. I need a bike rack on the back post haste, but they are a bit pricey so I'm on the hunt for a used one. 

Getting things settled in the best space for their purpose has been an ongoing thing in an RV. When living in such a small space, the onboard storage is not always easily accessible. I don't have any loose furniture other than a camp chair for sitting around a campfire or just outside the RV. I haven't been able to hang outside the RV much though as the trick to curbside camping is to not look like you are camping as it is frowned upon and restricted under city bylaws. So I can't just set up a patio on the nature strip...My clothes have been the biggest challenge as I have to admit, I'm a bit of a clothes hog. I don't go for designer clothes in the least - I shop mostly at Old Navy and import shops for clothes from Nepal. Cheap and comfortable cotton and linen is what I am after. Old Navy is certainly cheap when they have a good sale on but it awakens in me the need for more clothing when tank tops are $3. In any event, I have dozens of sleeveless tops, mostly because I was living in a hot climate (Australia) and I arrived in Canada as summer was coming on, so hit a bunch of sales. Without a full closet or a dresser, my clothes is split around the RV. I have two cabinets over my bed that hold my t-shirts, leggings, shorts, cotton pants, and tank tops. They are stogged full. Then I have a small short closet with a very short closet rod, so not that practical, so I just cram my big chunky sweaters in there. I have another longer closet with a rod, but again, not very wide so not useful for hanging clothes, so I have a storage shelf that hangs with all my sarongs that I am not using, larger scarves, thinner sweaters, and a couple of hats. Then I have the shower where someone thoughtfully installed a closet rod to use the shower as a big closet, so I have all my jackets, dresses, and skirts hung up. I put a second closet rod below for short skirts to add more room. I haven't used the shower yet though so I will find out what a pain it is to move the clothing out for a shower. It just doesn't seem practical to not use that space as I need it for clothes for 98% of the time, and only a few moments at a time as a shower. Then I have those fabric cube storage bins - one for shoes, one for my head scarves and bandannas, one for my winter accessories (mittens, scarves, hats, etc) and then I have a wooden box that used to belong to my father, stashed up in the loft bed with my undergarments inside. I have to stand on the sofabed to reach the box, which is fine, no problem, except yesterday I got up there to get something while getting dressed, forgetting that my bottom was wearing only underpants as I rooted in the box, also forgetting that I had yanked the privacy curtain across to access the box...therefore exposing my underpants to the block...hopefully no one was looking! 

So I have moved and shifted my belongings around and think I have found the best space for most of it, however I'm sure things will change over time. I have tons of storage space left as well, which is unusual, but welcome. The storage cabinet under the sofabed is completely empty. There is room in almost all of the other cabinets not housing clothes for tons more stuff. I had originally stored my sewing machine and fabirc under the bed, but that cabinet is tough to get to so I moved that stuff out under my bench seat instead. I've put my extra batteries that are going to be hooked up to the solar panels in that space instead. I had originally planned to put them in the generator compartment outside but it's far bigger than I need, isn't real secure, nor is it real protected from the weather. I bought battery boxes to store the batteries in, and will have them strapped down to be secure. They will be out of sight, and secure. I mounted the controller in my bed chamber on the wall of the closet. Then I ran the wires up over the fridge through the top cabinet to where the inverter sits on a shelf. We are putting the solar panels on today I hope, and their wires will come down into the cabinet in my bedroom. Then I will be able to plug anything I want in, as long as I get some sun every few days. I'll be able to use my television, sewing machine, iron, printer, laminator, and toaster oven. Yahoo! Let the creating begin.

I've been quite cozy in the RV. The furnace takes the morning chill off quite nicely, and the sun is still warm enough during the day to keep things warm until bedtime for the most part, depending on whether I had the windows open that day. I spent the bulk of my time in the RV either at the table on my bench seat, or on the sofa lounging with the kitty, reading or watching something on my iPad. I do look forward to the change of scenery in going to a different space for bed, which was a big reason I wanted a separate sleeping chamber with a curtain so I can close off the messy bed if I don't feel like making it. I love hearing the rain on the roof, so far anyhow...three months into a rainy winter and I could be feeling rather differently about that. I've cooked up big meals such as Thanksgiving dinner while camping in the woods, and I've baked cookies, pies, cakes, brownies, etc in my oven and it all went rather well. It is a bit of a challenge to cook in a limited space, but I made it work, and I can use the table as extra prep space, so that's where I roll out my pie dough and cool anything on a rack. 

I've been working on more seaweed art, and have several pieces framed and another bunch drying. I'm hoping to get in on a market sale this fall for Christmas and see how they sell. I am just waiting for my solar power so I can run my printer to print off some labels for the back with an artist bio and my pic. I also need to print off some business cards as well. Once I have more power I can also get back to sewing. I have a few ideas I want to try out and see if they can sell online. 

Sometimes when I get up in the morning I have to look out to see where I parked as I can't always remember. I've been up and down this one street most of the time when I haven't been out of town camping. I'm allowed to park here as the RV is registered to an address on this street, however parking an RV is not quite like parking a little Honda Civic...I need some space, so I can't always get where I want to but that's ok. I wish I could get somewhere for the winter, but both RV parks in town are full already and I didn't want to park until late November. But whatever, it only takes a few minutes to pack up and hit the road so I often just go spend the day at the beach, overlooking the ocean. That's where I collect my seaweed. Nash just loves it as there are birds galore to watch. 

Nash has his favorite spots as well. He has a cozy kitty bed up on top of the box my undergarments are in as it sits next to a window in the loft bed. He likes the front seat when it's sunny. He likes the floor of the cab when I'm driving as it warms up. Sometimes he curls up in the safe under the passenger seat. He also likes sleeping on the bench cushions, or just about anywhere on the sofabed. He does sleep in my bed with me most of the time, but when he isn't, he is usually in the loft kitty bed. His favorite place to watch the world is the front windows of the cab though and he sits on the dash or the steering wheel. People see him all the time and I hear them call out to him. Funny little guy, he is so cute but growing fast!

So I must pack up and get the dishes cleared up and hit the road. I'm off to Shaw to see what they can help me with. My friend just ordered the cheapest cable package and it comes with access to Shaw Open hotspots all over the place. Bell has something similar, but only Ontario and east. So I'm about to dump Bell and their overpriced services. Shaw doesn't do mobiles though so I have to find a new provider. 

Oh Nash...

Nash has been with me about a month or so now and it has been a happy adventure together. He is by far the most affectionate kitty I've had in a long time. He doesn't overdo it though, and loves to be held, petted, and to curl up on your lap. He plays and plays and is very easy to engage. He checks in regularly and I am greeted with a happy chorus of mewing when I am out and return to the RV. He often sleeps with me in bed, or on the foot of the bed. He hasn't been terribly destructive, though I am still trying to break him of scratching my seats. He uses the scratching post as well and it has lessened but not disappeared. Soft Claws may be in order. Having said that, here are some highlights of Nashlife in the RV:

- You remember just how small your space is when the litter box is in use and Nash drops a fresh one. Sometimes I have to leave the RV...or light incense. I had thought about putting the litterbox in the tub, in the bathroom, but I use the shower as my closet, so I don't want my clothes to stink like litter box. 

- Nash is stealthy to the max. I can be watching him out of the corner of my eye at one end of the RV and the next thing I know, he is beside me, playing with my hair. This kinda freaks me out sometimes. Like how did he travel that far and I didn't see it? Heh heh. 

- He loves to play in water. Like a cat. Like the asshole nature of a cat. He tips his waterbowl so often he has to be supervised with his water which has become annoying as hell. So I need a better waterbowl, or maybe a gerbil water bottle...The little darling also enjoys shoving his head and paws down into my water glass. I usually use a closed mug for my water but left it in Karma the other day. And so over went the water glass last night, full, right onto the table and bench seat. He had water in his bowl, but it was not nearly as exciting as tipping my glass over.

- cuddling a kitten really is therapeutic. I have long since believed this and I'm even more certain with Nash. I can be feeling anxious or upset about something and just holding him helps me relax. It sure helps that Nash loves to cuddle. I don't think I could take being rejected by my cat right now. Like Henry. Henry was a long haired ginger I had for a year in Yellowknife. He had to go. He was an asshole most of the time and refused to let anyone hold him and did not sleep near or on you ever. He destroyed stuffl all the time, and kept me up all night. Jerk.

- He can stand up for himself. When I brought him into my friend's screen porch aka the catio, her adult cats were very interested but Nash felt very threatened so up went the fur on his back and tail. He growled and backed up from them. I finally moved one of the most intrusive adult kitties out and put Nash on top of the cat tree and he seemed to settle a bit then. I don't think I will do that again until he is a bit older. 

- He LOVES treats and has already learned how to sit and look cute while waiting for them to be handed out. If he sees me getting anything out of the same cupboard his treats are in, he will go and sit by the scratching post where I first began giving them to him to train him to it. If I ignore him, he will then come next to me and demand them. I make him work for them though, and put them all over the place for  him to sniff out and find. He knows the common places to look but has quite a nose for there being one left somewhere. 

- He really enjoys it when I park somewhere he can see the birds. We went to Clover Point (ocean) yesterday for the afternoon and he loved watching the seagulls, crows and other sea birds. I napped listening to the ocean while he watched. 

- Nash seems to enjoy sleeping under his tent as much as in his tent, and sometimes on top of his tent. Hilarious. He has nearly wrecked it though as he is very rough and so I must attempt to repair it this morning. I want to make some out of t-shirts and coat hangers though so will source some steel coathangers, perhaps from a dry cleaner. 

- He loves children. When my friend's two year old comes out to see him, he winds right up and plays and plays with the little guy. They just seem to connect on a level of their own. So cute to watch!

- He loves beer and cider and wine. Okay, he is a boozer. When I had some friends over on the weekend he kept trying to drink their stuff. I will have to watch that one...

- I still have nightmares about nearly losing him in the black water tank. When I first adopted him, I was in the bathroom and he followed me in, which I don't mind but when I stood up to flush, he jumped into the toilet at the same time and I just happened to grab him in time, pissy front feet and all. If I hadn't, he would have surely gone down into the tank and died in a vile pool of filth. I would have laid down right on the road and died with him if that happened, I swear. So new policy - no kitties in the toilet until he is too big to fit down there. Also, no flushing until the lid is down and the bowl is kitten free...

So there you have it. Kitten life. I love him. 

- 

PTSD Unraveling

As many of you may already know, I have been dealing with PTSD for the past year, with my biggest symptoms being anxiety, panic attacks and an exaggerated startle response. I was diganosed down under in Australia and started on medication and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy weekly while still in Australia. I've since returned home to Canada, and have not been able to work. I've been living onmy savings and have withdrawn from an RRSP to buy Gertie so I would at least have somewhere to live, a safe haven that I owned outright. I don't know when I will be able to return to social work, but in the meantime I am hoping I can at least find a suitable part-time job to make ends meet. I'm also starting up my own sewing and design business to sell my seaweed and beach glass art, photographs, sewing projects, alterations, and hopefully some writing. However this is not an easy task for someone with PTSD, and in particular, anxiety with panic attacks,

On top of the PTSD, my hands are currently quite disabled with carpal tunnel syndrome and I am in desperate need of the surgery. I can manage to machine sew as I don't have to do much fine fussy work for what I'm sewing and I can guide fabric through without issue. I cannot hand sew much at all as what I struggle with most is grasping items. I drop stuff all the time. I struggle with holding a cup or glass, a pen, my phone. forks and knives, a pen, mouse, and the steering wheel at times. I can no longer even consider knitting or crocheting which is a huge blow as I dearly enjoy it. Typing this up is also a challenge. I have such numbness and tingling in my right hand that it is a constant buzzing annoyance, you know, that feeling when your arm is waking up after falling asleep. Well I have it day and night in my right hand. 

So what does this all mean and why am I writing about it today? Well, I have also been struggling with advocating for myself, and explaining why something is diffcult for me. On the outside, I look like I have nothing wrong with me, when in fact, I feel quite disabled most days. What does my anxiety look like? Well, things can be going well and then one small thing goes wrong, like yesterday when I was simply going to print a few things off I needed. I lugged my laptop and printer into my friend's house and hooked it all up without issue. Then it refused to recognize the printer. It worked fine in Edmonton when I bought it - wtf? So I tried with my friend's desktop computer. Again, no luck. Well I broke down and cried right there, heaving sobs, swearing and screaming to myself (the house was empty) and demanding to know why things have to be so hard. It took me awhile but I finally managed to workj through that anxiety and move on to other tasks at hand I had to do online and was able to set up my Facebook page for my business, open a bank account for it, and order my Square e-commerce thingy. Then I tried to make a few phonecalls, and I decompensated again. I called Student Loans and RBC. Neither were easy calls but we finally made it through with positive results. What I have come to realize though is each time I have an anxiety episode/attack, it is just exhausting. I was buggered for the rest of the day after that, just absolutely spent. I tried to concentrate enough to sort some fabric but I did not have the capacity. I finally gave up in the end. These days happen at least once a week where I am an absolute mess. The anxiety lessens overnight, but I still feel anxious today and still have a very short fuse. It does not take much. It is bad enough to struggle with either the PTSD or the carpal tunnel syndrome, but both together are often a nightmare, such as when my hands refuse to work and a somple task that should take a couple of minutes ends up taking a half an hour or more, if t happens at all. Sometimes I just give up on it, sobbing and crying about the whole entire saga. I am frustrated with my progress towards good mental health and I am frustrated with the deterioration of function in my hands. I also feel afraid more than I ever used to. In fact, it was a rare thing for me to be afraid of anything. I would just charge in, fearless. But now, I am afraid. Afraid I will not recover, afraid someone will try to hurt me along the way, afraid I will find myself homeless and destitute, afraid that I will lose all of my friends because of my behaviour. I don't like it.

In buying the RV and attempting to follow through with my small business plan and path to wellness, I have had many critics. Some who don't even realize they are criticizing at the time. I know I'm super sensitive about things these days, but I know what I want and I get frustrated when some folks pound away at me to change my mind about something with their own agenda or ideas in mind, it is very hard to deal with. I need people to understand that the decisions I have made in my life about what I want and don't want have not been spontaneous but based on months or sometimes years of research, planning, and most importantly - takes into account my current capacity to accomplish those tasks. I would love to have been able to convert an old school bus to a tiny home or to buy an old clunker of an RV and fix it up myself, but the issue is - I do not currently have the physical capacity to do it with my hands in this state, and I certainly do not have the coping abilities to manage a large project like that. I needed a place to live that would not cost me much money to maintain as a residence. I knew that I was not at all interested in renting an apartment anywhere from anyone and having yet another stupid landlord who wants to dictate how I shall live in my own apartment. I also knew I could not work full-time which would be necessary in order to maintain a tiny apartment. 

The other struggle is that people often forget that I am dealing with PTSD and carpal tunnel syndrome so expect me to continue as normal, and I don't want to have to remind them over and over of why I cannot do something, or why I am struggling. I know I don't want to hear it again, but it makes it hard when I cannot keep up, or I am triggered and heading into an anxiety attack. I often have to silently or noisily retreat (both have happened) immediately and escape to my RV to calm myself down. The triggers are many - loud sudden noises can render me near catatonic for about an hour sometimes as my heart pounds away in my chest and I can't breathe. I try to use the breathing techniques learned in CBT but once the horse is out of the barn, there's little going back. I have to just ride it out. Another trigger is arguing between people - someone shouting or speaking angrily sends me out ducking for cover. A DV incident happened next door to me in Melbourne and I was hysterical when I called the police as I could hear her being beaten. Another trigger is middle eastern men who look similar to a family I was working with in Melbourne. The family is very much the root of my PTSD in addition to an cumulatiion of trauma. I was assaulted by the father, and then one of their newborn infants died due to a birth accident and things fell apart for them all over, blaming everyone but themselves. So seeing men that sound or look like the father is a definite trigger. The parents were both dealing with drug addictions(heroin, meth, pharmaceuticals), so even seeing people strung out like they were can be a trigger. And then there are the nonsense triggers (my term) that relate back to historical traumas, such as my house burning to the ground in 2010, my father dying in 2009, or a childhood incident. My therapist assures me that this is normal, as it may be that I have not fully dealt with those traumas. He is probably right. After all, I did run away to Australia...

So my point is this - please show a little compasssion towards me when you can. I may not look unwell, but I am, and it has already been a long road to recovery. I don't know how long it will take, and although I am frustrated at that alone, I know that I cannot rush it. I worked in child welfare for many hard years, and the toll on my body, mind, and spirit has been substantial. I am on shaky ground, and still trying to find my way. Please don't be another hurdle I must jump. I really need my friends right now. I would like to add that I have also had many dear friends and family's support me through all of this and I would like to thank each and every one. I could not have made it this far without them.

Rekindling Week

This past week has been spent catching up with old friends and I'm about to see two more today. After camping in the mountains on the farm with a friend who lives in a bus, we headed to Kelowna to driveway camp again, this time outside a friend and former roommate from university who had since married her teenage sweetheart and they now have four growing boys. We went for a pedicure and lunch which was just amazing as my poor feet were long overdue for a tidying up and new polish. We strolled along the river, did a bit of shopping, hung out in the house while she went through her mothering chores, and shared meals with the family. 

Nash had a visit with their kitties in the catio aka the screen porch they have claimed. It did not go well. He felt very threatened so needed to climb up high. His tail and back fur were straight out! So I cuddled him until he felt safe enough to go exploring the room. I cat-sat and colored in my coloring books. Yes, coloring books. I have embraced adult coloring books. No, not pornographic coloring books, but not Little Mermaid either...mandalas, cool designs, paisley, flowers, you name it. There is a whole collection now that it is trendy to color. I have about 100 markers and pencil crayons, and four coloring books. Yeah, you could say I'm into it. It is very relaxing and you get a real sense of completion when finished. The deisgns can be as simplistic or intricate as you like. I opt for something inbetween - intricate but not finely so, as I don't have a steady hand or the micro-pens you need to color those types of designs. I always had a box of crayons and a regular coloring book on hand over the years but it always felt rather juvenile and I had no interest in the designs to color. Now I LOVE it. Check it out sometime...

From Kelowna I then hit the road towards Chilliwack to visit another friend and former roommate. We used to work together in Cape Breton. We went out for dinner with her fiance and then hung out in the RV with Nash and talked for hours. We had coffee this morning and from here now I am heading to Abbotsford to visit a friend at his new cafe he and his wife opened. I'm heading to Port Moody after that where a friend from high school lives. We've caught up a few times over the past decade when I've been on the west coast. She has a new puppy so there is severe cuteness coming. I'll be heading back to Vancouver Island on a morning ferry and heading to Cobb Hill to see about a possible sewing job before settling back in Victoria for the fall. I'll likely just camp on residential streets at night and at the beaches and parks during the day until I feel like settling in at a more semi-permanent space. Ideally I would like to just driveway camp as I don't need to be plugged in once my solar panels are hooked up this week. I'd like to stay within the city limits and get a scooter or small motorbike to travel around on. So we shall see what transpires. 

Nash has been rather entertaining at times, and still very much a kitten and a cat. When I was shooing him off the countertop as I had just frosted some warm brownies and they were right beside him. He grabbed on when I swooshed at him, both paws in the dripping warm chocolate frosted brownies and then hit the floor with both chocolate paws...I had to act fast or face cleaning up chocolate paw prints all day. I was able to grab him and clean the paws up quickly before letting him run off and lick between his toes. Another more nightmare inducing episode involved the toilet in the RV. So it is a simple toilet system with a black water tank and you simple pull the lever around the right side of the bowl to release a bit of water to rinse the bowl as you open the trap to the black water tank. I had left the door open while I went and so nosy kitten that he is, Nash was in exploring and just as I stood up and turned around to immediately flush, up jumped kitty and straight into the bowl with his front paws, just micro seconds before I opened the trap. It still gives me chills to think what I would have done had he fallen into the black water tank...I can't even think about it. So moving on. Nash just LOVES his little tent and crawling under things to sleep, so I may make him a couple more tent beds to try out some designs as I am considering designing some cat products like beds and tents. I want to try them out with Nash first. Meow...

Mountain Life

Well, we are nearly a month into life in my tiny home RV. It is going better than expected and has been such a great experience as both Nash and I discover our comfortable places to pitch and enjoy each day. He doesn't seem to mind too much when I go off without him to visit with friends and family. When I return I am greeted by a chorus of mew mew mew until I pick him up and then all is right with his world. We cuddle for a little bit until he realizes I'm here to stay for awhile and then he jumps down to explore the RV again. His favorite perches are on a quilt that sits on top of my small blue wooden box that my dad built. I store my socks, bras, and undies in there. The box sits up in the loft bed next to the window. He curls up here when I'm away and when we are dirving. He also enjoys the front driver's seat when the sun is on it. He also loves this corner of the sofa next to his tent. He has nearly destroyed the tent, playing roughly and tumbling off the sofa while still inside. That makes me happy. 

He is such a lovely kitty, gives cuddles all the time, sleeps on my bed both in my arms and at the foot of the bed. He hasn't made a single mess outside the litterbox after that first night. He loves to play with just about anything and is content to play for hours on his own and then throw himself to the sofa to rest. I take many photos of him, thanks to digital technology. He comes when I call his name, as well as turns his head to his name - Nash, after Graham Nash from Crosby, Stills, and Nash, one of my favorite bands. I saw them in concert in Portland, Oregon. 

I've departed from Edmonton where I was visiting my daughter. And her roommate, and their three kitties. I've known my daughter's kitties for years and they seem to remember me still. Nash drove very well in the RV as we headed to Drumheller next. I was meant to go there several years ago with my daughter as we drove back from my sister's wedding in Houston, BC. I became very ill in Jasper and ended up hospitalized for three days with strep throat. So I finally made it, thanks to free camping from my RV dealership. It was a beautiful park set in the Badlands of Alberta, and breathtakingly gorgeous leaf display as we moved into Fall. I set up for a couple of days and did a bit of hiking, and some sewing for the first time in the RV. I friggin loved it. The space is perfect for sewing, plenty of natural light, and table space to cut fabrics, and I store all of my fabric below my seat at the table. I made a full curtain to provide privacy from the cab of the RV. I don't want to cover those windows as Nash really enjoys looking out them when the other curtains are all closed inside the house part of the RV. I keep them closed most of the time when city camping, depending on where I am parked, but do open them in the country and at the RV park. There is plenty of natural light whether the curtains or open or not as there are 4 skylights in the RV. They provide excellent ventilation as well as natural light. 

I've cooked and baked in the kitchen and in spite of its small size, it was still enough room. I could spread out to the table if need be, but otherwise, it worked. I don't need to keep ingredients out after they are added so I return them to their cupboard space after that. The oven is still a bit tricky as it's a proopane stove and there is no light indicator to tell me the temperature of the oven. The dial is measured but I'm not sure about pre-heat times, so will need to source an oven thermometer. I also want to add a backsplash of sorts around the stove as it's just painted wood, and very pourous, so need to cover it before it becomes stained. I've found a lovely blue glass tile online so just need to order that. 

I finally have the tv hooked up properly. I needed and HDMI cable to hook up to my laptop. The old method did not work well at all, and I can only use the tv when I'm plugged in as the house battery would drain too fast. I have two more batteries and solar panels to charge them, but they are not yet installed. I'm getting a friend to help me in Victoria next weekend and then I will have tons of power to do as I please. 

I've shifted my belongings around a bit to find the best place for them, based on access and frequency of use. I think I have pretty well found a place for everything and have plenty of space leftover. There is a big cupboard under the sofa but I have nothing in it. The upper cupboards also have plenty of leftover space. That is a first for me, particularily for a tiny home. I was spilling out of the Karma van, but in here, it feels just right, Goldilocks...

After Drumheller, Nash and I headed to the Okanagan Valley to visit a friend who lives on a farm near Enderby. Suddenly we found ourselves surrounded by forest, mountains, horses, turkeys and chickens. They all roamed freely at times around the RV, so provided much entertainment for us both. I found myself herding turkeys with the owner before long, which was definitely a first for me. The horses were gorgeous to watch, though a few times they startled me when I wasn't looking with a whinny or a snort from behind. I nearly pissed in my pants as that hot breath blew down my neck. My friend lives on the farm in her converted school bus, so we hung out there and in my RV. We also went for a drive to see her new place for the winter, a cute little cottage. The sky was amazing at night as we took in the lunar eclipse from the bench seats of the RV. Stunning. 

After a lovely visit, I then hit the road again for a short run to Kelowna where Nash and I are parked in front of my friends' house on a quiet tree lined street. We are here for one more night before heading out to Chilliwack next to visit another friend for a night or two. Then it's back to the island for the rest of fall and part of winter. Who knows after that....

Smitten with the Kitten

Well, in a few short weeks Nash has managed to crawl up into my heart and camp out. He is just such a cute and cuddly kitten, which is just what I needed about now. He loves to get up with me, follow me around, sit on me, beside me., sleep with me, purr and rub against me, the whole nine yards. We have such fun just playing and cuddling up on the sofa, watching Breaking Bad, or a favorite movie. 

Well, that was until my sound card finally quit on me last night. It all began a few months ago when I was still in Australia. I had my desk and laptop below the air conditioner in my living room, so it became quite dusty, and dirt stuck to the keys. I thought I would give them a good clean and used an ajax wipe. Well, it got the keys clean, but in the process the excess cleaner leached into my laptop and most of the keys stopped working and the sound began to fail. At first I thought it was the speakers so hooked up my Bluetooth speaker but it became clear it was the sound card. Sigh...so no more Breaking Bad or anything else on my laptop. I do have my iPads (mini and regular) and my iPhone, but it's not the same, as it'ssmaller and the mini does not have a stand yet. In any event, I did purchase an LED 24" television (LG) and just need to get my solar power installed when I get back to Victoria. In the meantime, I can use it if I am plugged in. I'm heading to Drumheller to camp at a campground so will be plugged in and will likely set my tv up. It's pretty simple as I just store it put together and just stand it up on it's shelf and plug it in. I can then plug in my iANYTHING and watch my shows and movies on the tv screen, or surf the net with the big screen. I still have to sort out the best plan for mobile internet. I'm def overpaying for what I have but needed to get everything else sorted to see just what was out there, what I needed, what I could afford, and what I would require to get that. 

Right now Nash is sleeping on a quilt on top of the blue box my father made. It sits on the loft bed next to the window and he can look out upon the street. He also spends a lot of time in the cab of the RV, sometimes just chilling on the steering wheel, or laying across the dash under the glass, catching the rays. I'm looking forward to camping in the woods soon so we can both enjoy all the windows. I keep most of the curtains closed when I'm curbside in the city, but when I'm out in the country, I'll open them all up and take in the greenery! 

I've managed to plunder through all the chores of cleaning up the RV and getting ready to depart in the morning. I did the laundry, dishes, swept and washed the floors, reorganized some of the cabinets to make things I need more often more accessible. I still have tons of empty space in here, believe it or not. I'm hoping to keep it that way, keep things minimal as much as possible. I will need some room for stock of handmade items and bookkeeping as I begin to work from home in whatever capacity I'm able to do so. 

I've enjoyed my time in Edmonton but am more than ready to start heading south again. The temps have dropped to 0C at night and snow is imminent as summer has departed, leaving fall to let things go. After Drumheller, I'll be heading across the Rockies again, hopefully with no snow. but will deal with it as best I can. I can camp in a Walmart parking lot for free while waiting for any weather to clear, hanging out cozy in my camper. I have a propane furnace that works quite well and heats things up quickly. I'll spend a night or two with an old friend in Enderby, and then onto Kelowna for a couple of days or more before heading back to Victoria for the rest of the year. I may move about on Vancouver Island but I'm not planning on leaving the island again until after Christmas or later, only to head SOUTH. It has been good just to hang out with my daughter, though she has been rather troubled with leaving me to my own devices during the day while she was at work. I was quite happy to hang out in the RV with the kitten, watching shows, surfing the net, napping the rainy cold days away. She has always struggled with being restless, and I can spend hours doing just about nothing, or filling my time with my hobbies, or reading a book, or whatever. I make a lot of phonecalls as I have free anytime minutes in Canada so why not. My daughter thinks she should be entertaining me while I visit, but I am trying to get her to see it from a different perspective. Think of it more as - mom lives in Edmonton right now and I'll hang out with her for a few hours every day or more and when you need alone time or to do something with others, no problem. I will hang out at home, in my own home with Nash. How can I resist that face? 

Home Sweet Home

Well it's been two weeks since I moved into Gertie. In that time I've been setting up house once again, buying all those little things you need like salt and pepper, cotton balls, toilet paper, corn flakes, flour, frying pans, etc the list went on and on. I had been compiling it for some time, thinking about what I would need to start up from scratch one last time. (hopefully). It is an exhausting process, shopping for it all, then carting it home, removing all the packaging, disposing of all the packaging, finding a place for everything, moving things around again and again like tetris pieces that need to fit into place. I had things from several sources that needed to find a way to live cohesively. Several boxes from Australia, bags from Halifax, things bought along the way, and things my daughter gave me. I've come to several realizations in tiny home living:

- there is only enough space to live in if things are tidy. The moment th recycling/garbage/laundry start piling up, things begin feeling a bit crowded as you step over it once more to get to the rest of the camper.

- People really don't seem to notice me in here as they walk past, deep in what they thought were private conversations, I'm sure, based on the content. There is a convenience store just around the corner, so a lot of foot traffic to and from as there are several apartment buildings on this block. 

- you become more aware of water usage/waste. No need to rinse everything to death. Never turn down a free shower at a friend/relative's home. Wash your clothes at the laundromat or at said friend/relative's home. Same goes for bathroom - use it elsewhere when you can to save black water tank capacity. 

- you really can find a space for everything. I still have empty space...for the first time in my life. There are cabinets with nearly nothing in them.  This camper has terrific storage, and I have built in a small display shelf for all my little trinkets and souvenirs from around the world. When I am mobile, I will have to pack some of them tippier ones away, but there is non-skid stuff underneath and a high lip onthe shelf. 

- I can see everything from one place in the RV if I want. Saves on psycho illusions in the shower. 

- A C Class RV is plenty of space for a kitten to explore. Nash hardly stops when he is awake. He plays hard, exploring every inch of the RV and has several favorite spots to play and to nap. His favorite napping spot is still under the front passenger seat in the safe. There is a lockable steel cabinet under the seat, but it has large gaps so he can get in and out. I don't have it locked or anything in it other than his little sheepskin bed. He likes the coziness of under the seat I think. He otherwise sleeps on the sofa, and in bed with me at night. 

- Having a door to the bathroom is a very good idea.. I can trap it...

- having an oven in the RV is awesome... from cinnamon buns to roast chicken, I have all I need. 

- it's rather cozy on a blustery cold and wet day. I just turn the furnace on and within a couple of minutes it's toasty warm.

- having a separate chamber for my bed was an excellent idea. Until I was able to get the mattress for my bed chamber, I was sleeping on the other beds in the camper. The overhead one is huge, probably a queen size, but I needed my foam on top of it, which brought me quite close to the roof...coffinlike. So then I pulled out the davenport/sofa. I plunked my foam on that and it was super cozy, but I had to make up my bed every night, and then pack it up in the morning. Pain. In. The. Ass. Once I finally got my mattress and made up the bed, it has been super comfy to sleep in there. And when I get up I can just close the curtain to the chamber. Bed made or not...

- having a comfy place to hang out is super important. The cushions on the bench seats are not very thick and quite matted down on my side already so I need to get some more foam and make new ones, or try to find some new ones that will work that won't cost me a fortune. I have my sleeping foam cut to fit the sofa in it's folded down state. It is now permanently folded down. Getting it from one state to the other  was another PAIN. IN. THE. ASS. It was quite frustrating to be wrestling with my bed late at night for over 20 minutes, swearing and thumping about. So the comfy place has become the sofabed - nice big space opened up with extra foam and a cozy blanket. Kitty has plenty of space to run and sleep along with me. 

- it really does feel like home once my own personal things were unpacked. 

So Nash is quite a playful kitty and it does me good simply to watch him as he plays and explores the RV. He is fascinated/terrified as big trucks roar past. There is no space he won't try to explore. Loud noises really spook him though, however he is getting better with time. He has a play cat tent that he just loves and he has rolled all over the place in it, thumping down onto the floor several times, hardly stopping to take a breath. I also have several dangly things up for display that are also fine for kitty to play with as he just loves dangly things. Currently he is exploring the loft/storage/bed. I have my solar panels up there still, awaiting installation. I think I may just bring them back to Victoria and have my RV friend B help me install them. 

Well, the sun is trying to peek it's shy face out so I must try to capture a few of its rays...

The Mothership Has Arrived

My daughter has affectionately referred to my new home as "the mothership". I've been an RV owner for just over a week now. Meet Green Gertie, or just Gertie. I bought her in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. She is a 1989 Ford Elite Class C RV. She has about 130,000kms on her, and is in great shape. Everything onboard works well, and the old girl has weathered well. I bought it on a Wednesday afternoon, and by Friday morning I was on my way to Alberta to see my girl. And what an adventure it's been!

I was a bit nervous at first, thinking about handling an RV on the Rocky Mountains, but she handled it like a champ. I was also a bit nervous about driving her onto the BC ferry to reach the mainland, but alas, it was just as easy. It took a bit to get used to the space I take up, and how the RV moves - the sway and how not to hit shit. So far, so good (knock on wood). 

It's been a whirlwind week, stocking up the RV and moving in. I spent a bit more than I had planned, but feel comfortable that I need nothing else for life in the RV. I have a bit of work still to do, but I have all that I need to do it. Here is a glimpse into Gertie in progress.

This is the couch. It usually folds up into a regular couch, but I wanted the extra room, so have it down flat and still have enough room to get around. I slept in the top bunk the first night but it was too claustrophobic, especially with my sleeping foam on top. So I slept on this bottom bunk as the backbedroom  did not yet have a mattress. Once I bought a mattress, I was wondering what to use the foam topper for now that I had my bed. I decided to cut it to fit the top of the couch, making it one heck of a comfy place to hang out for these aging bones of mine. I had thought about putting shelves up on either side of the window but I think I would just hit my head on it. The jury is out on that. I have lots of room left in the cabinets to store things. 

This is my bedroom. It is a single bunk, not a double, nor big enough for a 48inch bed, and there was only support built in for a single. I hummed and hawed about it but in the end went with the single 8inch foam mattress from Foam King and it is AWESOME to sleep on. The bed is also very cozy which I like, and I can stil sit up, swing my legs over the side (that printer won't be there long, nor the sewing machine). I love the light in the room as well, with two big windows. 

There is a privacy curtain to the bed chamber as well. The mirrored door is to the bathroom. I plan to paint the cabinet doors, hopefully today, depending on how my hands are doing.

I use the shower as a closet when not being used for those 5 minutes as a shower. Plenty of space for all my clothes. 

There is lots of light in the bathroom with a window and a skylight. 

I'm using the overhead bunk for storage, which works well. There is plenty of space and I am only using about a third of it. I'm building a shelf to go over the window by the table, with part of the shelf in front of the window in order to show off some blue glass, and give me a bit of privacy with the drapes remaining open. I've cooked in the kitchen and the space is actually just fine to cook in. I can fit all of my dishes, pots, pans, food, and cleaning supplies in the cabinets with room to spare. 

The fridge and stove are propane, which is so nice to cook with and what a chilly fridge. I'm fully stocked and still have room to spare in the fridge and freezer. I plan to mount a television up over the cabinet by Tom Petty. I bought a 24' LED television so can't wait to hook that up today. 

My daughter gave me the Home Sweet Home and put it up for me. The weather glass on the wall used to belong to my grandfather in Newfoundland. 

So that's Gertie. The drive up over the Rockies was stunning the first day, but then the clouds rolled in and it rained the rest of the time and for several days after I arrived in Edmonton. It gave me time to get to know her from the inside, move stuff around, sort through what needed to go where, and maximizing the space. My daughter also took me shopping for two days to stock up on everything I had on my list. I sewed all of the curtains, sewing away in her apartment while she and the roomie were at work. I parked for the first nights in Gertie in front of my friend's house in Victoria. Then I hit the road, took the ferry and drove as far as Kamloops the first night, camping in Walmart for the night. The following night I finally arrived at my daughter's apartment building and parked on the street for the rest of the week. The bylaw for Edmonton is that RV's can be parked for 72 hours in one space, and then has to move, so I moved it once at my daughter's. Now I'm parked in front of my nephew's place and I'm able to plug in for the first time, which is nice. I need to fill my water tank and likely empty my holding tanks this weekend before heading back over to my daughter's. My pack-up to drive is very quick, just about 10 minutes and I'm ready to hit the road again, which is nice. I plan to camp all over the place once I get back to Victoria until probably December when I hope to park the RV for a few months at the marina RV park. For $400 I can get power, water, sewage, wifi, and cable tv, and park legally in the city during the rainy winter. Or I can head south to escape the rain and park in the National Forest for free in America. 

And now to meet the newest member of the family - Nash. I adopted him from a farm just outside Edmonton. 

He is about 10-12 weeks old and such a cutie. He is very playful, snuggly, purrs all the time and loves to hang out with me. He is so much fun to watch as he explores the space and tests his boundaries. It has also helped my mood in oh so many ways. Cats are good therapy, and kittens are miracle workers!

I have to set up the solar charging system this weekend so I can have continuous power and not have to rely on being plugged in - so I'll be off the grid - yahoo! 

So now I must get on with the day. I would love to just hang out and play with Nash all day...but there is still a bit of work to be done. Meow.