24/7 Chat About Anything

[nature lover]

Nice birdhouse is a nice pudy cat but you’re not gonna get many birds with him sitting there are you He seems to know that the birds will be coming.LOL.

By the way travel route I’m glad you found a home for your buddy.

 

[Sofisintown]

^^^
These are beautiful. You are a true artist Maki!

 

[maki2]

Time for some hot chocolate and a book this rather damp and chilly eveving. I have always been a fan of books and magazines even before I could read the words in them.

Reading a new book by the author C. J.  Box. He has a couple of series out featuring the Western areas of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. They are mystery, adventure genre. One series features a Fish and Game Warden, the other a female police officer but in this latest book she has just become a private eye.

Another wrter of the sane genre I enjoy is J. A. Jance. Her books are set in Washington state and in Arizona,  she has homes in both of these states. Three of her series have female lead characters, the fourth is a male.

Yesterday I finished "A Salty Place" by Jimmie Buffett. Yes, that Jimmie Buffett the muscian. It was an amusing read, made me smile a lot. Boats planes, lighthouses, all things I have a fondness for are part of the story.

I decided not to bring along a TV and with few new films being made there would have been little new in the way of shows to watch this fall and winter. But Covid 19 won't stop writers from creating, they mostly do it as stay at home unless they feel they miust travel to a different location in which case it had better be in the country they already live.

The early bird Christmas shoppers visited my Etsy store tonignt. That also puts a smile on my face and will keep me warm and cozy this month. I will have to get my cutting machine set up after I move to a new camp on Sunday,  time to cut some snowflakes

 

[nature lover]

We have had some of the nicest weather the last week here in Pennsylvania. Last night our low was 62°. I had the van doors open all night long. We need rain here so I can’t complain that starting at 5 o’clock tonight we’re supposed to get three days of it. My screen time goes up when that happens. So keep things rolling on here and I have more to read and respond to. I hope to catch up on some emailing to during this time. I just joined the HOWA Facebook page and since I’m not real familiar with Facebook I have a hard time understanding how it works.

Since I plan to be in Florida this winter I’m wondering if anybody knows of Boondocking or “Walmarting” places available close to Sarasota. Our Amish and Mennonite place in Florida is Pine craft which is part of Sarasota. I’ve called two Walmarts and said they don’t allow overnighters. I will have my base camp near Myakie State Park but that’s an hour and a half ride to Pine craft so I would like to stay near Pine craft one or two nights a week. I’m searching on the Internet for places, I know the water management areas allow free camping, but as you get closer to town you know how it goes. Any help would be appreciated. God bless the nomads each and every one.

 

[maki2]

Nature is there a Cracker Barrel near there? I know I have seen reports of them allowing free RV parking in Florida. But in the long run it is often the city ordinances that shut down free parking lot camping rather than the store management making that call. I have no time to research that for Sarasota ordinances this morning, but you can manage to find those rules with the right keywords.

 

[GypsyJan]

I second Cracker Barrel....I have only found a few (in other states) that did not allow overnight parking. No camping amenities, but the meals are great, LOL. Pinecraft needs a camping area...tell them I said so

 

[crofter]

It's 102 degrees and sunny in southern AZ, still bad air quality due to the smoke. Cough cough. 

Still fighting for my Social Security age benefit income, since July. More than 10 in person and phone meetings with them trying to correct their mistakes. And if you did not know this, Social Security works with IRS and other agencies, as a way to multiply their math errors. It is a great way to consume my operating budget for dwelling, as I no longer have my emergency fund but still have the van. And they do want my van, bank account, etc, etc. Beware of Social Security programs as an income stream, they do require you to pay back all monies received if they decide you are unworthy for some reason. Other social programs have the same payback mentality, and when they make a mistake they will take your money. There are food bank and grant resources to use that you will never have to pay back. The financial abuse of the elderly and disabled is the specialty of Social Security, and the reason why so many people are currently living in the streets.

I am not really a fan of parking lot camping, as the host business does not usually have facilities to handle garbage, grey water, and sewage waste from dwellers. I am sure to hear that is not us, but we did have the dweller gal's thread who claimed that showering in a WM bathroom stall was the answer to maintaining hygiene on the road. So yes it is us, or at least some of us. To qualify as a recommended host, the business should have a grey water drain, access to bathroom facilities 24/ 7 and an RV dump site. Forest service campsites have these facilities, but most parking lots do not, so I would caution vans not to use the parking lots if possible for overnight parking. I don't want to drive in to WM or Cracker Barrel and get run off because you did something wrong with your van. 
~crofter

 

[crofter]

Where is the party?

I have posted about insulation, fish, lexan, the weather, Social Security, overnight parking spots, and the price of used 5th wheels in AZ all
with no talkin to me. And did I mention the links to Really Big Fish stories? 

Going to plan B.
~crofter

 

[bullfrog]

This is the third time I have tried to post due to all the people using the limited internet up here at Lake Powell, so I guess the party is here. Several large groups in the campgrounds and on the lake even though ugh it was windy today. I guess city people think the virus can’t live here as nobody is doing what they should be to prevent the spread it seems. Gonna have to get out my 6’ stick with a spike in the end I use for picking up trash and social distancing!

 

[nature lover]

Crofter - must be my permanent brain damage but I’m having a hard time following you. What party?

I’m not a fan of parking Lot camping either. If I go to a parking lot it’s not to camp it’s to sleep. And I won’t leave anything at that place unless there’s a trashcan to put garbage in but that would be all. Even that can be over done by some we certainly don’t want to overburden the facilities. Just like Boondocking in the forest, in a parking lot there ought not to be a trace of anything to indicate that we were there. In fact I often walk around and pick up junk to make the place a little better. I think that’s a way of saying thank you to the owner, I don’t know if they notice me doing it or not, but I still do it. I’d rather live with a full garbage bag in my van for a couple of days then just stack it up outside somebody’s full trashcan Where it can be torn up by animals or blown by the wind. It’s true the more nomads there are the last places they’re going to let available because of the messes many leave behind or because the local camping people want the revenue and get local ordinances pass to keep us out of parking lots. Heck if I could afford to go to the campsite I would do that every once in a while. I find it sometimes a motel six is cheaper than some campgrounds. God bless the nomads and keep the light on for us.

Bullfrog speak softly but carry a sharp stick.

 

[crofter]

This is the third time I have tried to post due to all the people using the limited internet up here at Lake Powell, so I guess the party is here. 

10 hours 39 minutes. How is the fishing there?
~crofter

 

[travelaround]

It has been a few days since I posted... partly because I've been busy and partly because of inconsistent hotel internet. I miss my mobile home with the nice router that always worked just fine.

Social Security - well, it is true they'll make you repay if you get too much money. I just finished doing a repayment plan. The overpayment was their fault but oh well... not much to say except it is now paid. Hope that won't happen again. I still appreciate getting the Social Security money though sadly it isn't much. I have to supplement with online earnings - so grateful I can make that work still.

My weekend was awesome.. went to a two-day women's conference in the countryside in a barn - that was fun.

Today I drove to Weed, CA about 20 miles south of here. I wanted to look at their fire damages and rebuilding after the Boles Fire in 2014, six years ago. Every house I saw that was new in the fire area looked like a mansion... nearly. They were large homes! However many of the lots were not built on. I guess those people had no fire insurance or just didn't want to rebuild.

There were still dead fire damaged trees on the hillside overlooking town. I don't understand why they don't cut them down... they are an unsightly reminder of a tragic event. My friend told me they want to keep the trees there to prevent erosion. But why not just leave the roots and cut down the rest that's not nice to see? Plant something else if need be.

@Maki - your birdhouses are spectacular! You have amazing talents. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

@Crofter - I'm here for the party

@naturelover - that's so nice of you to clean up the parking lots. Trash disposal is a constant problem when I'm traveling. I always wonder where to take it.

Tomorrow is laundry day. I miss having my own washing machine and dryer. Didn't last long for me, but it was nice for a while. At least this town has some decent clean laundromats.

 

[maki2]

You know the secret of engaging people in a conversation don't you?  You ask them what they think about the subject you are discussing. or you ask for help. That is the secret to haing a convrrsatiokn conversation versus just talking about how your day went and hoping someone will respond.

Unless of course you are talking about something that involves a bit of a safety risk in which case tbey weill jump right in and tell you what not to do. Saving people from themself is most everyones' favoriite subject of conversation to contribute to. Koo

 

[crofter]

It has been a few days since I posted... partly because I've been busy and partly because of inconsistent hotel internet. I miss my mobile home with the nice router that always worked just fine.

Social Security - well, it is true they'll make you repay if you get too much money. I just finished doing a repayment plan. The overpayment was their fault but oh well... not much to say except it is now paid. ...

@Crofter - I'm here for the party...

Bullfrog says the party is at Lake Powell, that is 10 hours and 39 minutes from here, so will have to make an online event. In everyone's absence I had a great time watching ice fishing videos and looking at ice shacks for sale. 20 to 30 thousand dollars for a new one, so maybe "ice shack" is the wrong word but is what they are called.

Just got back from swimming so I have probably missed everyone again. It was great, had the pool all to myself and got lots of laps in. I love following the blue line back and forth, and also doing kicks, crunches and water walking. It usually stretches out my back almost as good as traction.

I am sorry to hear that anyone has had a similar experience with Social Security, but I will have to admit that I heard of the overpayment practice happening to someone else (who was homeless in the street) before it happened to me. I think the scam is that you will never get your full payments for the year in which the overpayment is enforced. They show that money as paid, do not credit it toward your overpayment and do not pay it to you, so where does it go?? It goes into the pocket down at the Social Security office. So far I have $1500 missing for sure, and probably more. I took out a loan to pay them off. There is no agency worse to deal with for sure. I will be surprised if I get any more payments this year. I plan to start up my disability claim again, if I can't get paid for being old, maybe I can get paid for being disabled. Hours of fun. 
~crofter

 

[nature lover]

According to Google maps it would take me 38 hours to get to Lake Powell without stopping for food fuel sleeping whatever. Around 2200 miles. Don’t start the party till I get there. I’m planning to be there The second Tuesday of next week.

Cool and damp here in PA today. But we do need the rain. When the number one industry in your area is agriculture everybody prays for rain. I can’t believe it is 7:30 already it just looks so dark outside. I think I’m going to splurge and go out to breakfast. We have a local place with a 3.99 breakfast special and there’s enough food on it that I bring some home and don’t have to cook anything else all day. These cool days make me wonder why am waiting till the day after Thanksgiving to go south. But family is important. God bless the nomads each and everyone.

 

[bullfrog]

Fishing at Lake Powell is really bad for Lake Powell but bad Lake Powell fishing is tremendous anywhere else. There is a web site Wayne’swords.com that gives some great videos and takes, or just Goggle search “Lake Powell stripper boils video” for hours of fun. So many boats and high water temps have put most fish deep so a boat is necessary to get to the deep water and this time of year 25 miles north of the ramp is better fishing for all fish at the head of the lake where the water is cooler. Most dock fishing is poor, early or late shoreline fishing gets you less than a dozen usually small mouth bass. Plenty of catfish but we only fish for those when kids are around. Surf, wake and large cruisers have help keep water temps up, unbelievable a lake this large could be affected by them, but maybe. Too crowded for me to fish!

 

[desert_sailing]

Saving people from themself

The biggest flaw of our current societies. So much for freedom of choice and what to do with MY body.

 

[Psyckosama]

I think a lot of it has less to do with "Saving people from themselves" and more with "saving themselves from the inevitable lawsuit".

The whole "Well the toaster didn't say not to try and make yourself a pop-tart in the bath!" BS.

 

[desert_sailing]

Well corporate accountability and exploitation is one thing..it is quite another to tell me I can't have a 72 oz Mtn Dew...or eat red meat everyday..or I cant use certain words.

Just say NO...to the status quo!

 

[maki2]

Stormy yesterday but today has turned into a pleasant partly sunny day with no rain so far. but likely some tonight.

This morning I went for a walk in the park down to the saltwater beach. There were e fishermen, two in waders eho were fly fishing and one in shorts who was spin casting. Much too cilly of water and a day to be standing ankle deep in Hood Canal. They did not get any fish while I was there.