You knew I didn't mean it, right?

So...all that about "hey, we need time to figure her out and we're not going anywhere"...yeah, that was short lived. ;)

How are you all doing?  We are doing great! Except we are suddenly on a time crunch! I know, I know! But let me explain...

Remember back in May when we went to the RV Rally in Tennessee? One of the great things we learned about was something called Workamper News.  It's a site that links RV owners looking for employment with jobs out there in the RV world.  So, since we are now RV owners out here in said world, I decided it was time for us to join.  I mean, we need lots of time to look at these things, right? We need to build a joint resume and figure out what kind of job we might like or be good at...and really, what are the chances of us getting hired right away?? We need practice interviews and stuff...

Come to find out, the site has a resume builder.  So Jay and I combined our experiences and job skills and came up with a resume.  We'd been talking more and more about not wanting to winter in Maine. I have been about getting out of the snow because I'm freezing in August; we really do not have experience trying to get the rig through the cold weather without sustaining any damage; and really if there was something in warm weather, why not, right??  So we started reading the open positions.  Now, as you can imagine this late in the season we weren't really expecting to find anything.  I mean most places are advertising now for next summer. But there were a few places that had something happen and needed help for part or all of the winter.

I have read about Quartzside, AZ since we first started talking about RVing.  Apparently it's a small town in the middle of the desert and most months has a population of about 3000.  Each January anywhere from 500,000 to 2,000,000 RVs descend on the area.  CRAZY! Google some of the images!  So of course when there was a job opening to manage an RV park in Quartzside, we're in right??  Let's send out this resume and see how gently they turn us down...

As it turns out, the emails turned to a phone interview and the interview went well.  We really liked the sound of the Park.  It's good sized but not huge (about 90 sights). About 20% are full season already.  The season goes from October 1st to April 15th.  One of our conditions was that we couldn't get there until after my R+F convention the first week in October and they agreed to that. ;)  So we found ourselves signing on as managers! We have our winter gig! La Paz RV Park.  The seasonal rates are fantastic! Where else can you get FHU (full hook up) sites for the whole season for the equivalent of 43 days?

Ok, now don't panic! We have taken our FBG (Fat Bottom Girl) out to kick her tires.  We took her to Shore Hills Campground and RV Park for a few nights.  Got to run her through her paces.  And got the dogs used to walking on their leashes and riding in the rig.  They did great btw.  We have even tried out the washing machine!  We decided we need at LEAST 10 days to get out to Vegas for the convention so the plan is going to be heading out on September 19th.

There it is! 20 days! Get completely moved in and ready to go.  So much for taking our time and having months to decide what we're doing. ;) You knew that wasn't really our style anyway, right?  I mean it's pretty much a given that we're "go big or go home"!

So what do you think? Ready to go on another journey...??....

Since we're leaving the 19th, I had to move my appointment with Dr. Trieu. I will now see him on my surgiversary (the 15th).  Can you believe it's been 2 years???

Thanks for coming along.
~Mikki

...Absolute Beginners...

Who doesn't love David Bowie, right?  And since we last talked we bought our new RV from a couple named Bowie! Nice segue, right?? ;)

How's everyone doing out there?  Doing your walking? Drinking your water? Keeping up on your protein?  Feeling pretty good here...did over 5 miles today.  Decided I needed to give you guys an update!  Holy Cow it's August! The time really does fly! Next month will be my two year surgiversary!  CRAZY!  Been in maintenance mode for 5 months now and doing ok.  I'm fluctuating between 137-141 lbs.  I actually drop down when I go too long without walking.  

What else? Oh, yeah...I retired.  :)  Well, not really. But yeah, retired from Evergreen.  The doctors and team gave me the most amazing send off! The gifts were really thoughtful and overwhelming. I am very lucky to have them all in my life!  Oh and as I mentioned at the top, we bought the rig!! Ok, y'all it's a 40ft Newmar Dutch Star 4095.  For those of you that don't speak RV...that means it's freaking big.  ;)  

Here are two of my beautiful grand kids eating lunch in her.  We've named her Serendipity and call her our fat bottom girl...cause she is and we all know they make the world go round. 

Everyone wants to know where we are going first...well, that gets a little complicated!  First off, we have to move in to her.  I know, I know. You're think, geez, Mikki, you've know you were doing this for 3 years...what's the hold up?  Believe it or not, we're trying to learn about her before we take off and make all kinds of mistakes.  Now, I know, you're now thinking that doesn't sound like us at all! LOL We do usually dive right in.  However, this girl has got a lot going on and we don't want to hurt her if we can help it!   My darling Jay has driven all kinds of large vehicles in his life, and even he is a little nervous about just taking off in her! After all, we are absolute beginners...

Nothing much could happen
Nothing we can't shake
Oh, we're absolute beginners
With nothing much at stake
As long as you're still smiling
There's nothing more I need
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
But if my love is your love
We're certain to succeed

So, that being said, we're gonna start off with some small trips around the state and see where it takes us.  We always knew we'd need to be back in the area next May for our youngest's graduation from college.  Our big splurge is a plan to spend a month in the Keys.  :) 

My business is taking off. I've got a promotion and a raise already! :)  Rodan + Fields has given me an amazing opportunity to take a business on the road! I am so grateful.  I love that I'm working with such a great group of people and I love that the company is growing! We are expanding into Australia soon! How cool is that?   I love that these skin products are made by dermatologists and are a wonderful tool to bring my skin back to healthy.  Did you know your skin is your largest organ? I mean think about that.  We talk about hydration being good for our skin...uh, yeah! If I told you there was a regimen that could make your kidneys look and feel 10 years younger wouldn't you want to do that? Taking care of your skin is so important! I have soooo been guilty of NOT doing that.  A lot of nights I didn't even wash my face!  YIKES!  Almost 50 years of abuse my skin has been taking!  But now, I'm on the road to recovery! 

It's easy to get carried away talking about it because it really works!  If you care to check out my website, here is the link:   https://mikkistudley.myrandf.com  take a look around if you need skin care!  We're the #1 anti aging line and the #2 overall skin care line (only second to Clinique which has been around for decades!).  If you are looking for a business venture and would like to join me in this journey or even have questions about how it works then shoot me a message! I'd be glad to share! It's too good to keep to myself!

I'm writing this in the RV and I hope to keep up with all our adventures here.  There are a ton of blogs about RVing out there...and also many videos on youtube...I'd like to think that maybe I'll get adventurous enough to create a video...if only to show the amazing places we hope to see!  Again, as with the sleeve...many of the blogs are pretty negative.  Of course it's good to see reality but I hope that I showed you the journey through my sleeve as a positive experience and I also hope that, no matter the challenges, we can show that the world of RV living can be positive too!  I have a few updates to do...not a lot because she's in really good shape, but I want to put on some new hardware and maybe update the back splash to give her a personal touch.  I used the convection oven with the kids the other day so I know I can cook in her! :) I just need to figure out what we need to take.  All the advisers say use things that can have multiple purposes so I'm trying to think like that.  And in the RV world less is more...ha! imagine that! Just like in the sleeve world!  :) 

Thanks for sticking with me guys...got your water in?

~Mikki