So lovely to read about! Not everyone gets the good things they deserve in life--but the two of you finally did and that's worthy of constant celebration! Never take one second for granted or get too "used to it"--as I'm sure you don't and never will. May I ask what Robert is a "write-aholic" about? Is he also an author?
Robert has been on his journey for a long time. He gets a lot of what I call whispers that he's supposed to write and share. He's here on Substack and it's why I a now, too. He has nearly 40 years experience as an Astrologer and gives reading to people all over the world. He's an Author of 4 books. https://robertcosmar.substack.com/
That's a long story, Carol. We were there for six years and we did love it. The thing is, that's when my arthritis got so bad I couldn't sit in a car for long trips north to see family any more. I got so homesick I didn't know what to do. We couldn't expect family to do all the traveling. Their families were busy with jobs, children, school, etc. We decided if we sold everything and bought a large motorhome we could realize our dream of traveling the country and visit family whenever we wanted to. We planned and searched to find the perfect motorhome and we did it, we took the plunge.
The short version is, it was a used 39' motorhome with only 33,000 miles, but soon it began to cost a fortune in repairs. We spent more time in repair shops than anywhere else until 3 years later, broken down, and undriveable, we were out of money. We tried the whole three years to find legal help to take the selling company to court with no luck. We were broke. Senior citizens, we were starting over with nothing. A friend in New York started a Gofundme for us and that was our saving grace. We found a buyer for the motorhome who wanted it for parts. That was three years ago now.
OMG, C.J. I didn't realize what a "loaded" question I was asking. I'm practically speechless. All I can think to say is, Thank the Lord for Go Fund Me. And thank your NY friend and all the people who contributed to your motorhome rescue. And all of this happened because of your love and attachment to family and arthritis. You know, you may have picked up here and there in my writing, that I left my family of origin long, long, long ago and have never once felt the kind of homesickness that caused you to throw caution to the wind. I never felt compelled to make any sacrifices for a past that was never a happy one for me. But your situation was on the other side of the coin and no sacrifice was too great. Either way, there are up sides and down sides. All that really matters is that we have made amends with our choices and consider ourselves to be happy. I hope you have found stability and "home" where you are right now, my dear. I think Sally Alter has a similar motorhome story. It's a daring thing to do, especially in retirement years. And I have recently seen on TV documentaries that it is no longer the affordable, footloose and fancy-free lifestyle it was once proclaimed to be. When my husband and I drive past motorhome dealerships, we are aghast at the mile upon mile of like new motorhomes that line the highway. Are you settled "up North" near family now? If so, I guess your only nemesis going forward is the weather this time of year. Stay safe, warm, and cozy! xoxoxo, ~cc
You truly are remarkable, Carol. Once again, through your words I got my warm hug and I really needed it tonight with the depressing facts about our experience. Had the damn motorhome been a good investment, it would have answered our need. While he drove, if I got bound up from the arthritis, I could get up and walk around, get lunch for Robert, go read a book, or even take a nap. That was our plan ...
I'm sorry to hear of your your own family ordeal. Please know you have a special place in my heart and I wish you all the very best going forward.
No, sadly, we will probably never go north again --I can't travel in a car. I get crippled up on our short trips to doctors and shopping and once there, I use my cane. Our closest relative is my youngest daughter in North Carolina --that's a ten-hour drive. Next is my oldest, Carrie and her family in New York. My middle daughter, Beth, and her family are in New Hampshire. The rest of the family is all in Ohio. We're still living in Florida. No more snow and ice for us. Thank God for Gofundme ...
I'm very sorry you have such debilitating arthritis, C.J. I have just enough of it, myself, to be able to begin to imagine what it must be like for you. We've all heard about arthritis as the first warning sign of encroaching "old age" since childhood--and still, no effective treatment let alone cure. If we could get rid of it, our movement would change almost miraculously. We don't realize how much bodily aches and pains curtail our activity levels until for some reason we try to over-reach our usual range of motion. Whoa! That's when I realize how much I've recoiled due to the pain that comes with moving too fast or stretching too far. For those living in Florida, it could be an advantage since so much is geared toward people of a "certain age." I have a very good old Army Buddy in Ocala (where my mother also lived, coincidentally). She doesn't necessarily take advantage of all that's available but she's aware of everything from seated exercise, including yoga, and other activities designed specifically for people with movement limitations and pain. I'm so glad my hugs are reaching you! And I'm also so glad you have a steady and helpful soulmate in Robert. It makes all the difference, doesn't it. ~cc
Thank you! I'm sorry you also have the beginnings of arthritis. Why can't they find a cure? It's been around forever. Yes, Robert is my shining star. Both from the same small town, we first met as children 9 and 11 and didn't meet again for nearly 50 years at a high school multi-class reunion. We had both stopped searching for a partner, having been there and done that --miserably. Have you a significant other?
I think now that the focus in the medical/scientific community is (finally!) on inflammation as arguably the biggest cause of early decline and ultimate death, there may be hope for arthritis sufferers. It's like the poster child for "old age"--it makes us rickety, stiff, inflexible, and--grouchy, all the generally recognized hallmarks of "crotchety, curmudgeonly", old age. I just hope the life-saving treatment comes in our lifetime. ? ~~ Thank you for asking about my "other half". I've been married to David Cotton for 45 years (this August). I would venture to surmise that we are probably one of America's truly "odd couples" haha. But, regardless of where we may fall on the marital normalcy scale, no one can dispute that we are happy together, love each other, and are genuinely made for each other. Like all custom-made things, it's not for everybody--but ask us if we care! ;-) P.S. As I read what I've just written, I realized how someone left to their own imagination might really run with that and have us pegged as some kind of off-the-wall "open arrangement" ala the 1970s. No, we're much too boringly "normal" for that. We just don't impose our will on each other, we don't try to change each other, (no power tripping or passive aggressive subterfuge) and we've got each other's back, first-last-and always. It's a simple recipe that everyone agrees works but few actually put into practice: total acceptance, unconditional love, respect, concern, and lots and lots of fun and laughter. The thing that separates us from most couples, I think, is that he's married to his work and I'm "just" his "mistress" that he sees when he can carve out the time. This takes a LOT of pressure off of me to be a "wife" in any sense of the word which works well for a semi-introverted individualist like me. And I'll let it go at that. ;-)
So lovely to read about! Not everyone gets the good things they deserve in life--but the two of you finally did and that's worthy of constant celebration! Never take one second for granted or get too "used to it"--as I'm sure you don't and never will. May I ask what Robert is a "write-aholic" about? Is he also an author?
Robert has been on his journey for a long time. He gets a lot of what I call whispers that he's supposed to write and share. He's here on Substack and it's why I a now, too. He has nearly 40 years experience as an Astrologer and gives reading to people all over the world. He's an Author of 4 books. https://robertcosmar.substack.com/
Are you still at The Villages? How do you like it?
That's a long story, Carol. We were there for six years and we did love it. The thing is, that's when my arthritis got so bad I couldn't sit in a car for long trips north to see family any more. I got so homesick I didn't know what to do. We couldn't expect family to do all the traveling. Their families were busy with jobs, children, school, etc. We decided if we sold everything and bought a large motorhome we could realize our dream of traveling the country and visit family whenever we wanted to. We planned and searched to find the perfect motorhome and we did it, we took the plunge.
The short version is, it was a used 39' motorhome with only 33,000 miles, but soon it began to cost a fortune in repairs. We spent more time in repair shops than anywhere else until 3 years later, broken down, and undriveable, we were out of money. We tried the whole three years to find legal help to take the selling company to court with no luck. We were broke. Senior citizens, we were starting over with nothing. A friend in New York started a Gofundme for us and that was our saving grace. We found a buyer for the motorhome who wanted it for parts. That was three years ago now.
OMG, C.J. I didn't realize what a "loaded" question I was asking. I'm practically speechless. All I can think to say is, Thank the Lord for Go Fund Me. And thank your NY friend and all the people who contributed to your motorhome rescue. And all of this happened because of your love and attachment to family and arthritis. You know, you may have picked up here and there in my writing, that I left my family of origin long, long, long ago and have never once felt the kind of homesickness that caused you to throw caution to the wind. I never felt compelled to make any sacrifices for a past that was never a happy one for me. But your situation was on the other side of the coin and no sacrifice was too great. Either way, there are up sides and down sides. All that really matters is that we have made amends with our choices and consider ourselves to be happy. I hope you have found stability and "home" where you are right now, my dear. I think Sally Alter has a similar motorhome story. It's a daring thing to do, especially in retirement years. And I have recently seen on TV documentaries that it is no longer the affordable, footloose and fancy-free lifestyle it was once proclaimed to be. When my husband and I drive past motorhome dealerships, we are aghast at the mile upon mile of like new motorhomes that line the highway. Are you settled "up North" near family now? If so, I guess your only nemesis going forward is the weather this time of year. Stay safe, warm, and cozy! xoxoxo, ~cc
You truly are remarkable, Carol. Once again, through your words I got my warm hug and I really needed it tonight with the depressing facts about our experience. Had the damn motorhome been a good investment, it would have answered our need. While he drove, if I got bound up from the arthritis, I could get up and walk around, get lunch for Robert, go read a book, or even take a nap. That was our plan ...
I'm sorry to hear of your your own family ordeal. Please know you have a special place in my heart and I wish you all the very best going forward.
No, sadly, we will probably never go north again --I can't travel in a car. I get crippled up on our short trips to doctors and shopping and once there, I use my cane. Our closest relative is my youngest daughter in North Carolina --that's a ten-hour drive. Next is my oldest, Carrie and her family in New York. My middle daughter, Beth, and her family are in New Hampshire. The rest of the family is all in Ohio. We're still living in Florida. No more snow and ice for us. Thank God for Gofundme ...
I'm very sorry you have such debilitating arthritis, C.J. I have just enough of it, myself, to be able to begin to imagine what it must be like for you. We've all heard about arthritis as the first warning sign of encroaching "old age" since childhood--and still, no effective treatment let alone cure. If we could get rid of it, our movement would change almost miraculously. We don't realize how much bodily aches and pains curtail our activity levels until for some reason we try to over-reach our usual range of motion. Whoa! That's when I realize how much I've recoiled due to the pain that comes with moving too fast or stretching too far. For those living in Florida, it could be an advantage since so much is geared toward people of a "certain age." I have a very good old Army Buddy in Ocala (where my mother also lived, coincidentally). She doesn't necessarily take advantage of all that's available but she's aware of everything from seated exercise, including yoga, and other activities designed specifically for people with movement limitations and pain. I'm so glad my hugs are reaching you! And I'm also so glad you have a steady and helpful soulmate in Robert. It makes all the difference, doesn't it. ~cc
Thank you! I'm sorry you also have the beginnings of arthritis. Why can't they find a cure? It's been around forever. Yes, Robert is my shining star. Both from the same small town, we first met as children 9 and 11 and didn't meet again for nearly 50 years at a high school multi-class reunion. We had both stopped searching for a partner, having been there and done that --miserably. Have you a significant other?
I think now that the focus in the medical/scientific community is (finally!) on inflammation as arguably the biggest cause of early decline and ultimate death, there may be hope for arthritis sufferers. It's like the poster child for "old age"--it makes us rickety, stiff, inflexible, and--grouchy, all the generally recognized hallmarks of "crotchety, curmudgeonly", old age. I just hope the life-saving treatment comes in our lifetime. ? ~~ Thank you for asking about my "other half". I've been married to David Cotton for 45 years (this August). I would venture to surmise that we are probably one of America's truly "odd couples" haha. But, regardless of where we may fall on the marital normalcy scale, no one can dispute that we are happy together, love each other, and are genuinely made for each other. Like all custom-made things, it's not for everybody--but ask us if we care! ;-) P.S. As I read what I've just written, I realized how someone left to their own imagination might really run with that and have us pegged as some kind of off-the-wall "open arrangement" ala the 1970s. No, we're much too boringly "normal" for that. We just don't impose our will on each other, we don't try to change each other, (no power tripping or passive aggressive subterfuge) and we've got each other's back, first-last-and always. It's a simple recipe that everyone agrees works but few actually put into practice: total acceptance, unconditional love, respect, concern, and lots and lots of fun and laughter. The thing that separates us from most couples, I think, is that he's married to his work and I'm "just" his "mistress" that he sees when he can carve out the time. This takes a LOT of pressure off of me to be a "wife" in any sense of the word which works well for a semi-introverted individualist like me. And I'll let it go at that. ;-)
FASCINATING!!!