Texas for the SNOW of it

 It SNOWED.  

I did not get involved in the 130 car pileup on Friday.  

I am in Texas with snow, and stranded.  

We got rolling blackouts with no electricity and freezing cold temperatures.

running to the store before the roads got bad.

Snow just starting to stick to the roads 1pm. Before it really 'Snows!'

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Tuesday I stopped in Kemah TX to 61 degrees and a visit with Angela and Craig Yakel.  

(a pair of crazy pirates who have some pet birds.)  

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Wednesday I drove up to Fort Worth and very cold, fast dropping temperatures.  John and I went directly, Wednesday, early to Lake Possum Kingdom to outrun the predicted storm.  David stayed in town for family commitments till Friday morning.  So, Friday morning, the 130 car pileup and David drives to lake PK.  Saturday they are saying it's going to blizzard overnight, so John drives back to Dallas...  Sunday David and I wake up to a heavy snow and no electricity at the lake house.  The rolling blackouts go all day, one hour on and then an hour off.  (heaters full blast, then zero heat)

Fresh tracks Monday morning.

Baby Back ribs, sweet potato and salad for Thursday night.

John preparing ribs

Friday night: brussel sprouts, pork spare ribs and green beans.

Deer running wild in the yard

John and David fighting over a rib

John packing to leave Saturday morning

Fresh snow Sunday morning

Sunrise

David considering stepping outside

finally a Pork Shoulder dinner

David sitting near the Wood Burning 1940's style stove. (#lifesaving)  When the power went out we hunkered down in the basement with the wood stove.

steam rising off the 'warm' water

Tuesday at 10am David and I loaded up the truck and drove back to Fort Worth on roads that were safe enough!  It proved to be very light traffic and safe roads once we slowly crept out of the countryside.  Tuesday night it snowed again and now we are trapped in David and Scooters 'Casa la Cox' in town.  We have electricity constantly and HOT showers last night.  It's great to be back in civilization and in this century.  Now I'm just waiting for Mother Nature to let me go.  Hope YOU are warm and have hot showers wherever you are snowed in.           -Skip

I'm out on a "Walk About" for several days.

I'm investigating what to do next...

 life after boat living.  

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When I started this crazy boating project I created a 5yr plan.  {#1.) Sell house & Buy boat #2.) Sail five years #3.) Sell boat and do something else.}  Not exactly a detailed plan.  I've lived aboard now since 2008.  That'll be 13 years in October.  I'm investigating what's next.  *note: if YOU have a great idea, I would love to hear from you.  Email me direct.

One option is get a land cruiser and see the USA.

Recently on the dock at my marina I ran into some people traveling in Caravans.

DJ and Margaret Nichols in their Ford Transit land yacht. (the silver one) Traveling Florida with another friend from New Mexico. (he's in the other camper)  This is an option I am considering.  My dear friends Bill and Denise Sears whom I met in Marathon Florida Christmas of 2016 recently sold their beautiful sailboat Brandy Girl and are looking a Winnebago. They looked at a "Minnie Winnie."  I had a chance to discuss this with them two weeks ago.  Their plan is to travel and volunteer at national parks for several months a year.  (see the USA and stay for free)  I CAN visualize Denise with her ranger hat on yelling at campers to follow the rules.

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Another option?  The Villages...  

A couple of weeks ago I had two buddies onboard 'to sail to George Town, in the Bahamas.'  But, due to Covid, we didnt go anywhere.  Regardless, we did have some discussions about Florida and retirement and one thing the guys mentioned was The Villages.  After some research I decided to go and check it out.  "The Villages is the largest senior living retirement spot in the USA."  (it's 140,000 people living in a 60 square mile area)  No one under age 19 can live there.  Kids and Grandkids can visit - but not live there.

Google it.  I did.  There are lots of views and too many opinions.  "The Villages seems like a place right out of a movie. It’s America’s largest retirement community, a sprawling, gated complex straddling three counties in Florida about 70 miles north and west of Orlando."   I spent three days there looking it over.  It's mind blowing. Let me just throw down some photos and come back later with the words.

Note all the golf carts.  ~95% of residents have golf carts.

These town square photos - sans people - were taken at 7am.

My realtor, Frank DiPietro, a super nice guy.  Here he is showing me the map of the many 'villages.'  Frank said he is one of 250 salespeople working at the villages.  (they sell between 350-500 homes per MONTH.) Prices range from $150,000 up to $3M.  He worked an open house that morning for a new home @ $465,000.  (i didnt see it.)  He and his wife Judi both work there, but live outside the villages because they have kids younger than 19yoa.  

Spanish Springs square

Spanish Springs Town Square closeup.

Villages?  There are currently 3 town squares surrounded by about 100 housing villages.  (think housing developments) Each town square is full of restaurants and bars, plus a Publix Grocery and lots of shopping.

You have Home Owner dues of about $150 per month which covers maintenance and your golf at the Executive courses.  (plus all the Recreation Centers and activities: Tennis, Swimming Pools, Pickle Ball, Shuffle Board, Bocce Ball, Archery, unlimited Executive golf, etc.)  In addition they have 12 Championship courses, 10 are 27 holes and 12 Country Clubs.*  (*fee extra)  Plus there are countless activities daily at each of the three town squares.

more later.  tired now from driving all day.  I'm in Mobile AL driving to Texas for family visits.