October Heatwave, Socializing And Bits & Bobs
As I was standing at the line in the Bandon Farmer’s Market last week-end one lady excitedly informed another that she was going on vacation to Hawaii.
“Hawaii??” quizzed the second “What for? We’ve got Hawaii right here”.
This was immediately supported by vigorous nods all-around, since in a town like this conversation is by default a group exchange between you and the nearest 20 locals. Not only was the idea of travelling abroad for vacation entirely ridiculous for the majority of Bandon-ites, but we were actually having a heat wave….one could even say a Hawaiian heatwave.
Since the beginning of October we’d been basking in sunny 80-degree calm days, so balmy one could easily imagine pairing them with Mai Tai’s and palm trees. It was the warmest, most sultry, most puuuurfect weather we had seen all summer.
“Is this really October on the OR coast?” we mused “why haven’t we discovered this secret before??”
In the midst of our tropical influx we were joined (not entirely coincidentally) by another kind of influx, several blog readers & RV friends coming through camp. Krash, Karen & their doggie Pippa decided, on a whim, to motor here from Michigan (!). Friends of our neighbors, they quickly joined our group and became friends of ours too. I had an old buddy from Hong Kong visit out of the blue, as well my good blog friend Gunta with her doggie and brand new boyfriend (ahhh, new love). Blog readers Pete & Frederika popped in and honored us with an impromptu acoustic concert at our site (super cool) as well as a few evenings of chat. Plus several other readers dropped by too, both at the lighthouse and the rig. Social butterflies, we are!!
In an apparent contradiction to all this visitors at the lighthouse plunged to a new low. From an average of 150/day in September it dropped almost half that on the first of the month. We’re also down to three lighthouse hosts which means the schedule has changed to only one couple at the lighthouse per shift (as opposed to two couples per shift last month). This combo means we can now do “full tours” if we so wish, taking folks from the greeting center all the way to tower with one host. Apart from the advantage of giving us a little extra exercise (we do 63 steps each tour), and thus more ass-sculpting (we’ve got to keep our derrières looking fine you know) it’s given us the chance to do more customized tours and really enjoy the full beauty of the lighthouse (e.g. my last post). Honestly, we’re totally loving it!
The down-time is also giving us some space to plan our next steps. In the last big storm we discovered yet another leak in…guess what?…our”big” slide on the front drivers side of the rig. This same slide, and the woes of getting it fixed was the very reason we rushed ~1000 miles cross-country to Oregon over 3 years ago. Back then the main problem was in the back of the slide near the fridge. Now, the front has moved out of alignment with the front edge dangerously close to catching under the rim of the RV. Simply put it’s just a poorly engineered design and we should never have bought a rig with a heavy object like a fridge in the slide (one of our “10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Fulltime RVing“).
Also, our microwave/convection has fried for the third time in 4 years and since we rarely use it for anything but heating coffee I’m seriously thinking of just dumping the thing altogether (we’ll see). So, we’ve switched out a few lighthouse shifts with Clark & Elaine and will bug out of Cape Blanco a week early to go see our boys at Elite Repair & Remodel in Eugene, OR. These same fine men will be be working a few other upgrades to the coach (already planned) and then, depending on weather, we’re tentatively planning another drive down our favorite Hwy 395 to the desert.
Sounds like a plan, right??
A couple of other bits & bobs which I know some of you folks are anxiously waiting to hear about:
Data Plans -> With all the big data wars going on right now we’re holding out to see what happens with the MVNO’s and will not decide on a final plan until the last week of October. We WILL be making some changes, but we’re going to wait until the last week to do so. Never know what goodies might crop up before then…
Health Insurance -> As I announced back in Feb, we’ve got to make some new decisions on health insurance (and possibly domicile) very soon. We originally thought we would have to make a switch in Sept, but we got a 3-month reprieve when Coventry (our “grandfathered” plan that we’ve had since 2010) recently decided to extend our current insurance plan through the end of Dec. Then, we will definitely be dropped (we’ve already been notified) and Coventry is doing one better and pulling out of SD altogether. So, we’ve got to make a change, but we’ve also got a few extra months to decide. We’re going to wait and see what (if anything) pops up on the exchanges during open enrollment. Given the way things stand now, chances are still very high that we will be forced to switch domicile out of SD to either TX or FL, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Super Secret Plans -> We have several, exciting super secret plans for this winter which I will reveal in due time. This is an outright tease and a not-so-sly ploy to keep you addicted to the blog…well, because I can…and I like to tease. Nope, not saying anything yet 🙂
So that’s it folks. As of today our little Indian Summer has passed and we’re seeing (once again) the deep covers of grey and fall cool that we expected for the month. I guess October isn’t quite the coastal secret I thought it would be. Then again, with almost no-one here it’s like having an entire coastline all to yourself, a whole different kind of secret. Is it really that wrong to drink Mai Tai’s with your heater on? I guess I’ll ask next time I’m at the market 🙂
Related Posts:
- The ACA (aka ObamaCare) And It’s Impact On Fulltime RV Health Insurance
- The Month Of Big Data Plans?
- The Splendor Of Scenic Hwy 395
- 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Fulltime RVing
Curious why you would change your domicile to tx or fl for health insurance. Do they have more favorable rates? I’m interested because the biggest catch for our early RV retirement is health care.
Short answer is there are no good options left for pre-Medicare RVers in SD.
For the detailed reply read the link about health insurance at the bottom of my post. I did an in-depth analysis of ACA and how it affects fulltime RVers.
Nina
As if you need to do anything to keep us addicted to your blog!
🙂 Good to know I’ve got ya hooked
Nina
First……There is never a bad time to drink a Mai Tai!
We love your plan to go from Eugene to the desert via 395, we’re so happy that we can relive our adventures on that great route through your eyes, it will help us get through our down time here.
We’ll be watching…..
Our love,
Sue (and Dave and Lewis and Sasha)
Too right Sue…and we’re hoping it’s not too late for 395. November is pushing it, but it’s hard to resist the draw. I just love that drive!
Nina
That’s kind of odd about the microwave situation. Think it might be a voltage issue? (low voltage equals higher amperage equals… bad)
Nope. At least not that I know of. We have a surge protector that checks for low voltage, plus we’ve tested the outlet (and it seems fine). We just seem to have had problems with that unit since the start. It’s already been fixed twice under warranty (but never replaced). I’m thinking it’s time we dump it.
Nina
I don’t fully understand this tower-climbing ass-sculpting concept. Please illustrate
Nice try….. 🙂
Nina,
Looks like Taggart is smiling…while sleeping. What a life that silly cat has!
That cat loooooves the sun.
Nina
I know you love your Oregon coast and all that wet fog, but I can honestly say you would be in absolute heaven if you were here at June Lake right now. It is AMAZING! Perfect blue skies, warm weather, and vivid fall colors. Thank you for making this trip irresistible for us in your previous years’ postings. We have been following all of your recommendations on the must-do list and agree with you wholeheartedly! -Linda
Well I can’t say I’m not jealous. This is the absolute best time of year to be in June Lake…and it’s one of our favorite campgrounds too. By the time we get there it’ll be closed. Enjoy it for us…and take lots of pics!
Nina
We’re at the junction of 395 and the 15. We’ll put the coffee on sometime in November. 🙂
We may well be riding that way….
Nina
Love the post…395 is on our list for next Spring….sorry about the frig…can’t you geta small light one to replace it?
That’s what we’re thinking…possibly switch out the ridiculously large covection/microwave with a smaller version. But that requires rebuilding the area above our cooker. We’ll see..
Nina
Can u also replace thefrig or is that locked in?
Oh you asked about the frig, not the micro…sorry! Well we’d need to move it out of the slide to fix the problem and that would require some major remodel. Replacing it wouldn’t really save much. not something we’re ready to tackle at the moment.
Nina
Is a residential refrig lighter than a gas absorption? Erick and the have been putting in many Samsungs and taking out the gas units. They’re now doing beautiful cabinet work as well, so it would be one stop shopping.
The residential Samsung is somewhat lighter (~80lbs) than our current gas/electric Dometic, but then we’re faced with the issue of needing to run an electric fridge and since we boondock so much that would require us to upgrade our entire solar system (more panels, more batteries). So, we’re not quite ready for that.
Maybe down the line…we have considered it…
Nina
I actually meant both or either…i just wasn’t clear …must have been the jet lag 🙂
With weather like that no wonder everyone and his brother was dropping by to see you. That picture of “mine all mine” is just making me drool! I don’t see how you could have plans any cooler than where you are right now. Sorry to hear about the rig troubles.
Grass is always greener I guess….I’m missing the fall colors that we don’t really get to see here at the Cape. Lots of blogger friends putting out drollin’ pics of yellow aspens and golden leaves. I’m feeling the draw of the mountains…..
Nina
How fun to have such Hawaiian weather at Cape Blanco for the first part of October!
But…if your weather there is like the weather here in Washington you better check that leaking slide-out on the RV. Expected to start raining Friday evening and stay that way all thru next week, at this point. Hope it stays nicer there for you.
Yup, I saw the forecast. We may be sitting with the slide in for the next week.
Nina
Pete & Frederika?! Pete & I went to high school together! I wondered where they were wandering! Sorry to hear about your slide–how the repair is as painless as possible! Taggart looks blissful. Enjoy your last days on the coast.
Well isn’t the world small? They just became fulltime RVers recently and are just starting out their adventures. How amazing that you went to high school together.
Nina
Hi Dawn! Nina, what a great three days we had at the Cape – and so wonderful to finally meet up with you and Paul…heaping buckets o’ fun!
Lovely to meet you too Pete. Good travels south to you!
Nina
It truly is a small world! I knew they had left their home in Sonoma & were on the road but they’ve been traveling quietly. Safe travels!
Really enjoyed the visit (w/new boyfriend in tow!) I am still gabberflasted at this insane, crazy weather we’ve had this summer. 🙂
Hope all works out well with the slide and other stuff.
And we’re having MORE sun today. I’m surprised every day of the month that we’re seeing sun & warmth. Keep expecting those heavens to open anyday now.
Nina
I’m a full-time RVer (almost 5 years now) and new to your blog. Understand the issues with healthcare, but good luck trying to become a FL or TX resident. We looked at both states before settling on SD. In both FL and TX, as I recall, you needed to own property or live in the state for 183 days to become a resident.
Well we’re not looking to become residents. We’re looking to domicile…a completely different thing altogether. Both TX and Fl offer relatively easy domicile options and are very popular choices for fulltime RVers. Escapees is a great base for this in TX. In FL there are similar options. You do not need to own property and you do not need to be present in state for 6 months. Many, many fulltime RVers in both these states.
Nina
Does having a domicile allow you get a driver’s license or to vote? Do you have to register your RV to get a FL or TX license plate (because it’s not cheap to do so in TX)?
Yes, yes and yes. Costs of registration, car/RV insurance, business (if you run a business) and health insurance all need to be looked at for every state you consider. It’s not just a one-cost decision.
Also requirements for domicile including any driving tests, inspections, registration requirements and options for health insurance (e.g. whether plans offer nationwide networks) should be part of the domicile decision for everyone too.
Nina
Interesting. My wife and I sat down with application to get a driver’s license in Texas. We own no property other than our RV. We travel full time and spend a maxiumum of 2 months in one spot (ironically, Austin in the winter). And I am telling you that there is no way we could provide the necessary documentation that would allow us to get a Texas driver’s license. I must be missing something.
Yup, you are missing some details. To do this properly you first need a legal domicile address, and Escapees in TX does exactly that. They will set you up with an address that can be used for your drivers license, registration, voting, health insurance, banking etc. The Escapees address is a legal address (confirmed in court) for domicile purposes and this method is used by many, many fulltime RVers. In fact, Escapees started their entire business catering to fulltime RVers. There are many similar companies in FL and I know several fulltime RVers who domicile there too.
Here’s a detailed article about how to become a Texan as a fulltime RVer (written by Escapees):
http://www.escapees.com/mailservice/Docs/texan.pdf
And if you want even more details about TX domicile (and how to set it up) the helpful folks on the Escapees forums can answer all your questions:
http://www.rvnetwork.com
Nina
I can practically hear the sun sizzle in your last beautiful photo! Glad you are having such a fun fall.
It was a VERY sultry sunset.
Nina
Even though I’m sure you hate to leave the Oregon Coast I know you will have a great time in the desert as well.
We are in Eugene now waiting for a air-conditioner to be installed and plan to head east then south on 395. Just curious, once you leave Eugene do you normally run over by Bend and catch 395? Who knows, maybe we will cross paths along the route. We will yell if we see you pass us, we don’t travel very fast. Well maybe if the snow starts chasing us.
We usually take one of two routes…either down 5 to just south of Shasta, then across to Susanville. Or we cross to 97 and then mosey on down via Klamath Falls to Susanville. Can’t recall all the exact HWY names, but if you click on my “journey” tab (at the top of the blog) you’ll get a link to all our yearly travel maps. Last 2 years have the routes I just mentioned.
Nina
Always either very informative or just plain sweet your blog posts are!
Well cheers for the compliment 🙂
Nina
How I wish that warm weather would hang around until the end of the month when I’ll be in Bandon. Thanks for the teasing views.
I think slideouts can just be a problem. Had work done on one last winter and need to replace all the rubber seals when I get back south.
You never know…we may get another “heat wave”. Yeah, slides are a pain, but they also provide so much room. We have a love hate relationship with them.
Nina
You and Paul will make fine Texans.
TX is definitely on the list. Some big advantages to TX especially since it’s closer to the West (where we spend most of our time) and it has BCBS on the exchange. Some disadvantages too. We haven’t quite decided yet.
Nina
You guys always take such gorgeous photos!
Just one correction: This wasn’t summer “on the west coast”. This was summer in the PNW (Pacific NW). At the same time we were surprised to see temps in the 80s, I had a close friend visiting from southern CA. She left behind temps of — are you ready for this? — 105. In October. I grew up there and don’t ever remember temps like that in the fall :-(.
But not all of CA is like that, of course. Northern CA (SF and north) are much more similar to here than they are to Southern CA (just a bit warmer and drier).
Just in case anyone was wondering and planning…
Indeed you are right!! Summer on the PNW coast is a totally different beast from summer on the CA coast. It’s a very valid correction!
Nina
Here in SF, it was in the 80’s most of the week and the same is predicted for the next week. It does cool down considerably in the evening. We’ve had these fluctuating temps pretty often lately 80’s+ days 50’s/60’s at night. If you’re coming this way prepare for “everything.” North, South, Coastal CA temps.
I remember those crazy SF weather swings. We lived there for 10 years and commuted down to San Jose for work. Often two completely different weather systems! Hope to make it back in the RV some day. I have so many good memories of that city.
Nina
PS. Now I worry about our front slide with the ‘fridge. 🙁
I pointed out when we bought our Winnebago that I’d heard that was a bad idea, but the salesman said no, that the slide was made to handle that. I guess time will tell…
Well you never know. Hopefully Winnebego did a better job than Holiday Rambler on that one. If our slide was smaller or beefier I think it would be fine, but the way it stands this one was under-engineered.
Nina
Hi Nina,
Every time I read your blog I get more and more excited to start our road trip! Next week we’re flying to Phoenix to buy a 5th wheel and truck and at the beginning of January we fly back and start our travels!
Thomas my husband has his own internet business (tomsplanner) and I am a painter so we can go where we please and next year will be a sabbatical from work and just enjoy the US and Canada for a year with our Lab Bickel!
Thanks again for all your great posts!
Bianca
One week away! whooo hoooo! Good luck with everything and happy trails to you!
Nina
I have really enjoyed your blogging from Cape Blanco. My wife and I were there in late March and so I can see the pictures in my mind that you display in your blog. We are full timers from Manitoba and we should be getting started on our second annual trip south in the first week of Nov. or sooner if the snow starts to fly.
Thanks
Sweet. We’ve never been here in March. Was it mostly rain? Locals tell me the rain is exaggerated here and that winter and spring are much better than you think, but I’m still not sure.
Nina
I feel like we already know you through your excellent blog. We have been full timing for 10 years now and just passed by Cape Blanco a few days ago. I have been doing a blog for a while now and look to yours as a standard to strive for. We as a change of pace did go to Hawaii on a cruise for 10 days and mentioned that the coast of Oregon was very similar, closer, and in our estimation better. We also just had Elite do some work for us that we were very, very pleased with, and they did mention you guys had been there. Also we would put in a vote for FL, no inspections and no special driving test for the RV, and would be happy to recommend a mail forwarder to you, although Escapees has started one there now. Sorry about the long first comment:-)
Cheers for the comment Bill and Jan…and no worries about the length. We actually love Hawaii. In our “previous” lives we were able to travel there quite a lot and totally fell in love with the Islands. The coast of Oregon most definitely rivals in beauty, but I do miss those warm, tropical waters (ahhhhh, snorkeling!)
10 years on the road. That’s very impressive!
Nina
Seeing as how you enjoy the PNW so much. Check out Washington, they have no income tax and they were one of the first states to adopt the insurance exchanges for the ACA. I have no idea about your income, but I checked to see what my wife and one child would pay if we had to live on my SS income. Too young for medicare the three of us would only pay 47.00 dollars a month for the silver plan. I could not take advantage of this great deal as my employer decided to keep a plan at work. For a poor plan with 5000 dollar deductable the cost is $300/ month. Saw a sweet RV lot on the Pugent sound for $27,000. You could have a real residence without living there. Check out ACA on the exchanges for what ever state you choose online.
We briefly looked at WA. It makes TOTAL sense if you can buy property there. Without property domicile is not really possible. WA is not entirely out of the running, but it would take more effort (and $$) to establish ourselves there.
Nina
It is NEVER wrong to drink Mai Tai’s anytime! We’ve kept our Colorado residency due to health insurance issues – grrr – a subject I hate dealing with. Once I switch to anything else, I’ll be paying more 🙁 Good luck with the slide repair.
Health Insurance is definitely a tricky subject. Sure wish SD had more options. Switching domicile is going to be a pain in the butt!
Nina
I wish our heat wave was in the 80’s 🙂 Looks like we could be headed back up to triple digits over the weekend – pretty sick of this heat 🙁 Taggert and Polly both “define” living the good life! Excited to hear about your secret plans, and interested to see where you end up for your domicile.
Indeed..and I’m hoping those triple digits are long gone by the time we get to the desert. Love the desert, but can’t stand big heat.
Nina
Too funny.. we were hiking up the coast from you a bit the other day, and I said to Chris ‘This feels more like Hawaii!’. Guess Hawaii is on the mind.
Ok, now I totally want to know what’s up with all the big secrets. 🙂 I’ll try to be patient.
…ok..
Have you posted it yet??
…
yet???
Tee hee…says one tease to the other 🙂
Nina
Hi…after seeing you at the lighthouse we continued our journey and just got home from a trip down 395. It was exceptional warm for this time of year ( in the 80’s) so bring your shorts!!
Sweeeeet! Sounds like shorts all-around (and Mai Tai’s?)
Nina
Gotta love Polly’s fav ball while hanging out at the beach! 😉
The ball was actually a gift from Pippa (the other doggie that came to visit) and Polly became totally obsessed with it. She was a happy, happy doggie 🙂
Nina
…and Pipa says, “you’re welcome, Polly!” This is Pipa’s Mommy. 🙂
There is no need to be a tease. We are all already addicted. Can’t wait to hear what you are up to.
Beautiful photos Nina! Such amazing terrain. We so miss the Oregon coast. Very curious to get your further reports on the weather now that things are shifting to the wet /cool portion of the year. See you somewhere in the desert soon we hope! H
Regarding insurance options, Costco has health insurance plans with open enrollment soon. Don’t know anything about it though, just saw it on their website. Love your blog. Thanks.
Yeah, I’ve looked at them. Nothing offered in SD sadly.
Nina
Glad to hear you had such wonderful weather there on the coast. Hope you find your trip down 395 to be as wonderful. We still have fond memories of that trip with you two.
Sorry to hear about your slide issue. I hope my breath every time I bring in our large slide that has the fridge in it.
I look forward to hearing more about your health insurance plans. We still have SD residency and I have Wellmark for now but feel that a change may be in our future as well.
I think Taggart snuck a Mai Tai and is dreaming about the Arizona sun that you will eventually arrive to. That Giant typhoon that is about to hit Japan will eventually deliver alot of juice to the jet stream and will end up Oregon. Keep your slicker handy! We have had alot of rain in Arizona this summer thanks to the tropics, it might be a much wetter winter than last year. Love your Blog, Safe travels.
We’re actually already seeing the effects of that Typhoon with some pretty impressive swells all along the coast. Looks like we get one more day of sun and then the rains are coming too. Should be intersting!
Nina