How do you deal with an Empty Nest?
Well, in our case, a little drastically. Sell the house, divide up everything (and I do mean everything) between the kids and jump in the old 1985 23’ Citation C-class with our meager remaining possessions, and run off together for a little ‘us time’ finally! We had planned on finding a piece of land and living in the old girl while we built our retirement home.
We had been living for two months at Garnet Rock RV Park in Powell River on the Sunshine Coast. What an amazing place!!! The surroundings are glorious, the Park is impeccably maintained and the view is absolutely beautiful!
There we sat in what we would consider one of the most lovely RV Parks we have been in, with a view to die for, and here we were cramped into a 23’ Motorhome, two adults and a very large German Sheppard still looking for a our little piece of paradise to build our home on……
All good in theory; but then we discovered that we had a problem, a wee problem called “Champagne tastes with a boxed wine budget”.
We had gotten used to Ocean front living and had come to the conclusion that unless we won the lottery we could not find something as lovely as this,…it looked like Ocean front living was a dream that may only work for us in an RV; but the Citation…. Well the old girl was great for vacations, but to live in full time was wearing a bit thin. Although we (and by we I mean my husband Greg) had maintained it beautifully, it was small, really small, really, really small!
We mentioned to the Manager of Garnet Rock that we were considering buying a new RV and Teresa mentioned that the best place to go was Arbutus on the island. She suggested that we speak to Tracy B, so off we went to Arbutus. As soon as we met Tracy there was an instant feeling of familiarity. She was so sweet and incredibly patient. We never felt rushed or pressured, she asked a lot of excellent questions that made us really think about what we wanted and needed. She took her time and allowed us the opportunity to take ours. Well, my husband to take his time. I am an impulse buyer and he’s a thinker… he thinks alot…..he thinks for a long time!!! But he always makes great decisions in the end! And he (we) did make a great decision.
We purchased our new 2007 38’ Quantum 5th Wheel in October (2007). Interestingly enough, we don’t have a pickup truck! Yet… But no worries, the folks at Arbutus were kind enough to deliver and set it up for us in Powell River. Jerry gave us a fantastic trade in value on our Citation and the entire staff made us feel like we were old friends. All in all, for a major purchase, it was one of the best experiences we have ever had.
Our new Quantum is a home. It’s cozy and built beautifully. We love the layout and the little extras that combine to make things so convenient and easy. The kids love coming to visit us and even our little Grand baby Alexandra thinks it wonderful! We have everything we need and the SPACE to boot! We are still thrilled with our choice, especially the choice we made to go to Arbutus! We have now started a trend in the family, my siblings out east are all talking about doing the same thing. When at first they all thought we had lost our minds (which may indeed be the case, but shhhhh) they now envy us and when they are facing the dreaded Empty Nest, say they will do the same thing ,…. and of course, even though it’s a long trip for them, we recommend Arbutus to them all! It’s like going home….
Thank you from the whole Roadknight Family!
Five Month's Later ... He Left Me Alone!
Okay, so here's what happens when I am left to my own devices.
We have had our new Quantum for about five months. Greg decided to go
help a friend out with some project for the day. First time I am all
alone in our new home. He leaves me the keys and off he goes, quite
confident that I will be okay.
So a couple of hours after he leaves, I, in my infinite wisdom, decide
to go for a walk with the dog. I take the keys, lock the door and off
I go. All is good and right with my world, the weather is wonderful
and warm, the dog does not make me stoop to scoop too many times, it's
a wonderful walk. We get home and I unlock the door, go inside and put
the keys on the ledge by the door. The phone rang then and I took it
outside to sit in the sun while I spoke to my sister. Again. all is
fine. I get off the phone and go back in.. opps, the door is locked!!!
What the heck?????
And so begins the nonsense. I go to the managers of the park; they try
a few keys, nothing. As with any small community it is soon wide
spread knowledge that I am an idiot and folks start coming with all
kinds of keys. Nothing.
So, since I was on the phone when I was locked out, I take the
opportunity to call Greg and shyly ask him,.. "ummmm,.. Honey.. Where
are the spare keys for the Fifth Wheel?" His first response? "What
did you do?" So I told him the story and he sighs and says, "the spare
keys are in the Fifth Wheel."
Okay, so I didn't want to upset him so I didn't say how goofy I
thought it was that the spare keys would be kept INSIDE the place, I
mean after all aren't they supposed to be somewhere a little more
accessible for just such an occasion? But you know, I didn't want to
upset him since he seemed to be my only hope for getting in! Not that
he gets upset; thankfully he's a pretty easy going guy, which you
would have to be to be married to me for almost 30 years!
He said that he had to finish what they had started before he could
come home so I said that was fine, it's nice out and I would just sit
outside or walk on the beach.
FIVE HOURS LATER. he comes home. Okay, so I deserved that, but sheez!
And, guess what? The window in the bedroom is unlocked!!! Well, little
problem still, the ladder is locked in the storage below, keys for the
storage. on the ones locked inside!
So I suggest we could go get a ladder from the mangers. He didn't want
it known all over the park about me locking myself out and that we
could get in through a window.. (shhhh I didn't have the heart to tell
him that the whole planet and their mothers already knew!) So, we
moved the picnic table over, that wasn't high enough, so he put a wood
stump on top, still not high enough. well what else do we have? A case
of beer! And that my friend was how we got back inside!
LESSON: Never turn the key in the deadbolt lock back to the start
position after unlocking it!!!!
