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| Waiting for the Mothership |
Arizona - Winter 2015-2016, the winter "lily pad" - Step 1.
During spring of 2015 I checked the Arizona resort website periodically. I was looking for a covered site that was available as an annual rental. These were rare. Of course, I could lease and build on a site, but generally it is less costly to lease a previously owned site.
I saw one listed in June and told G. We reviewed the online description and photos. Without hesitation she said "Buy it!". We contacted the sales office, and discussed with the sales agent. We immediately gave our formal offer to management. Later that day sales called and asked if we really wanted the site; there were several other interested individuals. We said "yes". When the sales forms arrived we completed them and faxed the contract. The other documents and payment were over-nighted to the sales office. Several days later we were informed that our contract and payment were accepted. We now had our winter "lily pad". In fall of 2015, when we returned we'd have a "permanent" site waiting for us.
How this works. In this resort, one can get an annual lease for a specific site, if the site is available. The resort allows the lessee to add a covering, concrete pads, a 10x10 insulated air conditioned shed with hot and cold running water, etc. However, this is all subject to management approval. If one decides to vacate then one pays the annual fee (lease) until a "buyer" for the site amenities is found; alternately the site can be rented to another or can simply be turned over to the resort. But, if the site is surrendered the resort doesn't pay anything for the site amenities. If one finds a buyer, the buyer assumes the annual rental fee, and can purchase whatever is on the site from the seller at an agreed upon price.
We had "done the numbers" and we knew the annual costs and we also knew that a "site" could be purchased at about the cost of 50% to build.
In November, 2015 I
filled the Roadtrek with stuff. Because this would be a 4-6 month stay we needed additional clothing, towels, blankets, cooking utensils and pots, tools, etc. Because I would be conducting my business from AZ I also needed to pack the necessary technology. I then departed alone to AZ to take possession of
the site. G would follow later, by air. En-route I slept on the special cushion made for the passenger's seat of the Roadtrek.
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| A very full Roadtrek |
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| Sleeping in the front seat |
A few days later I arrived at the resort, registered and set up the Roadtrek.
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| Winter site |
After checking the site out I sent G a bunch of detailed photos. I left the Roadtrek behind, returned to Chicago via air and arrived at Ohare airport on November 23. Seven days after leaving I had returned.
Several weeks later G and I loaded
the 2004 Malibu and we drove to AZ for the winter. That auto has been in
AZ ever since and we use it for local travel.
On December 21, en-route to AZ we got a flat. A piece of angle iron hidden in a puddle at a gas station entrance scored the tire sidewall. I called around for a tire shop and found one nearby. I explained the issue. They responded that they didn't have our tire in stock, but could have it within an hour. I ordered two over the phone. The shop was about 30 miles away and so I emptied the trunk and retrieved the spare. The Malibu was stuffed. After retrieving the spare I put the damaged tire and our belongings hurriedly back in. We drove to the tire service center.
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| our tire replacement shop |
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| damaged rear tire |
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| packing after retrieving the spare tire |
About an hour later and with two new tires on the front drive wheels I repacked the car. We were once again on our way. The rest of the trip was uneventful.
At the resort we put the auto alongside the Roadtrek while we set up the site. It and the Roadtrek fit side-by-side under the low bay of our covered site, leaving the tall bay available for something else.
We never intended to live full time in the RT while in Arizona. It was to be our "exploration vehicle", When we arrived we relocated the Roadtrek to the tall, covered bay, connected the utilities and set up housekeeping. Photo on Christmas Eve, 2015:
We also began looking for something larger for the site. Some of the neighbors found us to be a funny couple, with such a small RV on the site. I explained we had bigger plans for the site and put up a sign.
We then settled in and enjoyed the area and the resort. I continued my work and traveled when necessary. I temporarily repurposed the RV porch left behind by the previous site occupant as a cook station.
Original material http://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/
