July and August have brought a few new adventures.
While we are not traveling at this time our life continues to be a great adventure. 

One of the many views we enjoy on a daily basis.

Paul is learning the many different aspects of being the Assistant Manager at both Sky Valley and Caliente Springs resorts. Both resorts have a total of over 1800 sites.  Over the last few weeks he has done everything from: IT/having to reset the WiFi and company-wide network systems, plumber/tracking leaks in the pipes, electrical engineer/power outages and all around "Fix-it" person. He also has to deal with neighbor/neighbor disputes, landscaping issues, new construction approvals, waste management and environmental rulings, laundry equipment failures, and even legal litigation notices from the local and state governments that affect residents, but not our sites. It's amazing how, somehow, a dead Palm tree on one property seems to migrate to be the neighbors problem, not theirs.  However, Paul still has to smooth all those things over. Even simple things, like laying a 4x6 concrete pad needs his approval. He's getting pretty good at that :) He also seems to be getting the respect of the local community and contractors that they hire.  All in all, he's doing what he does well ... keeping the peace while maintaining resort rules and regulations.  In the Fall, he'll only be responsible for Caliente Springs, that is when the other Assistant Manager comes back for the winter season.
Me? I'm learning all the aspects of Front Desk: Reservations, Sales, Mail, answering whatever questions the residents ask.  I am also in the process of learning the billing system which can be quite complex. Tracking who is here, who is leaving, who has cable who wants it put on hold and not be billed for a month or two while they are traveling.  Summer may be the "slow season",  but it has been anything but slow!  The phones are always ringing with questions from travelers and residents alike, there is always something that needs attention and also preparing for the onset of the returning snow-birds has kept us both very busy.

Some desert landscaping.

Even with our busy schedule we have still found time to enjoy the area and people here.  We play water volleyball in the evening after work and on most of our off days.  It is a great way to relax, enjoy the pool and get to know people.  Some of the comments during the games will set off a contagious laughter that brings a stop to the game while we all try to compose ourselves. (After being hit in the head with a ball, someone exclaimed "Thank God for Fixadent!")

Water Volleyball

I have had the wonderful opportunity to make a trip back up North to spend some time with my girls and visit with my grandson.  It was a delightful visit that brought the added bonus of seeing a great-niece who happen to be visiting from the Mid-West.  We did a Trolley tour of San Francisco which I found to be very good and would recommend to anyone visiting that area.  I never knew that the old Victorian houses located in San Francisco had a 25 foot limit on their width when they were being built, or that there is a old Fort located under the Golden Gate Bridge.  We enjoyed walking the Farmers Market and getting free sample of chocolate from the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.  We did take a bit of time to relax and have tea and tea-cakes at a tea house.  Is was fantastic!  My visit with my grandson reminded me how fast time goes by.  He is ready to start crawling and responds to everything around him.  He enjoys going out for walks, playing on the floor with his toys and loved to be included in whatever I was doing, whether it was making dinner or folding laundry.  The best part is his smooches, when you say "I love you"  he immediately turns his head to give you a big wet kiss.  I guess it's his way of saying "I love you too!"  Time spent with my girls always creates "special memories" for me to treasure.

Love that smile!

My daughter and great-niece

My daughter and grandson.

We have had visitors big and small over that last month.  My cousin Mary and her husband John came for a visit.  We played slots at the local casinos, played in the pool, enjoyed the hot tubs and just had a fun time with them.  John is very tall, and quite heavy set ... but in a good way,  and "made-do" being in our RV, even though he had to duck his head every morning when coming out of the bedroom!  Hummingbirds continue to visit on a daily basis, well as long as the hummingbird feeder is filled.  They tend to come in the morning and evening, seems the days are too hot for them too!  We have even spotted a beautiful Hawk who hung around for a couple of hours.  He didn't seem bothered by all the comings and goings near the pool.

John in the bedroom doorway

Hawk atop the WiFi receiver

Our daily visitor

We have enjoyed exploring here, from a new Armenian church going up in Palm Desert to discovering Lake Hemet while driving around the mountains on the Palms to Pines Byway up in the mountains. 

New church, really like the design. 

A road trip while geocaching, the Highway.

Lake Hemet.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing our adventure.


Jo


"There comes a precious moment in all of our lives when we are tapped on the shoulder and offered the opportunity to do something very special that is unique to us and our abilities, what a tragedy it would be if we are not ready or willing."  — Winston S. Churchill