Leaving Yuma

Numerous tasks to
perform before take-off
is all possible

~ carliewired

I was up at 6:30 making coffee. My list was in my head. D was up at 7:30. His list was on the table. Need I say, his list is infinitely longer than mine? I'm pretty much useless when it comes to anything mechanical of electrical. It's easier for him if I just keep the cold drinks coming and stay out of his way.

Putting the house 'to bed for the summer' is a multi-step process. There are inside jobs, outside jobs and trailer jobs.

Inside jobs prepare the house to be abandoned for the hottest months through to some date in the fall which is yet to be determined. Some involve paper work or telephone calls. Those are mine: mail delivery is stopped, bills are rerouted to Canada, insurance is paid, cable/internet/telephone goes into 'seasonal hold'...The refrigerator needs to be emptied with some items moving into the trailer. Cupboards are sorted out in the same way. This year we took several bags of non-perishable food items to the local food bank. Items that were destined for home have to move out to trailer and be packed for the journey. Each of us is allowed $800 at Canadian customs. I'm supposed to have a list. All the windows get covered with a sheet of insulating material that presses into the frame on the inside.

Outside jobs include bringing in/putting away all those things we've used through the season in Yuma. This year we had to prepare for someone coming to water trees and shrubs for us. What citrus was left on the trees was removed, the trees were fertilized and hoses were left connected for watering. Garbage and recycling bins were stored after their last use. The barbeque moved back into the storage shed. The whirlygig and its pole went into the shed. All the patio furniture was moved into the house. The remnants of the bird feed were poured out on the ground and the bins moved into the shed with the feeders and the bird bath.

The trailer jobs are setting up the fresh water, emptying the grey and black water, bringing in our food and clothing, then connecting the trailer to the truck. It isn't as simple as it sounds. The back of the truck becomes storage for tools and blocking materials (2x4s that assist in leveling the beast for the night) and extraneous items destined for home.

The morning in Yuma is the best time to get these things done, especially on departure day. This morning it was 46 degrees Fahrenheit but the afternoon promised a temperature in the high 80s. We desperately wanted to be gone before lunch.

The last minutes of the process include pouring a 'tonic' for the septic tank down the toilet. (No. That's not oatmeal in the toilet!) The water and power is shut off to the house. The doors are locked and, after we pull the trailer out to the street, the gates are padlocked.

After hugs with our favourite neighbours, we were on our way again.....before noon!