Getting to Florida - Finally!

Thursday May 12, 2022 

Fifty-six days!

Yes, after 56 days on the road, visiting family, making unexpected work stops in Mississippi and Arkansas, we finally made it to our new apartment home in Riverview, Florida!

We left at 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning, Darryl drove the UHaul pulling my van on a car hauler trailer and I drove the Dome Truck pulling our 14 ft. Cargo trailer.

I drove the van up on the trailer, but then realized I was stuck and couldn't get out. If I went out the window I couldn't roll it back up again. I ended up having to climb out the back tailgate. Darryl did help me..... after he finished laughing at me. ;-) 

We arrived at 5:30 Friday evening and went to the apartment offices to pick up our keys. We spent the night at a hotel and first thing Friday morning we started the unpacking. Darryl unloaded both the truck and trailer in record time by himself.

Our 2 bedroom apartment is a little smaller than the last one, but it is still nice and the apartment complex is beautiful, well kept and peaceful.

The Saga of the lost suitcase continues. For a while I thought my belts and scarves might be in the lost luggage, but I found them in the suitcase with my jewelry. I am pretty sure that suitcase had some of my underwear, exercise clothes, visors and hats and my favorite house dress in it. Things that will be missed, but can be replaced.

***

I can't tell you how happy I was to find my scarves china and all my belts.

I haven't had my real jewelry box with me for 7 years, really, longer than that because of our travels. As I was looking through it I found this gem from 1995 or 1996. My Northview Marching Knights girls!

There is usually a nice breeze when I take my walk around 6:30 in the morning, which helps with the heat.

Clancy made me a hug for Grandparents Day. He even took time to get my fingers right! I love it

This is our new home for the next several months. Y'all come down and visit!

I needed a place to put our keys, so I painted this little piece of wood and made a key hanger.

I love to see the wildlife wherever we live. There is a pond on the grounds with a sign to be cautious as Alligators may be present. I haven't seen any, but I have seen some beautiful birds. Yesterday, I saw this beautiful bird at the entrance to our complex. He was quite still while I took photographs.

I am happy to report that after 2 1/2 weeks we finally have everything unpacked, organized and put away, and it now feels like home.

I only took a photo of the master bedroom, but we do have a nice second bedroom. It's just that I have birthday gifts waiting to be wrapped spread out on the bed and I wouldn't want anyone to see them. I put it up later.

 Now that everything is finished and we are settled in, we are looking forward to spending time at the beach and hopefully share the sites and entertainments of the greater Tampa area with our family and friends.