Another Strike Against Santee Lakes

As much as we have loved coming here over the last seven or eight years, we are thinking that this will probably be our last. Since we've been here this time: 1) deposit for future reservations up by $50 with a $50 cancellation fee, 2) the price of laundry up from $1.75 to $2.50 per load per wash and dry, 3) more and more full timers with little kids, 4) mail regulations about not receiving packages causing us to have to rent a mail box in town, 5) the basic rate is going up next year, 6) and today everyone got a notice about cleaning up their site and that no more canopies were allowed.  I asked our camp host what we are supposed to do about shade as our site has none. He said we were OK if we called our canopy "camping equipment."  We see him every day and he knows us, so since we are leaving in less than a month he said notStill, it's crazy.  I guess they are trying to clear out the long timers who store all their worldly possessions outside their RVs.  

When I asked about next year's increase I was told it was to make them competitive with other RV parks in the area.  My response was that I thought they would get more people if they charged less than the others.  "Oh, we have all the sites filled all the time. We can charge it because the demand is there."  OK. We are now seriously considering not coming back at all, but we already have reservations for next year.  We made them right away to save our site.  I was told that the months in 2017 would generate a cancellation fee, but if the rates do go up and we use that as the reason to cancel, the 2018 deposits will be returned in full.  As Roger said, "It was nice while it lasted."  

Yesterday was 80 degrees and sunny.  Needed to run the A/C for Maggie while we went to Costco. I've been keeping up with the weather at home.  Almost makes me feel guilty to be enjoying these days and like a whiner when I complain about all the rain. Today we had heavy fog and 65 degrees with clouds.  You can tell it's starting to think it's Spring, though, as the ducks are coming in and starting to pair off.  We saw a Canada goose yesterday and our first pair of wood ducks. They are so beautiful, but unfortunately, skittish, and I haven't been able to get their picture - at least one in focus.  I'll keep trying.  

We spent a couple hours on-line today looking for places in Arizona. We now have reservations for 4 nights.  Not doing so well.  We pull up the park reviews and if Roger sees "tight spot" or "narrow road" in the comments/reviews that park is a no-no. There are lots of them out there, but we are picky.  I hope our trip there in March will be successful in finding something for next winter.

I made our Pensacola RV reservations today for May!  We get there on the 10th and leave on the 30th.  Ryan graduates on the 26th.  We are giving ourselves 16 days to get there, so we will be leaving before the end of April after doctor and dentist appointments.  We will probably only be home about 3 weeks before we take off again.  I hope to get a good haircut and join my bookclub for a meeting and maybe even go to the exercise classes at the gym.  

My crochet rug is coming along.  Of course, I keep losing count of the stitches if I'm watching TV or a movie and I end up ripping out a row or two to fix the goof. I never can seem to make the mistake at the end of a row - it's always at the beginning :-( 

Can't remember if I mentioned Roger's latest puzzle adventure. All the rain, fog, dampness we've been having has caused the picture to come off the puzzle piece.  Pieces, actually. Many of them.  Yesterday he sat here with a glue stick trying to match up the picture with the background shape.  He said it was hard and he felt like he was in elementary school with his glue stick. I really was sort of comical watching him.  Now he has to hope they aren't too swollen to go into the puzzle.  I told him just to ditch this one and buy a new one, but, no, he's not giving up yet. 

Gave Roger a haircut today and he is now sporting a full beard. Looking good.   Now, if his hip would just stop hurting.

Maggie woke us up earlier than usual this morning and insisted on going out.  Strange behavior for her.  Rog said he got to the edge of the grass just in time for her to do her business and it wasn't normal.  Then when I took her out for a walk she had the squirts and no energy so we didn't go far.  Poor sweetie was rather subdued today.  What she does is hoover up rabbit poo before we can catch her.  Also, if we have company with a dog, she finds some bark, mulch, a stick, anything to bring to sit and eat in front of the other dog.  Not sure what that's all about, but it's every time.  Making sure they know it's hers, I guess.  So, her intestinal tract was a bit out of whack today.

I finished the book Steph wanted me to read - now all we have to do is find a time to get together to discuss it.