Gratitude for a Workation South

I am thankful today for the last few months.  Seeing the Fifth Wheel I remembered the chaos of departure.  I’d not moved the fifth wheel in years and was thankful for Kelvin from Tavco’s help.  Paul at Yarrow Towing was great too.  John from Chilliwack RV storage introduced me to Paul, another in his list of reliable guys.  

So there was all the stowing that went into it and the selection of what I’d need for 2 1/2 months. I had everything I needed in the camper and only had to buy an expresso machine., I was so well outfitted.  

Now I’m here and just so thankful for Merry Maids and Alena and Ilena ,who were cleaning the fifth wheel for 4 hours yesterday and are coming back today.  All the important and necessary items have to be transferred from this unit to the big unit. I’ve also filled a large laundry bag and will pick up another one or two from the fifth wheel. It’s overly apparent I had too much stuff over there, mostly clothes. I’ve clothing in storage and don’t think I’ll be needing more work dress shirts or jeans with little waists I may never know again.  

It fills me with such a good feeling. Yesterday as everything fell into place, getting the water and propane working on the fifth wheel,  renewing my passport, having the glass fixed on my iPhone and Apple Care taking care of the broken mini ipad and the lady maids arriving and late Kelvin from Travco.  Then the men’s meetings, seeing all the guys , being asked to share and also passing on the rosary I’d brought back from Mexico for Mario who’d asked if I would.  All along Madigan was at the camper and going for walks in between errands.  I rode the motorcycle despite the rain and the truck.

It’s a whole lot of moving parts.

I loved that I was able to work with the help of Apple Computers and IPads and Starlink, Oscar program and the staff at the two clinics and cellphones. I was in Arizona visiting Territorial prisons, vacationing with Laura , going to Mexico with her to get her dental work done and my teeth cleaning and Christmas leathergood gift buying. I ridding my new Harley Nightster special around the dessert, out to the Army proving grounds and armour museum, the wildlife museum and the marine air base. It was a question whether I’d have any problems carrying the machine on the front rack of the F350. It had worked for Logan Lake but this was 5000 km’s plus of driving. I had so little repairs, the wiring cable and the sewage discharge. The truck passed inspection and for all the wear I consider myself blessed at how little went wrong. I really had a great go of it though of course I’d made sure everything was fine before leaving.  

So many moving parts.  My first time taking an RV to the US and back with customs waving me through both ways.  I had a dog with me and he rode on my motorcycle. Everything was amazing and all of it carried a bit of fear. I feel alive facing so many challenges. The hours of driving high speed especially in the LA freeways and the night driving looking for a camp spot were all challengeing.  I downloaded audio books onto my IPhone and played through the sync system on the Ford.  Driving on the highway was so much better with audio books.

So many pictures.!  I saw such different terrains, the great views of the amazing coastal road, the Oregon Beaches, the Redwoods, the desert and cactus, pelicans and sea lions, jets and just a whole alien adventure.  I ‘m really thankful for the experience.  

I’ve returned having avoided another Canadian winter .  I am here in the grey rainy darkness of Vancouver late winter and so thankful I had a heavy dose of sun. I was feeling drained and vulnerable when I left. Now I feel alive again and hopeful.  I listen to such sadness tragedy and anxiety.  Day in day out I respond to mental illness and physical illness in the worst of political times and here I’ve had lots of sunshine, exercise and relaxation.  It’s been a change too. Madigan is a constant companion and keeps me active. I’ve had musculoskeletal pains and been to chiropractors but the main message is exercise which thanks to him I do daily 3 or 4 times , half hour to an hour walks.  He’s such a peach too for a rascal who became a grumpy groweller after a bad experience with a groomer.  

I was trapped in the same old same old for a bit and now I’ve broken free from that. A regained joy of life. I’m loving cleaning up and organizing and being stationary.

I’d lost my appreciation of Burnaby and my work and this Workation has helped me refind my sense of purpose and a future. 

There’s even a fellow wanting to see my sailboat which is up for sale. I’m planning on getting the extended RV towing license just have to first get the ICBC knowledge test completed.  I’ve a hearing aid meeting tomorrow.  All goes well I’ll take the camper to storage and have my home office set up and be back in the routine but with a renewed mind.  I’m blessed.

Thank you God for helping me do all this. It’s a major challenge for me. I know sailing across winter seas through hurricanes is a big deal. Bicycling a cross Europe as a kid. Becoming a doctor and delivering babies, specializing and subspecizlign, managing a major practice for years and surviving the terribly outdated bureaucracies has all been achievements like fishing and big game hunting and all the little trips and the travels overseas. It’s all something. i ‘m getting old and was feeling old like there was nothing much to do. Always being asked about retiring.  Well I like my practice. I like what I’m doing. I liked that I worked sufficiently that I could take a month and take Laura to Scotland , London, and Paris, visiting the Hay castles and finally getting to the Louvre. I liked that I was able to work and save and yet there I was with a major cost and no money coming in. This time I did that thing people talk about , not touching the principle or savings but rather with continued work was able to pay the travel costs and dental bills. I also liked having work. I’m not doing the 80 to 120 hour work weeks but enjoying half time work at 30 to 40 hour work. I loved taking 2 hour lunch breaks to lie in the sun or sit by the pool.  That way I got the best of the sunshine where as when I’d only taken 1 hour lunch I rose in winter in the dark and finished in the dark.  The Spanish approach to mid day improved the winter season. I’m thankful now that days are getting longer and I’ll soon have evenings of light.

I’m back and I’m safe. It’s been a whirlwind at times but despite being older I’ve had a new adventure which was all the more fun because I could pay as I went and didn’t return to bills or loss.  

Actually I don’t as yet know what I’d do if I was fully retired . I really enjoyed having the 4 days of work each week.  The three day weekends were sufficient for play and I liked that I didn’t have to generate ideas of what I was doing to do this week because work and walking Madigan and activities of daily living structured my time. 

I’m home.  I ‘m still in Gypsy mode. When my brother became sick I prepared to move east sending my sailboat a head of me, applying for jobs in Ontario , to be close to my brother, and then he died. I’ve never settled since.  I have regained my love for BC and Vancouver.  I’m looking for ward to enjoying this amazing city and province. Being away as usual made me see what I took for granted and lost the appreciation for .  I really am looking forward to being a tourist in my city once again.  I have a new set of glasses.

I’ve loved the bi weekly doctors meetings.  I was feeling alone and alien and know I’m apart of a great human undertaking. It was good to be back at church.

I’m supposed to be writing novels and theology and memoirs but I’m just happy to be enjoying Walden Pond.  

I find myself thanking God for life, for the new day, for the air I breathe, for Madigan’s health. Yesterday , starting with the passsport to ending with the men’s meeting was a whole day of joy ‘in the flow’.  Thank you God for bringing me through this safely and now helping me return to a renewed life.  Thank you for being with me. Thank you for life in the spirit. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and be of service in my work as a physician, psychiatrist, and addiction specialist and the adventures I’ve undertaken along wit those pursuits. Thank you for the study and learning. Thank you for the mentors and teachers and elders.  Thank you for humans. 

God is good all of the time.

Thank you Jesus. 

Burnaby Homecoming

I’m happy to be home. I felt good crossing the border. At least after I’d been passed through customs despite Madigan humping my arm.  In retrospect the distraction might well have been helpful in her loss of interest in the old guy and the creepy dog.  I felt at home,  Less alien.  It also felt slower.  Northern California had been slower after LA, then Oregon and Washington and now I was at a peaceful home pace.  

My first irritation was the traffic slow down only to find three fire trucks , three police cars , two ambulances and a collection of boys and girls playing emergency. No evidence of a car crash. Yet the arrogance of government workers all having a laid back government privilege moment, while the working forces and myself were delayed in the reality of life. I’d just come from LA and this charade of over kill just wouldn’t cut it.  I noted I was irritated and yet here I was home.  My attitude of gratitude was affected instantly by one of my triggers, the countless times commuting my commute was increased by a bumper whip lash moment and ICBC legal lottery game.  All the public vehicles there and a lane shut down because of their presence.  I prayed and calmed myself.  Get on with enjoying being in Vancouver!

I’d achieved my goal. The snow was gone. I’d missed another Canadian winter. I may not be rich in houses or wealth but I’m richer in summers than many.  I’m thankful too.  I have friends who remained in Winnipeg with its long ugly winters and terrible mosquito black fly springs.  I’ve lived in the Frazer Valley and Vancouver Island with mildest winters and almost no mosquitoes and black flies.  For a decade I drove most weekends for down hill skiing in Whistler but returned to the mild winter in the south. I was even winter sailing winters while living here.  

I’ve wintered in London England, in rain, in Baja California Mexico in heat, in the terrific climate of the Northern Marianas Islands.  Most years I’ve done a few weeks in Hawaii or Mexico but this year it was December and half of January in Arizona and the rest of January and most of February in California.  I’m ready now for this spring that begins in March. I always associate March here with buying my Buell Blast motorcycle for a birthday and driving it for the first time. Laura who had a motorcycle license drove in the car behind me as  I only  had my beginner’s license.

I enjoyed coming back to my home spot in Burnaby greeting Mack first then neighbours Nicoleta and Ernest.  I talked to others. Like friends, where people knew my name.

I was disappointed with Laura who had other priorities.  I would have driven into the city with my big truck but I was exhausted driving and feared an accident after the success to date. I’d hoped to run over on my motorcycle but what I thought was a dead battery turned out to be just a stuck transport mode.  I naturally found this out the next day when I bought a motorcycle battery tender at Canadian Tire. Putting it on the bike got the transport mode symbol. I had battery and just had to figure out how to get out of transport mode.  I found the other battery charger I’d taken with me when I put the next unnecessary one in storage.  

I spoke with Atilla about enhanced towing license and began the beginner process. I’d thought I’d do the whole thing this week but realized I didn’t have time. The priority was to get my passport renewed as it ran out this month. I was thankful to have colleagues be references and used my motorcycle to ride to London Drugs for passport photos. 

I had a lovely ride to Coquitlam Apple Store to have the broken glass on my iPhone repaired and to have my old mini ipad restored on Apple Care.  The earliest appointment on that day was in 2-3 hours so I made an appointment for the following week and traded in my I watch for the latest tough one for outdoors and scuba.  I had taken to leaving my iWatch on even though it wasn’t meant for the terrains I did, like hunting on the quad . This new titanium one is suited to my lifestyle and has some features I appreciate. The watch has been really helpful with maps and directions . It’s my early birthday present,

Now I’m back in my camper in Burnaby. I’ve phoned everyone I need to , the Paul from Chilliwack towing, to bring back my forty foot fifth wheel, John in Chilliwack RV storage to know my plans and to prepare to get my Mini Car back and my Fifth Wheel exchanged for the camper.  I’ve contacted the Hearling Life folk for hearing aid apt having lost one of mine.  I even contacted the clinics to let them know I was physically present. I enjoyed talking to Adell my sister in law knowing she cares that I have arrived safe and sound.

It was a big to do. Another adventure. I really was able to snowbird and work from the south through the winter.  The cost wasn’t great given I was working rather than being off for a month. Star link and cellular boost were terrific.  I’d felt the absence and cost of going to Britain and France with Laura but this trip even with Laura joining me and seeing dentists in Mexico hasn’t been the same disruption. I’ve enjoyed working having the pleasure of motorcycling on weekends. I especially liked the long lunches and will be continuing them.. I’ve been able to walk Madigan before work , over lunch and in the evening. We have benefitted from the exercise.  I’ve even learned how to access bank statements from on line and will begin sending my material to Anil ,my accountant. I feel I’ve kept up despite doing 5000 km or more of driving my home about California and Arizona and making day visits to Mexico. 

It’s been a rush. I’ve prayed. I enjoyed St. Paul’s Church in Yuma. I was glad to see Priest Emily at St. Barnabus as I returned to give thanks.  I loved visiting the Bustards, Billy, Bobby, Alex, Izek, Kendra, Kevin and Anna.  I’d been on the way to dropping off stuff at the storage locker and missed the turn ending up in Surrey so visitted and was greeted by Vader their big German Shepherd type dog and the kids,  Hugs from Kendra.  I realized too that the stuff I was taking to the storage locker belonged better with them so they received the cd’s I’d taken from the Camper for the rainy day, the hose and pumps I had for transporting lake water to camp and the old sturdiest of them all tripod.  It saved me a trip to the storage locker which needs above all to be culled.  I spent 3 months without all the ‘excess’ I have in home and in storage and now I really need to lighten up.  So good to see the god family and god children,

Thank you Jesus. Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit.  

 

Burnaby Home

I feel relaxed after the hours of driving to see a friend.  It’s good to feel safe and rest. I’ve made a list of the many things I must do in the next few days. Renew passport. I arrived home under the deadline so I don’t have to get guarantors as I would if I wasn’t renewing my passport with the old one there with me when I made the appointment.  I’d hoped to learn to pull my large trailer with the enhanced driver license and training. However to do that I must first get a beginner’s permit from ICBC.  That’’s the most I’ll be able to do this week.  I’m going to church this morning to give thanks. 

Right now Madigan is on the table and needs a walk.  I’m having coffee.  I’ll phone Paul to bring back my Fifth Wheel.  I’ll have to transfer the contents from this to that and get the cleaning ladies in. I also need to replace the animal destroyed couch with a new couch and maybe a smaller mattress to facilitate making the bed. Right now it’s really difficult due to the oversized mattress. 

I’ll take the beginner’s test then set up the test training and road test later in the year.  I really like this camper which has truly proved itself with Logan Lake, Harrison Hot Springs,  Yuma and Oceanside.

I’m thankful to be home.

I’m feeling relaxed and healthy and leaving for Yuma I was feeling sickly and afraid I’d die of Covid.  Another winter outside of Canada. What a blessing.  That is rich indeed. I’ve been able to renew and am looking forward to work and the new year. Just have to stay active. I’m so pleased with the outcome of the ‘land expedition’ .  I have never respected all the RV’s passing on the highway. I now appreciate what they have done.  I have even greater respect for my Mom and Dad.  LA freeways were a challenge.  It’s the fear.  Night driving and so many challenges.  I loved that I could get repairs done on the road.  I loved that I could stay a couple of nights off grid in National Campgrounds.  I liked that I could stay at the side of the road with the camper something I couldn’t do with a big rig.  It’s a whole learning process and I feel my mind has been rewired. Neuroplasticity and learning tasks.

I’m going to take Madigan for a walk and get on with the lists of things to do. 

Thank you Jesus.  

Prayer

Our father 

Who are art in heaven (haven)

Hallowed be your name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom

The power and the glory

For ever and ever

Amen

God Grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change 

The courage to change the things I can

And the wisdom to know the difference

God I offer myself to thee

To build with me and to do with me as thou wilt

Relieve me of the bondage of self 

That I might better do thy will

Take away my difficulties

That victory over them

May bear witness to those I would help

Of thy  power, thy love and thy way of life

All shall be well

All shall be well 

And all manner of things shall be well

Poem

It’s not the first time I’ve said you are number one 

And she’s said you are number two

I never minded being number two

Or even three

But the pattern remains

I slowly find myself displaced 

Somewhere after the hair dresser or the cleaning lady

It’s the basis of war

I believe

All these men eventually  give up 

The game of fight or fuck

Make love not war

She doesn’t care

She has her mirror

There was a time when she was life

She hardly remembers it now

The dementia of women is different from men

There hearts go before their minds

The world has become soulless 

What do you make

Is a question of money

Not of life or love

Poem

There is no passion

I will schedule love for another day

Another week

Another year

My heart is all booked up

I have only time for money

And fear

Poem

She’s ne ver said she’s sorry

She’s never made amends

She’s always the victim in her story

She blames

Finds fault

Judged

Such pride

No humility

 The irony is the denial

 

She nirrors

And is well behaved

Wears the trappings of class

The superficial concern for appearances

Never the fool

Never mad

Never taking risks

Afraid

Always afraid

Trusting only government

Not God.

Poem

I drove thousands of miles

For an audience 

She told me she was busy

To wait a week

I was not a priority

I’d felt that

Deep inside

If she lies about love 

What else does she lie about

She doesn’t love you

Not like that

She no longer loves like that 

Or has another 

And lives a lie

She slaps your face

And is so superior

She’s always the victim

Living the life of blame 

Victim ship 

Self pity

You do this

It’s repetition compulsion

Always caring, giving, serving

It’s dutiful and good

Admit your fault

You lack discernment

Are generous to a fault

Love your neighbour as your self

Self sacrifice

Is for children and elderly

For the sick and true

Not for romantic love

She turns that to a transaction

She doesn’t make time for you

Her time is for more important ones

Not you

She can make a case like a lawyer

But love is present

Not in a week

Not tomorrow

The depth of the angry and unforgiving

Withholding

You can not see me today

Maybe in a week

Disdain

Gold Beach RV Park, Oregon

I left Ventura Beach Saturday morning . I’d hoped to find a place at Santa Cruz but the RV park was full so I carried on.  Santa Cruz was inviting and I could have checked around for other RV parks but I confess I had a desire to get home. Horse to barn.  I also saw getting though San Francisco as  the last  challenge. Cities with 10 plus wide freeways were intense.  

I travelled through Oakland missing downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge somehow. I never left freeways but  passed over a lot of bridges until recognised  San Rafael where I once lived. I thought fondly of my buddy there , a brilliant guy who I’d discussed gravity and life with in kitchens and garages fixing his motorcycle.  One of the good guys. 

  I have depended on the electronic map plotter on the Ford F350.  What a life saver.  The trip has been as pilots say, “flying by instruments’ all the way.  I can’t imagine how I did this decades back with hand held maps.  

I continued north having put Bodego in my plotter,  I saw some great sunsets near there then got back on the 101.  I eventually pulled off the road a ways and crashed. I love having my own camper.  We woke before dawn and Madigan got a chance to pee before we were heading towards Eureka.  I stopped at the MacDonalds for egg sausage McMuffins, coffee and hash browns.  Unfortunately they don’t make the burgers Madigan loves till after 11 am.  We did find his favourite wet Food,  Tiki Greece and Tiki France. I cleared that out while he visited with a Maltese poodle.  

We passed through the winding dark Redwood Highway, a motorcyclists dream. I loved doing it in little cars but was not so excited in a truck with  top heavy camper.  I passed a herd of Elk in Elk Valley. Madigan was really interested.

I never tire of the Northern California Beaches with the wild crashing waves and surreal coast.  We passed on to the Oregon Beaches I love this whole stretch since my previous cockapoo Gilbert having had eye surgery became blind and anxious till I brought him. Here .  Sailing we’d played on beaches. So here he was in known territory and finally safe to run after banging into everything.  He ran free doing circles around us. Laura and I cried to see his joy.  

Madigan likes the beaches but he’s happy to run free everywhere.  

I was glad to pass out of California. Every time I visit I find it less appealing, more chaos.  ‘Are you going to San Francisco.  If you are you’d better wear flowers in your hair’ had been the siren call the summer of the hippy. I hitchhiked there from the Colorado Peace and Love Festival with my first wife, Baiba, the most beautiful girl in the world.  She was my Bobby McGee then and we’d arrived in the streets of San Francisco and danced in the streets to Gracie Slick’s psychedelic rock.  Baiba had painted love on my forehead with red lipstick.  It was the boomer generation and as far as the eye could see there were young people. We’d travel north to Vancouver then fly to London England and bicycle across Europe.  Those were heady days and the fondest memories.  

Now I’d been back to San Francisco with two separate wives and lived in Marin with a girlfriend and come back some more with my present girlfriend Laura of 24 years of grateful love and care.  I’d sailed the coast of California in the SV Giri and returned later alone to San Francisco Bay to outfit before sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge on the Christmas Passage to Hawaii through northern Pacific winter hurricanes.  I love California and loved my time in Oceanside but was glad to get to Oregon. It’s the beginning of the pristine north for me.  I miss Canada and love the coast highway.  10 hours to go and I’ll be back home,

Gol Beach RV Park was a find. The manager was welcoming and it’s truly a bit of heaven on earth with the greatest view of Oregon beaches and crashing waves, seagulls and sea air, 

Oceanside - leaving

I loaded the Harley Davidson Nightster Special on the front rack yesterday by myself. I’d taken off the brake which stopped my forward motion a foot from the end. That made pushing it on easy. Only when I had the Harley tied down it was obvious that tire break provided a lot of stability.  Luckily I was able to bolt it back on,

I completed the day of virtual work yesterday.  The rain stopped so Madigan and I could go for the Hawaiian Barbecue we both enjoy.  I had the umbrella and had to use it on the way back,

This morning it’s not raining and the sun is out. I’m packed and just have to take down the Starlink to leave.  I really enjoyed my stay here,  I especially liked the walk to the coast along the little river where I saw the large King Fisher and took pictures of the Egrets,  Twice I had breakfast at the Buccaneer Cafe,  California Burito. The views of the coast was spectacular and several times I walked down to watch the waves and sea birds. 

On the weekend I returned to the Pier where I’d first stopped when I arrived.  The surfer and sail surfers were out. The Pelicans were tremendous.  I loved the happy sea lions contented in their close proximity.  I loved motorcycling about Oceanside I’m wearing the hoodie I bought at Breezy.  

All round I had a good time here despite this last week of storm and rain with daily warnings of flooding and road wash outs. The weather prospect is better today with sunshine tomorrow I’m planning on getting past LA and stopping somewhere before San Francisco. The temperature drops at San Fran so I’ll leave that for the final run starting next Friday I think unless I enjoy the drive a lot this weekend. I’ve 20 hours of driving and want to stay on the historic scenic 101 but may go over to the I5 if traffic’s is an issue.