Feb. 2, 2012 On the move again……

It’s time to move. We just completed 66 days living “off the electrical grid.” We have enjoyed our time in Quartzsite, AZ,--the peace and quiet in December and the super-activity in January. Now we are ready for a change of scenery.

I started this post last night. However, I have to interrupt the post to post what is really important! Showers! We are hooked up to water, electric and sewer at Holts Shell RV Park, Gila Bend, AZ, We stop here coming and going to clean the rig and do laundry. After two months of “Navy-style showers,” tonight we enjoyed long, hot, quiet showers. It was so heavenly. I just stood under the hot water—feeling blissful. No “eh eh eh” of the water pump nagging me to hurry up to save water for Larry. Friends, tonight’s long shower was heavenly! Far more enjoyable than even a big chocolate bar!

Meanwhile, back at the blog: The statistics of being off the grid for 66 days.

We kept our set of two batteries charged with the two solar panels and did computer/phone charging and limited TV watching with our Honda 2000i generator. Larry filled the 1.5 gallon red gas can three times and poured half of the last fill into our neighbor’s generator this morning, therefore using about 4 gallons. We filled one of the two 5-gallon propane tanks every two weeks—for a total of about 20 gallons of propane for cooking and heating shower water.

We use a Heater Buddy portable propane heater. We went through a canister a day (2.60 each) in December, but one canister lasted about 3 days in February because milder weather. I over bought this year and had to return some to W-M in mid-February.

Every week we drove 3 miles down to the BLM sewer dump the holding tanks and fill up about 40 gallons of fresh water. The sewer dump and fresh water services are covered with the BLM annual permit for $180. (Or, with the $40 14-day permit.)

This handy $180 permit also entitled us to see and enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The daily colorful shows are spectacular—and free to visitors—no extra charge!

Of course, to Rvers, January in Quartzsite, AZ, means the Big Tent RV and Vacation show—and lots and lots of traffic and visitors.

The crowds were heavy this year. I ventured into the tent once and it was a claustrophobic experience. Wall to wall people—inching along the aisles. I visited the Escapees booth for some hugs and the Good Sam booth to renew our towing insurance and buy this year’s issue of the Good Sam Campground Guide. I use it as my third resource for campgrounds--after the Escapees Travel Guide and Passport America’s book.

Some folks come for RV stuff and others come for rocks. Yes, that little crystal is $335!

My beautiful sister Diane looking at some of the crystal rocks on display for sale. (She is much prettier than the rocks, smile.)

And then there are flea market booths everywhere with tons of “collectibles. They count on you collecting what they are selling. I chuckled over this sign—yes, it says open. Need junk?

It was fun and and for us, it is over for this year. Enough dust, wind, flea markets, and RV shows. We are headed back to Texas. First day’s travel—145 miles to electricity, water and sewer. Only 1200 miles to go—so I will post as we have time and electricity at night.