We’ve been in the same place now for almost 2 months, which means our adventures are centering around Yuma.

This past week I joined the hiking club at the RV park and we ventured out into the desert to the Painted desert trail. it was the first wilderness trail I’ve done in the area and it did not disappoint. The hiking group goes out each Tuesday and I’m looking forward to many hiking adventures ahead with them.

This week I also connected with the quilting club, Sun Vista Piecemakers, and started work on a lap quilt to donate. They offer free classes and one of the members took me under her wing to help me start on a simple pattern. Marie is in her 80’s and also from Michigan. She had been sewing since the age of 3 and worked as a seamstress for Chrysler sewing seats covers for cars. She’s an inspiration! This club donates more than 90 lap quilts annually to veterans, abused kids and nursing home residents. I’m happy that although I got rid of all my sewing supplies, I can still sew here since the park has a sewing machine to lend and the club has a stash of fabric to use.

Our Thanksgiving this year was shared with a table of 10 other work campers, alongside 50 or so other tables of Sun Vista residents. I organized who would be bringing what dishes for our table and it was all quite delicious. I missed family though, and when the table talk turned to those “criminal illegal aliens who were crossing the boarder illegally and not even being checked anymore,” I had to put a halt to the conversation, tactlessly suggesting that wasn’t appropriate table conversation for the holiday and couldn’t we please focus on what we’re grateful for? That earned me stunned silence and cold shoulders from our park neighbors who had previously been friendly with us. Thanksgiving just seems like the right time to acknowledge that we’re all immigrants…

I was able to get to the Yuma balloon festival and see the spectacle of dozens of balloons lifting off to cross the Colorado River. It was so beautiful! Someday I’d love to actually ride in one of them.

There have been 2 yard sales in the park and this weekend Ray bought me a Christmas present I found at one of them; a cactus margarita glass. In typical Ray fashion, he didn’t squirrel it away for Christmas, so I was able to enjoy this 25 cent present immediately. We pick up odd things here and there and don’t have to worry if they’ll fit in the trailer when next we travel; if they’re inexpensive enough we can just plan to use them now and leave them behind when we go. Goodwill is great for that!

What I’m most grateful for is the chance to fully enjoy my days. Each day is filled with fun activities in a place where the sun shines more than any other town in the US. What could be better?