February 25, 2025

For years, retirees have flocked to Florida for the sunny days, resorts and orange juice.  Well, I don’t drink OJ anymore (A1C)), my resorts have been RV parks and farmer’s fields, and sunny days?  Not so much.  Although, if I am honest this RV Resort just sent me a text that there is bingo tonight at the community center- what could be more senior-like than that!  Before I go there, I’ll share some of my practical experiences with traveling in an RV.

First, asking Google or whatever app you use to find a place to eat nearby is a futile exercise.  It can’t tell you if there will be RV parking when you get there.  So, I have found the best way to find somewhere to eat is to drive around.  It also means you may have to forgo breakfast because by the time you find a place, it is lunch time.    It also means when you do park, you have to be extremely rude and position the vehicle so no one can block you into the 3-4 spaces you occupy. (I’ve adapted pretty well to maneuvering Spirit Warrior so I can get out with a few moves.)

And driving through the cute, little tourist towns with adorable little coffee shops and restaurants is the worst – these upscale towns, such as the ones along highway 30A on the Florida panhandle, are made for walking tourist, not RVers.  I saw many places that I would have like to stop at, but parking any vehicle would be challenging, let alone a RV!  Sigh, that cup of coffee and pastry will have to wait for somewhere further down the coast?

Similarly, if you want to shop for some summer clothes, you will have to follow your instincts to take you to the roads that follow the bay or gulf.  Then you find a tacky, beachy gift shop where sleeveless t-shirts are still on the racks and shelves.  Down here, its winter so most stores are carrying their versions of winter clothes – although, thankfully, some have started coming out with shorts and capris now.  Malls usually have plenty of room for you to hog multiple spaces. (you park horizontally instead of straight in)

On one such journey in Panama City, I lucked out by following the call of the ocean.  It was cold and cloudy, but I finally found a place for gulf shrimp with the parking I needed at the marina.  Wasn’t 5-star dining, but it was a nice gathering place for a few locals (4 women at the next table were on their 3^rd martinis/tropical drinks when I left, wished I could have joined them) and the shrimp was tasty.  Been too cold and wet to be able to grill my own.

The rest of the trip to Kissimmee has been marked by two nights in the mid-20s (can’t believe I had to use my furnace again and had water freeze one night!).  Stayed in a nice, older RV Park – really like the ones that are still set-up like campgrounds.  Had one that I shortened to an overnight stay, since it was 3 miles from the beach (not “close too” as advertised) and to get there you had to cross 6 lanes of very busy highway traffic with a significant palm tree and grass medium.  What I really liked was the peaceful night at a Harvest Host nursery and farm – just parked on the grass and boondocked for the night (when the temp was 29 degrees) and the next day, bought a little succulent from the host before heading to where I am now, Orlando area. And the trip to the Orlando area became a stressful ordeal when I got stuck for over 3 hours to go less than 25 miles on the Florida Turnpike due to construction. They could learn something about driver safety during major construction from ODOT – there were miles without an exit if you were having car trouble or a medical emergency and narrow lanes with no shoulders to pull off.

I lucked out with some sun on Sunday; old Town Kissimmee is right across the street. So, Audy and I went over to walk around and enjoy a rum and coke at one of the little bars along this pedestrian only street.  I then took Audy back to the RV to sleep off his drink (water) while I returned to browse the shops without being pulled to up to every stranger that made any type of facial expression his way (he’s cute and knows it – but more importantly, everybody is his friend!)

So today, my last day of 4 in one spot, I went to Epcot.  Not my most exciting experience, it cost way too much to wander around looking in stores.  Seems to have lost its shine – I remember the Disney special when the park opened in 1971.  I got on one ride, Spaceship Earth, which was so-so.  What I found incorrect was that it started man’s experience on earth with Mammoth hunters.  Seems liked a huge oversight, not acknowledging that man originated in Africa?  The rest of the rides? Geared towards children’s movies with long wait lines.  And the adult entertainment also had lines – even in the drizzle people were willing to stand in line for 30 minutes for a margarita, wine or beer.

However, I did walk 8 miles today – and had fun with both my Lyft drivers, Daimer and Jaime.  Both were immigrants with limited (or no) English speaking skills.  So, I got to practice Spanish with both – and Jaime had an online translation program which we had fun talking through (it even translated my Spanish to Spanish – the only word it struggled with was “timid” – which was interpreted as “shy” for my new amigo from Columbia – I had to explain I am not shy, or timid – lol.) 

Jaime was after me about getting a boyfriend to travel with (typical Latino male) until I told him my age and that having un amor no es importante anymore!  He was shocked that I was 70, and of course, my ego loved that:-).  I told him I make new friends every day, and my dog and cat are my companions I talk to – he told me I now have a friend in Columbia, and when I come to visit, he will have his family take care of me.

Just want to note here that both of these “immigrants” were not my enemy, and made my day a little brighter with their delightful banter and the service they provided me getting to/from my destination – it infuriates me when people imply that immigrants are this nation’s problem. I love diversity in all its forms, preferences and languages – this is what makes our country strong, the ability to accept others. And I admire people who are brave enough to start a new life in a strange land, just as most of my ancestors did.

Tomorrow, start my journey south to the tip of the USA.  On the way, I have a fun boon-docking night at a bar and grill along the gulf coast.  And of course, since I will be driving, it is supposed to be warm and sunny!  But I fooled the weather system, my next overnight stop is only about 90 minutes away -leaving me plenty of time to find a beach and enjoy the day.

Namaste