It's a week and a half later as I'm typing this, and we've been to 2 more Tuesdays at Joe and Barbara's since first setting up. Great folks. We are just east and a little south of Venice, Florida, and there's lots to see and do around here. Gone for a number of scooter rides, including one on Wednesday this week to a doctor appointment so Gloria could get a Cortisone injection in her shoulder. It's been really killing her driving. Doctor wasn't surprised as it looks like she has a small tear in her rotator cuff. Not worth surgery, but it gives her intermittent trouble. Rode up to Sarasota one day and looked at the house we owned it from 2003 to 2005. Still looks gorgeous! Easy to get things done around here, as grocery and Amazon locker are nearby. Rode my scooter all the way up to Bradenton on Friday the 29th, as it was due for an air filter change. I'm doing the engine oil and transmission oil changes because they're very easy, but I didn't want to tackle the air filter which is buried behind a bunch of screws that can't be removed until the seat is removed. So round-trip I got in 100 miles on the dot, and it only cost me 75 bucks! Well, that was the labor… The filter was another 30. Very happy with that result.

The park at Ramblers Rest had an excellent dog park, so we partook of that several times, and our puppies did great with all the other humans and puppies that were, there, Which were many!

We had a great Christmas week and leading up to New Year's. FaceTime'd with all the family and friends back home on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, and the rest of the week was pretty much uneventful and great weather. There was only one day when it was warm enough to go up to the pool, however. I think they might've been on Tuesday, December 26th, the day after Christmas. It was something like 78 for a high, and the pool water and surroundings were spectacular. The pool at Ramblers Rest RV park must be close to 100 feet long and maybe 40 feet wide at the largest. There were probably at least 20 people in the pool, and another 20 on lounge chairs beside the pool. What a great afternoon! We decided to lay low, like almost nonexistent, for New Year's Eve. This park could only accommodate us through December 31, and we had to leave in the morning of January 1. So we totally behaved ourselves. The goal was to be up at 6 AM and be away by 8 AM because January 1 would be a long drive again – Down the West Coast of Florida, all the way across the state on interstate 75 or alligator alley, and then out the Florida Keys.

Our next stay would be at Sunshine Key RV Park, about halfway between Marathon, Florida and big Pine Key, Florida. For anyone who hasn't been in this area, it's just after you are southbound and go across the 7 mile bridge after leaving Marathon. That's an incredible trip across that bridge, and an incredible piece of construction. A little intimidating to ride on the scooter, because the speed limit is 55 most of the way, and is only one lane each direction.

It's now January 7 as I finish this up, and we have been at Sunshine Key for one week as of tomorrow. We've gotten to know some of our neighbors, and this place is huge and absolute packed. Days have been mild and almost no rain so far, But today at only 9:30 in the morning it's 80° outside, and 87% humidity. Loving the air-conditioned interior of the RV right now! We've been to the pool here a couple times – It's always very populated, and getting a lounge chair is so not doable! But people are chatty, the water is great, and all visits have been nice. They have a really nice dog park here as well, which wasn't even in their amenities description. Totally fenced, probably about 100 feet x 50 feet, artificial turf for a surface, lots of dog toys, lots of doggy pick up bags! Neighbors have been great, all the dogs and people love ours, and we adore theirs as well. Everyone plays together really nicely! Oh yeah – They have a huge tented area for activities, and they host Bingo every Tuesday and Thursday. We went on Tuesday January 2nd, and I won one of the games! There were probably around 100 in attendance, and entry fee is $4.00 for one card for each game. And there were probably…. 10 games. So we got $20 each and had a ball!