Felt so good today, and the weather was so nice I went on a photo hike. I got so carried up in looking for a nice photo that I lost track of time and ended up being out for close to three hours. Came so close to that photo so many times to just miss it. Took 246 shoots and ended up with 26 pictures, out of the 26 I feel I have 10 photos, one that I think is nice. Turned in my application for volunteer worker here and will do the same to each park I go to this year. Hope you enjoy at least a few of the photos below. All photos taken at Caballo Lake State Park.
This is truly one of my top 5 State Parks in NM, might even be number 1. I was hoping to become a camp host here but at least for now it will not happen. Next stop will be Caballo Lake State Park near Truth or Consequence NM. Will talk to the ranger and see if he has any open slots. If not then I will just do two weeks then move to Elephant Butte for two weeks and back again. Still working on the Camp Host starting in May at a National Park near Santa Fe. Now waiting to hear back from the powers that be, have been in contact with the ranger in charge and she has said if I pass the checks I will have the slot. As a plus I will get $25 a day for camping. Not a lot but it is a start.
As I watch the old volunteer row being changed over ( four of the seven ) for new residents I recall back to March of 2013. Back then CARE was only about 60% full and no waiting list to get in, today it is 100% full with a waiting list. I am not part of the “in the know” group so I may be mistaking in any information I pass along so please do not think I am stating known facts.
I am overjoyed to see this place not only overcome past problems but to improve and grow. This is ( as far as I know ) one of a kind facility. I do not know of any other place an old RV’er can go and get this type of care and still live an independent life. Being a volunteer here is not always easy but knowing I am helping even in a small way gives me joy, I of course have my favorite folks and no I will not tell who. This blog is being written after a long day so forgive the way it is done.
Photos of the progress on the new resident/volunteer sites.
The bench I repaired with the humming-bird design has found a home and everyone seems to like it. YAH!!!
All the volunteers were treated to a lunch by the CARE Director Russ, at a restaurant as a thank you for the work done helping paint the Cafe.
We have been here over a month and so far it has been great. Not saying we have not had a few problems but all have been resolved so all is good. It would be great if we got to stay until at least April or May of 2016, but when we are no longer needed we will pack up and roll on out. If no other place is lined up, I will head back to NM and maybe AZ. Only the SHADOW KNOWS!….
Things are humming along at the Escapee Care Center in Livingston TX. I just have to put in my two cents about this place today compared to the first time I was here. The first time and even the second time I could feel a lot of tension from staff and residents, lots of complaints from residents back then. Today it is like a different place, I here jokes, people teasing and helping each other, yes even the volunteers seem to be a happier lot. So to all the staff and board members of CARE that helped this to come about my hat is off to all of you.. GREAT JOB…
So now back to the bench I am working on, spent another 3.5 hours working on the back and it is starting to look close to what I am shooting for. Still needs more work due to the white and red needing several coats to cover correctly. One area I can not recall seeing in a humming-bird is the color of its eyes, so not sure at this point what I will do for them. Will have to check online photos of humming birds to see if I can find something. Durm roll please….. Bench as of now..
Been busy since arriving at CARE, meeting other volunteers, learning what has changed since last time, meeting and greeting people I recall from before and working on my personnel projects. Repaired a seat in the RV yet again, working on a closet door with mirror, ( mirror keeps coming out ) . Outside projects include killing ants around the rig before they get into the rig, Cut wood to stabilize slide out, ( way changes each time I move ). Then I am also working on two park benches for the Center. The first one is already done and back in its location, Second one has been primed and will not be worked on for a few days. Will be on 24 hour on call tomorrow and breakfast duty the next day.
First step, cleaning it up
Repair begins
Done and returned to location
Second bench will be a big project, it has a lot of detail I want to try to bring out. Have primed it to reduce/remove as much rust as possible.
Without going into detail, lets just say enough was enough… For the last few days I have been insulted time and time again by one of the other volunteers. Problem was the insults only took place when residents where around, I did not want to make a scene and cause problems between volunteers and residents so kept walking away. Problem with walking away is it does not always work.. This morning a resident repeated the insult to me, sure it was not intentional but it still hurt like hell. Then another volunteer came up to me when I was drinking coffee and “jokingly” repeated it again. AT this point I lost it and could not stop crying… At this point I knew I could not stay and take anymore so went to the office turned in my keys, paid my electric and hit the road two days early..
Morale of the story ???? Insults hurt even if done in a joking manner. So because of it I now have a negative feeling about my time at CARE and will NEVER return.. Only reason I am still an Escapee is because I believed in CARE, so now I will allow my SKP to expire. I do wish all the residents, staff and most of the volunteers all the best…
GOODBYE CARE
As far as my first day on the road with the 34 ft rv.. It was an adventure to say the least.. My spear tire rack broke when I was in the middle of traffic in Houston. Had to get off the road and find a place with enough room to get the thing off along with my spear. Both are now riding inside the RV and will get fixed when I get to Phoenix.. I now have a list of 20 things to fix or have looked at. Just too much fun..
Look close you can see it was dragged..
Tire in bedroom..
Busted rack
Lots of traffic today
End of day camp
Even with several stops for rest and or problems I did make 304 miles today and staying at a park called Top of the Hill for the night. Will try for 300 miles again tomorrow.. But this was a very expensive day… $304 for the day, that is about a dollar a mile… OUCH…. Hope tomorrow is better,,
I have now been here at The Escapee CARE Center for going on two months. It has been an adventures two months for me, I sold my Class C and Suzanne and I purchased a Class A. Had the fun of getting it registered in SD by phone, email, and snail mail.. OH!!! I do mean snail mail… Worked in the kitchen for the first month and been working on lawn care for the second. Thought I would get it done before leaving but now with the change in weather and the fact I am the only one in Maintenance for my last week, not to mention the Health Care Fair is also this week, not betting on getting as far as I wanted.. LIFE goes on.
As much as I like being here and the people, I am so ready to get back on the road and see some new sights. First I have to go to Phoenix and get Suzanne onboard, also have to get a few things done to the rig so it can tow a car. Once we are set, it is off to SD by way of several NM State Parks, Stop to see and ride the Cog R/R in Colorado, stop at a favorite park in SD, visit some friends in SD, then we will get Suzanne her SD Lic. and Registration. At that time we will get all the paperwork fixed so both our names are on them just in case…
Except for the fore mentioned stops we will take things on a day to day basis and see what happens and where we end up. After SD it will be off to Alaska by way of Canada..
One week from today I leave for Phoenix…. Back on the road again…. 🙂
Escapee CARE Center is always looking for volunteers to help in with work mostly inside.
If you enjoy helping others then consider calling or stopping and talking to a current volunteer or one of the staff. share your experiences, and your skills with others who really appreciate you, most of the residence have all been on the road and if you take the time to talk with them you will be surprised at some of the things you can learn.
CARE volunteer teams at the Escapees CARE Center in Livingston, TX.
There are two ways to volunteer. One is as a Day Volunteer. This is a great way to see how things work and find out if it is a fit for you. If you will be staying at the Rainbow’s End RV Park, come over and volunteer for a few hours. There are always a number of jobs that you can do at your leisure.
The other way to volunteer at Escapees CARE is as a Resident Volunteer. You volunteer for a minimum of one month. You will have a site with full hook-ups, three (3) meals per day, seven days a week, and the knowledge that you helped to make many seniors lives brighter. You pay your own electric and propane. You will work a weekly schedule. Depending on the number of volunteer teams on site, you will be scheduled to work 24 hours or more per week.
Many volunteers return on a regular basis, myself included ( this is my second time as a volunteer and have already signed up for the next one) for which Escapees CARE is very grateful. ( at least I am told that LOL….) To me it is all about the residence here, have made friends with several and just admire some or the others. This is the type of place I would not mind staying in myself if needed to recover or just no longer able to drive.
All of the hours of volunteer services at Escapees CARE are recorded and sent to the President’s Volunteer Service Awards recognition program. Qualifying recipients receive:
* An official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin.
* A personalized certificate of achievement, and
* A congratulatory letter from the President of the United States
What jobs would you do?
Volunteers work a rotating schedule. The typical jobs consist of:
morning and afternoon shifts in the kitchen
driving resident to appointments
opening and closing the CARE Center building
monitoring the phone at night (this doesn’t mean staying up all night)
some light cleaning.
Two evenings each week the volunteers prepare and serve the meal ( also holidays )
These are light meals (usually salads, soup & sandwich, etc.) and the staff cooks counsel the volunteers beforehand so the meal goes smoothly.
The kitchen shifts typically last 3 – 4 hours. Driving assignments generally are local and require only an hour or two. There are, however, exceptions.
Volunteers work as teams. For couples this allows both team members to be off at the same time. In the case of singles, we pair two singles to form a team. They are then treated as any other team.
A single may also end up working in Maintenance if needed and is able to do so.
How much time off do you have?
The smallest number of teams preferred to have each month is five. With a 5-team schedule, each week two teams will have two days off ( may not be consecutive) and the others will have one day off. This rotates with the schedule as do the jobs. If we have fewer than 5 teams then each team has 1 day of per week. We understand that some would prefer to work 3 or 4 eight-hour days and then have the rest of the week off. The schedule we use presently was developed by volunteers and is currently a work in progress.
If you enjoy helping others then please take some time and check out coming to CARE even if it is just for a visit.
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