Wandering Wahls

Our most recent transition experience arrived in the form of the need to wash clothes. We had a nice washer and dryer in the RV. Unfortunately, we can’t use them in the new house because we don’t know how the W/D could physically be taken out of the RV. So off Mary Claire went to research the brands, energy efficiency, etc.

There were so many questions with this purchase:

• Do we get top loaders or front loaders?
• Why don’t the front loaders just come with the pedestals vs. charging the consumer another $200 to avoid broken backs? (I’d like to thank manufacturers for looking out for consumers with that development: build a newly designed, energy efficient consumer appliance but make it 10 inches too short and charge $200 for the necessary pedestal.)
• Are the utility savings from the energy-rated units worth the extra cost?
• How does the Base Exchange system stay in business?

I know that last item came out of the blue, but the thought did occur to us as we shopped. As both of my readers know, one factor my wife and I took into account in considering where to settle was to be able to take advantage of base benefits, such as tax-free shopping at the commissary and BX. However, that experience does come at a cost. Frustration.

Mary Claire found good buys on a Whirlpool washer and dryer at the local BX. We traveled there ready to announce: “We want these,” thinking that spending $1,000+ would make us valuable customers. However, we couldn’t find anyone to listen to us. When we did find someone, they did take our money but then informed us that the units were on back order at the manufacturer and delivery was 2 months away.

It was explained that the sales promotions are done 6 months out so they aren’t always sure that the sale items will be in stock when the sale occurs. On top of that, the washer could be delivered sooner than the dryer. But, the manager didn’t want to allow that because the two are “one unit.” We pointed out that a washer could operate without the dryer, so hopefully we’re getting the washer delivered early. We aren’t too sure about this point though, because we can’t get our calls returned.

But, you can’t deny the savings and lack of sales tax, so we’ll be washing our clothes in an energy efficient frontloading washer, and doing our part to help the environment by hanging the washed clothes out to dry until our dryer arrives.

We actually prefer clothes hung to dry anyway.

Last night I was reading my checked-out-from the Air Force Academy library book (we’re making full use of the base services in Colorado Springs). The book is my first experience with a large print edition. Not that my eyes are going bad, it’s just that I put my name on the wait-list for Dan Brown’s latest book and the large print edition is the one that became available. After reading 80 pages in my first sitting, I was pretty proud of myself. However, I realized that since this was large print, what I read was probably the equivalent of 3 pages in regular sized print.

I gave up on the book and started thinking of how this business of settling down is full of interesting experiences. For most of you, the issues we are experiencing while settling down are probably nothing new. For us though, this is our first time buying a house (first time being able to paint walls), first time finding a school in the US, first time buying a new washer and dryer, and so on. Additionally, there are still cultural issues to get used to (i.e., how did “sweet” become such an integral adjective in my kids’ vocabulary even though they’re not talking about food or candy?). Also, is running a red light legal now? It’s frequent enough.

Anyway, we did find a house and we’ll recount that experience for you later (as well as the associated adventures). We were fortunate to have a great realtor, Brian Slivka, who was a Godsend in helping us through the labyrinth known as house-buying. Now we must get used to an empty bank account as well as getting things done in the house and getting the RV ready to sell.

Regarding the last point, we want to scale down from a 41-foot behemoth to a smaller behemoth more suited to week-long trips to National Parks – as opposed to a 16-month trip across the US. If anyone needs a great RV well suited for full timing on the road (bunk beds for kids, washer & dryer, 6 TVs – one outside even, and “super storage”), let us know. It is kind of sad to be thinking of selling our home-on-the-road though.

One of the goals for our blog entries for MOAA is to include different perspectives on  our experience. We’ve heard from Mary Claire, the active duty family member, and me (the spousal unit – I will not refer to myself as “DS”). What have been missing is our kids’ perspectives. In that regard, I thought I would submit today my daughter’s thoughts on the 16 month RV trip across the U.S. – specifically about what one part of the trip stood out in her mind. For me its whoopee pies. For Anna though, not surprisingly, it was our visits to the 60+ National Parks and the impression they made on her.

As background, Anna is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. These thoughts and words are hers alone – and I am proud to say that her mom and dad DID NOT write this for her.

Tom

National Parks are important to me first of all because they all feature wonderful wildlife which cannot be found in many other places (zoos do not really count because the animals cannot be called “wild” life). The wildlife varies from the many bats in Carlsbad Caverns National Park to colorful fish in Biscayne National Park. Second, National Parks let me get away from people, and give me peace and quiet.

I consider myself very lucky to have seen about 60 National Parks in the last 16 months. I never realized all the natural beauty in the USA before we took our cross-country trip in our RV. Starting in California we saw Joshua Tree National Park. There we were lucky enough to see a tarantula. Unfortunately, we missed the National Parks around Oregon and Washington, but we did see the wonders of Yellowstone National Park (in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming). With bears, wolves, and geysers, Yellowstone is one of my favorite National Parks. Theodore Roosevelt National Park treated us to bison in our campground; prairie dogs in Prairie Dog Towns; and, wonderful hiking trails. Mount Rushmore National Memorial taught us about the presidents. I can’t list all of the National Parks but some special ones were Everglades National Park in Florida (alligators in every swamp), Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado (Mountain Goats if you’re lucky enough), and Carlsbad Cavers National Park in New Mexico (stalagmites and stalactites in the beautiful caves). My brothers and I also got Junior Ranger badges or patches in every National Park we visited. We prefer the patches over the badges.

Traveling the country really inspired me to try to help protect the National Parks. Protecting National Parks does not always involve hard tasks. Some rules like “don’t bust the crust,” “leave no trace,” “stay on the trail,” and “don’t feed the wildlife” can actually help a lot.

“Don’t bust the crust” means not to step on Biological soil crust. This crust is actually alive! Biological soil crust can be found in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

“Leave no trace” means to not litter, not to take anything, or just not to change the natural habitat. The only thing you can take is pictures and memories.

“Stay on the trail” means, well, to stay on the trail. Why the National Park Service wants you to do that is because if you step off trail you may step on plants that are growing there. Only one person stepping off trail may not do anything alone, but if one person does it then other people are bound to do the same. Soon everyone will be destroying plants, and animal’s habitat, all because of a few (maybe even one) people off the trail.

“Don’t feed the wildlife” also means what it says. Why the National Park Service wants you to follow this rule is because when wild animals are fed they forget to feed themselves because they depend on people too much. Also they (mostly larger animals like bears) can become aggressive and attack humans for their food. Sometimes the animal has to be put down because they are too dangerous. The saying “a fed bear is a dead bear” comes from that fact.

An idea that may help protect National Parks could be that school field trips be held at National parks and the schools could raise money to help the National Parks.

In conclusion, America is very lucky to have these fabulous National Parks. I hope that people will keep helping and Protecting National Parks so that I can take my grandchildren there some day.