Close But No Cigar!

The Mission Viejo house in the Casta Del Sol retirement community was just what Elly wanted.  It was real cute and just enough room for us.  After the realtor left we went back to see the little garden plots that the residents maintain.  We talked with a few people who just loved living there.  We decided that we wanted this place.  We drove to San Clemente (a real cute downtown) to the realtors office to submit our application.  Now we just had to wait.  Elly is real excited about moving!

Today, the realtor called today to give us the bad news that there is an application ahead of ours.  Oh well!, back to square one.

Warmth!!

Our car in the California Driveway

Arrived in Riverside last night at 8:00.  Weather was just like spring in  New England.  Today we are taking it easy recuperating from the trip. It is sunny and in  the 70's today! We love the weather.   Our car made it safely here also.

Our "stuff" in boxes

Our "stuff" was waiting for us too, all stacked neatly in the garage.  Now we just need to find a place to live.


Elly made appointment to see a few leases in Mission Viejo tomorrow. We will see what that adventure brings

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Tomorrow is the day we leave for California.   The stress about when the car will get there has been relieved!  Our cousin called with the good news that our Honda Element is now on their driveway.  We are all packed and just need to get ourselves out to California.  Weather is supposed to be in the 60's this week.  Sure beats the teens here.  Can't wait  for the warmth.

Snow Today!

Well, the weather didn't hold out until we left.   Today we woke up to 2" of freshly fallen snow.  We really didn't want this weather.  This is why we are leaving for California!

Shipped two more boxes of STUFF to California!




It's 72 degrees in Riverside, but its only 28 degrees here!  Can't wait for "instant summer" on Monday!

Shipping Our "STUFF" to California

All of our 10 boxes of personal stuff (mostly kitchenware and books) made it out to Riverside successfully via FedEx Ground and Media Mail.  Kind of reminds me of George Carlin.

 The check for the Auto Shipper also made it to our cousin so she will be able to receive the car and pay the driver.  The "to do" list is dwindling down to the last few items.  I still have to pack up my computer and a few more antique reference books and get those shipped out Friday (more STUFF!)  Then we have to start packing our clothes (Still more STUFF!).  Only 5 more days to go. Whew!

Automobile Gone Mobile

We are not driving to California, we are having the Honda Element shipped.  To do this, you can arrange the shipping through an auto transport broker, and the broker assigsn and schedules the actual car transporter.  We wanted the car to be picked up on Monday Jan 9, and delivered Tuesday Jan 17, the day after we arrive in Riverside.

According to our broker, when the car got assigned to a shipper, it car was scheduled to be picked up on Tuesday, Jan 10 and arrive in Riverside on  Friday, Jan. 20.  This posed a few problems for us.  First, Elly has a Dr's appointment on Tuesday so the car will not be available all afternoon on that day.  Second, we will be arriving in Riverside on Jan 16. What are we going to do for 4 days without a car?  I really don't want to rent a car!

Luckily, tonight while we we watching the NFL playoffs, the driver of the car transport called to say that he was picking up the car today, Sunday!  After a few calls from him scheduling the pickup, we arranged to meet him at an empty parking lot in Sterling.  He arrived 5 minutes after we got to the designated lot. We inspected the car and he loaded it onto the carrier.  He says he will be in Riverside this Saturday, Jan 14. and expects to be paid COD cash or certified check.  OMG!  We won't be there until Monday Jan 16!  Another complication!

We frantically called our cousin in Riverside to see if she could meet the truck.  Luckily it's on a Saturday and she isn't working, so she agreed. What a sweetheart!  I just need to get a certified check out to her for the driver before arrives.  No sweat Priority Mail  will will do the trick.

Happy New Year! 16 Days to go!

We have decided to relocate for a while to the Coachella Valley of Southern California.  Although it is comprised of 9 cities, it is collectively referred to as "Palm Springs" for everyone not in the area.  Once in the area, each town has its own identity.  The towns are Palm Springs, Catherdal City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio and Desert Hot Springs.

View from Our Kitchen Window - New Years Day

 We will be leaving on Jan 16 and staying in Riverside until we find a place to stay for a while.  Our car should be there by Jan 17 (it's being shipped).  We can't wait for the warm weather and our adventure to begin.

Our Backyard on New Years Day

Meanwhile, back here in New England the weather has cooperated.  Despite the Halloween snow storm, this has been the warmest Autumn in New England EVER!  We know it won't last, but we would like it to last until Jan 16.