You never know what the future holds

Despite all of the planning that you do, you never know what twists and turns lie in the future that might change things.

Two weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to become parts and service "manager" at the RV place, a job I was essentially doing anyhow. I accepted the new title and their terms, despite our hesitation to return to Kingston next spring. The plan was to finish up there this coming Saturday, then go to a Jayco training course in Middlebury, Indiana, then head off on our six month trip south before returning to start the new position in early to mid April of 2011. Ruth would take over the blood drive when we returned because we have found a replacement driver for the winter.

Yesterday I quit.

If they want me back next year, I will give them an opportunity to make me a new offer (on paper, and in writing) as spring approaches. Or maybe they won't want me back. At this point, I don't really care one way or the other. I enjoyed the job, and I enjoyed my coworkers, but I didn't agree with the attitude coming from head office. So it was my choice not to put up with it anymore.

And so, our future plans have changed. Now, we will leave here a couple of days earlier than expected, probably around Wednesday October 20. And next year is up in the air...maybe we will decide to spend the summer in Nova Scotia, closer to our daughter and her family. Who knows what may happen between now and then?!

On the bright side, we now have a lot more time over the next two weeks to get things done to Sherman that I had thought we wouldn't get done until after we left.

On to other things...

Ruth was doing the blood driving job on Friday and was stopped at a red light when she was hit from behind. Fairly minor damage to our car, it really just needs to have the rear bumper refinished. When I was in the business, this would probably have cost around $300, but that was just over 10 years ago so it's probably going to be over $500 now. I'd guess the other fellow did about $1,500 damage to his vehicle. I'll take it to get a couple of estimates done on Tuesday, but we likely won't get the actual repairs done until next spring.

Speaking about the car, I knew it needed some front end work so I took it in last week to get the work done. I knew it needed a wheel bearing, and I thought it needed the front struts changed because there was a minor knocking noise when going over small bumps, like a speed bump in a parking lot. They also thought it was the struts. So we spent $900 on the bearing, the struts, and a wheel alignment. Picked the car up, and it's much better....except the knocking noise is still there! Makes me wonder if it needed the struts changed at all, and I will return there this week to have another inspection done. But, it's been a good car and with 154,000 km's (95,000 miles) on it, it was the first time we have spent major money on repairs.

Thinking about selling it. Have a couple of people interested in it, and selling it now would avoid having to worry about storing it over the winter. And if we continue with the blood driving job next year we'll buy a new car for that. If we end up in Nova Scotia, we'll pick up something used out there.

It's getting chilly outside! This morning the temperature was 2C (36F) and there was frost covering the ground and our car. It's time to head south!

Frost on the ground in the tenting area!

Frost on the roof of the car. Brrrrrrrr!