EL TAPATIO; Rainier-OR

Since the house went on the market, we have spent every day dreaming and planning the life we want to live.

The thought of leaving the Past behind and delving headfirst into a New Life makes our hearts sing.

This morning, the Plan was to scope out a P.O. that would forward our mail to us while we are road gypsies. Then, we would shop around for a reasonably priced Storage Unit to store our stuff in while we hunted down a motorhome and vehicle that would fit our life as road gypsies.

We were hoping for a speedy house sale so we could high-tail it to Fargo to see his brother before he dies; Holland only found out about his brother's condition this past Saturday. If the house sells quickly, we plan on driving to Fargo, then down through South Dakota and down to Moab in Utah, before chasing the sun across the southwest.

We drank our coffee and discussed several ways to purchase the vehicle - and none of them were feasible until the house actually sells and we have $$$$ in hand to work with. Trade-ins on Holland's Ford 4x, and my Highlander SUV would still leave us about $10,000 short needed for a new vehicle: we need the house to sell before seriously looking around a truck lots. We don't want to be hemmed into a loan contract. We want to work a cash deal, which would garner a better buying deal. We could buy a second-hand vehicle; but we really prefer something reliable. Especially since we plan on boondocking most of our time on the road.

The Coach will definitely be a second-hand purchase, but we feel it would be wise to have a new vehicle to get out-and-about with. Plus - if the Coach get's stuck in a bad weather situation (God forbid), a newer vehicle (with a tow winch) will be able to pull it free. A new vehicle is really a necessity for the life we are planning.

So, tired of spinning my wheels with dead-end scenario's and feeling the need to be productive in any way possible … I sent a text to Shay asking for Flyers (this is something that would be simple to accomplish) … and received a text back that perhaps we wouldn't need the Flyers :-)

Good News this morning!

Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney - 'Good Morning' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCbnJeMSGZ4)

That happy news kicked us into high gear and ramped up the seriousness of securing a P.O. Box and a Storage Unit.

We got the P.O. Box with no hassle; but the storage unit became a problem as there are none to be had either side of the River :-( So, we'll have to rent a U-Haul trailer for a bit to store our few boxes, clothing, and useful tools we are taking with us.

Feeling positive about the potential buyers interest, we celebrated by eating at a restaurant neither of us had ever eaten at :-)

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant; 117 W A St, Rainier-OR

Beautifully carved wooden doors.

Everywhere your eyes look, is an artistic delight.

Painted skylight.

Really pretty.

There is also patio dining when the weather is good.

Appetizer; corn chips, bean dip & salsa.

We both ordered this dish; it sounded interesting, and I've been craving shrimp.

SO GOOD! The 'shrimp' were actually good sized prawns; yummy!

And of course, we had fried ice cream for dessert - I'm hooked now. LOL

Even the bathroom was beautifully laid out. I loved the sunflower basin.

Restroom foyer was also a visual delight.

The backroom banquet room was painted in homage to Aztlan.

Beautifully carved porch columns.

The whole place was beautiful … and the food was delicious.

I was so captivated by the artistic wall murals, that I walked out of the restaurant without my boxed leftovers I had intended to enjoy later on (and didn't realize it until an hour later)  :-(

I'm saving the bathroom basin picture … and painted adobe wall colors - and I'm going to pester Holland with them until we can somehow incorporate them into our on-the-road-home. I love Southwestern décor. I'm sure my cowboy can manage a workable deal to keep his dreamer cowgirl happy :-)

Kacey Musgraves - 'Dime Store Cowgirl' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7i5YwkzFs)

He can't wait to show me Arizona and Texas.

And I can't wait to be shown.

Holland's southwestern love vibes surrounds my life; I'd like to wrap our home with southwestern colors, too.

CREATING NEW DREAMS

So - we've definitely decided to sell … or trade … our vehicles for a new vehicle.

A new life.

A new dream.

A new home.

All the {new} things need a new vehicle.

We are living a new present, and are forging a new future.

A new life that has nothing of the old in it.

But, this newness does not come easy - or cheap.

We both are learning to fully let go of the past and fully embrace the now and the near future.

'Cowboy Take Me Away' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aX4HhvWOGk)

Over the weekend, the furnace decided to go squirrely: it needed fixed (1) it was freaking cold without it, despite the space heater and fireplace (2) anyone who buys this house will expect a properly functioning furnace.

The {fix} was spendy … I will expect a new buyer to understand that the asking price we are solidly fixed on is fair, given that I have updated everything the previous owner refused to fix before Bob & I bought it. Whoever buys this house will get a smoking deal.

Given this morning's $$$ drain, the asking price is more than fair on our end. And I pray God that nothing else freaks out before we can move out.

Felton's Heating finally arrived; half an hour overdue.

Felton's Charges - I really need that high-end house listing price to come through.

I dolled up while the guys tore into the furnace - Holland and I planned on hitting car dealerships, looking for a vehicle we could reasonably and easily tow behind the motorhome. Our vehicles are listed on Craig's List … but if we can trade them both in at the same time for a reasonable trade, we'd rather buy a vehicle outright without touching the house sale $$$$$ left over after buying the motorhome. We'll be holding that money in the bank for emergency expenditures, that will surely crop up at some point, as we travel the highways and byways.

I also sent Shay a text asking that closets and drawers are off limit to the people traipsing in and out of our house; we came home after the Saturday house showings to locked closet doors in the master bedroom, and drawers that had been snooped into. NOT OKAY. There is no reason for that. The closet space can be assessed just by looking at the double-wide doors, and it's just plain rude to snoop in closed dresser drawers :-(

My left foot is still healing from adhesive wounds (apparently I am severely allergic to Band-Aid adhesive), so I'll be wearing my hiking boots quite a bit until the skin heals.

Going for colorful sparkle today.

Face on … Sparkly 'Cream' for browline; glittery 'Totally Tubular' turquoise eyeshadow; sparkly 'Navy Blue' for outer eye accent & 'liner'; Glittery 'Winner' middle eyelid accent color; Auburn Eyebrow Gel; 'Cobalt Blue' Mascara; 'Neutre Enflamme' Cream Blush, & 'Pink Quartz' Lipgloss.

What is behind closed doors (and in drawers) is private - we are still living in the house.

After the furnace was fixed, Holland and I boogied. We saw a Ford Maverick that we liked … but the sales rep said that it was not for sale because "the State bought all the vehicles on this side of the lot": 2 years ago - ALL GAS GUZZLERS! Apparently {the state; aka politicians} also prefer fuel operating vehicles over electric vehicles they are forcing down the public's throats. Another NOT OKAY moment.

We also saw a Chevy Colorado 4x, and Holland could sit in it very comfortably. It is white - we prefer red. Tomorrow we'll drive across the River, and into Portland, to see what the car lots there have to offer.

MISSION SUNDAY

Holland has been researching motorhomes and figuring out what would work best for us, since we will be living in it full-time. There are limitations on both length and weight allowances - neither one of us want to try for a CDL: Holland would pass … I'm sure I would not. There are women semi drivers out there, but I give them kudos, but I know me and that isn't something I could pull off.

Outside of a CDL License, the total allowances are: 50 feet & 26,000 pounds T.O.T.A.L. (coach and towed vehicle combo); so we have been working steadily to come up with a workable solution that would allow us elbow room in the coach, and allow us to have a vehicle on hand to drive around when the coach is parked.

We didn't expect that there would be any house showings on Sunday, so we went exploring (1) to investigate vehicles (2) to search for a flat-tow trailer.

I dressed low-key & comfortably.

The art of illusion ;-)

Sparkly 'Cream' for browline; 'Leg Warmers' for eyeshadow; 'Plum' for added color; glittery 'Lionheart' for eye accent; 'Chocolate' for liners.

I was just tired of being stabbed underarm by my bra's underwire; it freaking hurts (I've got a short torso & the underwire jabs me) … I'd be wearing a jacket when out of car ;-)

Ready to roll …

We started in Longview, where we saw a cute bright yellow Rubicon Jeep, but there was not enough head or leg room for Holland; He's 6'4", and husky: there was no leg room at all for a long-legged man (Holland's knees were literally jammed into the dash; the seat barely moved backwards at all) - and we ended up in Centralia, where we checked out flat tow trailers (we'd still rather flat-tow a vehicle that we can back up without a hookup hassle).

On a mission to price a flat-tow vehicle trailer.

Running down a dream, looking towards wide open spaces.

Tom Petty - 'Running Down A Dream' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv4-m-cIZf4)

Dixie Chicks - 'Wide Open Spaces' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qgt2ODdwEU)

Length & weight are huge deciding factors; diesel is the better choice, but finances lead to gas fueled coaches.

It was lunch time when we got to Centralia, so we ate at Country Cousin Restaurant - Holland had never been there, so this is a memory we made together. We each ate a Reuben sandwich (not as good as the ones my granddaughter Alyna, makes - and half the size, too).

I eat there every time I am up that way :-)

Holland enjoyed the atmosphere, and finished his sandwich up while we talked about our new life unfolding.

'Country Cousin' restaurant in Centralia. I did not have to eat under the Pig sign today. LOL

Country barn atmosphere inside. I will miss this place; a 'Holsten cow' painted wooden model bi-plane.

On our way home, through Chehalis, we saw the iconic Yardbird - and decided to nip in for a childhood nostalgic trip down memory lane; we both had visited that store in it's heyday, and we talked about those memories.

And Shay texted me with another house showing notation :-)

We both saw the huge black Yardbird in Chehalis-WA. We both remember spending time in that early years 'shopping mall'; this access now blocked off.

So, 'Holland the Rebel' just drove right through the blockade.

Back end of the huge structure.

I never saw this baby bird before! Holland pointed it out; apparently he has. LOL

Front end.

Steps going n.o.w.h.e.r.e.

The 'Mall' has been empty for a looong time; flea markets and swap meets are held there now.

Another house showing, tomorrow.

We'll be checking out more vehicles tomorrow.

There is something out there for us, we just have to put in the legwork.

We trust Elohim has this whole thing under control - sale of this house, the perfect motorhome for us, and an affordable tow that will flow like a dream ;-)