We have been in Missouri for the month of January for a well overdue visit with family and friends. The time seemed short and very busy. Between work and our visiting schedule, it seemed as though we didn’t have a moment to breath. Whether we would stay for a week or a month, it seems we wouldn’t have the opportunity to see everyone or to do everything we wanted, but we had wonderful time with everyone.
Our plan was to head back south on the first of February. Just a week or so prior to our anticipated departure date, I get some calls from the office I manage in Colorado. It seems as though my staff of almost ten years were making life changes and had decided to term their employment. It is a small office, so when one or two folks decide to quit, it is a big deal. This office is also undergoing ownership changes, so with the task of hiring new staff in front of me, my project just got bigger.
Robert and I discussed all the events going on at that Colorado office. I explained that I didn’t feel I could do be an effective manager from a long distance right now. Neither one of us really wanted to go to Colorado in February. Spring or summer was fine, but February wasn’t exciting us. Mainly we are concerned about how the RV will hold up in the cold. However, we both agreed that Robert’s job is much more flexible and I’m being paid to do a job and we have to go where I’m needed.
Breaking the news to our Florida friends was hard. Robert has a great following with his music and we certainly hate disappointing his fellow band member friends. He is a regular at Mahuffer’s a little bar in Indian Shores and we didn’t want to disappoint the owner as he not only is Robert’s boss, but also a dear friend. It was like ripping off a Band-Aid, Robert made his phone calls and everyone was very understanding. Unfortunately we couldn’t tell our friends exactly when we are headed back, because I have no idea how long my job will take to get that office back on track.
We prepared the coach as best as we could by adding more insulation to fill in any gaps. Robert’s dad had several strands of heat tape that we installed and a wonderful space heater to borrow. Since we’ve been in Florida for so long, our winter wear supply is quite small, but I think we’ll manage. We’ll just shop for a few things here and there as needed.
So we are off to Colorado and we’ll make the best of it. We’ll be around the Boulder area and neither one of us has been there in the winter for any length of time. It will give us an opportunity to photograph new subjects and explore different areas. At every opportunity that I’m not working, we’ll play tourist and explore. I know winter boots and gloves are the first things on our list to buy.
