December 18th was a short driving day from Mojave to Hemet California. Hemet is fairly central to points of interest in Southern California but away from the bustle of the large cities on the coast. We needed time to settle down and really feel a part of our new lifestyle so we registered for two weeks.
We went to a Verizon store in investigate cell phones and hot spots. We purchased a pay as you go phone which will give us accessibility in an emergency and the connection to make reservations, etc.
While we were driving there were many places where we wondered what we were seeing or not understanding. While on the road we wanted to have Internet access for our I Pad to ask Google what we were passing. We were also aware that many RV parks have free Wi-Fi but the signal is often weak because so many people are sharing the same spot. At Verizon we purchased a hot spot that gives us a great connection and easy access while on the road or parked.
We needed groceries and checked out Von’s which is part of the Safeway chain. Our Canadian Club Card works there so we got that discount but noticed that grocery prices are much the same as at home. Stater Bros grocery chain offers 30% off when you purchase 4 bottles of wine, etc. There are lots to choose from and we explored many. The exchange rate, however, makes everything more expensive than appears at face value.
In early November Kari had asked me if I still had dressy, Christmas clothes. I was mystified but said yes. She had won two seats to be in the audience during the taping of Michael Buble’s Christmas Special. November 10th we dressed up for Christmas and went to the Red Robinson Theatre in Coquitlam. What a fun, fantastic event. Michael interacted with the audience between taping segments while the stage, etc. was being changed. He was very casual and talked about himself, his family and bits of his life. He was very proud to be a new father and said he knew what to do – unlike his namesake (Michael Jackson). The show aired December 18th and we anxiously watched the views of the audience trying to spot Kari and myself. My white hair stood out like a beacon so we knew we were on TV but only we knew where to look.
December 19th was Kari’s birthday and we Skyped with her and Dave and shared our excitement about being on TV. The video did not come through but audio was fine. It was great to connect with family, particularly on a special occasion. We email brief updates and pictures to our family but Skype will be our lifeline to family and friends while we travel.
When Ralph and I travel to new areas we want to understand the topography of the land and the history of the people. December 20th we explored the Diamond Valley Lake visitor center. We have heard for years about the shortage of water in California. We know there is a lot of desert in Southern California and millions of people to consume an extremely limited water supply. Many visitor centers are staffed with volunteers and we hit a gold mine when we started talking to Rick who is in his eighties and has lived in California all his life. Now we have an understanding of the miles and miles of dams and canals that have been built over the last century and crisscross California. We also gained insight into the geological evolution of California through the shifting of continental plates and oceans into the desert of today.
That evening we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart for the first time. I have always felt there was too much to do before Christmas and I never made time to watch many of the classic Christmas shows. Now I have the time and certainly the inclination to savour many of the small details of life.
These first few days of our adventure were "let's get there". We realize I did not take photos as usual but that changed as we took a deep breath and started to settle into a new life.
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