Haven't Posted In A While

That is because not much has been going on. Norma has been working in her garden and I have been doing odd jobs and a bit in the motorhome. I replaced all the furnace vent covers as the old ones were getting pretty rusted and ratty looking. I am going to look at adding a couple of shelves against the wall under the table to hold stuff that gets stored under the table and inhibits use of the dinette. Norma is adamant that she is taking the bread maker this winter and we need a place under there for that.

We have an election coming up in Canada and we have been getting the usual appeals for money and help. We will drop off a hundred dollars at the NDP campaign office when it opens but we are not going to work this time. We have both donated many months of full time work to NDP campaigns over the years but is time for the younger people to take up the fight.

I am entertaining myself watching the USA elections as well. Specially Donald Trump. The GOP is scared stiff of this guy. They are terrified of him actually converting his massive lead in the polls into winning the nomination as mainstream Americans will not vote for this lunatic. They are equally terrified of him losing the nomination or being thrown to the curb by the GOP as then he will run as a third party candidate, taking his nutball support with him, handing victory to the Democrats. As I say, I am loving watching them squirm. They created him, now they have to deal with him.

I am looking forward to a North America being led by Bernie Sanders in the US and Tom Mulcair in Canada!

We had a very pleasant surprise visit yesterday by my niece Robin and her partner George. They drove out to visit us and Robin's aunt on her mothers side in Courtenay. They brought Yvonne Horn who along with her deceased husband Alan were life long friends of my brother in Edmonton. Alan died about a year ago and this is the first time Yvonne has really gotten away. She was having a good time and it was really great to see her. We had a hint that Robin and George were coming but Yvonne was a complete surprise!

Robin should be retired but is one of those strange people who enjoys working. They spend their winters in Mazatlan and their summers in Lacombe, Alberta where she works for the Dodge Dealer. She was telling me about all the vehicles on the lot that were severely damaged by the recent hailstorm. It costs them about $3,500 to repair each vehicle. I told her to watch for a good deal on a used Honda(ish) car for me that is not worth repairing and that they are willing to let go for a good deal to her favorite uncle. I am thinking of a $5K - $6K car that needs $3,500 repairs that I can pick up as is for a grand or three. Maybe this deal does not exist but maybe it does. If so, I will tow it down to Mexico for a paint job.

I am also starting to consider the options to begin cashing out my registered retirement savings in the form of a RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund) as all Canadians must do starting no later than the year they turn 71 which for me is 2016. Income derived from this money is taxable income which sucks. We don't really need this money except as an emergency fund and I specially don't need the additional taxable income. My options are to take it in the form of a monthly cheque or as an annual payment. I am thinking I will take it as an annual payment on May 1 every year as this is when our income tax and house tax is due. These two expenses will take care of most of this extra cash.

Well, now you are caught up with life at the homestead. We are making plans for the winter which will probably be on the Baja. George warned me that we will not like it after spending so much time in 'real' Mexico. They were there a couple of years ago and had to escape by ferry to the mainland. We are prepared to do this as well. In any case we will have to spend a few days near Yuma as I have to finish my dental work at Sani Dental in Algodones. It will be even more work than last year but it must be done.