Cheryl, Yes...we have been at the shore! After that long winter, I just can't get enough of it!! Congrats on reaching your "half way" point with Lying in Wait. I remember the same feeling when I was working on Santa of the Forest! We have not only been at the shore around Cape May...we are now looking at Campers. There are "stellar" campgrounds here which I have never even seen. Walking trails, fishing spots, swimming pools, game rooms, lots of woods and trees...and so on. We took several days and entered these camp grounds (we only saw about six...there are probably 30 in S.J.) rode through, parked and talked to people who are "seasonal" campers. Just wonderful people. It is just like cross stitch....if you want to find out how people really feel about it....ask the ones doing it! I was not surprised that some of them are from the mid west and just can't wait to get to our shore in the summer! Very nice folks!! We are going to re-visit an RV dealer we saw last week who was just exceptional in every way. It turns out that the sales gal we were talking to is "heavy" into counted cross stitch. She showed me a picture of a family crest she just completed for her best friend. It took her two years to complete. It was just beautiful. (I was asking questions about plugs for lamps, etc.!) We have friends who have a camper that we love. This dealer has one on order and if we get our act together and get up there this coming week, we can actually pick out our colors, etc. These things look like "little houses" now. They have Amish made Walnut cabinets in them. So....after 30 years of boating....we are going camping!! Carol

Congratulations on your choice to get a camper. My husband and I have been talking of going south in the winter for a month (probably February as it for some reason is the longest winter month) where he can do some scuba diving and I can sit out on the deck or patio and stitch to my hearts desire. These past 2 winters of minus 30 degrees are just getting more than we can bear. We are just in the talking stage now but hope to decide by October or November so we can get a nice place to rent. My son and his family who live by Gettysburg go to Myrtle Beach every summer for a week or so but I think we will have to go farther south for some warm water. Don't want to go to the islands as there are too many tourists and I don't like crowds. I hope you are able to get the camper you want with the colors you want. I do love some of the Amish woodworking and furniture. I always find something when I go to the Lancaster area that needs to come home with me.
I will be so glad when this wolf is finished. I am working on the branches/sky part at the top right now. Want to take it all the way across the fabric to the end and then come back and finish the wolf's body. Hopefully it will be finished in time for Christmas. I have several patterns I want to work on next but it will be a hard decision as to which one it will be. They are all multi pages. Have a great week. It is 58 degrees here and rainy - again.
cheryl

Cheryl Just a note for your info, If you are coming to Florida for more than a week you really need to think well ahead for a reasonable fee. We live in Sarasota (actually Venice) and have a condo that we rent and our renters (who have now rented for "winters" until further notice) said that they had great problems the first year they came and had to rent by the week at an exhorbitant fee. They were unable to find anything less than 3500.00 for a month and it was a dump. All the places rent quickly that are nicer. That is why they have asked for winters forever...after the first year they rented for the next right away. We have a friend that has rentals also. If you decide to come to this area let me know and I may be able to help. Just so you know and don't find yourself disappointed not to be able to find a place!

s1fuss - thank you for the heads up on this. What is the usual cost of a nice rental for a month - do you have an idea? I would like somewhere near the beach if possible. It is an option for the long months of winter but I'm not going to put myself in bankruptcy for a few weeks of nice weather. Thanks again.
cheryl

We get 2500.00 a month on a month to month basis. But we only charge our renters 2000.00 a month because they stay 5 months. Our condo is in a gated community. 2 bedroom, 2bath on the golf course 1 mile from the beach and 5 houses from the pool. They get to use all the clubhouse facilities, tennis, another pool and restaurant and golf. So that's why we get what we do. Your average monthly cost depending on where you stay will probably be 1500.00 to 3000.00 depending. The earilier you look the less you will pay since prices go up for any unrented units when the rush to book comes around the end of august. Do you know where you want to stay yet?
Suzanne

Suzanne - we are still in the contemplating stage - is it doable - do we want to do the long drive down and back etc. Not sure where but along the eastern shore in the southern part of Florida probably.
cheryl

You will enjoy! We are on the west coast so if you ever think of coming here let me know! Florida is nice during the winter, but its hell during the summer months. I have been here for 37 years and the summers get longer and hotter every year! It is so hot you don't leave your house and the air conditioning unless absolutely necessary! And it storms every afternoon, but the traffic is horrendous during the winter...ah well can't make everyone happy can you? :)

Cheryl, We have family down in Naples. For several years we have spent the month of February there. It was very, very nice...around 74 degrees each day. We rented a house not too far from the Gulf coast and loved the fact that there is always a breeze. I have been on the East coast, inland, and thought I would die from the "stagnant" heat. Also, all the fresh fruits and vegetables you could ever want. We found farm markets that we loved. One of our family members is a Celiac (gluten intolerant), that is one reason we like to cook more than we go out to eat. There is a lot of traffic, however, the "boulevard" style roads they have handle the traffic well. There are lots of "turn off lanes" for traffic so you don't have people making quick lane changes to get off of a highway like we do here in Jersey. I found it far more reasonable than the traffic patterns we face here!

Have made a note of the 2 positive replies. Thanks a million. Will have to play this one by ear. I have a cousin who lives in Miami Shores also so that may be a possibility. Have a great week.
cheryl