Getting warmer...

Ok so no new news on the house front;  The kitchen is still tore up and we are still waiting on the insurance and contractors to reach an agreement so they can start putting us back together.  This does not stop us from planning though, because life moves on even if everyone else isn't ready.

I've been looking around and doing some research lately into what we may need to consider while we are in AZ and of course that means making another list so here it goes.

1.   It's warmer there but still gets cold.  Packing clothes to match those dips in weather isn't the issue rather keeping Chappy warm and free of frozen pipes etc, is where I'm looking.  Much to consider here and I get the feeling I should maybe have started looking into this earlier however I'm formulating a plan that involves some heat tape, a small space heater and using our fresh water tank as primary water source most of the cold times.  I'll have to remember to come back report on our final plan.
2. Internet.  Ok, so I hope I have this one covered but since my job depends on being connected to the internet I'm being extra cautious.  Here is what we have so far.
1. The campground is close to a major highway.  Cell signals are usually strongest next to the highways and since there is also a small town there as well, we are hoping that the signal will be good.  The cell provider coverage maps say it is but I don't fully trust them.
2. The WeBoost connect.  This thing worked wonders when we tried it in Florida and if need be it may help us with low signal if we need it there as well.
3. Wifi.  Campground WiFi is notoriously unreliable, but I'm hoping that maybe we can use it a little.  To that end we have our wifi router and Yagi antenna that should allow us to reach it easily if there is any bandwidth. :)
4. Cell providers.  I have 50GB of hotspot data through sprint, Limited/unlimited through Google Fi, and "Unlimited Hotspot" in my truck as a fall back.  We're thinking about adding in another carrier just to be on the safe side, but I think that will wait until we get down there.
5. Public Wifi.  As a last resort, I have mapped out the locations that I think will be the best to work from in case there is no connection.
3. Food storage.  This is one of the things that we are looking at when considering the possibilities of getting a different trailer in the future.  One of the things that we have been struggling with is where to keep food.  Here is our dilema
1. The fridge is small, however we have 2 refrigerators but one is outdoors and I'm not sure that it won't become a freezer should the temps dip to low.  We are considering a small portable fridge/freezer that we can plug in the back.
2. Dry goods.  We have been keeping most of these in a large Tupperware container in the middle of the kitchen floor during our past trips however if we are living in the trailer full time we are going to have to find a better place for some of this stuff.  We have some storage that isn't being used behind the television that we may need to find a way to fill up in an organized manner.  I may have to think about building a lazy susan or something to put in there.  I'll try to grab some pictures to explain, it really is a large but awkward space to use.
3. Simplifying meals.  I've been working on this and we have been using the instant pot a lot more for stuff since the kitchen has been out of commission, however laziness is a huge factor and results in us eating out more that I would like. I need to think about maybe going back to cooking larger meals and re-using the leftovers in a more creative way.
4. Getting out and doing stuff.  We're going to be looking at properties and stuff, but some of our time should be spent enjoying the area and getting to know the places and people too.  What good is it to leave the gloom of the North just to box yourself up in a trailer somewhere else?  That defeats the entire purpose of why we want to move!  There are some neat places to visit and we'll also need to find a few that are puppy friendly since the Donk and Rocky are going to be wanting to get out too!  Here are a few things that I'm planning
1. I plan to keep the same hours for work.  I get done working between 4-5 PM EST as it is right now and I plan on keeping these hours.  This will mean that I will be done around 2 or 3 pm local time giving me a couple extra hours to do things in the evenings.
2. Hiking.  Short hikes are probably going to be our thing since the Donk is still recovering from her surgery and Rocky is an old man, but aside from the dogs, Karen and I have issues with hills.  Her knees hurt going uphill and mine bother me on downhills, so we'll need to work that out.  Regardless, it's one of my favorite things to do.
3. Exploration.  There are many cool places to see and visit and I'd like to have a list for us to work from while we are there. Same as any trip, we need to make sure we maximize the time we have.

It's going to be a great trip.  I think we'll learn a lot of lessons and I can't wait to get started!