Kathleen's Window: Leaving the North Woods

September 3, 2016

We are down to our last five days at Geneva Point Center. The nights have been cooling down, and the mornings have the scent of Fall in the air. The loons are changing their calls as they begin to search out one another on the lakes of New Hampshire, and start gathering in large groups for the migration to the North Atlantic coastal waters. They spend the long winters out on the open ocean.

Greg is still working hard in the Buildings and Grounds department and finding satisfaction in the physical labor involved. Last week I delivered our international staff to the local and Concord, New Hampshire bus stations. All but one are off on their adventures to see America. Mat from Slovakia, (“I'm riding shotgun!”, who learned English watching American television), is staying behind for a few weeks in order to help all the oldsters finish out the season. Last year the majority of the international staff stayed until Labor Day and got us through our last few groups. This year they were scheduled to leave a week early, and suddenly we are down to a skeleton crew of mostly retirees who are trying to handle groups of 200 guests and 80 guests, while the Director had to be out of town.

The Ice Cream Shop is shut down for the season.

The Building & Grounds crew cleaning up after tree trimming.

I have been circulating through housekeeping, kitchen, guest services and the ice cream shop. The day before yesterday I put in an 11+ hour day. Yesterday, on changeover day, I joined the “Four Old Ladies”, as we were calling ourselves, to prepare all the necessary bathrooms, shower houses, and cabins by the 3 pm check-in. We didn't finish on time. The irony of working in housekeeping didn't escape me. When Greg and I were preparing to apply for workcamping jobs in February of 2015 we discussed what our dealbreakers would be for any job offers. Mine was cleaning bathrooms! Guess what I have done for the last four days?! Also, when we discussed our finances and made a plan so that we could continue being nomads after our original two year sabbatical, I sort of remember making a comment about if we ever really got in a pinch, maybe I would consider cleaning bathrooms...

I now have a new found respect for anyone who has no choice in order to make a living, but to work in housekeeping, cleaning toilets and showers, and making bed after bed. I got a real baptism into it since we were cleaning the cabins of teen-aged boys!

Today I managed to get my hair stuck on a hanging flystrip, yuck! After coming back to the rig I washed my hair with Dawn dishwashing detergent. I figured if that works to get oil slicked waterfowl clean after oil spills, I better give that a try. My gentle herbal shampoo didn't even begin to cut the glue. At that point I decided that I was done. I didn't come back here to exhaust myself again. I had a great time driving the students on their excursions. Greg and I have both been asked to come back next summer, and I would do the same job. We haven't committed to anything yet.

We've enjoyed our co-workers. They are mostly friends from last year. This summer I was able to attend a concert here during Summer Acoustic Music Week. Last year I had late hours in the ice cream shop and missed out. Our nephew Jon and his girlfriend Rebecca came for an over night and we had a fun morning kayaking on the lake. Our international students asked me to take them to N. Conway, NH to Diana's Baths and Cathedral Ledge, Old Orchard Beach, ME, Portland Head Lighthouse, ME, Salem, MA, Franconia Notch State Park, NH, White Mountain National Forest, NH, the Mt. Washington Hotel, Portsmouth, NH and a nearby whale watching cruise, Castle in the Clouds, minigolf, and numerous restaurants, as well as outlet shops, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, the local bank, and most trips ended by going to WalMart! If I do this again next year I will already know where to find these places! I loved getting to know all the kids who rode with me on those long days in the old camp van. We learned from each other. Most of them were from Eastern Europe and the UK Our six weeks have passed quickly and we are looking forward to more family time soon.

Summer Acoustic Music Week

The Harmonica workshop band

Selfies at Cathedral Ledge

Portland Head Lighthouse

Sarah, Mat, and Vivien soaking up the sun

The Basin at Franconia Notch State Park

Iveta and Laura after a day hiking

The sign said, "Do you have the 10 essentials?" Do we need a spider?!

The Mount Washington Hotel

Looking at Mt. Washington from the hotel

Downtown Portsmouth, NH

Whale watching tour office

Diana's Baths

Fun at the Baths!

The Geneva Point waterfront

Kayaks and canoes on Lake Winnipesauke.

The kayak paddle and life preserver sheds at the beach

We have been keeping our eye on the weather and are grateful to be gone from Tidewater Virginia and Bethpage Camp Resort as Hurricane Hermine is flooding out that area. Our campground was low and flat and our RV sat in a lake every time we had an ordinary rain! Hopefully by the time we leave for Maryland on Thursday morning we'll be able to avoid the storm. After a good visit, a family wedding and being grandparents, (can't wait!) we'll start on October 3^rd at Amazon in Campbellsville, Kentucky. That job is starting to feel real since we got our e-mail notice yesterday to go get our drug testing done for the job. I'm ready for the Amazon Fitness Plan after eating the free meals here and indulging in all the yummy baked goods calling my name after every meal...