Good stuff I got to do by being here

For years I've been wondering about all the Internet buying that people are doing. Whenever I looked into it, the shipping costs acted as deterrent. Last month I decided to try buying books. I started with a couple of sailing books I'd been meaning to read, one of which I could not find at home and the other I wouldn't buy because it was so expensive. I threw in the upcoming selections for the library book club and then rounded it off by spending enough to get free shipping. Half the books were coming from Amazon, the others were used copies coming from three different vendors.

The first couple arrived in less than a week; all were here in 1o days. The cheapest book cost $4.10 -- 11 cents for the book and $3.99 for shipping. None was more than $12, and all copies were quality editions, not the cheap drugstore paperbacks. This is like the world's best used bookstore. I went back to amazon.ca to see whether I had exaggerated the shipping costs and, no, the difference is huge. Last week I decided to order a sugar bowl and lid for our English ironstone set. I placed the request on Tuesday and it arrived (from Virginia) on Friday, at significantly less than half the price I was quoted by a china store in St. John's.

On a completely different plane, last night I went to Girls' Night Out in Old Placerville. Now that's a downtown that knows how to market itself. The Main Street of the old goldmine town runs for several short blocks. Most of the buildings are the genuine original article. The Cosmic Cafe even has gold mine shafts in the back, to which you can retreat with your veggie special and your subversive reading material. There are clothing stores, art galleries, antiques, bookstores, crafts, jewellery, restaurants, bars, hardware, kitchen and decorating stores. Mixed in are services such as hairdressers, massage, psychic readings, legal offices, the IOOF Hall and City Hall.

Main Street is not competing with the big box stores out on the highway and they have some great ideas in how to attract people. On the third Saturday of each month, they hold an "Art Walk". The galleries and other stores who wish to participate are open for extended hours and offer wine tastings, snacks, music and other treats. It's great fun. Remember, all year around the weather is pretty civil, so walking the length of the downtown is not much of a burden. Last night, Girls' Night Out for leap year, was way better than art night.

I had to go alone, which was a pity, but not enough to keep me away. Jim dropped me off and I went straight to the overflowing doorway of a grand old building. Here was a bank hosting a fashion show. All clothing was provided by Main Street shops, and the bank's expansive layout was perfect for the event. Pink brochures gave a list of participating businesses, and all you had to do was walk up one side and down the other to take it all in. Each business had a pink sign in the window stating what they were offering, e.g. food, drink, discounts, draws, free services, music, demonstrations, all kinds of imaginative treats. You could try your had at making sushi or take part in a scavenger hunt. The age range was from late teens to 80+. Dozens of businesses took part and we were lucky to have an especially warm evening.

As sole driver of the truck, Jim had to play chauffeur. He dropped me off and killed time at Home Depot. By the time he turned up downtown again I had noticed that there were a few men about, so I took him to the old-fashioned hardware store where they were serving Boeger wines. It's not often you get to admire the full range of John Deere regalia with a buzz on.

Routines and events

The first month of our stay was an experiment in adaptation. We had to situate ourselves geographically, everything from learning what to expect of the weather to finding the grovery stores and gas stations. We became familiar with the house and its features, making small modifications as we went (moving lamps, buying a dish drainer, etc.) The pets taught us to meet their needs.

Alongside the basic familiarization, we were also trying to make the most of our few months in Northern California. We registered for dance classes, went sightseeing all over the place -- Sacramanto, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco. We went to museums, the state capitol, parks, a play, the downtown art walk, film screening, wine tastings galore -- everything we saw advertised and could fit into our schedule. We volunteered and I joined the book club.

Part of keeping a busy pace was the time-limited opportunity for new experiences and part the need for social contact. Jim and I are well used to each other's company, but too much of a good thing is a definite risk in a situation like this. We now have acquaintances at our volunteer gigs (library and thrift store) whom we look forward to seeing, and the subtle comfort of familiar faces in stores.

I've mentioned some of our activities to C, the homeowner, and she was impressed by how much we are doing. It would probably be the same with anyone coming to live in our home. There's a tendency to pass up events close to home out of laziness and a sense that "We can do that any time." Perhaps we need to live our lives every day as if all opportunities are time-limited.

Random differences (ongoing tally)

There's a non-stop game we play when travelling that could be called "Spot the Difference". Here are a few very diverse things that have struck me.

• We noticed all the advertisements that appeared in the newspapers after the January windstorm for tree removal. At home, it would be (a) not much of an issue, as we don't have 70-ft tall trees that (b) lack the roots to withstand 35 mph winds. And (c) if you don't have your own chain saw, your next door neighbour or brother-in-law certainly does. Other services of much greater prominence here than at home include income tax debt relief and women's pistol lessons (okay, I only saw it once, but couldn't resist mentioning it).
• One difference I love is that the outdoor toilets are operational year-round. In a park or on a trail, you don't have to go to the bushes, not even in January. Of course, the warmer climate brings a host of differences -- that's why we're here -- that are so obvious they don't count.
• Then there are the white trucks. We are driving a white truck, a Chevy pick-up with cap. It seems most of the trucks on the roads are white. There are fleets and fleets of them -- vans, pick-ups, SUVs, you name it. As we pull onto any street or highway, the last words out of my mouth are usually "After this white truck." Perhaps white is favoured because of the summer heat. Whatever the reason, it's truly remarkable. Thousands and thousands of them.
• Bail bonds. How common can the need be, you wonder, so that adverts on radio are as common as promos for fast food? This week we got the answer: 1 in 100 American adults are incarcerated. Not 1/100 has ever been in jail; that's how many are there at this moment. Note the figure includes both genders, so how high would it be for men only? For African-Americans, the incarcerated figure is a staggering 1 out of 15 adults.
• Drugs, the legal kind. We don't watch a lot of American TV at home, so it's been news, especially to Jim, who is convinced that everyone in this country must be taking a dozen prescriptions. The sense of a medicated society is made even more amazing when you consider that many of the newest drugs being promoted are for novel problems. The restless leg medication is getting heavy exposure right now.

Virtually idle? Not quite.

Okay, this is a blog, not a diary, so I don't have to account for myself for the past few weeks. But I do wonder myself what I've been up to.

I took on a couple of small computer tasks, which were fun because they involved learning new things. Jim's little company website (the little applying to both the site and the business) needed an update, so that took a day or two. It now has an improved name: http://www.seaschoolnfld.com/ We debated the name briefly. The full Sea School of Newfoundland was too unwieldy. Someone already has http://www.seaschool.com/ . Jim wouldn't use nl, the official abbreviation of the province's name as he contends it would be too likely to be confused with the Netherlands in a marine context. So we did the old nfld, which could just as easy be Newfoundland and Labrador anyway.

My other computer project was to learn how to put together a DVD slideshow that Mother could watch on TV. Last summer I scanned ~500 family photos in preparation for our reunion. With Brittany's help, we got together a show of about 150 images that we used at Mother's official 80th birthday party. I noticed at Christmas that Mother was looking at them on the Scaplens' digital picture viewer and decided I'd try to get them into a format she could use at home.

I enjoyed the challenge of doing it -- finding the software on line, learning how to use it and generally making it work. I added music from the exceedingly slim collection I had on the computer. I haven't done any downloading, free or otherwise, so just went with what I had copied from a few CDs a couple of days before leaving home. (So it's heavy into Ron Hynes). The biggest problem was replaying it over and over while making revisions. Every time Sarah Maclaughlin sang "I Will Remember You", I'd burst into tears.

This week we have stirred ourselves to write more sailing articles to go into The Navigator and be posted at SeaRoom, http://www.searoom.com/

Can we be of help?

We looked for volunteer opportunities as a way to feel useful and a chance to meet people. One morning a week we go to the library in Placerville. Our job is 'shelf reading'. We scan the shelves, book by book, and restore order. The Dewey Decimal System is a pain in the butt and it makes no more sense to me than it ever did. The job is undemanding, but not unpleasant and not without its small rewards.

It's intriguing to see which shelves are in disarray, presumably indicating heavy use. The gardening and bird-watching sections were the two messiest I have seen to date. I was dismayed to note that the shelves of books about social activism and working for societal change seemed untouched, while the many publications of Ann Coulter, darling of right-wing conservatives, had clearly been off the shelf and out the door.

Today I browsed a hefty section on what to do in your older years. One book, called Still Making Waves promised ideas about all the wonderful things you can still contribute, even on the wrong side of 60. It was a bit of a mixed message, though. A big sticker on the spine indicated that this was a Large Print Edition. Another book I shifted this morning was called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fasting. Yeah, like there would be some other kind of person who would want to fast.
One fringe benefit: the library sells used magazines for $1 or less, so each week I pick up a handful, and bring them back next time.

Our other voluntary spot is a thrift shop operated by the Snowline Hospice. We stopped in during our first week here to pick up a few household items. The store was bright, clean and well-stocked. Their publications and high profile community sponsors convinced us that they provided an excellent hospice service. We now go to their Cameron Park store on Friday mornings. I help with stocking and display while Jim goes to the back room and tests small appliances and electronics with the other old guys.

Most of the volunteers are older women who have been doing this work together for many years. They are funny and fiesty. The store is a social outlet and an important part of their lives. Jim notes that their are several Mecedes in the parking lot when we arrive. I'm not sure where the ladies get their cars, but I know where they get their clothes -- and they look great in them!

The taste I've been missing

When you travel with any kind of open mind you experience the fun and excitement of trying new things. I find myself sizing up the Mexican food section of the supermarket and wondering what to bring home this time. I had to look up 'tamales' on the internet to learn that the corn husks they are rolled in are not meant to be eaten. It's remarkably convenient to buy refried beans already refried, and save the great burden of , uh, refrying them. Some of the sauces are great. But -- what the heck is the story on those big, sweet, white buns?

The other side of being in a new environment is discovering which familiar things you simply can't do without. Coffee has turned out to be a problem. I'm no addict but perhaps what I'm recognizing is that coffee is one of those things I rely on having in predictable ways. In the morning, the coffee has to be hot and strong. Outside the house, it ought to be under $2.00 a cup and, well, hot and tasting like coffee. In the evening at home I sure do enjoy the decaf lattes Jim churns out of the cappo machine. The home-produced lattes were a bit much to expect when away from home, so I kissed that idea good-bye as one of the acknowledged hardships of the travelling life.

Now, I submit that getting a reasonable cup of coffee is not a lot to ask. Maybe I was wrong. First, we found ourselves in the coffee aisle at the supermarket having to get past the huge display of flavoured coffees in order to find the regular stuff. Back at the house the bad news is that the coffeemaker doesn't get hot enough, so whenever you pour a cup it has to go straight into the microwave. Just plain annoying. If we buy an RV, the first thing I'm going to do is get a French press coffee pot that we can use now, and leave in the RV. (Actually, there's a whole list of such items. The kitchen is not equipped with everything we'd like.)

When we're on the go, we truly do miss Tim Horton's. The thing is, there's always one nearby and you know what you're getting. Here there is no equivalent. We haven't seen a Dunkin' Donuts, or any chain that would have coffee as its feature product. Gas station coffee is always a last resort. Some of the fast-food chains whose coffee we have tried include: In-N-Out (not bad and only 80 cents a cup); Carl's Jr.: (better quality, cost more but we got the >55 discount); TCBY (huge, expensive and good). Small size has so far always been at least 12 ounces, same as a Tim's medium, and generally in a tall, slim cup that won't sit safely in the pickup's coffee holder. Don't even think of asking for milk -- if you can't take it with cream you don't get it.

The final part of the great coffee search is the workplace offerings. At both of our volunteer sites the quantity and quality of the coffee is fine (free at the thrift shop, drop in your coins at the library). BUT -- the only creamer is the plastic powder. The compensation is that each place often has high-class sweets to take away the bad taste.

In truth, the hunt for decent bread has been just as big a challenge. The term 'whole wheat' is not generally used; they call it 'wheat bread', as opposed to that other bread which is made of . . . what???? It costs $3.50 a loaf, is sliced wafer-thin and is dry and tasteless.

Anyone's heart would bleed for the hardships we endure.

More El Dorado delights -- Jan 19

We joined an organized hike from the Marshall Gold Historic Site in Caloma. I thought the group of about 30 looked about the same as you would find on an East Coast Trail hike. Jim figured they were older, and some of them were pushing their limit. You sure have to be careful walking behind one of those old guys with the pointy topped ski poles. It might improve their balance but makes it scary for anyone nearby. There were a few women in odd attire, overly flamboyant for the outdoors or just plain odd, in the case of the big loose tops and the disintegrating jacket.

Walking in front of some of these women gave us insight into prevailing customs for baby showers: scheduled for after the delivery so as not to tempt fate; given by the grandmother even for a third child; complete with mandatory diaper cake, whatever that may be. We also learned more than we ever needed to know about the sex lives of potters. Apparently this is a vocation best practiced in couples, who share a home and a kiln. If the relationship fails, the person who is turfed out of the house must immediately take up with another potter.

Apart from the people-watching and evesdropping, the hike took us a couple of miles up a lovely big hill, on a trail under great Ponderosa pines. (Speaking of which, the TV show Bonanza was filmed not far from here, in the area of the Ponderosa River.)

We attended the Placerville Art Walk. Every month on the 3rd Saturday, the art galleries along the old main street open late into the evening. They offer wine and hors d'ouvres and a chance to meet the artists. There was quite an array of work -- paintings, photography, jewellry, wooden objects, with a wide range of skill and subject matter. I didn't see the same sense of local influence (i.e. the land and sea) that we often get at home.

Placerville is a small, kind of funky, town. Most galleries offered snacks which were either made by the owners or friends of the artists or came out of a supermarket bag. You couldn't accuse them of being pretentious. One tiny gallery was a single rented room. The artist's buddy from across the hall, a massage therapist, gave free neck massages.

The Bennett Gallery had mainly sculpture. I noticed that several of the featured artists had versions of the Bennett surname and asked the woman hosting the evening to tell us the story. Her late husband and his brother, Tom and Bob Bennett, started it all and several of their children and other relatives have shown similar talent. Most of the work was very pricey, but I was intrigued by their wedding cake toppers. They are handcrafted sculptures that sit on top of the wedding cake, and are later mounted as permanent keepsakes. http://www.bennettgallery.net/