Getting some more things done

We had quite a long to-do checklist for while we're in Illinois -- Carl is so good about working through the list!

One of the things he wanted to do is to replace the push-button latch on the engine compartment door with a locking latch... he had ordered one several weeks ago from Amazon -- it must have been on a slow boat as it just arrived a few days ago at Scott's house...

... new locking latch installed. We don't plan to lock it all the time, but there have been places that we've parked for short times that have been a little "sketchy" and we'd like to ensure that no one can access Gracie's engine compartment.

He also wanted to install a new docking light -- this is a picture of one of the old style lights...

... this is the new one that he installed (we didn't get a "before" picture, but the light had gotten flooded with water and part of it was no longer working). We don't often use the docking lights, but want to have them working when we need them.

He also wanted to complete a project to put "bungee cord keepers" on the bay doors -- here he is drilling a starter hole on the door...

... and putting an eye-screw into the door.

Then he did a similar task inside the bay, putting an eye-screw into a part of the framing.

We had gotten bungee cords with carabiners on the ends --here you can see the carabiner on the end of the white bungee cord snapped into the eye screw inside the bay (the spare tire that we're carrying to Alaska is in the neighboring bay).

The carabiner at the other end of the bungee cord is attached to the eye screw on the door.

We have experienced our bay doors coming open at times - even though they are closed and locked. We think it may happen if the body of the rig flexes in odd ways, like if we go over uneven pavement. We are anticipating there may be more times that something like that will happen when we're on our Alaska caravan, so we wanted this additional protection -- the doors may come unlatched, but they are not likely to come open because the bungee will prevent them from coming more than a couple of inches open. We will disconnect the bungees when we are stopped and actively using one or more bays -- hopefully we will remember to reattach them before travel days!

Finally, one last repair - we have two Fantastic Fans installed on Gracie -- one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. The bathroom fan's motor to open the top of the fan had started having difficulty and, when Carl opened it up to try to determine if there was something that was binding, it stopped working altogether. He ordered a new motor, and it came in...

... he got the new motor installed and it works better than ever (the new motor is more powerful and runs at twice the RPMs so it opens and closes the cover twice as fast!).

Meanwhile, the big to-do on my list was choosing what Medicare plans I wanted to sign up for... I am eligible for Medicare on July 1. I had many options to choose from -- IBM has a Medicare Advantage Plan, and through FermiLab (where Carl retired from), I had a number of Medicare Supplement plans (as well as Medicare Advantage plans) to consider. I went through the information, evaluated pros and cons, and finally decided on getting a Medicare Supplement plan from the same provider that Carl has as it will give each of us a discount on our premiums. FermiLab also provides a reimbursement to help with paying for Medicare plans. I also selected a Medicare drug plan and dental plan, and have a vision plan selected that we will probably sign up for in open enrollment for use next year. All my applications have been completed, and I guess all will go into effect in just a short time! I'm glad to have that off my to-do list!