Changing out the thermostat

Now that we are back in Mesa, we are doing a few updates on our "new-to-us" park model (which, as a 1986 model, is nearly 40 years old!). I got some linens (sheets and towels) at the huge rummage sale that one of the local churches had a week ago (they have it in spring and fall). Carl looked into replacing the 80's era thermostat with a more current model... it turns out that our electric company had a rebate program for which we were eligible, so he ordered a unit which we can control via the internet (if internet is available at the unit, which will only likely be the case if we are here as we share the internet from our RV to the park model), so we can check the temperature and control it from our RV if we want to do so.

Original thermostat

The insides of the original thermostat

Back plate of the new thermostat

New Nest thermostat

He also signed up for a program with the power company that allows them (the power company) to modify the set thermostat temperature under conditions when demand is particularly high (https://www.srpnet.com/energy-savings-rebates/home/rebates/smart-thermostat). This will give us an additional rebate on our bill each year we are enrolled in the program. We figure it is probably a no-brainer, because we won't even have electric turned on during high demand times of the year (summer in Arizona); we turn off the power when we leave in the spring and turn it back on when we return in the fall.

ARDEN - Amateur Radio Data Emergency Network

On Saturday, Carl attended a local meeting of Ham Radio operators experimenting with the Amateur Radio Data Emergency Network (ARDEN). He has an ARDEN node that one of his fellow Hams has loaned him so Carl can become familiar with the ARDEN mesh network. The ARDEN mesh network can be used to pass text messages and phone messages using Ham radio frequencies when normal communication vehicles are in-accessible -- e.g. if cell towers are down, or internet is down. This can allow non-Ham individuals to get family health and welfare messages communicated in times of crisis. 

Something that Carl want to make sure that I knew was that, in case of a personal or wider emergency, non-Ham operators are allowed to use Ham frequencies to make emergency communications.

Just might be of interest if you find yourself in an emergency situation, but your telephone or cellular service is in-operable, if you know where a Ham radio is located, you may be able to communicate out to request help by that method.

VO = Volunteer Often

We were told last year that while Venture Out can be abbreviated "VO", the other meaning for "VO" in our community is "Volunteer Often"! The resort survives by having active volunteers among its residents.

This past week, Venture Out hosted the 25th Annual Fall Tennis Classic, with teams competing from resorts all over the valley. I signed up to help with the ticket sales...

... I was selling the tickets for the food -- the food area was not to handle money -- the participants would come to the tickets table and purchase tickets for what they wanted, and then turn in the tickets at the food area. It was fun to get to know some of the other residents, and in an area that we don't usually have much interaction with -- as we are not tennis players.

We also got breakfast there on two of the days of the tournament. The Breakfast Burrito was made in the VO kitchen by our chef and staff -- it was outstanding. The Breakfast Sandwich was Jimmy Dean's, and it was okay.

Another day, another antenna

Carl is hoping to spend more time on his Ham Radio hobby while in Mesa this winter, so he put another antenna up -- an HF (High Frequency) vertical antenna.

The antenna is 32' tall -- I am standing near the base at the back of our property and Carl is attaching an extension to the top of it...

The extension is an addition 32' of wire that creates an inverted V antenna.

Putting it up -- he was using a ground mount (the black thing next to the power pedestal).

He tied the antenna off to the palm tree at the front of our park model.

Carl is using a ground mount flagpole base that is designed to be placed under the wheel of a vehicle -- but he didn't want the flagpole that close to Gracie, so he weighted it down with some paving tiles and set it up a couple of feet away from Gracie.

From the side, you can see that the new antenna is a little bent to the front of the rig, so the wire at the top makes an inverted "V".

Now he needs to get his radio out from under the storage under Gracie. He is currently using his handheld unit to participate on nets and communicate.

Halloween Street Dance with a Barbie 'n' Ken theme

On Thursday evening, our resort had a Halloween Street Dance with a "Barbie 'n' Ken" or GI Joe theme...

A lot of people came in costume

There was a LOT of pink on display! Did you notice the Barbie in a display box in the front? Some people are *very* creative!

The GI Joe contingent

It was fun being out with others -- a lot more folks out than were out for the street dance two weeks before! The band was so-so (not playing music that we enjoy dancing to), so we headed home early.