The Resort on Ellsworth - Mesa, AZ

The Resort has 792 sites, and 157 are still occupied by people in trailers and motor coaches. On the day we visited in March 2015 there were still 14 sites not booked for the 2015/16 season. For various reasons, mostly to due with personal preference on which way you face, and how big the patio slab is, the list was quickly narrowed to three or four possibilities. Prices are very reasonable. A five month stay is about $2,500 with just electricity extra. Water, sewer, trash removal, and cable TV are included.

When you're in an RV, laundry facilities are critical. The Resort meets this criteria in spades. There were plenty of machines, and they all appeared to be in working order. Score one for The Resort.

The various activity areas were still humming along, including the wood shop. People were friendly, and it looks like there is plenty to do.

Tennis courts were basically vacated on our visit, Pickleball was anything but. The Resort has four courts so far. Pickleball is big.

Don't forget to check for a fitness centre. Not all resorts take this seriously enough, and if daily fitness is part of your routine, you won't be happy without one. This the the fitness facility at The Resort. Plenty of everything, and all in good repair.

Silveridge RV Resort - Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ

There is a new game here in the SW, and it's called locking down your RV site for next season before you leave town in the spring. I visited Silveridge on Southern Avenue in Mesa yesterday to see what they had to offer. This is an above average park with plenty of amenities. The season (October 31 - March 31) for an RV site is about $3,000, which includes water, sewer, trash and cable TV.

There are just under 700 sites at Silveridge, and the list I was given for RVs currently lists just over 100 sites available for motor homes and trailers. Of that, only seven were currently available for the winter season starting in the fall of 2015. Remember, this is March, so you get the idea. RVers know, given the demand and dwindling supply, reservations are essential. The list of RV sites in most of these better parks get shorter each year as year-round park models replace seasonal RV sites. Good for the parks, not so good for RVers.

Silveridge doesn't have a lot of surplus real estate, but even they have had to find space for Pickleball courts (you see them in the distance). Pickleball is the rage at the moment, and parks are responding with many courts as they have space for. There are currently four at Silveridge, and they are new. You won't find a high-end RV park without a nice pool, and Silveridge's pool and patio area in one of the nicest I've seen.

RV Awning Bracket Repair

Once the lag screws that hold your awning brackets in place start to give up, and you've maxed out on larger screw sizes, you may find this inexpensive fix will work for you. First you'll need two J Bolts, which you can find in just about any hardware store. I used a 5/16" bolt. You hacksaw them to look more like a right angle.

Insert them as you see here, and twist so you catch the metal frame inside of the trailer. You'll be securing against this very strong frame. Caulk to prevent moisture from entering around the screw.

Use lock washers, tighten, and trim off the J Bolt as you see here. I had thought of using a steel plate, but decided on this method, because it is quick, easy, strong, inexpensive, and there is nothing to rust or need paint. Thanks to my neighbour Mike (pictured), for this great idea.

RV Bed Footboard

Without a normal footboard, at the end of an RV bed, there is a tendency for the blankets to slowly work their way off the end of the bed, which leaves you constantly pulling them up during the night. I tried various methods of holding the sheets and blankets on the bed, and finally made two short footboards, which just slide under the mattress after the bed is made. Your bedspread goes over the top to hide them.

The upright is 1/2" plywood, this apparatus needs to be light. The bottom is 1/4" Masonite. I glued and used wood screws for strength. Make two, one for each side of the bed at the bottom. Keep the upright a few inches below your mattress height, so you can still sit on the end of the bed. Our mattress with topper is 14" thick, and the 9" height of the footboard works fine. Two footboards are easier to manage than one, and there is a space between for your electric blanket cord.

Bedspread goes over the top of the footboards.

It took me a couple of shots to get this right. The first ones I made did not include the base piece, and they easily broke. Gluing and screwing the base to the upright is essential for strength. The budget for this project was about $10.

Medical Tourism

Travelling abroad, or possibly to Mexico to receive medical treatment at reduced wait times and costs is a growing trend in Canada. The most popular procedures include cosmetic surgery, knee or hip replacements, cardiac surgery and fertility treatments. Is medical tourism the right option for you?

Manulife Financial posted an article recently, which is worth considering in deciding if this is the right decision for you. It pays to do your homework.