Desert Messenger

36 www.DesertMessenger.com February 3, 2016 Living the Dream In Memoriam Norman Nelson "El Guapo" McCau- ley, age 68, passed away unexpected- ly in Quartzsite, Arizona on January 17, 2016. He was born December 10, 1947 in Toledo Oregon to Keith and Fern McCauley. Norman's family came to Quartzsite when he was 6 years old, he went though elementary school in Quartzsite and graduated from Sa- lome High. He served the Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart after his plane was shot down. He retired in 2006, after 22 years with the US Postal Service. Norman co-owned Quartzsite Self- Storage at 10 N. Plymouth, Quartzsite, AZ. He was a jack of all trades, loyal friend, hard worker, witty, and kind. He enjoyed making jokes, telling sto- ries, hiking and Studebakers. Most of all, he loved his friends and family and his roll as "El Guapo" (Grandpa). He is survived by Leslie- his loving wife of 41 years, his daughters Jillian (and husband Sean ludden), Erin (and her Fiance' Ben Dunn), his grand- daughters Avelyn and Hadley, his god- daughter Beckey Juarez, Four sisters Genny Yates, Janet Mason, Carole Anderson, and Liz DiVergigelis. An informal memorial gathering will take place at a later date. Instead of fl owers, the family hopes that you will follow Norm's example and perform an unexpected and unsoliscited act of kindness in his name. We will miss him. Check out Norm Demonstrates the Model T on YouTube for a short video Norman Nelson "El Guapo" McCauley Living the Dream - A Comparison of Lifestyles of Liveaboard Life on a 32 foot Sailboat and Full Time in a 28 foot RV By Judy and Aubrey Millard, who retired and sold their house in Toronto in 1998 and have been living full time in their Ontario 32 foot sailboat, or part time in the past fi ve years in their 28 foot Jayco trailer, ever since. Capital Costs – Sailboats, like RVs, can span a wide range of capital costs, from $5,000 to over $500,000, depending on what one can afford and what a person wants to do with the investment. We bought our 1978 used Ontario 32 foot boat for about $45,000 twenty years ago, and have put the equivalent amount into it in maintenance and upgrades since. We wanted a boat that we could live on for prolonged periods of time and that could safely cross oceans. The boat has served us well and continues to do so. We crossed the Atlantic twice, circum- navigated the UK, the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and the Caribbean, sailed the east coast from Newfound- land to the Florida Keys and Central America, and the Pacifi c northwest from Washington and B.C. to Alaska. Five years ago we bought a used GMC Yukon XL (2006) and a used Jayco Jayfl ight 28 foot trailer (2007), the cost for both about the same $45,000 we paid for our boat. After living in a 32 foot sailboat, the 28 foot trailer is spacious. We have not had to spend as much in mainte- nance on the trailer and GMC, but we will have to get a newer vehicle in the next year or so. Operational Costs - are far less on a sailboat than an RV. The wind is free, and the motoring costs of our three cylinder 30 hp diesel engine are far less than the costs of gas for our eight cylinder Yukon. Marina costs are about the same as RV parks, but vary according to the length of the boat. The costs for nightly transient moor- ing in a commercial marina can be from $.50 to $2.00 a foot. However, we prefer to anchor out in sheltered isolated bays, free of charge. There is no charge for anchoring in most places. We spent months at anchor- free-of-charge in the Great Lakes, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America, and the Pacifi c Northwest. The only costs were for fuel for our dinghy 15 hp Yamaha outboard and food and refreshments. We have solar panels and a small Honda generator to keep our batteries charged up when at anchor, and a 100 amp alternator when our engine is running. In an RV, the gas costs for travelling are a major consideration. The RV park costs, of course, can vary from zero on some BLM lands to nominal $3.00 to $70.00 a day. There are few spots an RV can stay safely overnight without charge. We use Wal-Marts, Casinos and Pilot or Flying J stations when in transit. Facilities - When in a full service RV park, power, water and sewage are provided, with some additional perks such as free WiFi or TV hook-ups. It is the same for boats in a marina, except boats have to go to a pump out system for their holding tanks. Most boats have holding tanks for black water, and the grey water from the sinks goes overboard. However, being at anchor is like dry camping, and boats need to go in to marinas periodically to pump out or get water. Boats can pump out overboard their own black water, but should not do so unless at least three miles off shore. Most boats also have a Y-valve which can allow black water from the toilets (heads) to go directly overboard. In the Great Lakes it is illegal for boats to even be able to discharge overboard. Such systems must be disabled or risk a fi ne by the Canadian Coast Guard. There are no tides in the Great Lakes to clean out the bays or anchorage waters. Facilities on a boat are similar to RV's, but more compact. Our boat has a three burner propane stove with an oven. The stove is gimbaled so it can stay level when the boat is heeling under strong winds. It also has fi ddles, arms attached to the sides of the stove to prevent pots from moving when the boat is under weigh. Refrigera- tors in most boats are smaller than those found in RV's with no or smaller freezer compartments. Most are also top loading fridges as opposed to the standard front door on most domestic and RV fridges. Our refrigerator oper- ates off battery power only, and is the big power hog on the boat. SEE DREAM PAGE 37 H er bs fo r H ea lt h Remember when we turned to NATURE for healing? More Pharmaceuticals equals more sickness to be treated with more drugs? Ready for a change? NATURE has Answers! Call now to schedule a consultation with Herbmama 580-490-1770 We are not doctors. We do not treat, diagnose, or cure any type of illness

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