Ouch!

I’m still trying to get around to moving the rest of my stuff into Patience La Vanne, but I seem to be stalling for some reason. I think I’m afraid to let go of the comfort and convenience of the apartment — the bathroom, the kitchen, and the power source — not to mention the easy, fast internet connection that I can get while parked right in the carport.

And then there are the 16 years of near-agoraphobic living. I like not having to go anywhere. I like knowing where everything is, and knowing I have pretty much everything I need within a few steps. I like not having to bend over to stand up whenever I want to get something a few feet away from me. I like not having to see or be seen by people unless I feel like it.

I was feeling a bit whiney (and WHYny) when I wrote this last night because I had just injured my ASS, getting out of the van. I jumped down from the step, not realizing a latch of some kind was sticking out right behind me, and my left butt cheek (sorry for the visual!) landed on it with my not-inconsiderable full weight.

Oh. My. GAWD. Talk about a shock to the system. And pain.

I limped upstairs, weakly said hello to a neighbor while hiding my poor, injured butt with my knapsack in case the blood was noticeable, and took a look at my behind in the fortunately full-length bathroom mirror. Okay, not as bad as I thought. A little bit of blood, sure, and the beginnings of an impressive bruise, but otherwise not a big deal. And a tiny hole in the backside of my bike shorts. No one will notice it under my t-shirt.

I cleaned the wound up with peroxide and awkwardly placed a couple of large Band-Aids on it, bending over and using the mirror for guidance in a scene that would have brought guffaws in a Dumb & Dumber sequel.

It hurts, of course. Sitting is a challenge. Getting in and out of the hammock, already a struggle — I don’t want to think about that. My body aches stem to stern, from both the shock of landing on that latch and all the other physical straining I’ve been doing in the past few days — up and down steps more times than I can count, lifting and pulling this and that. At my age and lack of fitness, it all plays out in aches and pains.

[Update next morning:] I was not particularly excited about adventuring when I wrote the above last night, but I knew it would get better. Sure enough, this morning my outlook is much rosier. Hardly any butt pain at all, thank goodness!

I got a good sleep for the first time in several nights, thanks to some research and experimenting with hammock dismounts so I wouldn’t have to think about it much in a late-night emergency. That went much smoother all around, letting me sleep more deeply and comfortably between old-lady-frequent trips to the ‘pee cup.’ (Sorry for the detail, but these are urgent matters!)

Now to get busy with the Big Move — but not exactly. Since I’m still feeling a bit overwhelmed about doing it all in one fell swoop, I’ve decided to take a test drive instead. I will wean myself from apartmental conveniences with a short camping trip or two, first.

My task today is to measure and cut the 25 feet of Reflectix I bought to cover the windows for better privacy and sun shade, and pack up the van with just what I’ll need for a few days. Tomorrow, after a trip to the store for supplies, I will head out to the secret camping spot (in the middle of San Diego!) that my daughter-in-law showed me a few days ago. It’s a lovely, shady spot near all the beaches and tourist-y stuff, with bathrooms, picnic tables, and barbecues. I’ll have everything I need for a nice practice run.

I can go exploring or I can chill in place. I have loads of reading material on the Kindle, and plenty to write about on the Chromebook. (Or who knows, maybe even on paper. With a pen!)

The only thing I won’t have while parked there is the internet, but I can easily go find a McDonald’s or Starbucks if the withdrawal pains are more than I can stand. So don’t be surprised to see me on Facebook now and then.

Right. Time to get busy — see you later!