New Years Eve, Dec 31st 2011 is the date....and ourselves and Murray and Donna Boultier are in a campground in South Carolina, in transit to our snow-bird digs at Manatee Hammock, Titusville Fl.  They had already made the decision to nest permanently on the Space Coast, and Alice and myself were considering it....if we could get our ducks in a row.  These ducks seemed difficult to corral in that they entailed selling a CT home, relocating ourselves and our daughter (who would have to relocate with her employer) as well as us finding and setting up new digs in Florida.

Fast forward to December 29th, 2013....today...a little under two years.  Donna and Murray are in their waterfront digs on the Space Coast in Rockledge, and Alice, Joanna, David and myself are in our town-home in Titusville.  The ducks lined up, the stars aligned and dreams do, sometimes, come true.  We are very thankful and feel very blessed!

Just in from Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Fl

We just got in from the Florida National Cemetery with a few of our Space Coast Sam Chapter 10 members....having attended the Wreaths Across America ceremonies.  Snaps and video's from this link.

Just got back in from camping at Kars Park with our Space Coast Sams Group....

We just got back Monday from an extended weekend with our Space Coast Sams family, at Kars Park, Merritt Island.  Follow this link to view a Google+ album (snaps and video) from this event.

Kars Park, at Port Canaveral

We're at Kars Park, Port Canaveral, with our Space Coast Sams group for the extended weekend.  Will post photo's after the event.

Camping with Space Coast Sams at The Florida Samboree in Eustis Florida

We had a great time with our Good Sam Chapter Space Coast Sams a few weekends back.  Alice was the Witch and I was the Scarecrow.  The theme of this Samboree was The Wizard of Oz. Click the following link for a photo album from that event.  https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5949916643449306785

Just returned from Sanlan RV Park and Recreation area with Space Coast Sams.....

Alice and myself just returned from a nice extended weekend at the Sanlan RV Park & Recreation Area in Lakeland Florida.  This link is to a public Google + album from that event.  We rented a golf cart and drove miles and miles of back-country trails on a wildlife tour.....great weekend!!

Extended weekend at Southern Palms RV Resort in Eustis Fl

A real nice weekend with our friends from Space Coast Sams.....

Chromebook notes mailed to Murray on July 4th....

Murray:  If I had read some of the reviews on the HP Chromebook I'd of hesitated to purchase it.  That would have been a mistake.

One thing I've learned is that 90% of my computer usage is on-line (banking, web browsing, Facebook, E-mail etc).  The Chromebook is designed for on-line use so it doesn't have the legacy issues of most normal laptops. It also does not require any anti-virus protection since all the apps are in the cloud, and the OS and data is maintained by Google.

All that being said, there are SOME apps that have to be on a local hard-drive to run.  Two that I use are Quicken, and my web-site development stuff.  Google has a free system called Google Remote where you can remotely control a remote computer.  So, using that, I'm down here in the kitchen and I can post website updates, use my Quicken program etc that's on the bedroom Acer notebook.  Unlike the PC Anywhere program I used to use back in the day between home and the office, this one actually works well in real time with no noticeable lag.  I'm sure that is a direct result of my U-Verse internet connection which is good.

This Chromebook does not have cellular options....wi-fi only.  In my case, I obviously have wi-fi here at the house.  I'll end up using and bringing the Chromebook on  our camping excursions, and if there is no wi-fi available we'll do the hotspot thing off the i-phone.

I ordered it on-line through Staples.  The list price is $329 plus tax and tip, but Staples has a $50 rebate.  The same machine through Amazon was about $380 with NO rebate, and from HP Direct they're asking list price.

Oh, we print off this remotely to the upstairs all-in-one printer using Google Cloud...works good:).

My only regret (and with my sorry life I have had a few!) is that I didn't get it sooner.  You CAN get it cheaper if you get the Acer or Samsung machines (about $199) but with a smaller 11" screen.  The HP has a 14" screen which is smaller than the Toshiba it replaced, but it's workable.  Cheers!

--

Bob Payette

Contact Information:  Call or text  860-460-7945. My  preferred email address is r.payette2@gmail.com .  

1960 Dipol Courtway, Titusville Fl 32780

Visit our web log at  http://bobpayette.blogspot.com/?view=flipcard for links to our blogs, Facebook,  rants, photo's and websites.  

New HP Chromebook purchased on July 2nd, 2013....this is a Facebook posting on that event.

The test has begun.  Our kitchen notebook, a Toshiba we’ve had a real long time that originally had XP and then was upgraded to Vista, was showing its age pretty good and frustrating us.  I’ve used Google Chrome since it came out and have been very happy with it, and have followed the Chromebook development a bit....so, (you know where this is going) we ordered and received today the 14” screen HP Chromebook.  This post is being typed in Google Docs.

I’ve only had it up and running for four hours or so, but we’re impressed with it.  It’s fast, responsive, and it’s come with enough work apps to keep me happy.  Alice and my Google accounts are all available seamlessly and there was no transferring of files or data needed.

A nice surprise is Google Remote.  Using the wi-fi I have total access to my main PC upstairs that we do the web-sites on, and other application that require “local” apps such as Quicken.  Technology has improved tremendously since the day when I was using PC Anywhere to remote into the office from the house.  Of course those were dial-up days and it brought the early Windows to its knees....times they do change!

So, long story short we’re very impressed with the Chromebook.  It’s inexpensive ($329 plus tax), it’s reasonably fast, and it does the basic things we need:  E-mail, web-browsing and access, music and video streaming.  What’s not to like? :).

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5892420542082864913

On June 22nd we visited the R.F. Orchids, Inc grow-house in Florida City, Florida.  The link above is to a public Google + photo album from this event.

On June 21st, the day prior and our first day in the Miami area, we visited the Fairchild Botanical Tropical Gardens....snaps from that visit are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5892386518967407409

So, it’s 6/19/2013 7:20 AM and Kinkey has been at the Vet since yesterday morning.  He’s in to have some teeth work, and also to be altered.  Last month he had developed an infection which the Vet determined was caused by some oral inflammation.  While there we learned he had a heart murmur, and we brought him to Viera to a specialist who determined his heart is enlarged by 30 to 40 % L.  Long story short he does not need heart meds now, but we’re having his teeth taken care of, and while he’s under the general anesthetic having him “fixed”.  With the heart condition breeding is now out of the question, plus he’s approaching 7 years old so it’s time…..

It doesn't seem “right” not having him in the house.  I’m the one who walks him last at night, and first thing in the morning….Jo and Alice help walk during the day.  But the routine is off with him out of the house…..miss that pooch!!

Tomorrow we’re off (Alice, Kincaid and myself) for four days at the Miami-Everglades Resort, which is about a four hour drive South.  We’re hoping to see some of the botanical gardens in Miami.

Some quality time at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral Florida.....

We spent a few nice days at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral Florida.  Wonderful park, great hookups, just a short walk to the open Atlantic.  We're made reservations to go back the 2nd week in July for a full week. Port Canaveral is only 30 miles or so from Christmas where we store our rig.  Click here to view a Google album, with some video, from this event.

Space Coast Sams cleanup at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Sanctuary on May 15,2013

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5878264711921051873

Space Coast Sams cleanup at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Sanctuary on May 15,2013

Reflecting on our condition...just a little over a year after our relocation from CT to Florida.....

We “closed” on our Titusville town home on April 20^th, 2012 (just a bit over a year ago) and since then….wow!  The world has turned upside down and sideways for us, in a good way.  Since that date we’ve prepared and sold our home in Preston, sold all three cars, set up our daughter here in our town home (she transferred with her employer to Merritt Island across the Indian River).  We’ve joined a wonderful new camping chapter (Space Coast Sams), have joined the Board of our Homeowners Association and have set up web sites for the Association and the Good Sam camping chapter.  Our Florida room indoor plants are thriving as are our outside border plantings to include a lemon and grapefruit.  Our friends from Seaport Sams “winter” here and we visit with them and really enjoy catching up with them and their news of Connecticut.  Today I had my first “local” dental appointment, with a dentist referred by a Titusville transplant from CT who had formally belonged to our CT Good Sam Chapter.  This marks something,  I don’t know what, as we’d already hooked up with a local medical GP, cardiology and the Veterans Administration in Viera.  Tony and his good friend Alissa have flown in to visit, and David will fly in a few weeks for a brief vacation.  Since the kids are coming here to visit, I think we’ll stick around here and camp locally and learn and see more about Florida.  Every day when I wake up and walk through our neighborhood with Kincaid I feel guilty…don’t know WHAT we did do deserve this but we’re VERY happy here with our new life.  If you’ve followed me on Facebook you’ve seen me gushing on the local theater offerings and how much we’re enjoying them.  Preston was nice….but Titusville is where our heart is, and we’re blessed for having found it.

Click for my current (April 30, 2013) Favorite YouTube Playlist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWLXfGrOaU&feature=youtube_gdata

Our Space Coast Sams Chapter 10 participated in the Spring Samboree for the Florida Good Sam Club on the weekend of April 20th.  Click th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWLXfGrOaU&feature=youtube_gdata

e link above to view a YouTube video from this event.

bookbliss.com: Wally Lamb - We Are Water

Click the title to see a video on the upcoming  "We Are Water" by Wally Lamb.

BEA In Your Space - Wally Lamb (Part 1)

Wally Lamb posted this to Facebook....he's one of my favorite authors and thought I'd re-post the link to my blog.

 We went to the Wilderness RV Park in Silver Springs Fl the weekend of March 7th-10th.  Here are some snaps from this event we enjoyed with the Space Coast Sams Chapter 10 Good Sam Club.

Blessings:

The things I'm thankful for, right now, on March 4th, 2013:

My wife of 45 years Alice, for putting up with my sorry ass....

Murray Boultier for brow-beating me into going to the Veterans Administration, which enabled me to obtain financial and medical assistance for a long ago tour of duty...

Our wonderful kids, who understood when we needed to move South and get away from the cold and ice and snow, and move on in another direction in our lives...

Our friends from that other life who have meant so much to us, and continue to be called friends....even though distance is great and contacts far between...

Every friend, every relative who are a part of who we are and our history, is appreciated.  Both Alice and myself feel truy blessed, and it would not be right to not say thank you.

Bob and Alice

On Feb 13th, 2013 a group of volunteers from Space Coast Sams Chapter 10 participated in a cleanup at the Merritt Island Wildlife Sanctuary.  Click this link to view a small photo album from this event: https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5844509274568242497

Slide show with music: https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5844576004847507393/5844577477708542162

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5840966841972263825/5841003091121278322

Alice and myself went to Seasons In The Sun CG Resort in Mims, Fl with our new camping Chapter Space Coast Sams.  It was an excellent weekend, highlighted by an opportunity to see a private car collection of 175 or so wonderfully restored vehicles.  There was also a great pot luck and community breakfast, and a very informative CPR demonstration by a member of the Brevard County Sherrif's Office.  Click here for a link to a Google+Album from this event.https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5840966841972263825

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5836771911337828113

On January 23rd 2013 Alice and myself joined a group of folks from Manatee Hammock CG, where we used to winter with the motor home, and went on a dinner cruise on the Saint John's River out of Sanford Florida.  It was a beautiful day on the water and we really enjoyed it. Click the link below the photo to view a Google+ album we put up from this event.

Additional photo's provided by Darrell Fisher (the event organizer) are available here: https://plus.google.com/photos/116198965388616099557/albums/5836814097481867681

Some of what makes me tick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh9pS2ZrDWg&list=FLtIiBL83xgTFVHZ5xwuz2MA

Our Space Coast Sams Chapter of the Good Sam Club camped this past weekend at the Nova Family Campground in Port Orange, Florida.  Click this link for a You Tube video highlighting this event.

In November 2012 Alice and myself attended a Space Coast Sams camp-out at Kars Park in Merritt Island, FL.  Here is a link to some snaps from that event.