Meeting People – “Ray”
Rolling my motorhome down a 7-mile winding dirt road into the swamplands of Florida, I began questioning what I was doing. Could I live out here until May? Do I really want to do this? How safe is it out here? I roped around that final turn into Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area. As I drove closer to what I would soon learn was the hunter check station, an older gentleman, wearing khaki shorts, sandals, glasses and a Kennebunkport Maine baseball cap, approached my motorhome. I opened my window and said hello. This friendly looking man instructed me to drive around the check station and park next to his large 5th wheel camper. I did as instructed and immediately he began helping us park and level our motorhome. “What’s your name again?” I said, positive that he had already told me at least once, but I never remember names quickly. “Ray”. He said.
After setting up the motorhome, Ray walked us around the property and got us familiar with some of the particulars of working at Bull Creek and introduced us to his best friend, an adorable little white dog named Al. My first impression of Ray was that he was nothing more than a friendly retired man. Ray quickly became a fantastic first neighbor in our full-timing lifestyle. Occasionally joining each other on short morning walks with our dogs and sitting in the evening chatting.
During the early days of being at Bull Creek, I learned that Ray was a 70-year-old widow from Tennessee. His wife, who was his high school sweetheart, died just a few years earlier.
My new friend helped immensely as I stepped into the full-time life. Patient and kind, Ray was always willing to offer encouragement and guidance. While waiting for the motorhome to be repaired (blown injector pump), we were ready to immediately dump it for a travel trailer. “don’t jump off a cliff because you stubbed your toe”, advised Ray. Words that have stayed with us since. Although we eventually did switch to a travel trailer, it was because of long consideration for the life we wanted and not a reaction to a major repair. We’ve stayed in touch with our first full timing neighbor and feel that our life is better for having him continue to be in our lives. Ray is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He was the first of many amazing people we continue to meet on the road. Thank you for everything Sir.