On 12/12/2009 11:04 PM, Steven Horn wrote:

> But Bill, what happened to all the other participants in the original
> ALASKA_CHAT? I have spoken to Queen Deidre from time to time but that has been
> about business and other than you, the rest have faded away.

I sent some info to AJ and Deidre.  Don't know if they'll reply or not. 
  I lost track of most of my callers, we never really socialized with 
them anyhow.

> As for "snowbirding", my wife and I may start doing it but
never for more than
> five months.  Now that I have been become a poster child for Yukon (and
> Canadian) medicare, having just cost the taxpayers of Yukon and Canada over
> $100,000.00 for hospitalization (36 days), tests, consultations with
> neurologists, and drugs [my direct cost was $46.19 for one prescription Yukon's
> Pharmacare did not cover], I want to ensure I retain my coverage as other
> territories and provinces don't do it as well.

We bought our 1st 5th wheel in December of 05.  We'd already ordered a 
new F-250 in Anchorage and had it delivered to Seattle.  When they told 
us it was there we bought 1way tickets and flew down, taking our cat 
with us.  Spent almost 2 weeks living in a motel until we found a 5th 
wheel we liked, actually the very 1st one we looked at but wanted to see 
what else was there.  Put a lot of miles on it, about 35K, before 
retiring it at home and buying another down here that practically 
chained to the ground.  We flew down in late October, to Las Vegas since 
it's only about 130 miles away, stayed in a motel until we bought a used 
car.  There are lot's of Canadians around Arizona.  I sometimes email a 
couple from Kamloops who spend their winters down in Welton AZ, they 
bought a park model there and drive down/up yearly (3 day drive IIRC). 
If you want I could ask them to contact you or ask some of the Canadians 
who're in this RV park, probably about half a dozen or more I would guess.

> hoarfrost, some light snow and some fog.  Occasionally the sun breaks through
> and it's all a Winter wonderland.

Yeah we get that in Anchorage also.  Really pretty...kind of reminds me 
of that sequence in Dr. Zhivago.  But a little wind and/or sunshine and 
it's gone.

> AQnd I'm sorry I missed you but now that I'm on pre-retirement leave [my formal
> retirement begins on January 2, 2010], I am home more often.

I understand, I wasn't the best about trying to phone you.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5a