Living the Life
Most people, when they hear about my travels, about how I’m riding my bike in every state, traveling in my motorhome, etc. they say things like, “Wow, you are living the life.” And to that, I must agree. However, what you rarely hear me talk about, if ever, are the fun times like getting flat tires on my bike, my rig’s endless water heater and battery issues, and the joys of laundry on the road.
Typically, when I’m on the road, I wait until I have three loads of laundry and drive my tiny house to a laundromat on the way to my next stop and get it all done in about an hour and a half. Sometimes I’ll do a load or two at a friend’s or a family member’s house. Until this trip to the Florida Keys, I’ve never stayed longer than a week in one spot. Conveniently, the resort where I’m staying has multiple laundry rooms. Because I’m the only poor soul without a golf cart and my errands bike had a flat tire, I planned to do just one load on Friday night. Yes, Friday night when neighbors are out partying, I’m doing laundry.
Earlier in the week, I noticed each machine was $3.25. After rounding up 26 quarters, I walked to the closest laundry room. I noticed it takes a card, not quarters, so back to my tiny house I trudged. Grabbing a credit card, a few bills for added security and my laptop, I walked to the bigger laundromat further from my lot. While the laundry was going, I’d slip into the nearby library to check email.
Following a ½ mile walk, I was loading my clothes into an empty machine in an empty laundromat. Once loaded, it would not take my credit card. After transferring everything to machine #2, machine #2 would not take my credit card either. When I called the number on the wall for repairs, I got no answer. Knowing there had to be a trick to get the card reader to take my card, I called again. Still no answer.
Frustrated, I left my laundry and walked to the activity room next to the library. Six people were playing a board game, and I interrupted with a question. “Excuse me. I’m sorry to interrupt, but have any of you ever used the washers and dryers here? I can’t get my credit card to work. Is there some kind of trick?”
“Yes, the trick is there’s a special card to use just for the machines.” They laughed. “You have to go to the rec room, the one with the ping-pong table, and buy a card from the machine there.”
Fortunately, I had a $20, a $5, and a $1 in my pocket. When I put the $20 in the machine, it flashed “wrong bill.” The five-dollar bill caused the machine to spit out a card and showed a $3 balance. Once I added my $20, the balance showed $25. Woo Hoo! Maybe I could do a load after all.
Back in the laundry room, I got the washing machine started with the card. My friend Janice called. We talked as I walked my computer back to my tiny house so I wouldn’t have to carry the computer plus a sack of clothes. As I approached the laundry room at 10:10, the security girl, Gina, pulled up on her golf cart to lock the doors. I yelled to her that I needed to pull my clothes out. Throwing them in the bag, I thanked her profusely for giving me a few extra minutes and walked to my tiny house with Janice laughing in my ear and my three-hour laundry ordeal behind me.
Yes, I’m living the life, but sometimes life on the road isn’t all perfect sunrises and sunsets—like when you learn that the word card doesn’t mean what you thought it did. But still, I’m in Florida in March. What’s not to love about that? Yes, I am living the life!
March 14, 2024 @ 6:12 pm
Well, at least you got your laundry done! I love how even a laundry trip can become an adventurous story to share with us!
March 14, 2024 @ 8:38 pm
Yes. Sometimes we take the little things like washing machines steps from our bedrooms for granted. Now that I have a card and a bike with two new tires, laundry is a breeze. Thanks for your encouragement.
March 14, 2024 @ 6:49 pm
It was my pleasure to listen and find out how this story would end. Reminded me of storytime on the radio. ❤
March 14, 2024 @ 8:35 pm
Ha! You are funny, Janice! Your stories are always funnier than mine, but I appreciate your kind comments.
March 14, 2024 @ 9:28 pm
You have fantastic ideas! Next time you visit I’ll have “special” cards to buy for parking, electricity, laundry, showers ….
March 15, 2024 @ 8:30 pm
Ha Ha! Did I open a can of worms? I knew your place was too good to be true. I may have to find cheaper lodging next time. Maybe I can find a spot on the other side of the lake. Ha!
March 16, 2024 @ 9:39 pm
My goodness Joy, what an ordeal to get your laundry done! You kept at it and found the solution! Mom would be proud of you! Phew! What timing that you even got to take your clean laundry back to your tiny home the same night, too! God is good!
March 17, 2024 @ 9:27 pm
Thanks, Cathy. Yes, it was quite an ordeal. I will admit if I hadn’t grabbled the $20 and the five dollar bill, I don’t know that I would have had it in me to go back to my tiny house one more time.
March 19, 2024 @ 11:57 pm
I’m so glad you were able to complete your task! Doing laundry while others are partying reminds me of being in med school … Saturday nights when my roommate was out on a date and I had nothing to do and refused to study! Or at least one Saturday night with several other girls in our kitchen. They were eating ice cream and I was eating spinach – and they were all thinner than me! (And more athletic, I would add!)
Anyway, great story, Joy!
March 20, 2024 @ 9:37 pm
I’m laughing out loud! I have so many spinach versus ice cream stories. We should start a list, Julia!
Thanks for the laughs. And more importantly, thanks for your support.
March 20, 2024 @ 11:51 am
You’re living the life because that’s what real life is all about! The highs with the lows. The fun with the not so fun. The joys with some tears now and then! How blessed we truly are because the alternative is not! Enjoy Florida my friend!!!
March 20, 2024 @ 9:40 pm
You are so right. I always say, “things always work out for me.” In reality, they don’t always “work out.” But that’s how I choose to see life.
Thanks for always making such inciteful comments. I certainly am enjoying Florida! It’s perfect here in March.
March 22, 2024 @ 5:37 am
Your story makes me appreciate the fact that we have laundry facilities included with our lot, albeit in an outbuilding…no cards needed but your experience sure makes for a fun read.
March 22, 2024 @ 4:56 pm
I can laugh about it now, but I sure felt stupid that first time I did a load. I’m thankful that they have machines here. It’s something I didn’t think about before I came. If they didn’t have machines here, riding my bike to Marathon would make laundry a much bigger deal than needing a special card.
April 9, 2024 @ 10:10 am
In Nicaragua, they women washed their clothes in the river, then took them home to hang on the line to dry. Sometimes things are not what we’re used to, but it makes us better. Every washing machine is different…some with technology, some without. I’m sure you blessed the security girl and other people you confronted with a smile!
Trust God, He has a plan!
April 9, 2024 @ 2:12 pm
No more whining about doing laundry here. I can’t imagine washing my clothes in the river. The first thing I want to do when I get out of the river or a lake or the ocean is wash my clothes. Bless those Nicaragua women. Thanks for sharing, Sherry. It’s all about perspective.