My husband and I were in Portland last week for the big swap meet. It’s all about the car parts, so though I don’t actually follow my husband around while he indulges his hobby, I do enjoy going.

About three years ago I got tired of hearing he was sleeping in the back of my car in parking lots. The alley was my breaking point. It didn’t matter that his cousin may or may not have owned the house next to it. When his age caught up with him and he was coming home exhausted because he didn’t sleep well I took action.

I knew he wouldn’t take the RV for himself, but he would if I was with him. I relished the idea of having a couple days of quiet by myself with nothing to do. I mean, I can’t exactly organize my house or clean if I’m not home. There is nothing pressing on me when I’m in the RV.

The first year I joined him, my husband wasn’t sure of my RV park choice, but I Googled it to death and was sure of its integrity and close proximity to the swap meet. Although since then, a few trips to other RV parks on different adventures has made me wary of believing what a park may brag about online. However, that first dip into the RV park pool was a pleasant one.

It was so pleasant I asked for the same parking spot the next year. I did the same this year, though upon arrival I was given a completely different site with no explanation. It’s a nice park, so it doesn’t really matter on paper, but after we found our new location, I was pretty upset. I felt like Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory explaining why he chose “his spot.” I liked the previous spot because of its close proximity to the bathroom/laundry building, its short walk out of the park into the shopping mall, and it was across from the office for all my official needs or questions.

As much as I want to be able to do my hiking shoes and take a long walk, my right leg has an opinion these days. And it’s not always apparent how it’s feeling at any given time. I could be feeling fine and lurch on my way and my right leg may enjoy the stroll. Until it doesn’t. Then I’m stuck wherever I may be until it gets over its pity party.

We do tow a vehicle down here for my husband’s use, so I’m car-less during the day. It’s all fine in the long run. I don’t need to go to the mall, if I need a short walk I can just lap the park, and I don’t really need a bathroom because we do have an RV (we prefer our “business” be done in another facility).

However, that first morning I was woken by dogs barking from all directions. When I got up and opened the curtains, I wondered if I was at an animal rescue park. There were dogs on leashes, owners taking them onto the one patch of lawn I can see out the window to do their business, and for some reason cats wandering around everywhere. The second morning was worse. The dogs in the RV right next to me were barking on and on, left by their ignorant parents to destroy the sanctity of my silence. Blessed rain drowned out their noise. Not so great for my husband who was wandering around in it.

Not that there’s anything he could do about the dogs nor I the rain, but given a choice I’m sure he’d much rather deal with the rain than come home to my insanity. Happy wife Happy life.

Gretchen Leigh is a stay-at-home mom who lives in a neighborhood near you. You can read more of her writing on her website livingwithgleigh.com, or to see pictures illustrating her columns, follow her on Facebook at “Living with Gleigh by Gretchen Leigh. Her column is always available at maplevalleyreporter.com under the Life section.