RV_

Oops! Thought it was an acronym not your handle. Thanks anyway!

Both posts excellent advice for beginners. As well we found the divider under the ceiling A/C plenum between the warm air intake and cold air outlets to the ducts was haphazardly installed and the cold air was going directly over to the intake. Once we replaced the foam seals and installed it properly and removed the flap of roofing the factory left over the vent going to the bedroom it actually worked. Also seal and aluminum tape over any holes in the rooftop sheet metal shroud around the unit under the A/C root cover. That can also keep odors out from black water tanks being circulated when the A/C runs. Had that happen to a member here in Mexico years ago.

Jim, Our first rig was a HH and we started and ended each year's travels at the factory in Chanute. Were I to go back into a fiver a well cared for HH would take precedence over all others. There was a company there that made all their furniture, cabinets and window treatments. We went to a 1998 Damon Challenger in 2000 and it was a nightmare.

Thanks Linda. I feel the same way.

Chad, Wow! Thanks.

ZDNET tested the best VPNs for travel that offer privacy and security for your laptop or mobile devices when you're on the road or working abroad. I have used Nord VPN for five years. https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-travel-vpn/?ftag=TREc64629f&utm_email=3b2e0f94e4947c973f63c5cf2d34603c24fe97fe01cb10979119da7270e034b9&utm_campaign_id=7303293&utm_email_id=b89a62a050ec54f70589bfac4be58ea06a97d71f89625a1b56a8591f01d514c8&utm_newsletter_id=92316&medium=email&source=iterable

https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/48889

Folks, I have ordered from the BX many times and it is tax free and free delivery over $49 bucks and free with all purchases on the star card, Free delivery is as I said above. I have found that with retail and the Exchange it is best to call them and ask. That way you get it instantly. Phone Toll Free: (800) 527-2345 Toll Free TDD: (800) 423-2011 Chat is available once signed in, at the bottom "Contact Us" link on the Exchange website.

I hope we can test cheaply for this mutation. Lots of folks could relax for themselves. I also want to know if the asymptomatic genetically favored get long COVID deficits despite no symptoms initially. Lots of advances in immunization science being made. Excerpt: "It's not magic, it's science. Recent research led by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) reveals that individuals who contract COVID-19 but remain symptom-free - dubbed as 'super dodgers' - may owe their resilience to a specific genetic mutation known as HLA. According to the study, carriers of this gene variant are more than twice as likely to be asymptomatic. This, compared to those who experience symptoms after contracting the virus. This study, published in Nature on July 19, 2023, represents a significant step in understanding the genetic influence on our body's response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The research provides a possible explanation for why some people contract the virus but never fall ill. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) The researchers centered their attention on the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), protein markers that are the immune system's smoke signal. A genetic mutation in one of the genes encoding the HLA allows virus-killing T cells to recognize SARS-CoV-2 rapidly, akin to triggering a lightning-fast attack. It's as if these T cells, even when encountering the virus for the first time, can recognize it due to its similarity to the common cold viruses they've already combated. This important discovery could open up new paths for drug and vaccine development. Jill Hollenbach, PhD, MPH, the study's lead researcher, explained it this way: "If you have an army that's able to recognize the enemy early, that's a huge advantage. It's like having soldiers that are prepared for battle and already know what to look for, and that these are the bad guys." The genetic mutation, known as HLA-B*15:01, is relatively common, being present in about 10% of the study's participants. Carriers of this mutation don't avoid the virus itself, but they do sidestep the symptoms - from a runny nose to a slightly sore throat. Hollenbach's team discovered that 20% of participants who remained symptom-free after contracting the virus carried at least one copy of the HLA-B*15:01 variant. In comparison, only 9% of symptomatic individuals were carriers. Interestingly, the likelihood of remaining symptom-free increased more than eightfold for participants carrying two copies of the variant." Much more in the article here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/people-who-dont-get-sick-from-covid-19-may-have-a-genetic-mutation/ar-AA1e5v0j

Glad you got good responses.

Funny but haven't thought about it and two weeks after these posts I just got my first Colorado Jury duty notice and will call on Sun Aug 20th to see if I am to go into the pool the next day. I'd love to serve. I have been called for jury duty several times in Louisiana but twice did not have to report, and once reported but the trial was called off. So I have never served yet. I have served as a Bailiff in a Military Court Martial.

Cmon guys, no one can recommend where an SKPs member can get their motorhome inspected in Livingston? I haven't been to Livingston since 1998 so have no current info.

https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/48865

Ray, good info on Home Depot and appliances, I hadn't heard about that.

Great write-up Steven! Thanks! I'm a retiree but had heard vaguely about veterans getting access to the BX but never looked into it. Shipping is free for all orders over $49. All shipping is free if you use the Military Star card to order. Of course you need to be approved with ID as Steven posted above and would have to qualify for the card as with any card. I just bought an LG 75" TV there and had I ordered it online shipping would be free, as well it shows how much I saved with no taxes: The Military Star credit card has great rates and bennies. I just called and found this out about free shipping from Exchange online. If using your Military Star card shipping is always free, you are only charged for shipping if you use other cards and your order/item is under $49. Over $49 orders with any card are free shipping. Since Amazon and other stores must all charge taxes, this alone makes buying at the BX almost always more bang for your buck. Sounds like a good benefit for our fellow vets without base access. I picked up my TV at the Peterson SFB BX yesterday and saved a bunch over Amazon etc just in taxes.

It shows! May I use it if the question is asked and on my FB page with your name on it? rpsinc?

Good info. Have you tested it to see if it is still in effect? More sales online like Amazon may cause them to become competitive in pricing. That helps us all.

Great post Linda!

Excerpt: "Apple iOS 16.5.1 (c) has landed for the iPhone. You should install it as a matter of urgency since it fixes a flaw already being used in real-life attacks. OK, if you're the sort of person who pays attention to Apple updates, you might have noticed some weird stuff happening with iOS updates. Earlier this week, the company pushed out the iOS 16.5.1 (a) to iPhones, but the update was pulled shortly after following reports that it broke the Safari browser when used to visit websites like Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom. The update was to fix a security bug with the WebKit browser engine that was being actively exploited in the wild, so it was considered critical. Well, now we have iOS 16.5.1 (c) (along with iPadOS 16.5.1 (c) for the iPad), which hopefully fixes the WebKit issue without breaking the Safari browser. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET This is how Apple describes this update: "Rapid Security Responses iOS 16.5.1 (c) and iPadOS 16.5.1 (c) include the security content of Rapid Security Responses iOS 16.5.1 (a) and iPadOS 16.5.1 (a) and fix an issue that prevents some websites from displaying properly." Updates with the (a) and (c) designations are called RSR releases, which is short for "Rapid Security Responses." These are security-only updates and don't contain new features. To manually install iOS 16.5.1 (c), tap on Settings then General > Software Update. Then, tap Download and Install to kick off the update and keep your iPhone safe." Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-just-released-ios-16-5-1-c-and-you-need-to-install-it-now/?ftag=TREc64629f&utm_email=3b2e0f94e4947c973f63c5cf2d34603c24fe97fe01cb10979119da7270e034b9&utm_campaign_id=7252235&utm_email_id=7bde29f2567be947d1a1186995eba035bc4c126d913eb630f05afa53e90ab110&utm_newsletter_id=92316&medium=email&source=iterable

https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/48841

Thanks Rob, while I have found that info before, your post is very concise now saved as a Word Doc in my military folder. I have never seen the Com charge tax but they do charge the 5% surcharge. The BX has no sales tax or surcharges and is about the same as downtown on the same name brand items but you can do better at Wally World and still no sales tax at the BX. The BX prices on computer accessories and drives are horrible! I have gotten some excellent buys at the BX on handguns/rifles/pistols when on sale. I got it for $260 total when S&W .40 M&P shield were on clearance to make way for the new model back in They have had more ammo available at lower prices on and off since those prices went up. I have bought all of my AR and pistol accessories at TEMU lately. AR wrench multi tool is $14.99 there half off and the same quality if not the identical. The BX and all other stores are too high for gun accessories now. But that's another topic except that they are way cheaper for accessories. We shop every few days at the Commissary (Com)and King Soopers or KS (Kroger subsidiary). Despite the 5% surcharge these are price comparisons between the two. See there are a few items at KS we can't get at the commissary like the giant Italian Subs that are about 15" long for $6.99 that are almost too big for the two of us to eat. We find a Big savings at the Com. Here are examples from here. Your prices my vary in town. KS does not have our favorite Louisiana Hot sauce, Crystal, but the BX does. 12 pack of soda Coke and other name brands are $9.99 at KS and $6.99 at Com but the Com has them on sale for $3.99 often and did have them on sale at that price last week so we stocked up. A bunch of scallions/green onions the same size at KS is $.89, and at the Com $.59. Those prices are today not years ago. In Bossier City Louisiana/Barksdale AFB Louisiana the differences were the same but both were lower before COVID and savings were real at the Com. The 5% Surcharge adds $.0295 to the $.59 so much cheaper. If you are near a base and one of those authorized above and believe civvy groceries are less expensive, I would suggest buying a few things at the Com and then buy the same at you local preferred grocer. It was the same in 1971 and 1998 when I retired. Granted sometimes with sales back in the day and now we do save and do buy at KS. But it is less and less often they have sales that compete or are much less. Your prices may vary but I would check Com and BX if your info is decades old by shopping there. We shop the sales everywhere but it's the weekly big shopping trips with a majority not on special sales that save big at the Com.

https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/48828

X2

If we were still full-time we would likely do Texas as our domicile but not Colorado. We love it here except for the smoke polluted air most summers, income taxes, higher now property taxes, capital gains taxes, etc. If you have investments that will earn capital gains this could be important. Excerpt: "Capital Gains Tax Rates In Colorado, you’ll pay capital gains taxes at the same rate you pay on your general income. This is 4.63 percent, putting it on the lower end of the states that do tax residents on capital gains. California is the highest, at 12.3 percent, while North Dakota is the lowest, at 2.9 percent. However, there are many states that charge no local tax whatsoever on capital gains, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Dakota, among others. It’s also important to look at the combined capital gains tax. The federal, state and local capital gains tax is combined to make one large sum, and that sum in Colorado is 29.63 percent. This is also on the low end, compared to the whopper California residents pay on capital gains of 37.3 percent and Oregon’s 34.9 percent." Source: https://finance.zacks.com/capital-gains-tax-laws-state-colorado-8351.html

Welcome to the Escapees Forums! Lots of good folks willing to help here. 62 is the earliest age you can start to draw Social security. I would get them mixed up too until we both decided to draw SS early and then we knew the next milestone was 65 for Medicare. My Lynda is two years my junior. My initial thought is to first decide if you need medical care more often than your wife because all out of pocket is expensive for even one person. Here are some random thoughts. They may or may not be what you want. Get the cost to you for full medicare which is deducted from Social Security for us. It could be more to pay then you realize.If no cost for her insurance then that is a no-brainer. However you will pay something for Medicare so see if it costs or not if some is taken out of her pay for your coverage. If it is a wash then you could go full medicare any time and stay there or close enough for her coverage to be in effect.I would also check with her medical coverage provider because folks are allowed vacations and emergency room treatment out of area is normally covered for us non-medical in house care folks. If emergency room visits are covered until you get back I would stay with hers as long as she wants to work. Then just stay within a day of your coverage area for the first year or until she retires too. We are military retired so take my advice here with a grain of salt until you do your research for your providers and situation. We haven't done civilian providers or There may be another option. I would check and see if the traveling nurse organizations also have similar insurance for their nurses or make them part of their system when she arrives. I have no idea but it would be great if a central traveling nurse organization has something similar. Then perhaps you could stay in an area for the required minimum of weeks/months and really explore America in detail. My youngest son and his wife are both BSRNs and not military but they have been in Germany for several years. Both lived in Germany when her mom was USAF active and we were USAF active. They applied for and got civil service positions there and are loving it. They both did a stint in Nicaragua with doctors without borders for a few months too. They were in Hungary last weekend and have been to just about every country in Europe, with our grandkids. My son decided to try Norwegian cuisine and flew there on a Friday alone, and flew back on Sunday and got plenty of sleep before work on Monday. They have an AuPair and get housing allowance and a great retirement too. I am not suggesting those things just that medical personnel have some great travel opportunities with or without RVs. https://www.va.gov/nursing/ https://rnnetwork.com/inquire/general?source=PPC_NonBrand_Microsoft&kpid=bi_cmp-346309960_adg-1183075084433162_ad-73942447106350_kwd-73942252397606:loc-190_dev-c_ext-_sig-b9223ecf491a199427065a637dd21447&msclkid=b9223ecf491a199427065a637dd21447 Welcome again!