Set Up and Ready

It was an easy trip to Menifee to take the fifth wheel out of storage, set up and return home in time for work at 11 AM. It was starting to rain a little bit while we were setting up but we were glad that we beat the worst part of the storm. The main thing is that our refrigerator is turned on and the satellite dish is up, tuned in, and ready to go for today. We have been fortunate to get spaces in the same general area each week - so far - which back up to the canal and are close to the clubhouse and the conveniences at the preserve. All that is left is to put in the final 8 hours of work so we can return and enjoy the time.

The forecast was for heavy rain late yesterday afternoon and through the night last night. It is suppose to stop and clear up by this afternoon, so we'll see. Right now, the forecast is right on.

We really don't like working the time that all 6 managers are on duty. The office becomes so crowded and loud with all the activity. It will never be a natural environment and I try, as much as possible, to get away and make phone calls in the quiet privacy of our apartment. Josie stays and answers the phone and does her operations routine during those hours and it really takes a toll. We are now looking forward to those temporary assignment duties we have been getting recently that provide us with a nice change of pace and more normal work environments.

There is so much emphasis and time spent on sales activity that the residents are almost ignored. It is a shame that they are the reason we have jobs here and relatively little attention is paid to their needs. We understand that it is important to keep the communities filled with residents, but without happy residents, the sales become secondary. Almost all of the Communities are struggling to increase occupancy rates as they deal with move-outs. To be fair, some of the move-outs are for higher care requirements, but some are a result of the constantly changing management as a result of the intense sales pressure. I guess we don't know enough about the industry to be able to say there is a right way and a wrong way to run the business.

We're reaching the end of another month, so we expect that sales pressure to take another step up over the next 5 days...