You may want to read Parts 1-3 prior to this edition. You may scroll through older posts or start here at Part 1.

Before I talk about the secondary market I should mention the maintenance fees.  These fees are based on your home club and the number of points you hold.  The formula used to calculate this cost varies between clubs so suffice to say it would be complicated to get into a lot of details.  We were shown the formula at the time of our purchase so it isn't something that catches owners unawares.  It does add to the cost of the overall vacations and if you purchased that 7500 points those costs add up to some fairly steep fees annually.

Since I buy many things off eBay I thought I would look at time share opportunities there before spending $5.00 a point through the retail sales of the vacation club.  I guess I wasn't surprised to find large numbers of offers through escrow companies for various clubs.  I discovered through watching these auctions that the average price at that time was around $1.00 a point.  I must confess this put a smile on my face.  If there were no catch 22s this was going to be the way to get us into that one bedroom condo.  In looking for things that could go wrong I contacted the vacation club and asked questions on buying outside their plan.  Interestingly, the things that the secondary market points wouldn't cover, was trading points for RCI timeshares in their network.  Everything within the club was covered and I had 1500 points that I could trade each year if that was what we wanted.

Now I'm living on eBay looking for a comfortable amount of points to get us to that one bedroom condo.  I have finally found a listing for 3500 points in the club I am interested in.  Someone had already bid on the auction, but the price is still well below $1.00 per point.  I am willing to spend one dollar per point to attempt to win this auction.  I place my bid of $3,500.00 and now all I can do is just sit and wait.  A week later the auction closes and I find I have won and luckily not at the maximum bid; we actually got those points for $0.80 a point.

I called the vacation company to notify them of my new title holding and they offered to sync the dues payment dates to make it easy for me and told me the points for that year were unused and had been added to my current points.  My escrow costs were about $200.00 and the fees had been paid for that year by the previous owner so my costs were under $3,000.00.

Dana and I had started cruising (perhaps another blog topic) so we had our vacations covered for that year and decided to save our points for the next year. 

Saving points is a good way to upgrade your vacation or do more than one in a year.  Now two vacations in one year is a little difficult while working so we now had around 10,000 points sitting in our account.  The trick with saving points to the next year is that those saved points will expire on your dues date the following year; hence we would be taking a vacation club vacation the next year.  Overall I was very pleased to have upgraded for significantly less than if I had succumbed to the member upgrade offer of $5.00 a point and to think that we discussed paying that amount.

Visiting another location, Part 5 in this series is the last on the topic of Vacation Clubs.

Just a few photos from that 1 bedroom that I mentioned in Part 3 and the reason we purchased more points on the secondary market.

I wanted to do a post on the Top 10 oils but then I thought….everyone has their own ideas about what their top 10 would be, so here is one that everyone can use as it is just about the oils that retail for $20 or less. Please realize that there are probably a lot of oil companies that promote oils under $20 but I only use a pure therapeutic quality oil which means it does have a higher price tag than those you can get in the health food store.

Let’s work our way down the list with benefits and how to use.

Cedarwood – well besides the smell reminding me of my grandmothers cedar chest, this is a wonderful oil for pest control. There is a reason they used to store wool blankets and sweaters with cedar and line closets. Other uses, get a more restful sleep, promotes healthy skin and breathing functions, very relaxing and calming and has a soothing effect on the mind and emotions. This oil may be used aromatically in a diffuser or topically diluted on the skin.

Invigorating Blend – This is one of my favorites for it’s uplifting aroma. It is a blend of Wild Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Bergamot, Tangerine and Clementine essential oils as well as Vanilla Absolute. It cleans and purifies the air and I think is especially good after cooking fish to get rid of the smell. It is very uplifting to your mood, energizing and helps reduce stress. Use this oil aromatically or topically. Use caution if using topically and you plan to be out in direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Clove – I remember as a child my mom’s favorite flavor of candy was Clove. This as a spice has been used in cooking and candy/treat making. It has also been used for it’s numbing effects in dentistry. It has powerful antioxidant properties, supports cardiovascular health and promotes healthy teeth and gums. This oil may be used internally, aromatically or topically diluted. Remember a little goes a long way.

Eucalyptus -  I use this oil a lot to support my respiratory function but it also is good for soothing tired and sore muscles. It also assists with clear breathing. I like to make a natural vapor rub when cold season is upon us and this oil is one of the main ingredients. This oil can be used aromatically or topically. Always dilute for sensitive skin or small children.

Fennel – I left this oil off my graphic but thought I would include it here as it does have a lot of really good benefits. It has been used for centuries as a tonic and has a licorice scent and flavor. Relieves occasional indigestion and digestive troubles, eases monthly menstrual cycles, support a healthy lymphatic system and calms skin irritations. This oil can be used internally, aromatically or topically.

Lemon – This oil has a multitude of uses …more than we want to put here. I use it for just about everything from cleaning the air and solid surfaces, gets gummy gunk from labels off bottles, uplifts your mood and helps improve focus. I also like this with a bit of honey to ease coughs. Use internally, aromatically and topically. Use caution if using topically if you plan to be out in the direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Lemongrass – This is my newest favorite as I love the scent. I didn’t use to but all of a sudden I crave the smell. The taste is wonderful also. This has been used in Asian and Caribbean cooking for its flavor and aroma. It support a healthy digestion, soothes aching muscles and helps tone the skin. Use internally, aromatically or topically. Dilute for sensitive skin.

Lime – Everytime I smell this oil whether it is from the bottle or in the diffuser it reminds me of summer and the limeades we would get at the drive-in eatery. This oil is a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system, has a refreshing aroma and stimulates the mood. Promotes emotional balance and well-being. I also like this in some of my homemade cleaners. Use internally, aromatically or topically. Use caution if using topically if you plan to be out in the direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Rosemary – We tend to use a lot of the herb and I’m looking forward to trying this oil in my cooking more as it is wonderfully aromatic. This oil also supports healthy digestion and soothes muscles aches and pains. I have also found that massage therapists use this oil frequently in their massage oils. Use internally, aromatically or topically.

Repellent Blend (most brands have this) –Have you ever been camping and bit by tons of mosquitoes? Used one of those name brand repellents and reeked and coughed from the smell. Did you know you were spraying chemicals on your body and inhaling that into your lungs. I guarantee you won’t go back to that store bought stuff after you try this. It really smells good and more importantly it does repel those insects and can be used safely for the whole family including pets. Use this blend aromatically or topically. No need to dilute as it already is in a base of coconut oil.

Wild Orange – My husband’s favorite oil by far. It has a wonderful citrus aroma that is very uplifting. Wild Orange can be used in any household cleaners to make them more effective. It protects against environmental and seasonal threats. Energizing to the mind and body. We especially like a drop in hot cocoa or in a fruit dip…yumm. Use this internally, aromatically or topically. Use caution if using topically if you plan to be out in the direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Just as a note: I only recommend essential oils that I know and trust are pure and have been put through the rigorous 3rd party testing to ensure there are no pesticides, contaminants and no alterations such as added solvents or other oils that are not the pure essential oil as noted on the bottle. This is not to say there aren’t good oils on the market, this is just my recommendation.

Please use all safety precautions with essential oils as they are highly concentrated and less is more, so only a drop will provide you the benefit you desire. 

Disclaimer:
Please note that any statements I make here on this blog have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as these are my own opinions. Essential oil products are not intended to treat, cure or prevent disease. Pregnant or lactating women and persons with known medical conditions should consult a doctor prior to the use of any essential oil or food supplement product.

If you haven't read Part 1 and Part 2, you may want to start there.

Our 1500 points allowed us to return to Napa every other year.  At that time we had not availed ourselves of any of the other properties our membership owned, but we were very happy visiting Napa.  This was our third year of membership and our second visit to Napa.  We again booked a studio apartment but got another building.  The room was identical and the view similar.

The Concierge invited us to a member update offering $100.00 plus a handsome wine tasting package at far more wineries than we could possibly visit; we accepted and had an appointment the next day at 10:00 Am, little did we know!

There was a small single story office on the property grounds where the meeting was to take place.  We arrived at the designated time along with a group of other people.  The staff offered coffee and water with light refreshments.  I'm starting to see the similarity between this place and the one we first visited in San Francisco (goose bumps on my arms) as we are ushered in to the inner sanctum.

Dana and I along with several other couples were introduced as already being members and whisked off to meet our customer representatives.  The first phase of the process was to show us what a one bedroom condo looks like.  If you remember from part two I mentioned when we entered our room from the main hallway we entered into a foyer; well that other door was the one bedroom condos.

Oh My!  Can you spell luxury.  I will post pictures a little later to better detail what the larger condos entailed.  Upon entering there is a hallway with a laundry closet that opens into a full kitchen with everything needed to prepare a gourmet meal.  Next came a massive dining table capable of comfortably seating eight, then a full living room with big screen TV and a gas fireplace.  The bedroom was large with a Jacuzzi tub (big enough for two), a dressing area by the tub with a door that led into a bathroom that was as big as some hotel rooms we have stayed in.  I believe my jaw hit the floor when I saw the shower, rain head with optional body spraying heads at several levels and big enough to dance in.  A second door led back into the hallway.

At this point I knew we were in trouble, our rep took us back to the office and we began the negotiations.  The first thing I noticed was there was very little pressure.  He was well aware that we owned a meager 1500 points.  His first suggestion was that to do it right around 7500 points was needed and that just for us we could have them for around $6.00 a point.  Let's see that's 7500 - 1500 * $6.00 = $36,000.00.  Dana and I saw that beautiful one bedroom condo slipping away into the California sunset.  I told him there was no way we could afford that price tag.

Here is where I learned that there was some wiggle room in the pricing. Not like our first encounter with the sales people where the amount per point seemed fixed these prices had some flexibility.  We haggled down to around $5.00 a point when the talks stalled.  Dana and I were ready to get out and continue our vacation so we thanked him for his time and headed for the door.  No one tackled us on the way out; must be a perk of being an owner.  For the rest of our week we discussed how we could afford the points to allow us to stay in one of those sweet one bedroom condos.

Creativity can be a great outlet for self expression of our feelings, thoughts and desires. It can come in many forms whether is is through writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, dancing, photography or even problem solving. Here are some tips on being creative.

• There are "no" rules.
  
• The final product is always what it is supposed to be.
  
• There is no such thing as "perfect".
  
• It doesn't have to make sense.
  
• Creating is only for YOU.
  
• Enjoy the process.
  
• If you don't like it, start again.
  
• Be consistent and practice.
  
• Experiment with new thoughts, ideas and mediums.
  
• Play and have fun.
  

Do you remember when you were a kid and some of the best times were playing with play doe or coloring....do that again. Bring out the kid in you and have fun.

A few years ago I joined a group class called Book of Days. This was an art journaling class directed at allowing you to express your feelings and emotions through art and the written word. I can't tell you how helpful and encouraging this class was and led me to other classes and instructors that were similar.

If you want to check out Effy's Book of Days class here is the link to her blog: http://effywild.com/book-of-days/

Some of my journaling from her class.

I haven't done a lot of art journaling lately but I do journal occasionally which is helpful as well. Here are some other sources of art and journaling on-line type classes you might be interested in.

Life Book 2015
Shiloh Sophia Studios
Flora Bowley

The next class I want to take is Sketchbookery by Mary Ann Moss. I feel I don't draw well so I'm hoping this class will help those fears. Her work is beautiful and since we do travel quite a bit this would be the perfect thing to take on the road. I've taken Mary Ann's Remains of the Day and Full Tilt Boogie classes which are on creating your own journal. These both are great classes full of inspiration. I recommend the Full Tilt Boogie class first.

There is never a bad choice in whatever you choose for your self expression medium. The biggest challenge is doing it! So in the words of Nike.....'Just Do It'.

If you haven't read part 1, you might want to start HERE first.

In the first part of this discussion I talked about how we ended up being time share owners; I would like to continue that discussion and describe the point system and how it applied to our ability to have luxury vacations.  Simply put points are days, x number of points equals one day.  Each property owned has different point values and of course different seasonal values.  An example would be at Whistler Ski Resort during snow and prime summer hiking season you points won't go very far.  Now during mud season you can get a longer stay if you don't mind the conditions.

If you remember in the first installment I mentioned we received 1500 points and were gifted another 1500.  It won't take much imagination to guess why they gave us the extra points.  3000 points will get you about a week in almost every resort owned in almost prime season.

I do need to backtrack a little here to when we were enjoying San Francisco we took a bus tour to Napa Valley wine country.  Dana and I fell in love with the area and vowed to return for a real vacation there.  Low and behold our time share company had a new flagship property opening there soon.  Our anniversary falls in March so we decided to book a week when the new resort opened.  Our 3000 points bought us a week in a studio apartment at the newly opened resort.

On check in we processed through the front desk of the hotel that managed the property and were introduced to the Concierge who worked for the time share company.  She gave us a welcome packet made us feel very special not only as new member but as members in general.  We learned of the amenities special to the condo owners and the facilities shared with the resort.

Upon arrival at our room which was located in one of three buildings all named after a type of wine; we inserted our key card and opened the door.  OK, no room we are in a foyer with two doors one was ours and one belonged to someone else.  So again we slip in our key card and walk into the most impressive studio apartment I have ever been in.  Marble counters a king sized bed (remember this facility is brand new) and a well appointed bathroom.  Don't let me forget the balcony which overlooked the pool and hot tub area.  The view of rolling hills was spectacular.  Did I mention there was a complimentary bottle of wine on the counter.  Dana and I opened the bottle and sat on the sunny balcony enjoying a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon produced from the resorts own winery all this before even unpacking.

On our first outing we went grocery shopping for food items we could cook in the microwave or toaster oven.  The resort provided two bottles of water daily as part of the membership package, nuts only one bottle of wine, oh wait we came to Napa to taste wine for a week anyway.

I can only say we sampled wine ate great meals out and prepared some easy meals for ourselves in our room.  We did learn that cheese, crackers a salad and a bottle of wine brought a great day to an even better close.  What a fantastic week, we vowed to return when we had accumulated sufficient points to return.  


Stay tuned for Part 3...yes there is more.