Thanks for the concern, everyone. I wasn't trying to throw a pity party, although it may have sounded like that. It's just taken a long time to feel as though I could say something about our travels without letting my internal SuperGrouch get at the keyboard. My darling fell and is still recovering from a wrenched back. We both had bad colds (or mild flu?) and felt like sleeping much of the time. There are certain household chores that can't be slept through - especially with animals, especially with an energetic puppy (who, btw, neither understands lassitude nor believes in snuggling without wiggling) - and living in a mobile situation adds the complication of having to pack up and move. We kept the chores to a bare minimum and holed up when and where we could. (And yes, @suzilightning, I'd much rather be at home when I'm sick!)
In a fit of pique I started throwing away spices that I haven't used, and opening and using (or binning) mystery ingredients that I bought on impulse, simply in an attempt to be able to find things. As with many overloaded rooms and refrigerators, the dent isn't visible yet. Dent or no dent, I have had a few wild successes with the "open it and use it, and don't dirty up so many dishes!" approach. Simplicity is the target, at least until I regain myself. One pot is better than two.
One success involved a package of somebody's Cajun 15-bean soup ("feeds 10!") that has been riding around in our 'pantry' for at least 2 years. I threw in some andouille sausage I'd bought when we were feeling better, let it all simmer a very long time, and used potatoes to thicken it up. Over the past month it's been a good pinch-hit-I'm-tired-comfort food, and we've gotten more than the alloted number of servings thanks to the added ingredients.
There's enough for at least one more dinner. This soup cries out for cornbread, and I'm saving the last servings until I make some. Now that I know how good this soup mix is, I wish I'd kept a record of the particular soup brand...so I could stock up on it again. 
Edited to add: I forgot about the ham bone! A holiday ham bone that had been cluttering the freezer was also simmered in this soup until it gave up all its meat scraps and collagen.
