Latest update....this weekend I changed all the tail light bulbs and applied dielectric grease...I did have some water in the right tail light lens..so I drilled a small hole in the bottom of the lenses to allow them to drain...there was no corrosion in the sockets..This morning I had the same issue again but I did notice that the gage lights come on when I turn on the parking lights only....the gage lights shut off again when I turn on the headlight...then a few minutes later the gage lights come on.......Headlight switch issue?....thanks for all the help...

 

A final reply to this......last week the lights got to the point where the dash/rears would not come on at all......I replaced the headlight switch last night...~ 15mins of work pulling the steering wheel etc....but I am all set....

 

The quickest way to diagnose the switch is with a simple circuit tester. If it lights the bulb then its getting power and its sending power.