Dang RV

Learn this word! It is a most beautiful word. It makes the difference between living in an RV and living in a Home! No kidding. I went to the big RV show recently. On the outside of all the trailers and coaches we looked at, they didn’t look like they add much room. But on the inside, they are amazing. They create full sized living rooms, bedrooms, breakfast nooks, and spacious kitchens. It smacks you right in the face as you enter an RV equipped with at least one of these. I saw some with 3-4 slideouts! WOW! I highly recommend keeping this feature in mind when looking to purchase a new RV for full-time RVing or even for part-timing with kids.

I also liked the new bunk bed styles. If I were still a kid, I would love them and as a parent I am pleased to see the emergency escape doors built into them. For those that don’t need 2 bunks, the bottom one could easily be converted to storage with a handy external access door already there. Perhaps a closet, a place to put the folding bikes, an out of the way play/TV/gaming area? My imagination is running wild!

Just in case you want to know, my RV is currently parked at the rear of a relative’s property. I am not hooked up to sewer and water. I have to refill the water tank by hose about once every 30-40 days. We have to move it closer to an outside sewer plug to empty the waste tanks about once every 30-35 days. We are looking into other solutions. Shower is on the gray water tank and I can take about 6 Navy-style showers a month. For other showers I have to go in the house (and yes I do!). Bathroom sink, kitchen sink, and toilet are all on black water tank. I don’t do dishes out here because it fills up that tank too fast. I wait till I have a bunch and wash them in the house. I might be able to go longer if I didn’t wash my hands so much. At least that is what I have read on the Internet. What can I say, Momma taught me well… So, if you substitute a cheap campground site for “the house” , this should give you a clue as to how long you can camp self-contained with just one person.

BTW, while I don’t have water or sewer hookups, I do have electrical, telephone, and high-speed Internet access. Life is just sooo rough!

The power substation nearby blew another transformer. First there was a loud noise and power to TV and heater went off then back on. Another loud noise and power went out completely. Not bad for me because I run off batteries for lighting so they didn’t even flicker. I wasn’t stuck in the dark! Lost electric heater but main heater is propane so I just switched over. Very nice. Add in the ability to move my entire home at a moment’s notice with ALL my things in cases of emergency and this is pretty nifty.

The adventure begins!

Many of my friends think I’m nuts or at least more so than usual. They don’t think I will enjoy living full-time in an RV. “It’s too small and cramped.” “You’ll get lonely.” “It will cost a fortune” “Gas is so expensive”. I’m hearing it all. OK. I probably am naive but sometimes you just gotta say, “What the heck!” and go for it. I’m pretty sure the world will not collapse if I don’t make it. I have to try this to either get it out of my system or find the life I have always wanted. I don’t want to always wonder “what if…”.

So, I moved into my brother’s motorhome for several months as a test drive. I have to say I REALLY like this! Being alone in his rig allows me ample space for my needs. I have seen the new rigs at an RV show recently and am amazed at how much more room I can get in a newer RV with slideouts. I don’t feel particularly cramped though I would like one of the new queen size beds and a little larger bathroom. The newer rigs can accomodate these desires. I’m parked in a community, have my family nearby, and chat or email with friends back home all the time. The cost of the newer rigs that I liked are cheaper than my house back home and I think they are reasonable. Lastly, I’m not planning on being the usual retired full-timer. I will be working a normal job and won’t be moving my RV around constantly. I will be staying in the same place for long periods and only moving around the same locale, or weekend camping, or visiting my kids. I just want my home on wheels and ready to move at any time. Anyway, gas really won’t be much of a problem. I am hoping to take my own rig to the Quartzite gathering in 2007 though.

It seems to me, this is what young people should be doing. Instead of living in noisy dorms, signing long apartment leases, or buying regular homes as single people, they should RV so they can move their homes around as their lives change. Lose your job? Get a new one and move closer to it. Want to move out of the house? Get an RV so you can stay free or cheap at some places or even move it home if you have to. During summer vacation from college, haul it home or go have some fun. Something to think about…