Dang RV

Now I know some of you are going to say, “What the heck does that have to do with RVing?”. Well, I have met several Ebayers in RV parks I have stayed at. Being an Ebay seller or running an Internet store are two ways to support your RV lifestyle. It only requires a computer, an Internet connection, basic shipping supplies, and items that can either be drop-shipped or that are small enough and light enough to store and sell from an RV. If you have a a home-base such as a leased pad or house, you likely have storage there for more product which can be shipped to you or picked up when you are in the area.

Selling successfully on Ebay requires good product pictures. People want to see what they are buying. You can get a good picture with just your camera and a table, couch, floor etc. A better picture might be on a sheet or fabric background of a solid color. If you want really detailed professional pictures, you need a light box. I have had the plans to build one for some time but I didn’t like the folded down size or weight in my RV so hadn’t made it yet. Tada! In comes Digital Concepts with a truly light, portable, and professional light box you can purchase at Walmart.

It looks like an artist’s folio at first look. Open it up and it forms a 16″x16″x16″ light box with non-reflective translucent walls you can shine the 2 included freestanding high output photo lights through for backlighting, a reversible non-reflective background of blue and gray, and a tripod for your camera. The folio has pockets on the outside for the lights and tripod and folds up easily into a very decent size to store easily in any closet or under the bed. Cost is $49.95 which is well worth it if you do a lot of Ebay selling. It is also useful for online stores to add new products. Crafters selling online can look very professional with this.

Time to flock south with the other snowbirds for the winter. Michigan was getting cold and rainy not to mention northern campgrounds tend to start closing October 15th.

I spent my first night in a Walmart parking lot in Monroe, MI. The managers were very nice about it. It was easier considering I arrived late due to my work schedule and I needed to pickup my prescriptions there the next morning since they filled them once before. Spending a night with no electric or TV was somewhat boring but I did have a windup radio at least and I could still cook dinner on my stove. Having the slideout in was a little cramped but still useable. Only thing that bothered me was some idiot walking around the parking lot at 2am with a leaf blower like that could really clean it. Aargh!

Next day, headed out through a rain storm to Lancaster, Ohio and Lakeview RV Park for a week. Ohio landscape is flat with lots of farms and cornfields. Saw a sign to watch for horses and buggies. I got to use my Delorme Street Atlas GPS on my laptop to guide me. I love that it talks to me and I can command it with voice commands. I chose a slightly different path at one point and it recalculated immediately. I missed a turn and it got me right back on track. The best thing is it only cost $40 on sale at Best Buy. Came with the GPS device and software. The interface is non-Microsoft and weird but I’m learning it.

Lakeview RV Park was chosen because it is cheaper than the other parks with wifi nearby and close to a major highway. My trailer sits on a spit of land between two small lakes. I have a lovely 360 degree view of them out all my windows. I have a cement patio, lots of grass, a fire ring, electric, water, gray water hookup, and they run a honeywagon around once a week to empty black water tanks. The staff have been so nice and they guided me back into the site like champs right next to the patio.

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Moved on up north to Gaylord KOA in Gaylord, MI. It is not as close as I would like to Mackinac Bridge between upper Michigan and the upper Michigan peninsula but it is the only campground I could find listed with wireless internet and a reasonable price to stay for a month. Other campgrounds closer to the bridge cost twice as much (over $800 for a parking space for pete’s sake!). As usual for a KOA, it is very clean, has a lovely outside pool, camping cabins, great owners and staff, and game rooms. A courtesy phone is available for local and 800 calls. Lots of trees here and easy pull through sites. Plenty of room for my slideout. Solid Wifi.

The group camping area is very nice and set away from everyone else which is great to control group noise.

Something new for me here is gray water only sewer connections which use a garden hose to drain your gray water tank into a bucket in the ground and on. I had to buy a special cap for my sewer outlet to go to the garden hose which they were kind enough to lend me.  The black water tank on my rig is emptied once a week by them by pumping it out into a tank wagon.

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I found a great job for RVers. It’s remote technical support. With the advent of high speed Internet access and special software, it is now possible for companies to farm out their technical support to employees or contractors from all over the world who work on their own computers at home. It doesn’t matter if home is an RV as long as you can get high speed access at campgrounds or mobile parks or through a satellite dish.

Support people login to the desk software at a website and provide support by email 24/7. Even Network Administrators can monitor networks and reboot computers from home! No more driving to the office and dealing with traffic. If you want to take a walk or a shower during your break you can. The kitchen may be too close for some but at least the food is cheaper!

Many older women and men are doing it and even 17 year old kids. Age doesn’t matter. It works great for those with disabilities or people who want to be home with the kids. You just need a knowledge of computers and the Internet.

One such place to checkout if you have a solid knowledge of webhosting, website design, technical support, etc. is at Lunarpages.

Of course, there is always Ebay as well and other Internet entrepreneurial options.