Reflecting back on the past nine years. First off, where did the time go… and yes, it’s true, when you get older, time goes by really fast. I caught the Rving bug back in the early 80’s… got my first Rv in 1983… a small 20’ Class C Motorhome. Used it for many years while I was still working the regular job. Vacations, weekend getaways, and lots and lots of day trips. Met a lot of folks in our travels over the years, that either Rved fulltime (have sold their lifelong house and live in their rv) or part time Rvers (those that still have a house and travel in the Rv for extended times of the year). The part time Rvers are commonly referred to as “snowbirds” because they generally stay in the home (usually up north) in the summer time, and live in their rv for the winter, traveling to the south and milder climates of the winter. I can certainly tell you… when you get older, wintering in the south when it’s cold and snowy in the north… well, ya just can’t beat it… hands down, a great move for tired aching bones. Anyway, in talking to all those folks about full time rving, seeing their lifestyle… well, I caught that bug too. Stayed with a convention life to get the 30 years in with the company to get the full pension… and basically, took the money and drove off into the sunset at 49½ years old. Had planned it for ten years, knew exactly what I wanted to do, and how to do it… and made it happen. Like most decisions in life, this was one of those “no going back” decisions that worked out to be 95% of what I expected, knowing what was down the road in the new lifestyle that I had chosen… and it’s all been to the good… and most unbelievably good. We knew most everything except for all the “where’s”. We had general ideas and plans of where to go in our travels… but ya never know where the winds of adventure will take you… and that’s the beauty of it all… new places and new experiences to always keep things fresh and inspire you. I just couldn’t see spending the next 15 years of my working life ( age 49½ to age 65 ) at the same job, doing he same thing, living in the same house, seeing and doing all the same things… then retiring after I’m mostly physically used up, to stay in the same house, basically waiting to die. Sad to put it that way, but that’s how it seems to mostly work out. Just wanted something different. Plus the odd’s were that 53% don’t live to see age 65, and those that do have a 61% of dying before age 70. Those that survive this are usually physically used up, have limiting medical conditions, and live a stationary life… waiting for the end to come. Life and living is about choices… and some choices seem to have few options… rving give you more options for more adventures and experiences… or at least that’s the way I see it.
So what’s one of the first great revelations of fulltime rving? The concept of family, friends, and others, that are in a conventional lifestyle, and how they look at what you are doing. First there’s the natural reaction… OMG, you’re going to leave your job, sell your home (hey, it’s just a house and a place to live), and wonder around the country like a gypsy… where will you go, what will you do, where will you stay? It’s like they think you are going to just aimlessly wonder around sleeping in your car and using gas station bathrooms and no doubt have your picture in the post office or live under the interstate overpass. They don’t see a very bright picture. Then there’s the folks that have an adventurer dreamer version that romanticizes about driving off into the sunset and living a carefree life happily ever after… and how great that would be… oh, they wish they could do it too. Actually, thank goodness, we are much closer to the driving off into the sunset and living happily ever after version of this perception. There are many other earlier entries that detail our rving experience… just check them out.
As with everything, no matter how well researched and thought out, there’s always going to be pleasant surprises along the way. One of those is the friends you make along the way… lifelong friends that are part of your rving family. Some of them you may not see for months or years at a time, but reunions make it seem like it was only a short while ago since you were together. Another surprise was the 6 seasons that we worked at Disney World as seasonal cast members… it was like a part time job where we could come and go with the seasons as we pleased. Lots of great memories with family and friends that could only be tagged… “priceless”. There are also many entries about our Disney experiences. Another unexpected surprise of traveling around to different states, which has both good and bad impact… food! One of the great joys in life is the food. Well, you grow up in an area and miss all the good foods particular to that area that you have now left behind… and you miss them… sometimes a lot! But you do find new foods and ways they are prepared as you travel around this great country… ah, yes… truly yummy. And then you move on leaving them behind too… but you find new places and new foods that take their place too… or at least help you miss your favorites a bit less. This is especially true with foods from our home state… nothing can take the place of hometown favorites that you enjoyed all your life. In our case, the bay area in Maryland… so we miss great crab cakes, good steamed crabs and shrimp, and crab soup. Then there’s all the local favorites like Utz potato chips, Martins potato rolls, Rapa scrapple, snowballs, corned beef sandwiches, and many other local favorite brands that ya just can’t get at the local store in your new temporary location that is far, far, away from where you grew up. Sometimes the pain is eased a bit by a new delight like I had today. We went to Quincy Illinois and had the best rack of baby back ribs ever. Hands down, the best ever… so I got to forget about how much I miss my favorites from back home, at least for a little while. Then there’s “workamping”… taking seasonal jobs around the country at different resorts and campgrounds. Ya help them out, have some fun, make some extra spending money, experience new places, have new adventures, met lots of folks, and make new friends… and then move on to a new area, and do it all again. So if you’re not independently wealthy or living on a congressman's pension, this is a good way to see new places and have new experiences without having a lot of expenditures. We workamp part of every year and basically get our rv site, electric, propane, water and sewer, cable, internet, and some other perks including use of the parks facilities for free. Currently we are working fulltime doing Resort Activities…so we get all this included for free plus 40 hours salary for each of us… paid to play and have fun with the big kids (adults) and the little kids. Now, we’re not going to get rich, but it is a nice way to take care of life’s necessities and needs. No mortgage, no rent, no utility bills, no property taxes, very little maintenance compared to a house, and no lawn to cut. On the occasion that you have a “bad” neighbor every once in a while… not to worry, it’s only temporary, they’ll be gone soon, or you have the option of rolling down the street or across the state to leave their memory behind.
Many of my blog entries cover in more detail our adventures “On the Road”. They are listed by an archive of “dates” when posted and “labels” as to particular topics. Some are trivial, some factual, some flights of fantasy, and some rare one’s are actually serious (go figure). Some offer insights, some even perhaps offer words of wisdom, and some are just playful in their intent. Ya just never know what you will find there… but it all reveals our thoughts, feelings, and adventures while Rving. A great lifestyle… so you see, you can drive off into the sunset and live happily ever after. Ya just need to find that special someone to share it with to make it all worth while and memorable. Fortunately… I have the love of my life to share all my adventures with… Shelly. Yep… life is very sweet indeed!
Now it’s not like being on vacation 52 weeks a year. Most days are more normal… daily living is somewhat convention like a house and job (sometimes) with meals at home, Tv at night, etc, etc. Vacations are as long as you want (or can afford)… and living in general is where ever you want it to be. Follow the weather or let the wind be your guide… it’s like living on flex time with flex places… what ever or where ever you want to be… plain, simple, and easy. Uncomplicated! It’s the whole idea of you doing more of what you want to do… and not being “locked” into a job and house with no end in sight.
So if you are have an adventurer dreamer outlook on life and can see rving as riding off into the sunset and living happily ever after… well maybe you need to read more, and talk to rvers. Check out rv’s at a dealer as see what they have to offer. There’s all kinds of options to fit every need and want. So it’s happy dreaming and happy trails to you.
So just how does it all work, and what do we have? … the same things as we did before. Just like a house… living room, complete kitchen, dining area, complete bathroom, bedroom with king sleep number bed, deck patio attached to rv… and all the creature comforts… computers and internet, Direct Tv, surround sound entertainment systems (Tv and music) in the living room and bedroom, video games, ceiling fans, lights, fireplace, basement, generator, washer & dryer… yep… everything except my favorite hot-tub spa… that’s another thing I really miss from the house. Plus it’s all moveable at a moments notice… well, maybe several moments. The freedom to move to anywhere we want… anytime.
Nine years later… sharing adventures together… priceless. No regrets, with only few mistakes (like those battery scooters)… a great lifestyle for those less than the rich and famous.
Hope you enjoy the reading… have a nice day. After all… it is exactly what you make of it!
Current location… Mark Twain Landing… Missouri
Front yard view from our patio.
Yep… live is sweet! and Sweeter with Shelly!
