Florida Black Bear
Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2018
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 1
For those who have chosen the “nomadic life” or had it chosen for them through adversity, many are indebted to Bob Wells. His vision to provide a practical alternative to despair has helped free many from the fear of uncertainty and subsequent consequences. I am one of them.
In 2011, I returned home to Florida, to discover, just 5 years after my Father’s death, my elderly Mother, with the help of self-serving friends and relatives, had depleted her lifetime resources. She would eventually lose her house. In crisis mode I stopped the mortgage payment and begin looking for an RV to live in, at best temporarily, at worst, god forbid, permanently. This was extremely difficult as I had never actually been inside a RV of any type. I had not been camping since I was a cub scout. I had become a, downtown condo, mass transit guy and I thought I was a happy camper. (Ok, not really, living in Las Vegas, I was more likely moving faster than the desert sand to outpace the winds of discontent.)
After more than 6 months of RV make/model research, 3 months of unsuccessful regional procurement, stressed by the uncertainty of the foreclosure date, I succumbed to a slightly larger variation from my sister’s boss, adding $2000 to my $10,000 budget. Ouch! I knew little about automotive, nothing about 12V, LP Gas or Solar Systems. The seller was a classic car restorer, so I scraped together the increase rationalizing mechanical fitness.
Now to my confession, “I am a RV Heathen - a Class A owner.” I bought a 1999 34J Fleetwood Bounder Motorhome. Yes, 34’ 10” long. Let’s just say a nice 35 foot metal box. I could have managed in much less as I had learned the juxtaposition of frugality to freedom decades earlier but this was not to be a cozy husband/wife love nest. This was Mother, Mother’s dog, and son. The first two would need a bedroom.
No sooner than I handed over those green backs, did I fall out again. I was ill and I knew it. Retreating to my bedroom, disguised as a nap, I was knocked out for 1-3 hours, 3 or 4 times a week until 4 months later when I managed an out of state trip to my primary physician. She confirmed my self-diagnosis. I was a serious diabetic with a blood sugar levels at 497. With no insurance, I signed my doctor’s wavier from hospital admission, accepted some free medication, bought prescription insulin and needles and headed back to Florida. Oh, well.
I found a cheap rental for Mother and parked my RV in the driveway. With savings nearly depleted, now medically unemployable, no retirement, social security 2 years down the road, I was headed for disaster. I pondered my situation. After an onslaught of revisiting every mistake or poor choice I had ever made in my life (which apparently led me to this place), I realized it was meaningless, as it would not assist building my new lifestyle.
Building a new lifestyle is what we are doing in RV living. It is not a continuum of stick and brick, not a down sized version. Fundamental changes in what we value, even who we value, will change with our personalities.
For me, I have developed a detailed Master Plan for maintenance and living in my RV. Elderly parent care is massive time consumption, but I find time each day to read and contribute to my RVs health or hygiene. After the RV is completely tweaked (whenever that happens) I will begin converting my daily driver (2006 4C Toyota Highlander) to travel/camping ready. If I wish to attend the 2019 RTR, I must plan now.
Until I stumbled upon Bob Wells and CheapRVLiving, like 99% of America, I had no idea such an alternative lifestyle was possible.. Years before the accolades, financial stability, and social medium, Bob Wells wore a path to community and invited us to join. If my Mother should outlive me and I never get out of the driveway, I will always admire his efforts and be thankful for the invitation.
Florida Black Bear
(Mike)
In 2011, I returned home to Florida, to discover, just 5 years after my Father’s death, my elderly Mother, with the help of self-serving friends and relatives, had depleted her lifetime resources. She would eventually lose her house. In crisis mode I stopped the mortgage payment and begin looking for an RV to live in, at best temporarily, at worst, god forbid, permanently. This was extremely difficult as I had never actually been inside a RV of any type. I had not been camping since I was a cub scout. I had become a, downtown condo, mass transit guy and I thought I was a happy camper. (Ok, not really, living in Las Vegas, I was more likely moving faster than the desert sand to outpace the winds of discontent.)
After more than 6 months of RV make/model research, 3 months of unsuccessful regional procurement, stressed by the uncertainty of the foreclosure date, I succumbed to a slightly larger variation from my sister’s boss, adding $2000 to my $10,000 budget. Ouch! I knew little about automotive, nothing about 12V, LP Gas or Solar Systems. The seller was a classic car restorer, so I scraped together the increase rationalizing mechanical fitness.
Now to my confession, “I am a RV Heathen - a Class A owner.” I bought a 1999 34J Fleetwood Bounder Motorhome. Yes, 34’ 10” long. Let’s just say a nice 35 foot metal box. I could have managed in much less as I had learned the juxtaposition of frugality to freedom decades earlier but this was not to be a cozy husband/wife love nest. This was Mother, Mother’s dog, and son. The first two would need a bedroom.
No sooner than I handed over those green backs, did I fall out again. I was ill and I knew it. Retreating to my bedroom, disguised as a nap, I was knocked out for 1-3 hours, 3 or 4 times a week until 4 months later when I managed an out of state trip to my primary physician. She confirmed my self-diagnosis. I was a serious diabetic with a blood sugar levels at 497. With no insurance, I signed my doctor’s wavier from hospital admission, accepted some free medication, bought prescription insulin and needles and headed back to Florida. Oh, well.
I found a cheap rental for Mother and parked my RV in the driveway. With savings nearly depleted, now medically unemployable, no retirement, social security 2 years down the road, I was headed for disaster. I pondered my situation. After an onslaught of revisiting every mistake or poor choice I had ever made in my life (which apparently led me to this place), I realized it was meaningless, as it would not assist building my new lifestyle.
Building a new lifestyle is what we are doing in RV living. It is not a continuum of stick and brick, not a down sized version. Fundamental changes in what we value, even who we value, will change with our personalities.
For me, I have developed a detailed Master Plan for maintenance and living in my RV. Elderly parent care is massive time consumption, but I find time each day to read and contribute to my RVs health or hygiene. After the RV is completely tweaked (whenever that happens) I will begin converting my daily driver (2006 4C Toyota Highlander) to travel/camping ready. If I wish to attend the 2019 RTR, I must plan now.
Until I stumbled upon Bob Wells and CheapRVLiving, like 99% of America, I had no idea such an alternative lifestyle was possible.. Years before the accolades, financial stability, and social medium, Bob Wells wore a path to community and invited us to join. If my Mother should outlive me and I never get out of the driveway, I will always admire his efforts and be thankful for the invitation.
Florida Black Bear
(Mike)
