Free at Last

[Tennessee Traveler]

After a 26-year marriage and raising 4 kids. Marriage is over kids are all grown and out of the house and I'm on my own finally at last.
  While on the way to deep south Texas to take care of some personal business, I've got my 2013 Ford Edge, that I plan on full timing in for at least the next several months, I'm loaded up and I'm heading out. I've been on the road since Saturday March 25th. I spent a day at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama, then I went to Villa Lobos Rescue Center, in New Orleans, and was able to volunteer by walking some beautiful Pit bulls. 
   I  now find myself in deep south Texas wondering where to wander after business concludes tomorrow. I was doing this on my phone to conserve power on my laptop but the text started doing weird things in font size, so I had to break out the laptop anyway. AC power for my laptop along with a possible fridge are 2 of the few things I haven't got somewhat covered, all thanks to all the YouTubers that have gone before.
  Things I am still working on/thinking about/completely at a loss in reference to:

 Affordable/economical power for laptop
 A Dometic CC-40US fridge/freezer
 keeping comfortable in summer short of possible trek to the Arctic Circle (the Dempster Hwy).
 Most affordable complete small (200-300 watts) solar setup
 Possibly a 1K gas gen.

Any ideas or input is welcomed and appreciated...

 

[ArtW]

the power issues I can't help you with, there are others who can, very well
the key to cool is elevation, not distance, as it gets hot, climb
Lots of long term full timers spend their time in Arizona, Ehrenberg in the winter, Flagstaff in the summer, points between in the interim
I live in Garwood (near Houston) myself, and we're having some nice cooler weather right now

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome TT to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

Welcome! Sounds like you have a good start! "Free at last"

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums  

I'd invite you to check out bottom link for ideas of where to go next.  Fodor's is a good resource.
But the top left links column has a lot of information that may be helpful in finding interesting places to visit.
If you visit a Public Library of any size....you could take in your Lap Top and Cell and recharge them while looking at Travel Magazines in the Reference Department.  Other Magazines like Southern Living and Midwest Living may show you some interesting places. 

You may even find some magazines that showcase interesting Vacation places where you can go and do things.

Since you're in the South/South West now:

http://vacationidea.com/weekend_getaways/southwest.html

 

[jimindenver]

Welcome to the forum and freedom.

 

[Almost There]

 Affordable/economical power for laptop
 A Dometic CC-40US fridge/freezer
 keeping comfortable in summer short of possible trek to the Arctic Circle (the Dempster Hwy).
 Most affordable complete small (200-300 watts) solar setup
 Possibly a 1K gas gen.

Any ideas or input is welcomed and appreciated...

Welcome to the forum.

Before I had a good electrical set-up I simply used a Black and Decker 120W plug in inverter in the accessory plug on the dash to charge up my laptop. I tried to remember to charge it up while I was driving but in multiple experiments, I found that I could keep my cell phone and laptop both charged off the engine battery for up to 3 days and still start the van. Day 4 required a charge of the battery to get started.

Do not try running the Dometic or any other 12V compressor fridge off the engine battery, get it AFTER you have an electrical system set up separate from the engine battery.

Check out Renogy for their solar products. I really recommend, however, that you build your own solar system. The suitcases are nice but having had one and now gone on to use a built in controller and a pair of their new Eclipse panels, I can tell you that it's far superior.

The lightest and quietest of the 1000W generators are the Honda or Yamaha. Despite marketing hype, I can hear a noise difference between the Honda and Yamaha, Honda being the quietest. My older Honda generator is 11 years old now and aside from regular maintenance, it's been trouble free...well worth the money.

Are you planning on moving up from the Edge to a full size van for full timing it?

 

[BobBski]

Welcome, enjoy your new life. All the best

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Welcome and congratulations on being free at last!! Good for you for jumping in with both feet before you have it all figured out! Analysis paralysis is driving me nuts LOL