TheViewFromMyPlace
Member
Greetings from The Pacific Northwest!
I’m happy to be on the forum after lurking on Youtube for the last several months. I actually found Caroline’s RV Life videos first then found Cheap RV Living. It really makes my heart happy to see someone helping people live in their cars successfully and happily, and changed my attitude about people that live in their cars!
I’ve always known I would be an RV snowbird when I retired. What’s changed is my timeline. The biggest catalyst for this was the sudden unexpected death of a friend that was just one year older than me. I felt so overwhelmed with grief that she worked so hard and never got to spend a single day enjoying retirement. Looking at Bob’s videos has changed my view of what I need to retire and hit the road.
When my kids were little in the 1980’s we had an old Alaskan camper. So much fun and so many great memories with that rig. When the kids were older in the 1990’s I had a Dodge high top conversion van. Early 2000’s it was tent camping with a truck and canopy. Eleven years ago I bought Gertrude, a 1995 21 foot Jamboree Searcher Class C on a Ford E350. I had thought I would get a newer 24 foot when I retired, but…..I had a moment of clarity. Why the heck would I want to spend all that money on a newer RV? I love Gertrude! And I realize I never want anything bigger than 21 feet.
I’m slowly making modifications to her. I am fortunate to have a secret weapon, my #1 son that helps me so much. I added heavy duty sway bars a few years ago, wow what a great improvement that was. New shocks are on the “to do” list. We have completely rewired the coach, and changed all the lights to LED’s. New charger that charges my batteries super fast with the generator. It’s all wired for solar panels on the roof, the panels will be purchased and installed in November, so hopefully I will rarely need to use the generator. Ripped up the carpet and put down the vinyl planks, painted EVERYTHING inside, purple, gray and white. Took out the bathroom door and put up a curtain. New curtains with blackout liners on every window. Ripped out the monster microwave and reclaimed a huge cupboard. I did add a tiny under counter microwave because it was easy and I had room. Still working on numerous other little projects to make it work better for me and the “to do” list is still active, some of it just waiting for the $. I think I can get through most of the "to do" list by late spring.
Right now I just travel when I can with vacation time. I’ve taken quite a few trips with Gertrude, she had 28,000 miles when I bought her, and we just rolled over 70,000 on my last trip earlier this month.
RTR or bust!!! I‘m taking off 3 weeks in January to come to the RTR! My mom is 87 and still full of piss and vinegar. Nothing makes her happier than going on a road trip with me in Gertrude, so I’m bringing Mom to the RTR too. With a 3 week timeline, we should be able to enjoy the trip down and back without having to drive 700 miles a day.
See you at the RTR!
Tammy
The View From My Place – it’s great because it’s always new!
I’m happy to be on the forum after lurking on Youtube for the last several months. I actually found Caroline’s RV Life videos first then found Cheap RV Living. It really makes my heart happy to see someone helping people live in their cars successfully and happily, and changed my attitude about people that live in their cars!
I’ve always known I would be an RV snowbird when I retired. What’s changed is my timeline. The biggest catalyst for this was the sudden unexpected death of a friend that was just one year older than me. I felt so overwhelmed with grief that she worked so hard and never got to spend a single day enjoying retirement. Looking at Bob’s videos has changed my view of what I need to retire and hit the road.
When my kids were little in the 1980’s we had an old Alaskan camper. So much fun and so many great memories with that rig. When the kids were older in the 1990’s I had a Dodge high top conversion van. Early 2000’s it was tent camping with a truck and canopy. Eleven years ago I bought Gertrude, a 1995 21 foot Jamboree Searcher Class C on a Ford E350. I had thought I would get a newer 24 foot when I retired, but…..I had a moment of clarity. Why the heck would I want to spend all that money on a newer RV? I love Gertrude! And I realize I never want anything bigger than 21 feet.
I’m slowly making modifications to her. I am fortunate to have a secret weapon, my #1 son that helps me so much. I added heavy duty sway bars a few years ago, wow what a great improvement that was. New shocks are on the “to do” list. We have completely rewired the coach, and changed all the lights to LED’s. New charger that charges my batteries super fast with the generator. It’s all wired for solar panels on the roof, the panels will be purchased and installed in November, so hopefully I will rarely need to use the generator. Ripped up the carpet and put down the vinyl planks, painted EVERYTHING inside, purple, gray and white. Took out the bathroom door and put up a curtain. New curtains with blackout liners on every window. Ripped out the monster microwave and reclaimed a huge cupboard. I did add a tiny under counter microwave because it was easy and I had room. Still working on numerous other little projects to make it work better for me and the “to do” list is still active, some of it just waiting for the $. I think I can get through most of the "to do" list by late spring.
Right now I just travel when I can with vacation time. I’ve taken quite a few trips with Gertrude, she had 28,000 miles when I bought her, and we just rolled over 70,000 on my last trip earlier this month.
RTR or bust!!! I‘m taking off 3 weeks in January to come to the RTR! My mom is 87 and still full of piss and vinegar. Nothing makes her happier than going on a road trip with me in Gertrude, so I’m bringing Mom to the RTR too. With a 3 week timeline, we should be able to enjoy the trip down and back without having to drive 700 miles a day.
See you at the RTR!
Tammy
The View From My Place – it’s great because it’s always new!
