New here.......

RV-Kitty · Dec 30, 2012

Hi! I'm new here. This looks like an interesting forum. We have a  TravelTrailer and an old 1993 Class-C MH. We're both retired and always looking for a cheaper greener way to get by.  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

dragonflyinthesky · Dec 30, 2012

Welcome Kitty.

peacetara · Dec 30, 2012

YAY!!!! Welcome!! I'm Tara, I'm fairly new here myself, been full-timing in my van since August of 2012, I'm in my mid 30's, and so far have only stayed on the west coast. With Love, Tara

RV-Kitty · Jan 2, 2013

Thank you for the warm welcome. I was offline for a few days as we migrated from TN to FL.  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

RV-Kitty · Jan 2, 2013

peacetara said:
 ....... been full-timing in my van since August of 2012, I'm in my mid 30's, and so far have only stayed on the west coast. With Love, Tara

I lived in a Tradesman van for a month back in the 1970s. It was a cross-country trip with my fiance.  It was OK but a little cramped.  <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/crazy.gif" class="bbc_img">

peacetara · Jan 2, 2013

It can get a little cramped, but I do ok <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> And I don't want to have to mess with all the RV stuff that goes wrong, I don't have a cute handyman that travels with me, so I have to do it all myself. With Love, Tara

john_perry · Jan 2, 2013

i am new too kitty, but rest assured this is the place to learn and every one is  glad to help with direct experience . i think some of the people here have forgotten more than  i can ever learn. welcome Kitty john

RV-Kitty · Jan 2, 2013

peacetara said:
 And I don't want to have to mess with all the RV stuff that goes wrong, I don't have a cute handyman that travels with me, so I have to do it all myself. With Love, Tara

Very little actually goes wrong with towable RVs as long as you keep the roof from leaking. <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="bbc_img">  We'll be living in our 28' NorthTrail for the next 3 months.  If you drive your van, you have the same issues of oil changing, filter changing, battery care etc as you have with a motor home of any kind.  <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="bbc_img">

RV-Kitty · Jan 2, 2013

john_perry said:
i am new too kitty, but rest assured this is the place to learn and every one ...... john

Thanks John.  I'm reading and learning a lot here. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">  Sometimes I feel I would love to sell our house and land and live in our RV. So much less work, cleaning, bills etc.  And I love to travel. But hubby doesn't share that dream with me.

beachwalker7 · Jan 2, 2013

Welcome Kitty where are you in Fl.? I'm in Leesburg How long are staying?

peacetara · Jan 2, 2013

RV-Kitty that's good to know! I don't know anything about RV and Trailer living, I apologize for the way I said that stuff breaks all the time, I only know from what people tell me that they seem to always be tinkering with something or other on their house.  I don't want to tinker with my house, I just want to live in it <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">  I don't know a grey tank from a black tank, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to mess with either one of them! I definitely recognize that for some an RV or Trailer is right for some people, and I think it's awesome for them.  Maybe someday I'll "upgrade" to a Trailer or RV, but for now, it's not remotely on my list.  I'm having enough troubles paying for this house! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> I agree the go go part with the engine and all is the same basically.  I don't really know much about my go go parts, except it seems to go and stop just fine and that's all I want! With Love, Tara

Suanne · Jan 2, 2013

Welcome RV-Kitty.  Me and hubby are the same.   We keep the sticks-and-bricks for him, and often travel just for me.  We got a small Class C last year so that John would feel comfortable traveling.  But, when I travel solo, I go in a Prius hatchback.  Again welcome ... glad you are here!

RV-Kitty · Jan 3, 2013

beachwalker7 said:
Welcome Kitty where are you in Fl.? I'm in Leesburg How long are staying?

We're in Bellevue (sp?) which is between The Villages and Ocala. We love it here. We'll be here until April 1st, then migrate north and home.  I'm not sure where Leesburg is.  Is it near Orlando?

RV-Kitty · Jan 3, 2013

peacetara said:
RV-Kitty that's good to know! I don't know anything about RV and Trailer living, I apologize for the way I said that stuff breaks all the time, I only know from what people tell me that they seem to always be tinkering with something or other on their house.

I understood where you were coming from.  <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">  Anything you live in will need some kind of repairs sooner or later.  Even a tent will need some kind of repair in time.  Leaking water is the biggest enemy of tow RVs.  Leaks and ignoring general engine maintenance are the killers of MotorHome RVs.

I don't want to tinker with my house, I just want to live in it <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">  I don't know a grey tank from a black tank, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to mess with either one of them!

They sure beat using public toilets.  <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="bbc_img">

I definitely recognize that for some an RV or Trailer is right for some people, and I think it's awesome for them.  Maybe someday I'll "upgrade" to a Trailer or RV, but for now, it's not remotely on my list.  I'm having enough troubles paying for this house! <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">

Understood. Fortunately our house is paid for and has been for years. And in TN taxes are cheap and Ins very affordable. We built our own 1,800 sq foot house while living in a mobile-home back in the early 1990s.

I agree the go go part with the engine and all is the same basically.  I don't really know much about my go go parts, except it seems to go and stop just fine and that's all I want! With Love, Tara

Even a car or van needs the oil and filters changed, air pressure in the tires maintained, batteries and tires replaced ... anything with an engine needs maintenance or one day you'll you'll find yourself broke down along a highway.  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">  The RVs that are towed need the tire pressure checked and the roof maintained to prevent those *&^%$#@ leaks.  Gray water tank = kitchen and shower water. Black water tank = sewerage from commode. Dirty water does not come in contact with hands.

RV-Kitty · Jan 3, 2013

Suanne said:
Welcome RV-Kitty.  Me and hubby are the same.   We keep the sticks-and-bricks for him, and often travel just for me.  We got a small Class C last year so that John would feel comfortable traveling.  But, when I travel solo, I go in a Prius hatchback.  Again welcome ... glad you are here!

Thank you for the welcome. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">  We got the old 28' 1993 Ford Dutchman Class-C for taking a cross-country trip. That is if we can ever get the roof so stop leaking. <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="bbc_img">  We don't want to haul this 28' (30' overall) elephant of an RV all over the country, much as we love it. And we don't want to have to get out of the RV when we park (boondock) at night.  That can be dangerous. A MH better fits the bill for cross country travel. Does your husband feel at home in the Class-C?  Do you boondock or stay in CGs and Resorts? Snow-bird?

Suanne · Jan 3, 2013

RV-Kitty said:
Does your husband feel at home in the Class-C?  Do you boondock or stay in CGs and Resorts? Snow-bird?

I think John feels at home in the Class C.  We looked hard for something that was big enough to have the room and amenities for him to feel like he could live in it.  We tried smaller options (a teardrop trailer, van, and 13' egg-type trailer) and this 20' Class C is as small as he could go.  The fact that we can easily bring our pets (a dog and a parrot) also has a lot to do with making him feel at home in it. The Class C is definately a compromise as John would like something bigger with more luxuries while I would like something smaller with better MPG. Our sticks-and-bricks is in Western WA where it gets chilly and very wet in the winter.  So, being snowbirds might seem like the obvious thing that we would do.  But, John won't leave our house unattended in the winter for fear of frozen pipes and loss of electricity (thus causing loss of frozen foods).  Fear for our home (and lack of funds to hire a long-term house sitter) is the big reason he's staying home right now.  And, since he likes being home, that's a good thing for him.  What he's not liking is when I take off solo (which I'm about to do).  But, we're learning what it means to compromise here. The longest trip we've gone on together has been 14 days, so far.  We used campgrounds and RV parks with hook ups.  Since then, I've changed the lighting to LEDs and replaced some electronic items with more energy efficient models.  Those replacements may now allow us to have enough battery power to boondock.  I'll also bring a Mr. Buddy heater so that we don't need to run the forced-air heater fan at night.  Eventually, we'll get solar.  John doesn't mind the RV parks, but I really don't like the idea of paying to sleep in a parking lot.  So, I tried to find campgrounds with hook ups. I think the biggest difference between John and I, and our biggest compromise, is our different core views of travel and being on the road.  For John, it's a vacation and, for me, it's a lifestyle.  We're planning to drive the Alcan later this year. How are you guys making it work?

Bodhi · Jan 3, 2013

Welcome to the GROUP! Suanne there is a seasoned pro at the small space living... I find her entries to be fascinating! Hope you have fun here!  Peace, Bodhi

blkjak · Jan 3, 2013

welcome .... blkjak

RV-Kitty · Jan 3, 2013

Suanne said:
RV-Kitty asked "Does your husband feel at home in the Class-C?  Do you boondock or stay in CGs and Resorts? Snow-bird?" The Class C is definately a compromise as John would like something bigger with more luxuries while I would like something smaller with better MPG.

That's quite a difference of opinion then. But I can see both sides.  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

Our sticks-and-bricks is in Western WA where it gets chilly and very wet in the winter.  So, being snowbirds might seem like the obvious thing that we would do.  But, John won't leave our house unattended in the winter for fear of frozen pipes and loss of electricity (thus causing loss of frozen foods).  Fear for our home (and lack of funds to hire a long-term house sitter) is the big reason he's staying home right now.

What a worry-wort the poor man is! <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" class="bbc_img">  We turn off the water when we leave but leave lights on, on timers. We turn the heat down, but not off. The PO forwards our mail. We have someone check the house once a week plus a neighbor keeps an eye out for trespassers. Don't leave food. We eat-down everything in the fridge and freezer the month before we take off.  We have little food to take with us the day we leave. We shut the fridge off when we leave. House sitters don't usually charge as they live rent-free while you're away. You have no friends or relatives to check the house weekly?

And, since he likes being home, that's a good thing for him.  What he's not liking is when I take off solo (which I'm about to do).  But, we're learning what it means to compromise here. The longest trip we've gone on together has been 14 days, so far.  We used campgrounds and RV parks with hook ups.  Since then, I've changed the lighting to LEDs and replaced some electronic items with more energy efficient models.  Those replacements may now allow us to have enough battery power to boondock.  I'll also bring a Mr. Buddy heater so that we don't need to run the forced-air heater fan at night.  Eventually, we'll get solar.  John doesn't mind the RV parks, but I really don't like the idea of paying to sleep in a parking lot.  So, I tried to find campgrounds with hook ups.

When we camp we usually go to COE CGs since we save 50% of the price. When on the road we use Camp Wal*Mart or the Truck Stops.  We don't pay just to sleep. <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="bbc_img">

I think the biggest difference between John and I, and our biggest compromise, is our different core views of travel and being on the road.  For John, it's a vacation and, for me, it's a lifestyle.  We're planning to drive the Alcan later this year. How are you guys making it work?

We compromise. It's all about compromise....  To me it's a lifestyle also. To him it's an adventure. But we both like snow-birding so it all works out.  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

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