Meeting all of our new Winnebago/Itasca friends this weekend, we heard one question more than once.
"So, how did you get started?" they asked.
Boris crafted the very short story of our adventures to date.
"We turned 50 last year and decided we needed to have more fun," he said. "So, we went Hawaii, bought a Jeep, went to Australia, then we bought an RV."
Yep. That sums it up!
Our Shakedown Cruise
No posts yet at Bullwinkle's Travels. We had no internet access all weekend. Then, Natasha left her camera cord in the coach. So, it'll be a few days before we can post pics of our maiden voyage.
So, imagine a brand spankin' new coach and two very happy 50-year-old "kids" on the road.
That's the bottom line!
Everything went very smoothly with Bullwinkle. The two of us were the ones who took little missteps here and there! (Like Natasha leaving her camera cord!) We are chalking it up to just a wee bit of stress. It all made for a memorable weekend.
A bit of self-induced car trouble (kind of a long story) delayed our arrival at the RV dealer by an hour. Everyone gladly accommodated us, and Mac the service guy patiently introduced us to Bullwinkle from front to back, top to bottom and inside and out. Mac even hooked up the satellite receiver box we brought from home. (It's doubtful we would have been so successful at that!) We shot bits of video of the stuff we were sure we'd forget (like how to winterize) and lots of notes about the stuff we understood but still might forget. Everything checked out great. Mac took care of a few little odds and ends while we signed the paperwork. With the last "i" dotted and "t" crossed, we started to move in.
The car was so packed we didn't have room for food. So, we headed out with grocery list in hand to a nearby market to stock up. First on the list was steaks for a celebratory dinner. Guess what we forgot to pick up? Steaks! (See, it's that stress thing!) With (almost) everything loaded, we left the car at the dealership and headed off to our campground In Oroville, which is about 75 miles away.
Boris captained the moose with authority and ease. This 90-minute drive was actually the least stressful part of the day! Before long, we had made our "emergency" steak stop at a grocery store near the campground. We arrived at our campground nearly three hours later than we had originally planned. The office was closed but our stuff was taped to the door. So, we grabbed it and started to head to our campground when we remembered we forgot to get ice. And it was cocktail hour! So, we pulled into the campground just enough to pull out and make a "run" for ice. (A 32-foot motorhome was not designed for running errands!)
Before long, we were pulling into the campground once again. We found our way to our spot. We were met by the manager who pulled up in a golf cart and yelled at us for driving too fast. (We weren't!) She also couldn't understand why we had pulled in and left and came back. (We wanted to shout, "Because we just bought our first motorhome today, Lady! Give us a break!!!!") Then she gave us her advice of how to position our coach into her skinny little pad flanked by two trees that were ready to pierce our extended slides. Yeah, it was quite a welcome.
The real welcome came after we settled in a bit and made our first trip to the trash. (When you move into a motorhome you can make a lot of trash!) We took a stroll around the campground and noticed many Winnebago coaches. Just as we were feeling like we had bought the most popular brand of motorhome ever, we received a friendly greeting from a gentleman who crossed our path. We exchanged pleasantries and explained that we were on our shakedown cruise and that we had taken delivery of our first ever, new coach just hours earlier.
"What did you buy?" he asked.
"A 2008 Winnebago Voyage," we replied.
"Oh my!" he exclaimed. "Have you ever come to the right place!"
He went on to explain that we had strolled upon an outing of the "Chardonnay Travelers", the Northern California chapter of the Winnebago Itasca Travelers (WIT) club. (WIT is the Winnebago owners club.) They have some 28 rigs in their chapter, and had about 40 people in the campground this weekend. He announced to a small gathering under someone's awning that we had just bought a new Winnebago. A flock of very cheerful people descended upon us.
They offered handshakes, cheers and congratulations. They invited us to Saturday night dinner. Yep, we definitely felt the love!
When we finally made our way back to the moose for a late night cocktail and steak dinner, we could not believe our good fortune. We'd made a major purchase, taken a huge step toward a new lifestyle and found new friends...all in the course of 12 short hours! We most certainly must be on the right path.
After a great night's sleep, we spent Saturday reading owner's manuals of everything from the chassis to the DVD. We took a long hike along the Feather River, enjoyed a movie in the coach and a nice long nap. Saturday night's dinner with the WIT crew was a blast. We're most definitely planning on joining the club.
Another peaceful night's sleep welcomed a nice Sunday morning, with some welcome relief from the smoke and haze of the nearby wildfires. After breakfast and a short hike, we bid farewell to our new friends, packed up Bullwinkle and hit the road. Natasha drove the beast back to the dealership and did great. We picked up the car and caravaned in crazy late Sunday afternoon traffic to a quick stop for essentials at Camping World and then on to our new storage facility. By the time we got Bullwinkle perfectly positioned in his new spot, we were close to toast. So, we threw things in the car and headed home.
After a very fun and slightly stressful weekend. Guess what?
We can't wait to get back out there again!
We are definitely looking forward to hitting the road again very soon!!!!!
So, imagine a brand spankin' new coach and two very happy 50-year-old "kids" on the road.
That's the bottom line!
Everything went very smoothly with Bullwinkle. The two of us were the ones who took little missteps here and there! (Like Natasha leaving her camera cord!) We are chalking it up to just a wee bit of stress. It all made for a memorable weekend.
A bit of self-induced car trouble (kind of a long story) delayed our arrival at the RV dealer by an hour. Everyone gladly accommodated us, and Mac the service guy patiently introduced us to Bullwinkle from front to back, top to bottom and inside and out. Mac even hooked up the satellite receiver box we brought from home. (It's doubtful we would have been so successful at that!) We shot bits of video of the stuff we were sure we'd forget (like how to winterize) and lots of notes about the stuff we understood but still might forget. Everything checked out great. Mac took care of a few little odds and ends while we signed the paperwork. With the last "i" dotted and "t" crossed, we started to move in.
The car was so packed we didn't have room for food. So, we headed out with grocery list in hand to a nearby market to stock up. First on the list was steaks for a celebratory dinner. Guess what we forgot to pick up? Steaks! (See, it's that stress thing!) With (almost) everything loaded, we left the car at the dealership and headed off to our campground In Oroville, which is about 75 miles away.
Boris captained the moose with authority and ease. This 90-minute drive was actually the least stressful part of the day! Before long, we had made our "emergency" steak stop at a grocery store near the campground. We arrived at our campground nearly three hours later than we had originally planned. The office was closed but our stuff was taped to the door. So, we grabbed it and started to head to our campground when we remembered we forgot to get ice. And it was cocktail hour! So, we pulled into the campground just enough to pull out and make a "run" for ice. (A 32-foot motorhome was not designed for running errands!)
Before long, we were pulling into the campground once again. We found our way to our spot. We were met by the manager who pulled up in a golf cart and yelled at us for driving too fast. (We weren't!) She also couldn't understand why we had pulled in and left and came back. (We wanted to shout, "Because we just bought our first motorhome today, Lady! Give us a break!!!!") Then she gave us her advice of how to position our coach into her skinny little pad flanked by two trees that were ready to pierce our extended slides. Yeah, it was quite a welcome.
The real welcome came after we settled in a bit and made our first trip to the trash. (When you move into a motorhome you can make a lot of trash!) We took a stroll around the campground and noticed many Winnebago coaches. Just as we were feeling like we had bought the most popular brand of motorhome ever, we received a friendly greeting from a gentleman who crossed our path. We exchanged pleasantries and explained that we were on our shakedown cruise and that we had taken delivery of our first ever, new coach just hours earlier.
"What did you buy?" he asked.
"A 2008 Winnebago Voyage," we replied.
"Oh my!" he exclaimed. "Have you ever come to the right place!"
He went on to explain that we had strolled upon an outing of the "Chardonnay Travelers", the Northern California chapter of the Winnebago Itasca Travelers (WIT) club. (WIT is the Winnebago owners club.) They have some 28 rigs in their chapter, and had about 40 people in the campground this weekend. He announced to a small gathering under someone's awning that we had just bought a new Winnebago. A flock of very cheerful people descended upon us.
They offered handshakes, cheers and congratulations. They invited us to Saturday night dinner. Yep, we definitely felt the love!
When we finally made our way back to the moose for a late night cocktail and steak dinner, we could not believe our good fortune. We'd made a major purchase, taken a huge step toward a new lifestyle and found new friends...all in the course of 12 short hours! We most certainly must be on the right path.
After a great night's sleep, we spent Saturday reading owner's manuals of everything from the chassis to the DVD. We took a long hike along the Feather River, enjoyed a movie in the coach and a nice long nap. Saturday night's dinner with the WIT crew was a blast. We're most definitely planning on joining the club.
Another peaceful night's sleep welcomed a nice Sunday morning, with some welcome relief from the smoke and haze of the nearby wildfires. After breakfast and a short hike, we bid farewell to our new friends, packed up Bullwinkle and hit the road. Natasha drove the beast back to the dealership and did great. We picked up the car and caravaned in crazy late Sunday afternoon traffic to a quick stop for essentials at Camping World and then on to our new storage facility. By the time we got Bullwinkle perfectly positioned in his new spot, we were close to toast. So, we threw things in the car and headed home.
After a very fun and slightly stressful weekend. Guess what?
We can't wait to get back out there again!
We are definitely looking forward to hitting the road again very soon!!!!!
Our "Public" Blog
At the risk of developing multiple personalities, we've created another blog about our RV adventures.
We'll continue to post here about our thoughts, dreams and plans of becoming fulltimers whenever inspiration strikes.
Now that we actually have an RV (Yeah!), we have friends, family and co-workers who are eager to read about it and our adventures. They tell us they can't wait to read our blog.
They're not talking about this blog. (They don't know about it!) In fact, we don't want them reading this one. While we definitely have the support of our family and a few friends, this whole fulltiming idea is something our co-workers don't need to learn about until the time is right. So, let's keep this blog just between us future and current fulltimers.
We cordially invite you to come on over and check out our weekend adventures at Bullwinkle's Travels. We look forward to seeing you over there, back here and on the road soon!
We'll continue to post here about our thoughts, dreams and plans of becoming fulltimers whenever inspiration strikes.
Now that we actually have an RV (Yeah!), we have friends, family and co-workers who are eager to read about it and our adventures. They tell us they can't wait to read our blog.
They're not talking about this blog. (They don't know about it!) In fact, we don't want them reading this one. While we definitely have the support of our family and a few friends, this whole fulltiming idea is something our co-workers don't need to learn about until the time is right. So, let's keep this blog just between us future and current fulltimers.
We cordially invite you to come on over and check out our weekend adventures at Bullwinkle's Travels. We look forward to seeing you over there, back here and on the road soon!
Our Big Baby
We've used this analogy more than once.
We feel like proud parents who have given birth to a gigantic baby. I mean, really, a giant. A record-breaking rhino-sized baby. At 22,000 pounds, it's cute (in it's own way), fun and we're very excited about it. It's been at the hospital under the care of skilled professionals. From that safe distance, we've been very proud and excited with virtually no worries.
But, today everything changes. The big, gigantic baby leaves the confines of the hospital and will be left in our care. We'll have to learn how to take it from here to there, find shelter for it, bathe it, feed it and take care of it. We will be solely responsible for this moose-sized mechanical rolling baby.
We have so many questions! Where will we park it? How will we maneuver it from point A to point B - in traffic, no less? Where do we wash it? What will we do when it's "upset" or "sick"? How will we manage it all?
In the words of the favorite sister-in-law: "Do what we did when we had our first baby," she advised. "Bring it home and change its diaper first thing."
OK. We get it.
We'll just take it one step at a time!
We feel like proud parents who have given birth to a gigantic baby. I mean, really, a giant. A record-breaking rhino-sized baby. At 22,000 pounds, it's cute (in it's own way), fun and we're very excited about it. It's been at the hospital under the care of skilled professionals. From that safe distance, we've been very proud and excited with virtually no worries.
But, today everything changes. The big, gigantic baby leaves the confines of the hospital and will be left in our care. We'll have to learn how to take it from here to there, find shelter for it, bathe it, feed it and take care of it. We will be solely responsible for this moose-sized mechanical rolling baby.
We have so many questions! Where will we park it? How will we maneuver it from point A to point B - in traffic, no less? Where do we wash it? What will we do when it's "upset" or "sick"? How will we manage it all?
In the words of the favorite sister-in-law: "Do what we did when we had our first baby," she advised. "Bring it home and change its diaper first thing."
OK. We get it.
We'll just take it one step at a time!
It's Christmas Eve!
Sure, sure. The calendar may say it's one of the first days of Summer. But, at our house it's definitely Christmas Eve!
The car is packed with many of the things we need to set up housekeeping in our new home away from home (for this weekend at least). Financing, insurance and storage have been secured. The paperwork is nearly complete. Bullwinkle has been serviced and detailed. And, tomorrow morning he'll be waiting for us -- shiny and sparkling ready to hit the road.
And, us? We're like two 6 year-olds on Christmas Eve. We're certain we know exactly what we'll find under the tree tomorrow morning. And, it's exactly what we've always wanted!
So, we have to somehow manage to get through this workday and get some sleep tonight. And, the one-hour drive to the dealer tomorrow will most likely feel like an eternity.
We can't wait!!!!!
The car is packed with many of the things we need to set up housekeeping in our new home away from home (for this weekend at least). Financing, insurance and storage have been secured. The paperwork is nearly complete. Bullwinkle has been serviced and detailed. And, tomorrow morning he'll be waiting for us -- shiny and sparkling ready to hit the road.
And, us? We're like two 6 year-olds on Christmas Eve. We're certain we know exactly what we'll find under the tree tomorrow morning. And, it's exactly what we've always wanted!
So, we have to somehow manage to get through this workday and get some sleep tonight. And, the one-hour drive to the dealer tomorrow will most likely feel like an eternity.
We can't wait!!!!!
We're Doin' It!
Natasha broke the news to her favorite sister-in-law yesterday.
"We bought a motorhome," Natasha said.
Silence. Followed by an extended burst of absolutely hysterical laughter.
"Oh my gosh!" the SIL gasped between breaths. "I can't believe you actually did it."
After the howling quieted down the two sisters-in-law got to common ground where phrases like "How fun!" and "Congratulations!" were exchanged.
Moments later, the truth was told.
"Lots of people talk about doing stuff," the SIL said. "You two go out and actually do it."
Cool!
"We bought a motorhome," Natasha said.
Silence. Followed by an extended burst of absolutely hysterical laughter.
"Oh my gosh!" the SIL gasped between breaths. "I can't believe you actually did it."
After the howling quieted down the two sisters-in-law got to common ground where phrases like "How fun!" and "Congratulations!" were exchanged.
Moments later, the truth was told.
"Lots of people talk about doing stuff," the SIL said. "You two go out and actually do it."
Cool!
Whoooooosh!
Faithful readers of our blog, if you started at the beginning with us some two-and-a-half weeks ago, you may be wondering what the heck happened to make us move from "zero" to "coach" in such a short time.
Allow us to provide a bit of context.
What started all of this?
Well, we turned 50 last year. And, like a few million baby boomers born at that generational peak, we decided it was time for us to start seeing the world.
So, we visited Hawaii. While there, we toured Maui in a Jeep. And, of course, we loved it. We came home and - guess what - bought a Jeep. And, once we had a Jeep we yearned to go off-roading. We quickly learned we needed to have a GPS to do that. So, we bought one and acquired another obsession: geocaching. It's the perfect hobby for a couple of folks who like to hike and bike and jeep!
Then, we ventured to Australia and New Zealand for three weeks over the holidays. While we were there we saw lots of people "caravaning" in RVs across the countryside in both countries. It looked like lots of fun to us.
Finally, we decided it was time to take a vacation on the mainland. So, we copied the Aussies and rented an RV for a 10-day voyage to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. RVing was something we'd both thought about. And, though it sure sounded like fun, we'd never done it. After our trip to The Big Ditch And Back we were hooked. There, in the dusty mesa of the desert, the seed was planted.
And, my how it bloomed!
We returned that trusty rental Class C just seven weeks ago. Since then, the joy of being out on the road has stuck with us. We've dreamed of what it would be to fulltimers one day, and weekenders right now. We've done as much research as our fingers and feet would allow. It's been an amazing time.
And, in just a few days, we'll have a lovely Class A of our own. We won't have to call for reservations to drive it, or keep it out for a 5-day minimum. It'll be ours to take out whenever, and wherever, we want.
So, here we sit, with our recent travels resulting in a delightful coach, a perfect toad and a hobby that matches perfectly with both.
Yeah, life can come at you pretty fast. You gotta love the "whoooooooooosh".
Allow us to provide a bit of context.
What started all of this?
Well, we turned 50 last year. And, like a few million baby boomers born at that generational peak, we decided it was time for us to start seeing the world.
So, we visited Hawaii. While there, we toured Maui in a Jeep. And, of course, we loved it. We came home and - guess what - bought a Jeep. And, once we had a Jeep we yearned to go off-roading. We quickly learned we needed to have a GPS to do that. So, we bought one and acquired another obsession: geocaching. It's the perfect hobby for a couple of folks who like to hike and bike and jeep!
Then, we ventured to Australia and New Zealand for three weeks over the holidays. While we were there we saw lots of people "caravaning" in RVs across the countryside in both countries. It looked like lots of fun to us.
Finally, we decided it was time to take a vacation on the mainland. So, we copied the Aussies and rented an RV for a 10-day voyage to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. RVing was something we'd both thought about. And, though it sure sounded like fun, we'd never done it. After our trip to The Big Ditch And Back we were hooked. There, in the dusty mesa of the desert, the seed was planted.
And, my how it bloomed!
We returned that trusty rental Class C just seven weeks ago. Since then, the joy of being out on the road has stuck with us. We've dreamed of what it would be to fulltimers one day, and weekenders right now. We've done as much research as our fingers and feet would allow. It's been an amazing time.
And, in just a few days, we'll have a lovely Class A of our own. We won't have to call for reservations to drive it, or keep it out for a 5-day minimum. It'll be ours to take out whenever, and wherever, we want.
So, here we sit, with our recent travels resulting in a delightful coach, a perfect toad and a hobby that matches perfectly with both.
Yeah, life can come at you pretty fast. You gotta love the "whoooooooooosh".
Another Monday
This time last week we were lamenting that the time we'd spent every weekend RV shopping might be better spent actually RVing.
What a difference a week makes.
This Monday we're still lamenting the end of another weekend. But, there's a big, big difference.
Today, we have an RV!
What a week it promises to be. We have insurance to procure, storage space to nail down. And, we've already made a trip to Target that was reminiscent of our college days of stocking a dorm room at the start of a new semester. All that activity will culminate on Friday when we pick up Bullwinkle. That will make for a very special TGIF, indeed. And, guess what?
We have a campground reservation!
We called today to make reservations at a place an hour or so away from the RV dealer. We're ready to take our maiden voyage -- our shakedown cruise. And, that way, if there are any major concerns, we can just drop the moose off at the dealer on our way home for them to deal with.
That's right. Friday night we'll be watching the sunset over a river in the central valley....all from our brand spankin' new coach.
Meanwhile, we're actually supposed to go to work today???????
What a difference a week makes.
This Monday we're still lamenting the end of another weekend. But, there's a big, big difference.
Today, we have an RV!
What a week it promises to be. We have insurance to procure, storage space to nail down. And, we've already made a trip to Target that was reminiscent of our college days of stocking a dorm room at the start of a new semester. All that activity will culminate on Friday when we pick up Bullwinkle. That will make for a very special TGIF, indeed. And, guess what?
We have a campground reservation!
We called today to make reservations at a place an hour or so away from the RV dealer. We're ready to take our maiden voyage -- our shakedown cruise. And, that way, if there are any major concerns, we can just drop the moose off at the dealer on our way home for them to deal with.
That's right. Friday night we'll be watching the sunset over a river in the central valley....all from our brand spankin' new coach.
Meanwhile, we're actually supposed to go to work today???????
We've Found Our Moose
We knew we were getting close.
Yesterday, we arrived.
We have purchased our first motorhome.
Yes, folks, Bullwinkle has been found!
On the first official day of Summer, and the hottest day in some time around these parts, we decided to make one more "sweep" in our RV shopping. If everything worked out, we were ready to buy.
We started the day stopping by one dealer's RV show. We'd stopped by this dealer early on in our shopping. They were very hands-off in that visit, which we appreciated. Now, they had a model we wanted to give a serious look. At the show, we told the lovely gentleman who met us with his golf cart that we were looking for a little Class A. (We told a little white lie and said we really hadn't done much looking.) He asked about what RVing we'd done in the past and what he had planned for the future. Lo and behold, the second model he showed us was the one we had come to see. (That was some kind of match!) We liked it...a lot. There was an accessory here or there that wasn't our favorite. But, we were still loving all the basics about it. This one could work.
We bid farewell to the helpful man who brought us one step closer to taking the big step. We needed to do a bit more thinking. More importantly, we needed to find a storage space. So, we cruised across town to a new storage spot we'd found online and checked it out for real. It could definitely work.
As we approached the easy freeway access from the storage area, we thought for a moment or two about which way to go. Do we head home or make another stop on our RV sweep? We opted for the latter.
An hour later we arrived at the dealer with the two friendly and most helpful sales guys. We wanted to make this stop for two reasons. First, they had a comparable model we hadn't yet looked at and really wanted to. And, second, these guys had been so helpful we wanted to give them a fair shot at our business. We told them what we came to see and they graciously obliged in the 100-degree-plus heat.
At first glance, we were pretty sure this was the one. When we stepped in, we knew it. It had absolutely everything we wanted. Everything! We checked it out from front to back and top to bottom. Then, we went for a test drive. We were sold. A bit of negotiating and signing our names in a few places, and the deal was done.
We're picking it up Thursday or Friday.
Suddenly, we have a lot to do!!!!!
Yesterday, we arrived.
We have purchased our first motorhome.
Yes, folks, Bullwinkle has been found!
On the first official day of Summer, and the hottest day in some time around these parts, we decided to make one more "sweep" in our RV shopping. If everything worked out, we were ready to buy.
We started the day stopping by one dealer's RV show. We'd stopped by this dealer early on in our shopping. They were very hands-off in that visit, which we appreciated. Now, they had a model we wanted to give a serious look. At the show, we told the lovely gentleman who met us with his golf cart that we were looking for a little Class A. (We told a little white lie and said we really hadn't done much looking.) He asked about what RVing we'd done in the past and what he had planned for the future. Lo and behold, the second model he showed us was the one we had come to see. (That was some kind of match!) We liked it...a lot. There was an accessory here or there that wasn't our favorite. But, we were still loving all the basics about it. This one could work.
We bid farewell to the helpful man who brought us one step closer to taking the big step. We needed to do a bit more thinking. More importantly, we needed to find a storage space. So, we cruised across town to a new storage spot we'd found online and checked it out for real. It could definitely work.
As we approached the easy freeway access from the storage area, we thought for a moment or two about which way to go. Do we head home or make another stop on our RV sweep? We opted for the latter.
An hour later we arrived at the dealer with the two friendly and most helpful sales guys. We wanted to make this stop for two reasons. First, they had a comparable model we hadn't yet looked at and really wanted to. And, second, these guys had been so helpful we wanted to give them a fair shot at our business. We told them what we came to see and they graciously obliged in the 100-degree-plus heat.
At first glance, we were pretty sure this was the one. When we stepped in, we knew it. It had absolutely everything we wanted. Everything! We checked it out from front to back and top to bottom. Then, we went for a test drive. We were sold. A bit of negotiating and signing our names in a few places, and the deal was done.
We're picking it up Thursday or Friday.
Suddenly, we have a lot to do!!!!!
In Case of Emergency
One of the added benefits we've considered of buying an RV soon is how helpful it can be to have a second home on wheels in case of emergency.
We live in earthquake country. Plus, we have a fifth season on the calendar: Fire season. In case, God forbid, of a fire or earthquake, it would be reassuring to know that we would have access to a home away from the danger zone.
Sure, we are looking for every possible reason to purchase an RV. And, we were beginning to think we might be stretching to near the outer limits with this one.
Until yesterday.
The thermometer crossed the century mark here yesterday, which means Fire season is in full swing on this first weekend of Summer. We arrived from work to a very toasty home and a couple of pretty grumpy kitties. So, we flipped the switch to our AC and were ready for some instant relief.
Nothing!
It seems our home AC is toast. So, we're simmering through the hottest weekend of the year.
And, yes, we've wondered what we'd do today if we already had an RV. Yep, we'd pack ourselves and the cats up and head for a campground with our basement air blazing.
That's a relief!
We live in earthquake country. Plus, we have a fifth season on the calendar: Fire season. In case, God forbid, of a fire or earthquake, it would be reassuring to know that we would have access to a home away from the danger zone.
Sure, we are looking for every possible reason to purchase an RV. And, we were beginning to think we might be stretching to near the outer limits with this one.
Until yesterday.
The thermometer crossed the century mark here yesterday, which means Fire season is in full swing on this first weekend of Summer. We arrived from work to a very toasty home and a couple of pretty grumpy kitties. So, we flipped the switch to our AC and were ready for some instant relief.
Nothing!
It seems our home AC is toast. So, we're simmering through the hottest weekend of the year.
And, yes, we've wondered what we'd do today if we already had an RV. Yep, we'd pack ourselves and the cats up and head for a campground with our basement air blazing.
That's a relief!
Out of the Woodwork
Some people believe that when you set an intention, the universe responds and provides.
Now, we don't know about that exactly. What we do know is since we shifted our thinking toward purchasing a shorter gas model sooner rather than later, universal support for the idea of us buying an RV seems to be coming out of nowhere.
Need proof? Here goes.
Now, we don't know about that exactly. What we do know is since we shifted our thinking toward purchasing a shorter gas model sooner rather than later, universal support for the idea of us buying an RV seems to be coming out of nowhere.
Need proof? Here goes.
- We received a very nice hand-written note this week from "the sleazy sales guy".
- We found out about a show this weekend being hosted by the one local dealer who offers the same models as the sleazy sales guy.
- We received a very friendly email from our two favorite RV sales guys saying that they have a very comparable model available and inviting us to come and take a look.
- Boris discovered a member of his men's group who has a very nice 28-foot Class A available for sale.
- Our friends we've spoken to about our new passion are completely on board. They're ready to rent RV's and join us on a weekend voyage. Do we need to book our first campground reservation for a half dozen rigs?
Meanwhile, we've kept thinking about what it would be like to have something that would make us get away on a pretty regular basis.
We like it.
And, we're asking...is it a sign?
Civic Duty
Among the volumes of words we've consumed about fulltiming, one of the bits of advice that's sticking with us this week is the idea of stepping through your normal day-to-day routine and imagining it all taking place in and around the confines of a motorhome. Then, you ask yourself questions like what would you need to have with your in your motorhome to do this task or that? And, what would you need to do differently to accomplish your daily tasks on the road?
It's all a wonderful exercise. But, there's one task that has us stumped.
Jury duty.
One of us has been called to the court house to help dispense justice. And, that got us thinking. As a fulltimer, what do you do when you get a summons in the mail and you're a couple thousand miles away from the place you officially call home but may have no plans to visit in the near future?
Just wondering.
It's all a wonderful exercise. But, there's one task that has us stumped.
Jury duty.
One of us has been called to the court house to help dispense justice. And, that got us thinking. As a fulltimer, what do you do when you get a summons in the mail and you're a couple thousand miles away from the place you officially call home but may have no plans to visit in the near future?
Just wondering.
Emotional or Rational?
One of the things that keeps picking at us about the sleazy RV salesman was how he kept saying, "This decision is emotional. Stop trying to think rationally about it."
Huh?
He wanted it to be a purely emotional decision because he knew we really liked this coach. He saw it in us. He saw our reaction. There was no denying it. We loved it.
But, you can't make a six-figure decision based on emotion. At least, we can't.
We've tried the last few days to take emotion out of this decision.
And, in the words of Dr. Phil: How's that working for us?
We're learning that we can be patient.
Gas prices are likely to remain high. RV buyers are likely to become more sparse. Good dealers should be more willing to make good deals.
We just took a look at a couple of '09s in the floor plan we love. They're better. One-piece windshields are one of perhaps many welcome additions. And, good news, the MSRP is basically the same as this year.
So, we think we might just wait.
That, sports fans, is rational thinking.
Huh?
He wanted it to be a purely emotional decision because he knew we really liked this coach. He saw it in us. He saw our reaction. There was no denying it. We loved it.
But, you can't make a six-figure decision based on emotion. At least, we can't.
We've tried the last few days to take emotion out of this decision.
And, in the words of Dr. Phil: How's that working for us?
We're learning that we can be patient.
Gas prices are likely to remain high. RV buyers are likely to become more sparse. Good dealers should be more willing to make good deals.
We just took a look at a couple of '09s in the floor plan we love. They're better. One-piece windshields are one of perhaps many welcome additions. And, good news, the MSRP is basically the same as this year.
So, we think we might just wait.
That, sports fans, is rational thinking.
The Sleazy Sales Guy
We've pondered a bit about the groovy little 32-footer we met over the weekend. (Imagine that! Us, pondering?)
From the very beginning, when this whole RV idea hatched, one thing we agree on was that we would know our RV when we saw it. And, when we saw it, we'd get it. The whole thing would be kismet!
While our vision of what we thought we wanted has definitely evolved, what we experienced during our Saturday shopping was something we had not experienced before. For the first time, we found ourselves sitting in an RV that we could see ourselves in...right now. It had everything that we needed to head out on weekend excursions with all the comforts of home and get into any tight little campground we chose. It was a brand we trust. At a price we could more than comfortably afford.
So, what stopped us?
The sleazy sales guy.
I read once never to trust anything that comes out of the mouth of an RV salesperson. So, I approach every big-grinned one we've met with a bit of trepidation. Surprisingly, the half dozen or so we've met have actually been very helpful. We've explained to all that we're newbies who are just looking, and we don't want to waste their time. Some have responded with a friendly hands off approach and encouraged us to peek in and around anything we wanted. Most have chosen to graciously focus on helping us with our research rather than on closing a deal. Except this one.
While our mission on Saturday afternoon was, as always, to make sure any decision we made would be the right one for us, his was simple: Sell this damn RV...TODAY!
I've already touched on his tactics. They bugged us a bit on Saturday. After all, we thought, he's just trying to do his job. But, today we have a different opinion. Today, we'd really like to buy that RV. But, we don't want to buy it from him or his dealership.
We don't want to reward that kind of sales behavior. It's not a behavior that builds the kind of trust it takes to make a six-figure decision. It does nothing to build a relationship. We can't imagine taking our "home away from home" to a place like that for service. And, frankly, with sales techniques like that, we're wondering how long this dealer might be around anyway.
Like I've said, we've met two very helpful, low-key salespeople at a competing dealership with a comparable model. It won't be exactly the same RV, but it may be close enough. And, if it is, it'll be a pleasure to strike a deal with the good guys.
From the very beginning, when this whole RV idea hatched, one thing we agree on was that we would know our RV when we saw it. And, when we saw it, we'd get it. The whole thing would be kismet!
While our vision of what we thought we wanted has definitely evolved, what we experienced during our Saturday shopping was something we had not experienced before. For the first time, we found ourselves sitting in an RV that we could see ourselves in...right now. It had everything that we needed to head out on weekend excursions with all the comforts of home and get into any tight little campground we chose. It was a brand we trust. At a price we could more than comfortably afford.
So, what stopped us?
The sleazy sales guy.
I read once never to trust anything that comes out of the mouth of an RV salesperson. So, I approach every big-grinned one we've met with a bit of trepidation. Surprisingly, the half dozen or so we've met have actually been very helpful. We've explained to all that we're newbies who are just looking, and we don't want to waste their time. Some have responded with a friendly hands off approach and encouraged us to peek in and around anything we wanted. Most have chosen to graciously focus on helping us with our research rather than on closing a deal. Except this one.
While our mission on Saturday afternoon was, as always, to make sure any decision we made would be the right one for us, his was simple: Sell this damn RV...TODAY!
I've already touched on his tactics. They bugged us a bit on Saturday. After all, we thought, he's just trying to do his job. But, today we have a different opinion. Today, we'd really like to buy that RV. But, we don't want to buy it from him or his dealership.
We don't want to reward that kind of sales behavior. It's not a behavior that builds the kind of trust it takes to make a six-figure decision. It does nothing to build a relationship. We can't imagine taking our "home away from home" to a place like that for service. And, frankly, with sales techniques like that, we're wondering how long this dealer might be around anyway.
Like I've said, we've met two very helpful, low-key salespeople at a competing dealership with a comparable model. It won't be exactly the same RV, but it may be close enough. And, if it is, it'll be a pleasure to strike a deal with the good guys.
Monday Morning Musing
Our weekend of RV shopping, thinking and dreaming is behind us. Now we head back to the "real world" to deal with work and stuff. Not that we're complaining, much.
O.K. We might be -- just a little.
All complaining aside, this new potential strategy of being enthusiastic "weekenders" before we become "fulltimers" has given us another spark in our RV planning efforts. We'll see where it takes us.
One thought keeps crossing my mind: Instead of heading back to work today after the shopping, thinking and dreaming weekend we had, we could be heading back to work after a great weekend of actually RVing.
Yes. That would definitely be better.
O.K. We might be -- just a little.
All complaining aside, this new potential strategy of being enthusiastic "weekenders" before we become "fulltimers" has given us another spark in our RV planning efforts. We'll see where it takes us.
One thought keeps crossing my mind: Instead of heading back to work today after the shopping, thinking and dreaming weekend we had, we could be heading back to work after a great weekend of actually RVing.
Yes. That would definitely be better.
Soooooo Close
Our harmless little Saturday afternoon drive to the RV show turned into our first close encounter of the RV-buying kind.
We stopped by the show and had another visit with our two friendly sales associates and one of our favorite RVs. We'd already seen everything they had to offer, so we bid them farewell and cruised down the road to visit a yet unseen dealer we were interested in. There we got to drool all over the Ellipse with our favorite floorplan.
Then, the not-so-friendly salesman started to do his thing.
In the process, he got one thing right. We're not ready to buy our 40-foot diesel pusher today. And, we won't be for - well - at least a year, maybe 18 months. So, he had a suggestion: Buy something smaller now to enjoy on weekends and holidays.
Holy cow! Did he read our previous blog post, or what?
He introduced us to a new, groovy 32-foot gas model that - much to our surprise - we really liked. We could see ourselves cruising into state parks and off to the beach for fun get away weekends. It's smaller. It's cheaper. And, still, it's very nice. This is one coach that could, indeed, scratch our itch.
Then, the friendly salesman got pushy. He pulled out all the stops. He told us about all the people he sees who pull up in their fancy cars with plenty of money, find the toy of their dreams and just can't pull the trigger. Oh! He laid it on pretty thick. He did his best to make a deal.
This is a coach we were giving serious thought to buying. But, not today.
Maybe tomorrow.
We stopped by the show and had another visit with our two friendly sales associates and one of our favorite RVs. We'd already seen everything they had to offer, so we bid them farewell and cruised down the road to visit a yet unseen dealer we were interested in. There we got to drool all over the Ellipse with our favorite floorplan.
Then, the not-so-friendly salesman started to do his thing.
In the process, he got one thing right. We're not ready to buy our 40-foot diesel pusher today. And, we won't be for - well - at least a year, maybe 18 months. So, he had a suggestion: Buy something smaller now to enjoy on weekends and holidays.
Holy cow! Did he read our previous blog post, or what?
He introduced us to a new, groovy 32-foot gas model that - much to our surprise - we really liked. We could see ourselves cruising into state parks and off to the beach for fun get away weekends. It's smaller. It's cheaper. And, still, it's very nice. This is one coach that could, indeed, scratch our itch.
Then, the friendly salesman got pushy. He pulled out all the stops. He told us about all the people he sees who pull up in their fancy cars with plenty of money, find the toy of their dreams and just can't pull the trigger. Oh! He laid it on pretty thick. He did his best to make a deal.
This is a coach we were giving serious thought to buying. But, not today.
Maybe tomorrow.
Between Now and Then
It's a new day. Time for a new question.
If this "itch" isn't going to away, what do we do between now and then - the time we take off for fulltiming?
With aspirations of owning a brand, spankin' new diesel pusher when we head out as fulltimers, we're starting to wonder. What do we do in the meantime? Do we rent now and then? Or, should we buy an inexpensive, used, gas Class A for weekend escapes and periodic RV vacations?
Can we have our cake and eat it, too?
If we own something, we'll most likely get "out there" more often than if we're just renting from time to time. And, if we spend $50,000 on a used RV, it will continue to depreciate. And, we add the complication of having something to trade when we decide to buy.
So, what are we to do?
Well, we got an email this week from one of our new favorite RV dealers inviting us to an RV show about 90 minutes from home. It's a beautiful Saturday 'round here and we can't think of anything better to do. So, we'll go.
Just in case you're there, too. We'll be easy to spot. We'll be the ones drooling over the new Itasca Ellipse.
Just maybe, we can figure out a way to have our cake and eat it, too!
If this "itch" isn't going to away, what do we do between now and then - the time we take off for fulltiming?
With aspirations of owning a brand, spankin' new diesel pusher when we head out as fulltimers, we're starting to wonder. What do we do in the meantime? Do we rent now and then? Or, should we buy an inexpensive, used, gas Class A for weekend escapes and periodic RV vacations?
Can we have our cake and eat it, too?
If we own something, we'll most likely get "out there" more often than if we're just renting from time to time. And, if we spend $50,000 on a used RV, it will continue to depreciate. And, we add the complication of having something to trade when we decide to buy.
So, what are we to do?
Well, we got an email this week from one of our new favorite RV dealers inviting us to an RV show about 90 minutes from home. It's a beautiful Saturday 'round here and we can't think of anything better to do. So, we'll go.
Just in case you're there, too. We'll be easy to spot. We'll be the ones drooling over the new Itasca Ellipse.
Just maybe, we can figure out a way to have our cake and eat it, too!
Not Soon Enough
It's Friday, again. Another work week behind us. With two precious days of relaxation ahead, it's that time of the week when we ask ourselves the same question:
Are we leaving soon enough?
Today, April 1, 2010 feels like it's light years away. What would it be to leave a year earlier? Or, what if we took off in the Fall next year instead of Spring the following year?
What we're finding these days is that - on Fridays - we are definitely ready to hit the road.
Happy weekend!
Are we leaving soon enough?
Today, April 1, 2010 feels like it's light years away. What would it be to leave a year earlier? Or, what if we took off in the Fall next year instead of Spring the following year?
What we're finding these days is that - on Fridays - we are definitely ready to hit the road.
Happy weekend!
They Don't Hate It!
One of the items on our "long" to-do list is to get our two very pampered indoor cats trained to "walk" (and we use that term VERY loosely) on a harness and a leash. Every cat owner knows that this is an idea that cats see as an activity that is strictly reserved for those crazy canines.
Our cats get quite a bit of activity inside our house. Between naps they manage to run laps around the place -- up and down stairs, in and out of window sills, and on to and off of counters (only when no one is looking, of course). When our living space shrinks to 300 square feet on one level, one of our concerns is that their sole activity will be their favorite: napping. With little other activity, we fear they will be destined to become a couple of really fat cats.
So, we decided to get an early start on this special project. Cruising through our local pet supply store, we found the "Come With Me Kitty" harness and bungee leash and decided to give them a try. We followed the instructions to the letter, keeping things stress-free and heaping on the praise and treats.
Much to our surprise, they didn't hate it! Over the last week or so, we've continued to make progress. We've actually been out the front door and have taken a few steps down the sidewalk. (Our neighbors may think we've lost it....attempting to take two cats for a walk.)
We have lots of time to master this technique, of course. But all early indications are positive.
And that's very good news, indeed.
Our cats get quite a bit of activity inside our house. Between naps they manage to run laps around the place -- up and down stairs, in and out of window sills, and on to and off of counters (only when no one is looking, of course). When our living space shrinks to 300 square feet on one level, one of our concerns is that their sole activity will be their favorite: napping. With little other activity, we fear they will be destined to become a couple of really fat cats.
So, we decided to get an early start on this special project. Cruising through our local pet supply store, we found the "Come With Me Kitty" harness and bungee leash and decided to give them a try. We followed the instructions to the letter, keeping things stress-free and heaping on the praise and treats.
Much to our surprise, they didn't hate it! Over the last week or so, we've continued to make progress. We've actually been out the front door and have taken a few steps down the sidewalk. (Our neighbors may think we've lost it....attempting to take two cats for a walk.)
We have lots of time to master this technique, of course. But all early indications are positive.
And that's very good news, indeed.
Running From or To?
Use the words "great" and "escape" in a sentence and it can raise an important question: Are you running away from something or to something?
When we think of our Great RV Escape, we'll be the first to admit there is a little bit we're running away from: overwork, overwhelm, overcrowding and overcomplicated. And, there are numerous ways to remedy those challenges. Fulltiming is but one.
Much more powerful for us is what we're moving to: simplicity, adventure, travel, quality time for ourselves and each other, opportunity to meet new people, reconnecting with friends and family across the country, spending time outdoors, hiking and biking, exploring our amazing country and continent, and doing it while we're young enough to enjoy it all. We also are eager to explore a lifestyle that we find interesting and intriguing. In many ways it seems that we're made for it and vice versa.
OK. We confess. Actually, we're obsessed!
Between the two of us, we've had many "romantic notions" over the years that were fun to think about for awhile. Only a few really stuck. Like cooked spaghetti on the wall, this fulltiming thing has moved from "romantic notion" into seriously sticky territory.
And, oh how we both love spaghetti!
When we think of our Great RV Escape, we'll be the first to admit there is a little bit we're running away from: overwork, overwhelm, overcrowding and overcomplicated. And, there are numerous ways to remedy those challenges. Fulltiming is but one.
Much more powerful for us is what we're moving to: simplicity, adventure, travel, quality time for ourselves and each other, opportunity to meet new people, reconnecting with friends and family across the country, spending time outdoors, hiking and biking, exploring our amazing country and continent, and doing it while we're young enough to enjoy it all. We also are eager to explore a lifestyle that we find interesting and intriguing. In many ways it seems that we're made for it and vice versa.
OK. We confess. Actually, we're obsessed!
Between the two of us, we've had many "romantic notions" over the years that were fun to think about for awhile. Only a few really stuck. Like cooked spaghetti on the wall, this fulltiming thing has moved from "romantic notion" into seriously sticky territory.
And, oh how we both love spaghetti!
Purging 101
Since declaring that full-timing is in our not-too-distant future, we’re becoming very mindful of a process that is absolutely key to reducing a 2100 square foot household to something closer to 300 square feet: The Purge.
Boris has always been better at the ability to part with stuff than me. I prefer shoving it madly in a cabinet or drawer and dealing with it “later”. But, now that we have a self-imposed deadline, even I’m feeling a bit of a yearning to clear out some crap.
We’re starting small – donating some gently worn clothes in which we’ve lost interest to charity. Boris loaded a few bags of goodies into the Jeep for a trip to St. Vincent de Paul. He also cleared our pantry of out-of-date items. (We had a five-year-old box of lasagna noodles in there. Geez!) Next, I think I’ll tackle the bathroom cabinets and drawers. Who knows what might be lurking in there?
Boris has always been better at the ability to part with stuff than me. I prefer shoving it madly in a cabinet or drawer and dealing with it “later”. But, now that we have a self-imposed deadline, even I’m feeling a bit of a yearning to clear out some crap.
We’re starting small – donating some gently worn clothes in which we’ve lost interest to charity. Boris loaded a few bags of goodies into the Jeep for a trip to St. Vincent de Paul. He also cleared our pantry of out-of-date items. (We had a five-year-old box of lasagna noodles in there. Geez!) Next, I think I’ll tackle the bathroom cabinets and drawers. Who knows what might be lurking in there?
Boris and Natasha
Who are we? Our Blogger profile tells you a very little bit. But, for obvious reasons, we’re keeping our identities a secret for the very simple reason that most people – including the people who pay us – have no idea of this plan we’re hatching. And, we really want to keep it that way.
So, let’s keep this not-so-little secret just between us for the time being. OK?
We are P and M, aka Boris and Natasha. We’re a couple of Baby Boomers who just turned 50 and have no interest in joining AARP but a growing interest in seeing the world in general and exploring North America in particular. With no kids, much of our adult life has been about work. And, frankly, that’s not as satisfying as it once was. We’re a couple of toasty workaholics in need of a lengthy sabbatical. Right now, we’re living nearly 2,000 miles away from the place we called home until a few years ago. Most of our family and friends are there. And, we’ve planned from the beginning to move back that way eventually. So, we’re relatively free from any ties that would bind us where we are right now.
This wild idea of hitting the road for awhile is starting to sound like just what the doctor ordered!
So, let’s keep this not-so-little secret just between us for the time being. OK?
We are P and M, aka Boris and Natasha. We’re a couple of Baby Boomers who just turned 50 and have no interest in joining AARP but a growing interest in seeing the world in general and exploring North America in particular. With no kids, much of our adult life has been about work. And, frankly, that’s not as satisfying as it once was. We’re a couple of toasty workaholics in need of a lengthy sabbatical. Right now, we’re living nearly 2,000 miles away from the place we called home until a few years ago. Most of our family and friends are there. And, we’ve planned from the beginning to move back that way eventually. So, we’re relatively free from any ties that would bind us where we are right now.
This wild idea of hitting the road for awhile is starting to sound like just what the doctor ordered!
Bullwinkle
When shaping a dream, it helps to be as detailed as possible about the “what” in your vision. Imagining the sights, shapes, colors and sounds of a dream can help make it real for you, and inspire you to plan and take action toward that very detailed picture.
So it is for us. Our yet-to-reveal-itself RV has a name: Bullwinkle.
Actually, the transportation system for our great RV escape is being created from back to front. We own a 2005 “Rocky Mountain Edition” Jeep Wrangler. We’ve never really been the types to name our vehicles. But, this little Jeep seemed to name itself: Rocky. (The nifty little Rocky Mountain logo on the passenger side really helped!) Wherever we go in our Jeep, Rocky makes us feel like we’re on vacation. Where some people might see a bumpy ride, little leg room and a lot of wind noise, we have a feeling that with Rocky we can go anywhere. It turns out that Rocky may well have sprouted the seed of inspiration for our dream to go anywhere we want...with a little more legroom.
We’re quickly learning that a late model Jeep Wrangler is just about the perfect tow vehicle, or “toad”, for an RV. All Rocky needs is something in front of him to “push”.
Our decision of what kind of RV we want to escape in has evolved rather quickly. You can’t tow anything behind a fifth-wheel or travel trailer. So, that’s out. While Rocky could follow behind a big Class C, he’d be so much happier pushing a Class A. So, Class A it will be!
When we started considering Class As, our original thinking was a gas model that was a maximum of 35-feet long. After all, although gas ain’t cheap, diesel costs more. And, anything more than 35 feet long would surely drive like a bus.
Applying our most recent learning about and very limited experience with Class As and what we want to do with one, now we’re thinking big. Really big. Today, we’re envisioning a 40-foot diesel pusher with at least a couple of slide outs. With a 350 or 400 HP engine in the back and air suspension, this big RV should climb mountains with ease and ride like a dream.
If you’ve stuck with us this far into the story, it comes as no surprise that the name of this big, boxy moose-on-wheels came to us as quickly as the name for our nimble little Jeep.
So, our great RV escape will be the adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle! We’ve already started referring to ourselves as Boris and Natasha.
Yep. This dream is really starting to take shape.
So it is for us. Our yet-to-reveal-itself RV has a name: Bullwinkle.
Actually, the transportation system for our great RV escape is being created from back to front. We own a 2005 “Rocky Mountain Edition” Jeep Wrangler. We’ve never really been the types to name our vehicles. But, this little Jeep seemed to name itself: Rocky. (The nifty little Rocky Mountain logo on the passenger side really helped!) Wherever we go in our Jeep, Rocky makes us feel like we’re on vacation. Where some people might see a bumpy ride, little leg room and a lot of wind noise, we have a feeling that with Rocky we can go anywhere. It turns out that Rocky may well have sprouted the seed of inspiration for our dream to go anywhere we want...with a little more legroom.
We’re quickly learning that a late model Jeep Wrangler is just about the perfect tow vehicle, or “toad”, for an RV. All Rocky needs is something in front of him to “push”.
Our decision of what kind of RV we want to escape in has evolved rather quickly. You can’t tow anything behind a fifth-wheel or travel trailer. So, that’s out. While Rocky could follow behind a big Class C, he’d be so much happier pushing a Class A. So, Class A it will be!
When we started considering Class As, our original thinking was a gas model that was a maximum of 35-feet long. After all, although gas ain’t cheap, diesel costs more. And, anything more than 35 feet long would surely drive like a bus.
Applying our most recent learning about and very limited experience with Class As and what we want to do with one, now we’re thinking big. Really big. Today, we’re envisioning a 40-foot diesel pusher with at least a couple of slide outs. With a 350 or 400 HP engine in the back and air suspension, this big RV should climb mountains with ease and ride like a dream.
If you’ve stuck with us this far into the story, it comes as no surprise that the name of this big, boxy moose-on-wheels came to us as quickly as the name for our nimble little Jeep.
So, our great RV escape will be the adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle! We’ve already started referring to ourselves as Boris and Natasha.
Yep. This dream is really starting to take shape.
Two Lists of "To-Dos"
With our Great Escape just a bit less than two years away, one of the questions we wrestle with is "What do we need to do?"
When things get overwhelming, we've both been known to rely on the trusty "to-do list" to manage our way. So, it's no surprise that this lofty plan of ours has at least one of us reaching for the tools to make a list.
In no particular order, our rapidly growing (and still very incomplete) mental list of to-dos looks something like this:
And, right now, that's really all we have to do!
When things get overwhelming, we've both been known to rely on the trusty "to-do list" to manage our way. So, it's no surprise that this lofty plan of ours has at least one of us reaching for the tools to make a list.
In no particular order, our rapidly growing (and still very incomplete) mental list of to-dos looks something like this:
- Decide which RV to buy
- Buy it
- Figure out where to store it
- Get the house ready to sell
- Sell it
- Decide what stuff we need
- Store or get rid of the rest
- Teach our very spoiled indoor cats how to exercise outdoors on a leash
- Go on a few "mini escapes"
- Figure out when and how to quit our jobs
- Figure out when, where and if we want to work again
- Decide the places that are "must stops" on the road
Already that's a lot of stuff to do. Thankfully, we have time to figure how what needs to be done, and how and when we'll do it.
So, for right now, we're focusing on a much more singular to-do:
- Learn
And, right now, that's really all we have to do!
April 1, 2010
No fooling! That's our goal date for beginning "The Great RV Escape".
And what, you ask, is this great escape?
We don't know exactly. But, we'll share what we do know...so far.
The Great RV Escape is our mission to leave our current home, jobs and lifestyle for something very free, very mobile and very different.
Free from all the obligations that come with a job, a mortgage and a bunch of stuff, we'll load up a yet unpurchased motorhome, pack it with a little bit of stuff, a couple of cats and hit the road. How long will we be "gone"? At least a year. Maybe two. Perhaps as long as three. Who knows?
At the end of the road we'll settle down in a new spot. Right now, we're thinking it may be our old college town. But, again, who knows?
This blog will be a spot for us to share our thoughts, capture our learnings, document our plans and chart our progress on this great escape.
It'll be great fun for us. Hope you enjoy it, too.
Just 663 days and counting....
And what, you ask, is this great escape?
We don't know exactly. But, we'll share what we do know...so far.
The Great RV Escape is our mission to leave our current home, jobs and lifestyle for something very free, very mobile and very different.
Free from all the obligations that come with a job, a mortgage and a bunch of stuff, we'll load up a yet unpurchased motorhome, pack it with a little bit of stuff, a couple of cats and hit the road. How long will we be "gone"? At least a year. Maybe two. Perhaps as long as three. Who knows?
At the end of the road we'll settle down in a new spot. Right now, we're thinking it may be our old college town. But, again, who knows?
This blog will be a spot for us to share our thoughts, capture our learnings, document our plans and chart our progress on this great escape.
It'll be great fun for us. Hope you enjoy it, too.
Just 663 days and counting....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
