Joining

Now that we've been out with two RV groups, we're facing this question: What to join?

We are joiners, no doubt about it. Like I said, we're both extraverts and love meeting people. As it turns out, it seems just about most people enjoy meeting us, too. So, it's easy for us to join any and every group that comes our way. And, once we join our old friend overwhelm is not far behind. We find ourselves overcommitted, busy and tired...even if what we're up to is "fun". So, we're taking this business of joining an RV club (or two) seriously.

Since we're planning to be fulltiming in a bit, we're concentrating first on which national clubs to join. Then, we'll pick our "local" chapters of those groups. Our current choices are the Winnebago-Itasca Travelers Club and the Family Motor Coach Association. With the WIT group, there are resident experts on our brand of motorhome. Plus, it's great fun hanging out with people who love Winnebagos. Every FMCA'er we've met on the road has been friendly and helpful. It feels like a real community. And, the chapter we hung out with last weekend was loads of fun. Another local FMCA chapter is hosting a rally over Thanksgiving. We're thinking about checking them out then.

We're also considering the Escapees. Their name most closely represents what we're up to! Plus, they have "classes" of fulltimers who are comparing notes about getting ready to hit the road. I just read through the Class of 2009 thread. Even though we're probably more realistically the Class of 2010, it's inspiring and comforting to read what these future fulltimers are up to.

Of course, we've already joined other RV-related "clubs" that are less about joining and more about saving. We plunked down our bucks to join the KOA campers club on our first night out on the Grand Canyon trip. Then we joined Good Sam. And, of course, we joined Camping World on our first trip there. That membership paid for itself in one quick scan of a barcode!

We sure to join something. Meanwhile, we'll enjoy shopping around.