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Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:12 am
by OregonMs
Glad to be here. I've been RVing with my own rig for pretty much 25 years. I don't see that many women in my situation (well, have noticed more lately) and I've decided to reach out and try to be more socialable. I'm easy to get along with, it's just that I'm so damn happy when I'm out there just me and my dog. I have family and friends, it's not like that, it's just so freeing when everything is on my terms (and my dog never complains). I hope to make some like minded friends here. Glad to make your acquaintance.

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:16 am
by retiredhappy
welcome. You've found a bunch of like-minded women on here. Tell us more - what kind of rig? What kind of dog? Where are you? Do you workamp? See, we're a pretty nosy bunch and we love pictures.

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:27 am
by OregonMs
I have a 29' Bigfoot, class C and I tow a Jeep Wrangler. My traveling companion is a Golden Retriever named Lily.

My stick house is on the McKenzie River outside of Eugene, Oregon. I have a husband who is and has always been completely absorbed in his vocation and we have two twenty-something kids. My name is Karen. My aunt has always described me as having "itchy feet". I love to travel and explore, I love nature. Anyway, when family happened and tents and backpacks became impractical, when my spouse was always at work I made the decision that I could be home alone feeding and watering and nurturing or I could be where I wanted to be (camping) alone feeding and watering and nurturing. That's when I got my first truck camper, a used Alaskan camper (the crank up kind) and things gradually got bigger from there over the years. The kids grew up having had visited all 50 states before they flew the coop. Interested in the Oregon Trail? Lets follow it. Interested in the Civil War? Let's go to Gettysburg. We hit tons of National Parks. For a while we lived in rural Northern Maine, when school got out I told my husband we were going camping, he said where, I said Oregon. It was like that. It all worked out. I'm independent (so is he) and I was that way before he married me, he knew that. I'm fortunate to have found a man like that. On the other hand he's fortunate to have found an independent woman who can fend for herself because I've made a life of it.

The kids are now in North Carolina and Florida, my husband has a job where he's required to be there a week or more at a time every other week. The solution for that was an RV for him but I would not share mine so we bought him a truck camper. We are a two RV family. Disgusting. Ha! Mine's clean, his is his, enough said.

I just came back from a six week trip I'm taking another in June. What I love about living in Oregon is that I can grab my purse and my dog and jump into my rig and be somewhere exquisite within an hour or two. I do that a lot. I also jump into my jeep and hit the woods daily around here and like I said, I live on the river.

I'm not a club person and I'm not home all that much and I live in the country and travel alone most of the time. It's hard to make friends that way. Now that the kids are gone I realize that I have to be more proactive, maybe that's what brought me here.

I've tried to post pictures here but so far without success, I'll try again.

I feel like I've given you way more than you asked for, but truly, I'd like to make some friends and meet some like minded women. I'm hoping to meet some here..

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:51 am
by Getupngo
Hi OregonMs. Welcome to the forum. I RV alone as well, and love having my forum sisters to talk to, encourage (or be encouraged by) and laugh. Pull up a chair at the campfire and enjoy.

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:57 am
by OregonMs
Thank you! I just uploaded some photos, keep your fingers crossed.

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Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 12:20 pm
by Cedar518
Welcome!

How nice! That's a huge Class C,...plenty of room. And i love the smile on your pup's face, obviously a camping buddy!

Glad you are here!

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 12:54 pm
by Liz
Hi and welcome to the forum. I know just what you mean about the freedom & independence of being on the road by yourself with just your dog in a beautiful place. I think a lot of us appreciate that feeling. But then it's nice to share those experiences with others who are like-minded or are still hoping to become rvers. And it's also a lot of fun to meet up with those you've been sharing with from time-to-time.

Your kids are very fortunate to have shared your travel bug while growing up. Bet if they don't already, they'll soon have their own rvs.

Jump right in anywhere in the forum. You have a lot of experience and your thoughts will be appreciated.

(Beautiful dog!)

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 2:57 pm
by VickieP
Welcome to the forum. Can't wait to hear about your travels. Good job on learning to post pics already!

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 4:15 pm
by Bethers
Hi and Welcome, Karen. And, yep, I think you found some like-minded women here. I quit a good job to buy my rv and travel - planning to do it a year, and I'll be starting year 6 in about a month. What's money, anyways? :)

Your kids have been very lucky to have been raised the way they were. What a great way to learn and enjoy this country, eh?

Glad to see you figured out how to post pictures. And you'll discover there are a few women in OR - two of them are traveling together around the SW right now (one also named Karen). I'm sure you can meet up with some of the ladies up there as time passes. And some others will be going through OR this summer. It's one of my favorite states to visit - alas not this year - but hopefully will catch up with you another year - or you can come find some of us.

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:43 pm
by carold
Welcome to the Forum. Know you will fit right in, judging from your post. Can't ask for a better group of women, (and some spouses) to share yourself with. I'm looking forward to reading your posts and seeing pics. carold

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 7:10 pm
by cpatinjones
Hi,

Welcome to the forum!

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 7:17 pm
by BirdbyBird
Welcome aboard. Your experience and your attitude about your life's adventures and journey will find a welcoming seat around the camp fire. Read some back stories aaaand jump right in. Several GTGs are being planned for the next months. I am thinking at least one will attract your fancy......but be warned GTG's are kind of like chips....it is difficult to stop at just one!

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 7:23 pm
by Colliemom
Hi Karen,

Welcome aboard. You sure sound like me. I'm an independent cookie too. I'm single and only child, both parents are deceased and I only have 4 cousins, the which of I don't see much. So I am on my own and I like it that way. Not antisocial though. Love to be with and talk to people. But I love doing things on my own, being my own boss etc. When I want to go, I go and do what I want. Trouble is, I've been doing it for so long, that I find it hard to do things with others cause I'm used to my own schedule, feelings etc. Not always a good thing. I don't have a rig yet, out looking. Had a pup up once and was a Girl Scout and then leader with lots of tent camping and outdoor training. Got it narrowed down to a travel trailer, 2 5th wheels and possible Class B. So have to see where it goes from here. Money will dictate most of it. But like Beth said, "what's money". Yu have a Golden, I have 3 collies, one who is a summer "houseguest". Keeping her for a friend for awhile. The other two are mne. So I need space in whatever rig I buy. I work summers in a State Park here in Michigan so my travel time is limited. And then of course comes winter and..... I too was raised by parents who loved to travel and we have gon all over. Now I have a few states out west to pick up yet. So I'm going to enjoy hearing about your travels.

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:07 pm
by avalen
Welcome, I look forward to your stories, and your pictures are great. I'm in
that "wishing" I could go somewhere phase but unfortunately I'm still working.
Right now I have a fifth wheel but after I retire I'll have something similar
to what you have.

Re: Hi from Oregon

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:23 pm
by WickedLady
Hi, Karen, and welcome. We are getting quite a large PNW contingent now. We really need to all get together somehow. I'm sure my Monty would love to meet your Lily for a Golden moment :D